PROVE IT by Maria Hartman

In my recent study of Romans, I have learned incredible things about how our loving Father instructs His needy children. I finished Chapter 12 this morning but keep thinking about many of the verses. Today I'd like to share some of what the Holy Spirit has taught me regarding the first couple.

Romans 12:1 talks about how we must present to God, our body....in the form of a living sacrifice. This is something that will require much of me. My body is to be holy and acceptable to God; not acceptable to me, or to the world, but to God only. It goes on to say that this is my reasonable service. In light of God's provision for me, this is what is reasonable for me and you. V2 says: And do not be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. I have a challenge for you. Don't skim over that verse because you have read it and heard it so many times.

We are receiving instructions from God. He is speaking to YOU about what He wants, and He is telling you HOW and what will happen. He is also giving us very descriptive words that require careful consideration.

When we are conformed to something, we become like it; it is a shared similarity. We conform to all sorts of things, but what pops right into my mind is how teenagers dress. They conform to the dressing styles of their peers.
The definition of 'transformed' is very different: it is to change the nature, function, or condition of. This word is a verb; it is action.......your NATURE, although not done away with fully, it is no longer a dominating factor for every choice (now we can choose Christ instead of sin!), your FUNCTION has been changed, (its no longer about wanting what I want, its about wanting more of HIM!) and so has your CONDITION (death and hell are no longer mine but I am made alive in Jesus now, and will live with Him for all eternity!)
Transformation does not happen overnight; it is a process just like that of a creeping caterpillar on its way to becoming a butterfly. But the process literally requires some work on our part. God begins it at the moment of salvation and enables it to happen by His Spirit, but look and see what YOU and I have to do next. We are told to renew our minds. Here is where I began to get a fresh revelation of God's Word. We renew our minds in and through the Word first; our output will never change unless the input is holy. We renew our minds in prayer, and we renew our minds as we sing praises to God, publicly or privately. We also renew our minds when we choose obedience over sin, and when we place another before ourselves in any situation. These are the characteristics of godliness which are all a part of the renewing process.

Now, get this: when I do that, and when you do that.......we may prove, to the watching world and even to ourselves, what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God!! Friends, God has told us how we can PROVE Him true and real and powerful to another person! It cannot be done any other way, but it can be done this way!!

For Today: After we have clearly made a decision for Christ, we are called to present our bodies a living sacrifice to Him, and we are called to renew our minds.
But notice, without renewing my mind, I won't be transformed. A caterpillar cannot fly, but instead crawls on the ground, and is bound to this earth in a body that is greatly limited, until the time of transformation. And then, it has a new nature, function, and condition! It is NOTHING like what it once was! And we too, unless we renew our minds by the washing of the Word, will not be transformed. We'll work without results and give up in utter frustration, only proving that we are inadequate in our own strength.

If you know Jesus Christ, you are new. If you know Him, you are a 'butterfly' who has been set free; no longer bound by crawling along the earth and looking down at the dirt, but flying high to wherever He leads. And with that, comes the great privilege and responsibility to renew your mind.............you are set free to 'fly' to a position and place where you can PROVE the perfect will of God...........that Jesus Christ is the only One with the power to change anyone, for life.

I'm sure the butterfly is exactly what a discouraged old caterpillar needs every time! What better proof is there than that?

Has your life proved to another something incredible and beautiful about God today?