by Kirby Wallace
Read Romans 12:1-2
We can be shaped, like a cookie cutter shapes dough, to fit the world’s expectations. Or we can be shaped like a seed shapes a flower. Paul appeals to us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” That appeal gives us the courage to make some tough decisions.
When a sudden storm arose at camp, sixteen-year-old Stephanie raced for shelter. Lightning struck a pine tree, and the bolt ran through her body. She lay in the intensive care unit of the hospital for a week, kept alive by a machine that breathed for her. The medical team knew her brain was dead. When Stephanie got her driver’s license, she had decided to become an organ donor. In light of their daughter’s decision, her parents consented to cutting the breathing machine off and allowing her organs to be harvested.
Bob’s drinking had caused the loss of community respect, the loss of his grocery business, and almost the loss of his family. He found it hard to admit he was the cause of these losses. He did seek help, however, through Alcoholics Anonymous. Six years after that decision, he had regained his self-respect, the respect of the community, a new business venture, and a stable family life. Stephanie, her parents, and Bob made decisions not to be “conformed” but to choose a more godly way.
A student was admonished by the college president because he had broken a campus rule. His defense: “Sir, I’d wager that there are not ten men on the whole campus who wouldn’t have done exactly what I did under the circumstances.
The president replied, “Young man, has it occurred to you that you might have been one of those ten?”
Prayer: God of Grace, renew our minds so that we may discern your will when we have to make tough decisions. Amen.
Kirby Wallace is a retired United Methodist Pastor living in Asheville, North Carolina.
Reprinted from The Upper Room Disciplines 2008. Copyright 2007 by Upper Room Books. Used by permission from Upper Room Books.
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