I was reading Romans 12:1-2 yesterday and thinking about it this morning and I was trying to think through the difference between these words.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing/renewal of your mind."
I don't know about you, but the fact that two different words were used here has always stood out to me. I mean, why not say, "Don't be conformed to the world, but be conformed by the...." or "don't be transformed by the world, but be transformed by the..."?
So, let's just take a quick peek at the Greek words and their definitions.
Syschematizo: "to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to)"
Metamorphoo: "to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
This word has the same root as our word metamorphosis. (frogs, butterflies, etc.)
I really like how this plays out. So, the transformation seems to be self-directed. It is looking at the world and saying, "I want to be like that." Ironically, this is so much easier to do than we might originally think. Sure, it is easy to say, "I don't want to be sinful and wicked" but is that all that this means? Is it that simple?
Materialistic things. Having a great job to provide a lifestyle that I want. Being able to focus on my family or myself more than anyone or anything else and never feel guilty for it.
But we have a higher calling. To become something we currently aren't. Not just to try to pattern ourselves, but to seek to allow ourselves to be completely changed. This is NOT self-directed. I mean, we are actively seeking to have our minds renewed, but we don't do the metamorphosis any more than a tadpole or caterpillar can cause themselves to be changed into a frog or butterfly.
The question for today is: will you seek to pattern yourself after what you see around you in the world, or will you, by renewing your mind, allow God to change you into someone you currently aren't...but who looks more and more like His Son, Jesus Christ?
To God be the glory.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing/renewal of your mind."
I don't know about you, but the fact that two different words were used here has always stood out to me. I mean, why not say, "Don't be conformed to the world, but be conformed by the...." or "don't be transformed by the world, but be transformed by the..."?
So, let's just take a quick peek at the Greek words and their definitions.
Syschematizo: "to conform one's self (i.e. one's mind and character) to another's pattern, (fashion one's self according to)"
Metamorphoo: "to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure
This word has the same root as our word metamorphosis. (frogs, butterflies, etc.)
I really like how this plays out. So, the transformation seems to be self-directed. It is looking at the world and saying, "I want to be like that." Ironically, this is so much easier to do than we might originally think. Sure, it is easy to say, "I don't want to be sinful and wicked" but is that all that this means? Is it that simple?
Materialistic things. Having a great job to provide a lifestyle that I want. Being able to focus on my family or myself more than anyone or anything else and never feel guilty for it.
But we have a higher calling. To become something we currently aren't. Not just to try to pattern ourselves, but to seek to allow ourselves to be completely changed. This is NOT self-directed. I mean, we are actively seeking to have our minds renewed, but we don't do the metamorphosis any more than a tadpole or caterpillar can cause themselves to be changed into a frog or butterfly.
The question for today is: will you seek to pattern yourself after what you see around you in the world, or will you, by renewing your mind, allow God to change you into someone you currently aren't...but who looks more and more like His Son, Jesus Christ?
To God be the glory.
