Pattern of the World
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 12:2
We are to conform to the pattern of God and not to the pattern of the world. We are to follow the desires of the Spirit and not the desires of the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13) This is the battle we all face.
Satan is a master at deceiving people as he tempts us by being an angel of light. He plays with our justification to get a foothold in our lives so we sometimes follow the pattern of the world. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. (John7:17) We seek to do the Lord’s will, and we pray that we make the right decision between my will and God’s will. Life can become a pattern of sharing my will and God’s will, especially when the Lord calls us to do something and we choose to do our will instead.
Christians normally do God’s will to best of their ability, but we have to be careful of Satan’s deceptions that play on our justification., If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” This meant that He always did the Father’s work. The Son never did His own work. (John 10:37) Jesus is the model for our life, we follow the will of Christ no matter what we are doing in this world, whether on vacation, at work, or when we are alone.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) This verse is the answer to serving the Lord in everything we do. If we can be mindful that we do everything to serve the Lord, then we will do everything with all our hearts. This is a powerful verse because when do everything for Christ, people will see Christ in us, and we can remain holy.
When do everything for Christ we are Holy, which means we are not following the pattern of the world but following the pattern of God. But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Being Holy separates us from the pattern of the world, and people will see the pattern of God in us. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) It is critical that we not conform to the pattern of the world, but that we remember that we are to be Holy at all times. This comes natural to most Christians, but Satan is always trying to get a foothold in our lives to make us unholy.
Today follow Christ and do not conform to the pattern of the world, but remain Holy, doing everything as doing it for Christ.
Prayer: Keep me from conforming to the pattern of the word, but to remain holy doing everything for Christ. In Jesus name, Amen