Renovation…

 Renovation….

Early this morning I started to do a Bible study lesson on Romans 12:2…my mind wandered quickly in how that works…thinking about renovating houses..what a picture, I thought…reading further into the lesson, I found that the author had partially already taken my illustration…but, wanting to further that explanation, here is more…

When I was in grade school, my parents purchased a small two-story farmhouse in the country…needing much TLC, they started working through each room…scrapping, painting, revamping…the attic as rough unfinished wood, which eventually became my room. We finished it off by insulating, painting, building a closet, shelving and finally carpeting…and voila a I had a room( I had been sleeping in the utility room on a fold-up bed)…

They did all of this, actually, in preparation to build a regular sized home, on the same property at a later date…which they did when I was in high school and college…piece by piece, project after project…until eventually the new one replaced the other…many years in the renovation and building…the goal had been in their mind and they diligently worked for it…and one day they had a mortgage burning party…it was complete…paid for…finished…until they moved moved to smaller quarters as they aged…

Since then our family has renovated two houses, built four…my children have each had their homes renovated and/or built new ones over time…all for the better…acceptable…

Fixing up to make better…changing…piece by piece transforming…with a goal in mind…isn’t that what Romans 12:2 is talking about?

I especially liked “The Message” version of this verse…

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Romans 12:1 MSG

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.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Romans 12:2 AMP

We were transforming houses into homes that fit our family…God wants us to renovate our minds to be transforming into 

Godly character…which is his plan and purpose for each of us…through His Word, His truth-revealing Spirit, His example… 

Thank YOU… 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12,14

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. 

Psalm 86:11