Welcome to Monday, August 16th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

Patterns

Thanks for listening!

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Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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  Patterns

My wife loves to sew dresses for her granddaughters. An essential aspect of sewing is the pattern. Each piece is cut out according to the design so that it all fits together correctly. The final product depends upon the care with which you cut out these individual parts.

In addition to sewing, patterns are crucial in many creative areas, such as metalworking and woodworking.

Patterns even apply to our lives for which two distinct options exist. We can either live according to the ways of this world or according to God's ways.

As believers, we a cautioned to only live according to the latter.

Romans 12:2 NAS95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Not conformed to this world!

How should we understand this phrase?

Conformed brings to mind cramming something into a form. For example, have you ever seen a square watermelon or pumpkin? As a novelty item, the farmer encloses the immature watermelon or pumpkin in a square form. These fruits have no say in the matter.

However, we do!

My mother often told us, "Remember, just because your friends are doing it does not mean that you have to." In other words, even though an opportunity presented itself, we did not need to accept or engage in it. We did not need to conform to the temptation.

The Apostle Paul encourages the Christians in Rome to be careful of the world's influences. Rome was the center of all things cultural in the ancient world, and as former pagans, they needed to clearly understand that their former life was just that . . . the former.

The renewing and transforming of your mind is the opposite of being conformed to this world. The reality is that a real battle exists between these two options. The fact remains, however, that the Christian is to be different.

Let's consider the word transformed for a moment.

The English word metamorphosis comes from the Greek word used here. It means to change into another form. A great example is the caterpillar/butterfly transformation. The caterpillar transforms into something completely different.

The believer must undergo a radical change within his inner being. The believer must be transformed and changed inwardly. His real self—his very nature, essence, personality, inner being—must be changed.

When a person receives Jesus Christ into his life, he receives the mind and the image of Christ. The believer's mind and image are renewed, changed, turned around, and regenerated to focus upon God.

The believer is to live a transformed life; he is to walk day by day, renewing his mind more and more.

How are we to do that?

I believe that intentionality is the key. Our all-encompassing desire ought to be to concentrate upon God and the things of God. Therefore, our continuing focus is to be upon living and moving in God.

Adequate time reading and studying the Word of God along with prayer must be continually practiced.

As a final thought, we are not to conform to the world any longer.

Let's Pray,

Gracious Heavenly Father,

It is no secret that the world pressures us to conform from all sides.

We ask for the strength to resist.

Help us to have a singular focus upon You.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen!