Take Me Deeper - Week 1

It's week one in the Take Me Deeper course over at His Kingdom Come. This week's Bible prompt is Romans 12:1-2:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as  a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

The things that first jumped out at me were the words conform, transform, and renew.

Conform - to comply; measure up to; be similar in form to. We are commanded not to be conformed to the world. Don't be shaped to the world, but press close to God and be shaped according to His moulding. 

Transform - dramatic and thorough change in form, appearance, character, or nature. When we meet with God we undergo a transformation, much like a caterpillar into a butterfly. We change completely (or we should!) because now we are pressing close to God and conforming to Him and not the world. Our whole outlook on what is important changes. The fruit we produce should change to that which is more acceptable to God.

Renew - re-establish a relationship; give fresh life or strength to; replace something broken. God renews us in all these ways: we are reconciled to Him through Christ's death and resurrection; we are given new life and strengthened to live in a way that is acceptable to God; and we are mended in those places that we are broken.

Of course, some of these things need to continue over a life time, but when we are willing to present ourselves to Him and trust Him to do His will in our lives, we will see transformation.