God's Standards

Rom 12:2) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, and (Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

If you need some facts to rely on as you nail these axioms into your spiritual temple consider that half the people you know are below average.  It amuses us … makes us laugh but we know it is shockingly true.  If you’ve seen videos of adults walking the streets that couldn’t tell you something that a fifth grader should know, you know what I mean … but without thinking we often pattern ourselves on their values.

Maybe I’m being too hard on us.  Everybody knows that lawyers are very bright and there are a lot of them.  They make our laws and we rely on them to settle our disputes but our experience of dealing with them leads us to joke that 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.  Again, another group we don’t want to pattern ourselves on.

The world’s standard is not consistent.  It is lenient as the world applies the standards to itself and harshly judgemental as it applies them to others (just the reverse of what God wants).  The world does not realize that its attitudes and institutionalized actions dig a pit for every human soul because all have sinned egregiously, shamefully, and repeatedly.  Yeah, we all know that but what can we do?

It’s not easy to find a reliable pattern (because it does not exist in this world) … well yeah, there is that old book on the coffee table covered with dust … and it does talk about a person that lived by that other standard … but I think they crucified him a long time ago.  Oh, yeah I’ve heard of some people who live like Haggai advised in 6:8 doing what is right, being merciful to those who err and humbling themselves before God but they’re not very popular with my friends. (James 4:4 Friendship with the world is enmity with God.)

I hope you don’t find yourself in agreement with the guy in the last paragraph because he is missing out on a joyous way of living.  In Galatians 5 we are told to walk in the spirit so we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh and that when we do walk in the spirit we will find our lives full of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.  As you know there is no law against such things so we do not need to fear condemnation … especially from God.

If such a life sounds tepid and unappealing, the experience of your brothers and sisters (who may not be among the pews you are familiar with) has been anything but boring.  Remember Jesus said to take his yoke upon you because His yoke is easy and his burden is light (Math 11:30).  It is likely that you will find such a life full to the brim with way more “excitement” than you could handle on your own.  Good thing Jesus, your yoke partner, will do more of the work than you.