Transformers

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“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” 
​                                                                        Romans 12 :2 NLT

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​My three-year-old grandson is visiting at my house. He is a busy boy with an active imagination. From the time he awakens in the morning and comes into our bedroom to say, “Good morning,” he is already role-playing as one of his favorite cartoon show characters. He quickly reminds me that he is not “Joseph,” the name given him by his parents, he is “Poli”.
 
The character, Poli, is a car who transforms into a robot when help is needed. Of course, this transforming car has helpful friends who also transform to assist any of the vehicles in their imaginary community who might find themselves in desperate situations and need help.
 
Pretending to be Poli is very real to my grandson; he often remains in character for an entire day. He acts as he thinks Poli would act. He also asks his grandparents to play along. Our Joseph, or rather, Poli, wants his Papa and me to transform into other members of the imaginary rescue team as well.
 
His play has made me think about Romans 12:2. In this verse, the Apostle Paul tells his readers, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (NIV)
 
The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
 
Jesus desires to transform His followers into like-minded friends. Jesus didn’t think the way others thought when He lived on this earth. He thought like His Heavenly Father. Jesus amazed the common people and frustrated the Jewish religious leaders with the truths He taught and the authority with which He taught them. He turned people’s views upside-down by saying things like, “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”
 
A few verses later Jesus told His listeners, “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:21, 27-28) Jesus’ words were revolutionary; the ways of heaven invading earth.
 
As followers of Jesus, we cannot think or act in ways that imitate the ways of the world. We have to let God transform our thinking to be like His. To know the way God thinks, we have to get to know Him through the reading of His Word and listening to His Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Tomorrow morning, my Joseph “Poli” will invade my bedroom and transform into a robot superhero. Tomorrow morning, God is wanting to transform my thinking and make me a new person who loves more freely, surrenders more easily and desires His will above my own.

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