And sometimes as we are restored and draw close to God in Christ’s name, we become aware of those things that have become habitual. Our Morning Prayer may start “Dear Lord, I’ve done it again!…”. We can let the demands and trends of the secular world and society in which we live begin to mould the way we think and act. This can be a very subtle form of distraction away from the lifestyle of discipleship.
We now turn again to scripture and the second great “therefore” quoted from the New Testament:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 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. (Romans 12: 1-2)
There is a wonderful hymn “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” that surely is inspired by this passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is good to make time to allow a self-examination or perhaps allow ourselves to be examined by the Holy Spirit and to see those habits we have fallen into.
Last week we talked about being reconnected. This week we see something else. As we put right those habits, it is as if we are re-wiring the way we think and act. This may include discovering new habits – new ways of starting our days. For example, we may realise that it is better to do our prayers in the morning before we open our emails and newsfeeds, so part of re-wiring is to be receptive to new ways of doing things.
And then look at what Paul says. By being both reconnected and re-wired, we are able to see more clearly what God’s will is. This would include His plans for our lives and also how we react to people around us.
Nigel
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