Be Transformed

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind - Romans 12:2.

Draw near to God – James calls us to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and draw near to Him. By humbling ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up.

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up - James 4:7,8,10.

Control the Tongue – James warns about the power of the tongue, comparing it to a small spark that can set a great forest on fire and encourages us to tame our tongues to prevent harm.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so - James 3:6-10.

Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity - Proverbs 21:23.

Be patient – James encourages us to be patient like farmers waiting for the harvest that is valuable.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. - James 5:7,8.

Live Holy – We are called to be holy in all we do.

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy" - 1 Peter 1:15,16.

Love one another fervently with a pure heart - As we are born again through the word of God which lives and abides forever, we need to love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever - 1 Peter 1:22,23.

Desire the Word as Newborn Babes – Like infants crave for milk, let us desire pure milk of the word to nourish spiritually and to grow in our salvation. 

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious - 1 Peter 2:1-3.

                                                                           

                                                                  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind by drawing nearer to You, controlling the tongue, being patient, love one another fervently, living holy and desiring the Word. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.