June 30th

“What’s my shape”?

Pr. Silvana

- It’s a WATERMELON (It has the USUAL SHAPE, the original shape as God created it: ROUND/OVAL WATERMELON)

But, there are unusual shapes of watermelon. In  Japan, also in China, they are growing watermelons in different shapes.

 

Square Watermelon

                          Pyramid Watermelon                          Heart-shaped

     Watermelon

-     Why do they have a different shape?

-     What happened to them?

While the watermelon is still small on the vine, a square glass box is placed around it. When the watermelon gets bigger (grows), it assumes the shape of the box!

What does ROMANS 12.2 have to do with the unusual shapes of watermelon?

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

- “To conform” means = to fit, correspond, square, match, be in tune, take the form…

- The world is like a box around us. We are in the world, but we cannot “assume the shape of the world”. As christians, we cannot conform to the pattern of this world, to take the form of it.

- The watermelon takes the form of the container around it because it can’t do anything to change the situation or to refuse the “pression” against it while it’s growing. BUT WE CAN! WE HAVE “FREE WILL”. WE CAN CHOOSE, WE CAN DECIDE AND WE CAN REJECT THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD AND BE CONFORMED TO THE PATTERN OF GOD INSTEAD.

Romans 12.2a

-“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], ….” (Amplified Bible)

- “Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think…” (Contemporary English Version)

- “Don’t change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking…” (Easy-to-read Version)

- “Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking…” (New Century Version)

“Molders” (glass boxes) of this World x The Word of God

= thoughts / ideas / visions / values / desires (fashion, family, finances, relationships, etc.)

= language (bad words, dirty vocabulary, curses, etc.)

= behavior / attitudes / acts (selfishness, prejudice, hatred, unforgiveness, etc.)

- I Peter 1.14 (“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.”); II Co. 10.2 (“I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world…”); I John 2.15 (“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”)

For our reflection:

- What’s my “shape”?

- Am I shaped according to the Word of God or according to the pattern of this world?

- Is my life reflecting the pattern of this world or the will of God?

- Do I think, speak, act according to the Word of God or according to the world?

Listen to this song and sing along as a prayer: