Jello is an amazing food—if congealed sugar-water can be
considered such. It’s colorful, tasty, fun,
and is found in an almost infinite variety of shapes. This is possibly Jello’s best quality. You can mold it into anything you want—just
mix, pour, refrigerate, and be patient. Since
Jello has no form of its own, it simply takes the shape of the mold it’s placed
in.
Christians should not be Jello. Though our lives should be bright with God’s
grace, and we should bring flavor to the earth around us, and we should be full
of joy, and we should be adaptable to various situations, we should not simply
take the shape of the mold we are placed in.
We are not to be formed by forces from the outside, but, instead, we should
be influenced and affected by the Force on our inside. Since the One in us is greater than the one in
the world(1 Jn 4:4), we are instructed to “not
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind”(Rom 12:2).
I’ll be the first to admit that it’s hard to not give in
to the constant pressures of the current culture. I’m not talking about fashion or style (though
we probably should have said, “No!” to polyester pantsuits from the seventies
and bubble suits in the eighties!) This
verse delves into much deeper stuff—the pervasive attitudes and perspectives of
the world in which we live. Even those
who intentionally isolate themselves from technology, media, and common social
interactions cannot escape the “pattern
of this world” and must deal with the decision to conform or transform. No matter who we are or where we are, we must
continually choose our point of view for life’s circumstances, situations, and
options. The world will ask, “Is it good
for me?” We should ask, “Does it bring
God glory?” The world will say, “Get all
you can.” We should say, “Give all you
can.” The world will scream, “Live for
now!” We should shout, “Make now count
for later.”
The pattern of this world is not shaped around the
unchanging, unalterable, perfect Word of God but is based on the shallow lies
of a defeated rebel. He started weaving
his web of deceit in Eden where Eve succumbed to his temptation and fell for a
piece of forbidden fruit. The agonizing pain
of sin and death which still follows should continually remind us that the
pattern of this world holds only empty promises, broken hearts, and shattered
lives.
Thankfully, so thankfully, by God’s grace, we have been
given the mind of Christ(1 Cor 2:16), and our lives can be transformed by
focusing on Him (more on how to do that next devotion). As we
face every choice in all the areas of life—financial, social, spiritual,
relational, recreational—we must decide whether will we conform or be
transformed.
Something or someone will shape you today. Will it be a selfish world or your wonderful
Savior?
You choose.
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