“A word fitly spoken is like APPLES OF GOLD in a setting of silver” Proverbs 25v11
Every day we make decisions – some are straightforward, but others are life-changing. We are often influenced by what we call our gut-feelings which can be in conflict to what our head tells us and sometimes our emotions can cloud our judgement with ‘if it will make me happy it must be right’. Committed Christians realise wrong decisions have consequences not only in this life, but also for all eternity so they need to know God’s will. The Bible is our handbook and essential advice is found in Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”.
The original Greek word translated ‘transformed’ in our Bibles is ‘metamorphoo’ from which we get the word metamorphosis which describes the amazing and irreversible process by which a caterpillar changes into a pupa and then into a beautiful butterfly. If we want to know God’s will, we need to be metamorphosed from a mindset that is self-centred and only concerned with the ‘here and now’ and has ‘me’ as its focus to a God-centred eternal perspective with Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives. If we don’t, we will find ourselves like chameleons constantly changing our identity as situations vary and we never become the beautiful “butterflies” God made us to be. But practically, how do we renew our minds?
Even though Christians have become spiritually alive we still have minds, attitudes and emotions influenced by this secular world of materialism, humanism and celebrity worship. Only by a conscious desire to permanently reject the superficial and temporary nature of this world’s moral and value system and replace it with a mind-set based on Biblical values can we be transformed and thus know God’s will. If we are constantly and prayerfully being saturated with God’s Word by reading and studying the Bible, our minds will be renewed and we will automatically have a Godly influenced common sense and a Godly sensitised conscience and thus make good decisions. However, there are times when we need extra special guidance and ‘metamorphosed’ believers will have God’s will revealed in some or all of the following ways: a good conscience, prompting by the Holy Spirit, Scripture verses coming to our remembrance at the appropriate moment, doors closing or opening as we prayerfully continue in a certain direction and seeking spiritually mature and wise Christians to give guidance.
Part of being ‘metamorphosed’ is to have a teachable and humble spirit which listens and obeys even though the message is not what we want to hear. Never forget – we must always test and approve what we are convinced is God’s will by ensuring it is not in conflict with Biblical teaching. One aspect of God’s will that is never in doubt though, is His desire for a spiritual awakening in our community and throughout the world. He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth-1 Timothy 2v4
God Bless, Graeme Greenwood