Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.
Romans 12:2 TPT
God, of his own freewill, extended mercy to me. I, of my own freewill, must embrace this mercy, surrender all to him and live in line with his expectations. His mercy forgives and cleanses from sin, but He demands holiness from all He has shown mercy to. Mercy does not permit sin on a permanent basis, and I must be careful of complacency about mercy. The fact that it came to me free does not mean it did not cost something; God's own Son gave his life so that I can receive this mercy. If this is the price, then I must pay that price, so that I can win the prize. There is a standard laid down by God, and I will only be right when I learn to copy right. Just as Jesus laid down his life to seal my own life, so I must also lay down my life to God in appreciation of what He has done and given.
That is the reason why I cannot align with the world from which I have been saved. Jesus died to save me from the world, its influences and the death that is its certain end. How can the world, with this certain end, be the guide to my life? How can I allow the world dictate terms and conditions for my life? For Paul to charge his readers to stop, it means that it was a popular practice then. The world can be attractive; for all who surrender to it, it promises comfort and convenience, but at what cost? The change God brings starts from the inner man, and then radiates and impacts the outer man. The problem is that the world can only impress the outer man man; it canmot bring any positive change to the inner man.
The Holy Spirit can never come into a man's life and leave him the same. The Holy Spirit is a change initiator and a change sustainer. He will constantly remind us of God's perfect will, and supply the grace and strength required to live right. He totally reforms the way I think; he goes to and corrects the foundation of who I am and how I think, so that all my life produces will align with his will. Instead of imitating the world, I have the help of the Holy Spirit to know what is right and what to do. That is the only way to please God. My life is beautiful because God is the guide and inspiration. After all, it is God's opinion that counts, not what the world says. Is God pleased with my life's offerings? Is he glorified in and through me? God's time of favour is here.
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