After we offer our
lives to be a living sacrifice, what’s next?
In v. 2 Paul is speaking about God’s will. He begins with
the negative counsel: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” Then he
continues with the positive one: “Give your life to be transformed by the
renewing of mind.” The renewing of mind is a continual process. For us to know
the will of God, it is not going to be a one time event. It needs to be a learning
process.
How is it like to
have a renewed mind? How does the renewed mind think?
Paul also speaks about the mind renewing in a negative and
positive structure. v3 Negative: do not think with hyper-minded, beyond what
you must think. Positive: but think soberly; think in the right mind, with
proper judgment and moderation.
Now this is remarkable! From all the things he could
possibly say about human mind, and how it works, he chooses to speak about
pride (hyper-minded). Why?
The answer is: Because Paul believes that the root cause of
all divisions, of why we can’t get along, and of war are boasting, pride.
