Morphing… (Romans 12:2) 190908
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
I have been traveling by public transport for the past four months. I find it very inconvenient and I don’t like to squeeze with other hundreds of people in a small MRT train. I like my freedom of having my own transportation, my motorbike. But ever since my fall (sound as if I have sinned big time!), I am forbidden and advised violently by family members not to ride motorbike anymore! I whine and pester my wife to give me the green light to get a new bike, because I like the convenient. But for the sake of my family, she insists that I go public.
To me, having losing my own transport is more than a matter of convenient; it is a matter of lifestyle. It is a matter of the way I want my life to be like. Surely, I want convenient; but I also want to have a faster pace of life so that I can do more things, go to more places and have more works and feel more important! This is what the world wants me to become. This is the message from our meritocracy society that I got to do more so that I can feel better. This is the lie of Satan that I am not go enough unless I do more externally, so that I will do less to the important thing which is within.
Advertisement persuades you to buy the latest gadget which you don’t really need. Magazine tempts you to pursue the lifestyle which may not necessary suit you. And the society pressures you to be conformed to its pattern by asking you to earn more money but giving you very little time to spend it. This is the reality of this world. This is the real world which we are living in. And Apostle Paul knew that and challenged his readers: Not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed!
Be transformed is the way to go for Christians. Be transformed by renewing of your mind. We have to start with the mind. We have to have the right thinking then we can have the right action. We have to know what God wants before we can do what He wants. Be transformed.
I read a book by John Ortberg lately. He is an excellent writer-pastor and he is a Presbyterian. He has a book by the name: The life I always want to have. It is about how to have a transformed life. As a Christian, we do not transform overnight, because transformation is a process. We keep transforming and the Greek word for transforming has the same connotation as morphing. I have been really blessed by the book. I will read it again and might even use it as some bible study materials for my church people. I am beginning to morph. I am not there yet.
I have decided that taking public transport is not that bad after all. I can have some travelling time to read and to watch other people’s behavior so that I can have more real illustration to write for my devotions and my sermons. I am at peace now with taking public transport. I have morph in this area. I am taking driving lesson now.
HHS…
Abel…
