Patterns

 You get what you pay for.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Nothing in life is free.
There are only two things certain in this life, death and taxes.
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Can't complain. No one would listen anyway.

 How many of these memorable quotes have you heard? How many have come out of your mouth? How many have you actually believed?

 Paul, an apostle of the Christian faith wrote these words of caution in a letter to the church that existed in first century Rome, "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world ..." He was speaking to a world view, a way of thinking; an adopted outlook on life.

 The quotes above make sense; they seem to have some truth to them, an element of sensibility. And they may carry some truth, but they certainly carry much more. Hidden behind their surface meaning exists a philosophy, an attitude, a pattern of thought. Under the covers you'll find words that, in contrast to providing true wisdom or life direction, drain hope like a cracked pot. Along with the advice found in these quotes comes an attitude of defeat and finality. 

 Now, before you start thinking that I'm hating on these sayings, or have a vendetta for these particular well-known quotes, allow me to clarify my critique. I'm not out to tear down or destroy these familiar sayings. But what I am saying is that words ingrained and familiar do not carry truth simply because they've been ingrained into our society and are comfortably familiar to our ears. While these quoted words may try to act as guides or mini oracles to our lives, they will never transform our lives.

 And our lives need transformation.

 The same Paul who wrote the words of caution to the church in Rome continued his thoughts to that church in the following words, "... but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Our lives need transformation and our minds need renewing.

 But renewing from what? Renewing from the thought patterns of this world; the repetitions that are expected to be taken for granted. Never questioning, never challenging, simply accepting. It's like a scene out of a George Orwell science fiction work. In the midst of this, the main character, the hero of the story, takes a stand and says, "Wait! I've had a different thought, and it doesn't agree with what I've been told all of my life." Brave is the man who stands up to what he knows when the light of truth floods his soul.

 Your word is truth. Jesus said those words. He was speaking to His Father, God.

 God's words are true and they are contained in scripture. The next time you crack open a bible (whether your first time or the ten thousandth time), whisper these simple words, "Holy Spirit, transform my mind with Your words." And watch, with eyes wide open, as you see a different pattern unfold before your eyes; a pattern that may be unfamiliar to you, a pattern that will transform you.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Promises of God If God makes a promise, can you depend on it? Does He have the power to carry out what He says He will do? Is His word trustworthy? Those of us who know God will quickly answer yes. We know that God is not only powerful, He is also faithful. So what about that cold that we’ve been battling for the past two weeks, or what about the glaucoma, the cancer, the emotional issues, the mental hangups? The anxiety. Doesn’t God promise that He will heal all of our diseases? I know of Christians that have been healed, but I also know of those who have gone to their grave with their disease, and even at times, because of it. Why the disconnect? Has God forgotten some while healing others? Why does tragedy strike some who have faith in God while skirting around others? Before I answer that question (it’s really one question), let’s look at the Scripture to see what it has to say about the promises of God. Here are three things we can say about His promises - The promises of God
Read more
Image
Sometimes dreams must die. Dreams never realized can be heartbreaking, but there's nothing that leads to that craggy road called discouragement more directly than dreams realized and then lost. The hope of marriage broken on the rocks of disappointment and conflict. Booming investments in the market tail spinning into oblivion on the comment of a high political official. God's promises realized seemingly put to bed for good.  Seemingly.  I want to give you hope. She is just sleeping. The young vibrant female we call hope is not dead. She is just sleeping. But she needed to lay her head down into a lifeless slumber, lest, we come to trust in her instead of Someone greater. There's a story of a rich woman, a childless woman. Her lifelong and dormant dream was to give birth to a child. It was a hope for her, a dream; a good dream. Many of us are like her. We hope, but never get our hopes too high, lest they be disappointed; lest we be let down into the overwhelming mir
Read more
In the Hands of a Hungry Pilgrim Its cover is worn with bent edges Its pages yellowed with passing time It smells of age and cellar Its years beyond mine In it though a treasure resides Words of hope and strength and life From page to page and word to word Come truths to help and remind Its resting place seemed its forever home Until seeking eyes upon it fell And the thirsty heart felt strength arise Its page's words a restoring supply Discarded not, nor left behind From elder hearts come treasures prized Not set aside but dearly held In the hands of a hungry pilgrim We carry in us, in these earthen vessels, treasure of great worth and value, deposited by the Lord. Like an old book, some of us are wearing with the years and feeling the cricks and cracks of an aging body. But still, the treasure remains.  We may feel, like an old book, threadbare and tattered, but that does not mean we are not useful in the Master's hands. Our pages may be yellowed and st
Read more