PERFORM CONFORM FORLORN
October 9, 2017
Prayer: Oh Lord! Please help us to have true joy in You and courage to be our true selves.
Scripture: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 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. Romans 12:1-2 NIV
I enjoy going to church, Bible study, and many other Christian activities. So I wondered why some people, even those who profess to be Christians, steer far away from church, Bible study and prayer groups.
I began asking people I knew or met, “Why?” Some replied that they felt like they had to perform some great Bible knowledge or because they knew people who acted one way on Sunday and completely different the rest of the week. Either way they did not want to act or perform for anyone or anything. Some said they did not want to have to change or conform to be like everyone else at the church. They believed we all liked the same things, disliked the same things, dressed the same, watched the same TV shows, etc. They somehow think that going to Bible study means giving up your personal identity to become a church clone.
The last response was a sad one – literally. The response was that going to church or prayer meeting was too serious, that everyone looked so forlorn when they had visited. They believed that being a Christian meant saying good-bye to fun. They said that they had not meant many – if any – happy, cheerful, fun to be around church people. I said they must be hanging out with the wrong crowd because we have lots of fun.
How sad, how unfortunate, how ungodly that this is the message some people have received or believed. Today’s verse tells us that the only “act” is worship. If we come together and put on any other act, we do not fool God and hurt our testimony. Secondly, today’s verse says that we are to be transformed not conform. Going to Church, Prayer meeting, Bible study and other Christian gatherings provides opportunities for you to be refreshed, renewed, changed for God’s purpose and blessing, not for any worldly reasons or recognition.
Lastly, we have so many reasons to be cheerful and glad. If we look closely we will see that we are blessed beyond what we ever deserved, beyond what many others have in this world and especially with the blessing of God’s good, perfect and pleasing will for our lives. I pray that your prayer groups are a place where you can come and be real with one another. I pray that you do not perform for each other, that you do not conform to all be alike and that you are not afraid to express different thoughts and opinions sometimes.
How can we express the delights of knowing Christ?
My prayer is that you have fun together. Beyond the prayer and tears, I hope you laugh out loud together and enjoy meeting together each week.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]
Thanks Kathy This is a common malady that I have seen in my experiences with many churches over the years. So many think that Christians are the “frozen chosen” when we should be everything but that picture. Latt week I went to a Senior Living Home where a friend of mine was leading a study group on God’s Promises. His presentation was meaningful and full of life experiences but the reaction was dead silence from the majority of the group. Sad that we often live in a cocoon and don’t break out and become the butterflies that God wishes for us to be. Thanks for your continued insightful devotionals that keep us oh point as God’s messengers.