RENEW YOUR MIND
Going Deep into Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 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.
- Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)
"You"
Well, we already established that Paul was writing to the believers in the church of Rome. However, this foundational teaching from Paul is just as foundational as it is for us as believers today. And again, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, all scripture is God-breathed. To complete the verse, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness"! Amen! Training in Righteousness! We'll come back to this later!
Suffice to say, the "you" is referring to all those who are in Christ and likewise, Christ is in them as part of the Family of God; and if this is not the case, then this vital instruction that Paul is about to reveal, does not apply.
Imagine getting a letter in your mailbox, stamped across the front in bold red letting, URGENT! OPEN IMMEDIATELY! Without delay, you tear open the letter curious as to what could be so important on this Tuesday afternoon. Your mind ponders, "Did I miss a bill payment?" "Did someone pass away?" Or maybe not so somber, perhaps it's an acceptance letter from your top choice university, or a letter informing you that you've inherited $1,000,000!
So many possibilities, your fingers excitedly fumble with the envelope, tossing it aside and quickly scanning the body of the text. You see dollar signs and a big number, hoping it's a payment to you, rather than something owed! Looking for key words like "congratulations", "awarded", "regret to inform" or worse, "penalty," you zero in on the words "would like to bestow to you . . ." and suddenly your eyes brighten with excited anticipation as the letter informs that an amount of $3 Million is headed your way!
Or is it? In your excitement and disbelief, your eyes drift to the top left corner of the letter for verification. It states, "Dear __NOT YOU___!
What once was a cause for excited celebration, has now sunk to annoyance and perhaps a little jealousy, as it turns out that "Not You" is actually your next door neighbor, and the money due to be bestowed to him is because he carries the same last name as the wealthy benefactor, and is included in the family's inheritance.
The same experience could be the case for those who might be reading Paul's letter, but are not a part of the body of believers in Rome; not a part of the family that Paul also belongs; the family of God.
Those who are not children of God do not carry the Spirit of Christ, and will be led astray, attempting to follow vital instruction, or hold on to the possibility of a rewarded inheritance (Colossians 3:24), all to be disappointed in the end when God says "Depart from me, I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)
This is a call to slow down. Don't brush too quickly past the salutation! Be sure that this letter to the believers in Rome, is also indeed addressed to . . . you.