Conformed

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

CONFORMED

Prov 24:1-2

Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; 2 for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.

NIV

There is some repetition within the word of God. We see it throughout the whole bible. The reason seems clear enough that God knows we need to hear truth over and over again so we get the point. Here is another repeat about that fact we should not envy those people who do not confess Jesus as Lord, but have a life that seems far better than ours, at least in the material sense. When the word wicked is used it does not necessarily mean evil, bad, criminal type people. It can mean that type of people, but also morally bad, or morally corrupt, not living with any sense of respect toward God, in fact, they may even refuse to acknowledge God. Some of them might have a form of religion using the name of God on occasion, but have no real understanding of the gospel and of having a personal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. For the most part all that God calls wicked are both morally and mentally bankrupt. He has told us that all men’s hearts are bent toward evil all the time. That seems that would include us. But the difference is we have repented of that heart and asked Jesus to reign in our heart instead. So that if Christ reigns in our heart it no longer is bent toward evil, but rather bent toward God. That does not mean we are sinless, but it is not our desire to sin, as it is with those he calls wicked. They plot evil in their heart. They plot violence acts. Again this may not mean murder or physically hurting others, but rather acts against God. They speak against the path of righteousness, making humanism their path. We are not to envy them, but rather pity them. How can we live like them? How can we even desire to live in the darkness of their hearts? Are we so in want of the physical things of their world? Is money that important to us that we desire their way of life so we can gain more? Why would we want their company, to be with them, to accompany their pattern, to associate for the same goal? We are with God. When we say we are with God, which means we are with God. We cannot be both with the world and with God. So no need to be envious of them, they should be envious of us. We are told to no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed. 

Rom 12:1-2

 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

NIV

It is so easy to get sucked into the way the world thinks. We are constantly bombarded with all sorts of advertisements in multiply forms about everything the world has to offer. We only have one ad about what God has to offer. But his word is the only truth in advertising there is. All the rest are deceptive and lead to the path of destruction. Let us remember our minds have been renewed and we do not have to conform, to partnership, to accompany, to be with those in the world. We are being conformed to Jesus.

2 Cor 3:18

18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

NIV