Stand Up and Please God

Romans 12:1-3

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Rom. 12:2)

VIJAY WAS A GOOD FRIEND of mine. In our first year of college, we were given a pop quiz one day in class. Several of the other students were copying from each other. We were a large class and the professor could not have seen that far. But Vijay refused to do what the others were doing. He was prepared to take a lower grade than to compromise his integrity. College was a long time ago for me, but there was something so powerful about Vijay's quiet refusal to follow "the pattern of this world" that I have not been able to get out of my mind. When we follow the ways of the world, we will be like everyone else around us. Our Lord Jesus, however, wants us to be different. The church is the "called out" people of God. We are called to stand out and be separate. We are to be seen for our holy disobedience to the pattern of this world. Doing what is right comes from staying in God'sWord. And our unwillingness to conform to the world's patterns please God. Vijay pleased God that day in college. In my heart, I saw God smile in approval. He wants to give us His approval as we take the rough road of humility that contradicts the ways of this world.

A. Koshy Muthalaly

When that tough decision faces you today, choose transformation rather than conformation.