What Did Paul Mean by: “Do not be shaped by this world?”
The world constantly presses Christians into its mold — and Paul knew it. Here's what his call to a "new way of thinking" actually demands of us day to day.
What did Paul mean in Romans 12:2 when he told the Christian believers in Rome, “Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.” I have learned that he was urging a diverse group of Jewish and non-Jewish Christians not to copy the behaviors and mindset of the secular world around them. It is easy to allow the things of this world to control people even Christians. Paul did not want Christians to turn away from God and be shaped by the desires of the world. The things of the world cannot truly satisfy people like God can.
God can truly satisfy people but for me, it can still be hard to do what the world does because I do not want to feel like an outsider or an outcast. Nevertheless, Paul’s desire for Christians is for them to stay focused on Christ’s behavior for their lives. It is important for Christians not to follow the principles of the world and to avoid the worldly desires like lust of the flesh, pride, and material success. Why did Paul want that? These behaviors are similar to people who follow the devil and are not of God (Psalm 1:1, 1 John 3:10).
Satan may be the god and the ruler of this world, but born-again children of God are no longer under Satan's rule and the power of sin (Acts 26:18). Since God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, we should let Jesus' actions be the way we follow. Let us try to live a holy life like our Savior did. Let Him mold our new way of thinking, behaviors, and values. Study the Bible so you will know what God wants for you and what is good and pleasing to Him and what is perfect. Amen!
Prayer of the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
Thank you for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and of sin. Because of this, we are no longer shaped by the world but are transformed by Your power to understand the gospel. The gospel helps us change our way of thinking within us, so Satan has no power in our lives. Please help us to act like Jesus. He is our firm foundation and light in this world of darkness.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!