July 21 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

We must now think about the new style of living to which Christians are called. According to verse 1, it consists of surrender to God in perfect obedience.

When we give ourselves to God, we live quite differently than those who live for themselves. A lifestyle that is consistent with self-surrender to God is one that does not "conform to the pattern of this world." This world means whatever and whoever is still outside the redeeming movement of the Holy Spirit.

Paul does not describe the shape and fashion of the present world. We are all acquainted with it. We are supposed to see through it. We are not allowed to conform to it. The life of the old world—that is, the present world—is lived for the present and not for the future. God has no place in this kind of life. It is lived for self and for pleasure. It tries to avoid difficult questions and ultimate issues.

We are called to a new style of living in the broad patterns of our lives as well as in the details of living, our everyday behavior. Instead of imitating secular patterns, Christian living must proceed from inner renewal. "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

The renewal begins in our mind, the center of our conscious existence. It is the new principle that the Holy Spirit created in us when we were born "from above," or born again. Now this transformation must be worked out in our total behavior, so that all of it is pleasing to God.

This transformation of our existence into a new style of living is, of course, a lifelong, full-time job. And the last parts of the big job will not be finished until the Lord has completed his work with us. But don't use the size of the job as an excuse for postponing action. It's not enough to say that it's a big job; the question is how we are coming along right now.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. The test of conversion is a new style.

REFLECTIONS

What pressures do you feel to "conform to the world"? Where do you see progress in your "transformation"?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.