"If you obey my laws and regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord."
- Leviticus 18:5
My Daily Walk bibles asks, "Are you transformed by godliness or conformed to worldliness?"
I wondered, can you be both? Then I read the next sentence, "or are you deformed by trying to be both?
It went on to suggest a list of areas in my life in which I may be too much of a conformist so I did.
I ended up with a list that revealed just how deformed I am, most of which will remain in my personal journal. They ranged from the TV programs/movies that I watched to sacrificing my time with God for other activities.
Could my shirts be a little more modest?
What about the "questionable" jokes that I laugh at so I won't offend the person telling them?
Every single thing that was on that list, is something I can change NOW. They are actions - something I can do or control, myself, to be one step closer to being fully transformed into the likeness of Christ.
There are other things that take time to change - having more compassion, self-control, resisting thoughts of jealousy or judgment - those things will come through prayer, trials and practice. These are issues of the heart and mind.
How can I expect to be renewed in my heart and mind, if, by my actions I am conformed to the world?
The truth is, I can't. I can't walk in perfect harmony with the world and expect to be transformed into God's character. It can't be done.
I can pretend. But who wants to be deformed?
I heard a quote once and God brought it to mind today. I think it's very fitting.
"A person can't go anywhere while they are straddling a fence."
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