When Normal Isn’t the Goal
"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" - Romans 12:2
Let’s just say it plain, living for Jesus will not make sense to most people. It never has, and it never will. Following Christ means standing out, not blending in. It means refusing to be shaped by the patterns of this world and choosing instead to be transformed by a renewed mind and a surrendered heart.
There may have been a time when living for Christ seemed socially acceptable or even admirable. But in today’s world, it’s more likely to raise eyebrows than applause. Forgiving when others hold grudges, giving when others hoard, showing grace when others cancel, living with integrity when shortcuts are available, all of that is going to look strange.
And it should. We are not called to satisfy the world, chase its trends, or earn its approval. We are not here to avoid it or attack it either. We are here to surprise it. To live lives so full of truth, love, and purpose that people can’t help but wonder what makes us different. Not for our sake. For His.
When Paul tells us not to be conformed to this age, he’s not asking us to avoid culture. He’s calling us to stand firm in the middle of it. To be grounded in something deeper. Something lasting. Something eternal. That’s why a renewed mind matters. It keeps your feet steady when the world shifts around you.
Living for Christ will always seem questionable to the world. But if no one ever questions the way you live, it may be time to ask if you’re really living for Him at all. Because when your life doesn’t make sense without Jesus, that’s exactly when others start looking for Him.
Let’s just say it plain, living for Jesus will not make sense to most people. It never has, and it never will. Following Christ means standing out, not blending in. It means refusing to be shaped by the patterns of this world and choosing instead to be transformed by a renewed mind and a surrendered heart.
There may have been a time when living for Christ seemed socially acceptable or even admirable. But in today’s world, it’s more likely to raise eyebrows than applause. Forgiving when others hold grudges, giving when others hoard, showing grace when others cancel, living with integrity when shortcuts are available, all of that is going to look strange.
And it should. We are not called to satisfy the world, chase its trends, or earn its approval. We are not here to avoid it or attack it either. We are here to surprise it. To live lives so full of truth, love, and purpose that people can’t help but wonder what makes us different. Not for our sake. For His.
When Paul tells us not to be conformed to this age, he’s not asking us to avoid culture. He’s calling us to stand firm in the middle of it. To be grounded in something deeper. Something lasting. Something eternal. That’s why a renewed mind matters. It keeps your feet steady when the world shifts around you.
Living for Christ will always seem questionable to the world. But if no one ever questions the way you live, it may be time to ask if you’re really living for Him at all. Because when your life doesn’t make sense without Jesus, that’s exactly when others start looking for Him.
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