Be Transformed

This morning, I’ll admit, I’m a bit distracted. While I’m getting work done, I’m drawn, again and again, to doom-scrolling on my phone. It began with me saying “I’ll just check my notifications,” and it’s currently a battle for keeping my attention on what I’m supposed to be doing. Heck, I even ate a snack when I promised myself I would continue my intermittent fasting (Which I’ve done        all week).  Loved ones, isn’t this how life goes? We start off with the best of intentions, and get sidetracked easily. We don’t set our minds on what we need to do, we allow things to move in to sacred spaces that shouldn’t be allowed in there.

We’re supposed to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, but the pattern of this world is easy to fall in to. Where loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength ought to be central, we focus more on seeking validation, entertainment, and omnipotence (yes, our phones and technology make us feel like we should be plugged in all the time). Scripture tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and yet we seek first our mental health, and what validates us (all the while fooling ourselves in to thinking this is a form of rest, while ignoring the fact that we have no true peace). It’s time to turn the TV off. It’s time to put the phone down. Let’s enjoy God, enjoy the family and friends He’s given us, and let us be ambassadors for the One who died for our sins, and rose again! Let us face each moment as it comes, and rejoice always in the Lord. Let us be renewed and transformed, and not conformed to a world that is dying.

Romans 12

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.