Venturing Out
How often do you find yourself needing to conform to the world?
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. - Romans 12:2-3
In today's reading from Romans, Paul tells u snot to conform to the world but instead to transform ourselves to the will of God.
How do we do that? How do we know what God's will for us is?
According to Paul, God has graced each of us with special gifts, talents and abilities that are ours alone, gifts that align us with a function or purpose.
That purpose may or may not become evident to us until we connect with each other. As each member of the body has its own ability, but provides the whole body with greater potential when all work together, so it is with us. We become more useful to the rest of the body when we work as one.
So, our purpose may not become clear until we find the right structure or organization within which to operate. Yes, we have value on our own, and we may think that is great, but imagine what we can do in the right situation, the right environment?
That's when the plan comes together, when we find ourselves in the right place for our skills and talents.
The challenge, I think, is to break out and find that right mix, to step out of the comfort of our current placement in the world and try a new arrangement on for size.
But venturing out is frightening. No one wants to give up what they have for the hope of something better, even if they know that what they have is not the greatest thing possible.
So, God will find a way to push and prod us to change. It is how He works. He did it with Paul and He will do it to or for us.
It may be scary at first, and it will change us, but in the end, we will find the alignment and purpose intended for us. It is His will, and we might as well give it a try. We may just be surprised.
More to come...