Read: Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:16-26
Everyone wants to fit in somewhere. School kids want to fit in with their friends and be included and involved. Workers want to fit in with their co-workers and be a part of the team. Those with hobbies find people with similar interests to spend time with. The elderly find others who share similar memories and experiences to reminisce. People from all religions gather with others with the same beliefs so that they can be encouraged by others. No matter who we are, we all want to fit in somehow.
This is not a bad trait in and of itself. In fact, God created people in His image and it is only natural for us to desire relationship with others and relationship with Him. It is good for us to desire to be in relationship with other people. But here in
As Christians we have been totally changed by faith in Christ. We no longer fit into the way the sinful world operates. Think back to Romans 1-3. Paul established in those chapters how sinful all of mankind is apart from Christ. They worship created things instead of the creator (Romans 1:23). They invent new ways of doing evil (Romans 1:30). They continue to sin and to approve of those who sin (Romans 1:32).
Through Christ we have been freed from this rebellion. We have been made right with God and brought back into relationship with Him through faith. We have been freed from slavery to sin (Romans 6:6-7) and we are able to live by the Spirit (Romans 8). How could we possibly go back and fit in with those who live according to Romans 1-3? How could we possibly participate in the wholesale sin and debauchery that characterises those who do not know Christ?
Paul talks about this in Galatians 5 also. We are no longer to live in sin but we are to live in the Spirit. Paul lists in verses 19-21 the sinful pattern and ways of this world and contrasts them with the fruit of the Spirit in verses 22-26. As followers of Christ we cannot live in the acts of the sinful nature, the pattern of this world, any longer. Instead we are to live in such a way as to display the fruit of the spirit.
For the Christian to conform again to the sinful pattern of this world is like someone who has been rescued out of a slum and given a brand new mansion with all expenses paid going right back to the slum just for fun. It is like someone who has been pulled out of dangerous quicksand jumping straight back in for fun. It is ridiculous! And yet how often are we tempted to go back? How often do we long for the sinful pleasures we used to indulge in? How often do we try to fit in amongst sinful and rebellious co-workers just so that we can feel like we are just one of the crew? How often do we flirt with just a little bit of sin?
Rather than conform to the ways of this world let us grow in living according to the spirit and growing in our love and service for God.
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the youth of your church. Pray that they would be growing in their faith, in their love for God and in their desire to serve Him. Pray that they would not be enticed to conform to the image of this world but that they would be bold in their faith and stand up for the truth.
If we are transformed by Christ we cannot flirt with a little bit of sin thinking it won’t hurt us. We cannot indulge in the occasional sin for pleasure. Let’s get deadly serious about fighting sin.
1. Practically, what would it look like for you ‘not to conform to the pattern of this world’ in your day to day life?
2. What are some areas of your life where this might be hard?
3. How can you encourage one another as a group in these areas of difficulty?
Intro: We all want to fit in somewhere. We want to fit in with our friends and have people to play with. God tells us that sometimes we are not to fit in with others.
Share: A time where you wanted to fit in with other people. What happened?
Read: Romans 12:2 Not conforming to the pattern of this world means that we don’t fit in when people are thinking or acting in a way that is sinful. Can you think of some examples where you shouldn’t fit in? What should you do instead? Who could you ask for help when this is really hard?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us so much. Ask that He would help you not to fit in when people are sinning.
Intro: We all want to fit in somewhere. We want to fit in with our friends and have people to play with. God tells us that sometimes we are not to fit in with others.
Share: A time where you wanted to fit in with other people. What happened?
Read: Romans 12:2 Not conforming to the pattern of this world means that we don’t fit in when people are thinking or acting in a way that is sinful. Can you think of some examples where you shouldn’t fit in? What should you do instead? Who could you ask for help when this is really hard?
Pray Together: Thank God that He loves us so much. Ask that He would help you not to fit in when people are sinning.
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