Rom 12:2 NIV
2 Do not conform any longer 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.
Get an education. Get a car. Get a job. Get a social life with Mr. Jones. There are just certain things that you must do in life to be successful. Certain activities that promote the idea of conformity are accepted. This is life at its best; everyone is comfortable with this philosophy.
When life is all over you play with your grandchildren on your knees; then expire in some institution where you are left all alone. As we walk into the gates of heaven we are asked what did we do to merit being let in to those pearly gates, and we are tongue tied.
When thinking about the things we have done; we ask the question …is it enough?
No it is not enough!
As it is perceived that a single unmarried individual is a threat to all married individuals, or so it is perceived by some people, Jesus asks us to be a non-conformist in a conformist’s world. It is in this apparent contradictory state of mind that He will renew our minds and give us definition and purpose for living. Then are we happy. Then we will have the happy face.
It is not enough to live only a good life! There is something that we must do! We must give Jesus our all and let His thoughts be our thoughts. Conforming to this world will get us this world’s rewards. Conforming to Jesus will get us His rewards. What is there to think about sister or brother?
We all can see what we must do to conform to this world; examples are everywhere. How can I follow the ways of God to reap his benefits? How can I see His will in my life and know it is of God? The first thing we must do is see that everything that happens to us is a matter of our interaction with God. We must pray and expect God to move and trains us.
Lately, I have been sick. I have had a cold and sore throat. I felt miserable; like I needed an antibiotic to get rid of this sickness. The most common sense thing to do is when you get sick is go and see a doctor
Now here in the States we have a certain process to get a prescription. Everyone knows what we have to do to get a prescription. Make the doctor’s appointment, see the doctor, go to the pharmacy, get the medicine, and then go home and wait until the medicine takes effect.
In about three days the antibiotic starts doing its job and you start to feel better. This is the path to start feeling better. In China, we would go to a hospital where we would be diagnosed and medicine prescribed and out of the hospital in fifteen minutes. Doctors are very fast in China, not like they are here in the US. In China the doctors are waiting most of the time to see patients to decrease the boredom of their day, and then the patient gets an intravenous drip of antibiotics. After three hours the patient starts to feel better.
This time the Lord Jesus told me to wait. He was going to provide the antibiotics and spend some time talking to me. I had no earthly way of knowing how this was going to happen, yet I am always anxious to see God work in my life, and this was no exception to my life of sustained maintenance from my Savior and Lord.
It was a hard way at first, yet as usual, Jesus came through and provided what I needed. He provided the antibiotics from a dear saint who went to Mexico to buy cheaper antibiotics. Chinese are not the only country that makes drugs much cheaper than America.
Another dear saint who heads my Tuesday night Bible study, Sister Lynn Hicks, came over with a prayer request and a big pot of Chicken noodle soup. She obeyed the Lord and also brought over some fruit. This dear saint and I have been praying for her husband, and daughter and other prayer requests.
He also gave me insight into soy milk a Chinese staple. The soy milk I had had in China was very plain; here in America it tastes better. Commercial products do have their value as far as quality is concerned.
What I am about to tell you is the main reason that Jesus lets me see His power more than some people see His power. This is my secret; my ultimate reason that turns me on to Jesus as my provider. It is the one thing that I can do and no one else can do for me.
I tell them. Who do I tell? Anyone who will listen gets the word of testimony from me. I asked Jesus one time to show me things about Him that were miraculous, and it would result in my exclamation of His power! This was during the infamous “God is dead” movement here in the USA.
It has been thrilling to keep my promise to Him. Do you have a heart to do the same thing for our blessed Lord and Savior? Then go by all means to speak about what He has done in your life. Be ready in season and out of season to proclaim His glory to as many people who will listen. Look for ways to make His presence known. Let it become a passion that lights up your life.
Miracles, from raising the dead to seeing the Lord Jesus provide chicken soup and antibiotics for you and others will be the result. We may not be able to do miracles that Jesus did, and yet we can always tell others. This is how we can be conformed to Christ’s image in a dynamic way.
This is how we can brazenly say to the keeper of the Gate of Heaven the reason we should be let inside.
We went and told others about Jesus…
Copyright © 2006 Carl A Patton. All rights reserved.
