Conformer or Transformer?

By:  Donna Martin

Have you ever wondered about the reality of the Bible and the truths that are found there?  Have you ever questioned the validity of it all?  If you are a normal human being even a devout believer, moments of doubt are normal.  I was pondering this when I was going for an afternoon walk a few days ago. I was burdened with the thought of how so many people today take their belief in God so lightly.  One powerful reason that we can believe that the gospel is true and that Jesus actually died and was raised from the dead is by the life and testimonies of the early believers.  These men and women had seen Christ with their own eyes.  They had seen Him die and had seen him alive after His resurrection.  These people were so devoted to God that they were willing to literally give their lives for Him.  It was evident to all who saw them that they were different.  They were filled with the love of God and they were eager to share their faith with others even if it meant persecution and death.

We have not seen the risen Christ with our own eyes, but as believers God has given us the Holy Spirit who speaks to us and directs our lives.  1 John 3:24 tells us, “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them.  And this is how we know that he lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit he gave us.”  The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and nudges us to do the things that God wants us to do.  Sadly, many believers do not read the Bible and pray and have become so controlled by the desires of the world that their hearts are not open to the prodding of the Holy Spirit.

Many people who proclaim to be followers of Christ do not live any differently from those who deny Him.  It frightens me to think of the children who are growing up in a country that is teetering on striping followers of Christ from the freedom to believe and practice our worship of God publicly without fear of punishment.  I thought of the thousands of children who are so busy with dance, sports, video games, music lessons and hundreds of other activities; children who are entertained for hours by TV and movies; children who attend church only when it is convenient for their parents.  Will these children grow up to be adults who never even realize that they have lost their freedom of religious expression because they were brought up in homes where faith in God was not a priority – in homes where their parents said they were believers, but their lives were no different from the lives of nonbelievers?  But more frightening is this question… will these children never have a personal relationship with Christ?

What about you?  Are you living a life so that your children, your spouse, your grandchildren, and other people can see that you and your family are different from those families who do not believe in God?  If not, how can you begin to do that?  It is simple.  Pray throughout the day and ask God to guide you.  Read your Bible daily.  It is God’s Word and guide book for our life.  God speaks to us as we pray and read the Bible.  He puts thoughts in our minds and dreams in our hearts as we ask Him to lead us.  Make church attendance a priority.  Read and study your Bible so that you will know that the church you attend is teaching the truth.  Look at your priorities.  Is doing God’s will more important to you than anything else?  Read the Bible to and pray with your children every day.  Romans 12:2 tells us, “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)

We are only one generation away from losing our religious freedoms.  We must take our belief in God seriously.  We must live so that our children and grandchildren will come to know God and that their lives will be transformed by God and not conformed to the world.

The Martins currently present “Happy Together” Marriage Enrichment Events for churches and organizations.  To schedule an event call Michael at 940-735-1515. They are certified “Prepare/Enrich” Facilitators and are available to work with couples on an individual basis using the “Prepare/Enrich Assessment.”  They publish a weekly “Happy Together” Blog about family and marriage issues.  You can order copies of their new books Dancing With Death and 366 Tidbits We Have Learned in 14,610 Days of Marriage, read, and subscribe to their “Happy Together” Blog by logging onto the Martin’s website at www.happytogethermarriages.com.

Galatians 1:10 "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (ESV)