Louisburg & Overland Park Greeting

So, last week we had to decide whether we were a chicken or a pig! WOW, not much of a choice. Nobody likes to be called a chicken, and I would certainly get excited if you called me a pig! Taken in the context of last week's sermon and the chicken and the pig wanting to donate something for a fund raising breakfast, the chicken gives an egg and goes on its merry way and the pig has to give his all! Jesus, of course, wants our total commitment and not just a little part of us from time to time. That was part of our discussion from Romans 12 verse 1, to present ourselves a living sacrifice - and our reason why we could and should do this was because of the mercies of God.

Verse two says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed..." There are two words in the original Greek that deserve special attention. The first is the word translated "conformed"- this is the word that gives us our English word "scheme." It means conformation that is outward without necessarily any inner change. The word is also sometimes translated "fashioned." Jesus instructs, "Do not allow yourself to adopt the fashion of this world, to be forced into its mold." The second word is "transformed." This is from where we get the English word "metamorphosis." This is an inner change, which has observable outward manifestations. This is not something you do yourself. If you "present yourself as a living sacrifice" and you reflect on the "mercies of God" you will be transformed progressively. This is a work of the Holy Spirit but it requires cooperation on the part of the believer.

Gardner Greeting

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