Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
In other words, don’t imitate the ideas or opinions of the culture around you. Instead, be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. Only then can you discern and live out God’s will.
The Greek word for “conformed” is syschematizo (συσχηματίζω), which means to be molded or shaped, especially in your outward behavior or identity. When we allow our identity to be shaped by the opinions of this world, we end up fractured and exhausted, because the world’s mold is always changing. That constant pressure pulls us in so many directions that we splinter, losing the steady sense of who we are. And in a world where culture constantly shouts, “If you don’t do this, then you are that,” we find ourselves changing who we are again and again just to keep up. Each shift may seem small, but over time it takes us emotionally hostage, leaving us unsure of who we were to begin with.
In contrast, the word “transformed” is metamorphóō (μεταμορφόω), which means to be changed in form or nature, completely and permanently. It’s where we get the word metamorphosis, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. A butterfly never turns back into a caterpillar. In the same way, when God transforms us, we don’t go back to who we were before.
When we place God in His rightful place of worship, we are transformed into His image (Genesis 1:27). He changes the way we think until we begin to see through His eyes and take on the mind of Christ. Because He never changes, our identity becomes unshakable.
Romans 1:23 says we “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man.” Since the fall, our minds have been wired to elevate people, success, and relationships into the place that only God should hold. That’s what Scripture calls the “fear of man”—living to please others instead of pleasing God. We see this all throughout the Gospels and Acts: religious leaders hesitated to act because they feared how the crowd would respond. They were driven by public opinion and approval; whereas, Christ and the Apostles lived from divine communion. When they were misunderstood or mistreated, they didn’t defend themselves or appeal to the crowd; they sought the Lord for protection and direction.
When we idolize the world—or the approval of others—we conform to whatever image the crowd demands. The problem is that the same crowd that cheered Jesus’ miracles one moment cried, “Crucify Him!” the next. We were never meant to entrust ourselves to the opinions of man. And the more we live for the approval of others, the harder it becomes to know God’s will for our lives. Our minds become cluttered with the noise of expectations, and our hearts grow deaf to the quiet leading of the Spirit. In trying to follow the crowd, we miss the path God has set before us.
But when we renew our minds through the Word and the Holy Spirit, our thoughts are re-anchored to His glory. We start to see Him as He truly is, and in turn, we see ourselves rightly in Him. When you see Jesus clearly, you’ll never again identify as abandoned, unwanted, or unloved. You’ll know you are chosen, seen, and secure—a beloved child of the living God.
He alone can handle our worship.
And He alone is worthy of it.
Grace Waves 