Romans 12:2 . ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

DAILY READING – Ephesians 5:21-33; Ezekiel 16; Isaiah 45.

Galileo Galilei was born in Pisa, Italy where he grew up with his brothers and sisters during the Italian Renaissance.
Galileo grew up to become an accomplished musician and an excellent student. He further wanted to become a doctor, so he went to the University of Pisa to study medicine in 1581.
While at university, Galileo became interested in physics and mathematics. After leaving the university, he got a job as a teacher and began to experiment with pendulums, levers, balls, and other objects. During this time, there weren’t really “scientists” as we know them today. People studied the works of the classical philosophers and thinkers such as Aristotle. They didn’t run experiments or test out the ideas. They just believed them to be true.
Galileo, however, had different ideas. He wanted to test the principals and see if he could observe them in the real world. This was a new concept to the people of his time and laid the foundation for the scientific method.
Galileo’s experiments made some people angry, because they didn’t want the traditional views to be questioned.
Prior to then, it had been generally accepted that the Earth was the center of everything. But in 1609, Galileo built his own telescope and began to use it to view the planets. As Galileo studied the planets and the Sun, he became convinced that the Earth and the other planets orbited the Sun. Even though he was a devout Christian, the Catholic Church of that time considered Galileo’s ideas as heresy. At first they sentenced him to life in prison, but later allowed him to live at his home in Tuscany under house arrest, there he would eventually die. 300 years after his death, the Catholic Church that had punished him admitted that he was absolutely right and gave him a post humous pardon.

One of the characteristics of great men who have made mighty impacts in their generation is their refusal to be molded and shaped by the world around them. Great men are great because they chose to be different. They stand for their convictions, no matter what.
But not many people have the courage to act outwardly on what they see inwardly. Most men live lives of mediocrity and so make no real or lasting impact on the course of human history. Many prefer to fit in with the popular opinion and act like everyone else.
Today, the kingdom of God needs believers who would dare to be different and refuse to compromise and conform.
In many of His sermons, Jesus taught His disciples to think differently from what had been modeled around them.
As believers we must be willing to serve God totally and proclaim His truth wherever we go. It may not make us popular, but we are called to walk the strait and narrow path. You weren’t born to become what others want you to be. Be different and make a difference. You will always have a choice in life. It’s the choice to accept the status quo, or to stand out; to be unique or to be just a part of a mass.
We must choose always to do what is right and not cower in the face of oppositions. Our choice to obey God and live by His high standards may make people ridicule us, and despise us for our faith. However, we must choose to please God always and refuse to conform to the ways of the world.

Romans 12:2 says ‘And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’

We live in a society that wants us to conform, but we are called by Christ to be transformed, through the renewing of our mind. It is easy to want to be like everyone else, However 1 Peter 2:9 – 10 tells us that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special (peculiar) people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.’
We must therefore make the choice to be uncommon and live by higher standards. As we do, God will reward us with uncommon favor, uncommon blessings and uncommon miracles.

PRAYER: Lord, please, grant me the courage and boldness to stand out in my generation and live a life that constantly glorifies You. By Your Grace I will not conform to the world but will rather be continually transformed by Your Word in Jesus Name.
QUOTE;
When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction. WORDBTE 222