So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

And because of God's gracious gift to me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you should. Instead, be modest in your thinking and judge yourself according to the amount of faith that God has given you. We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.

Romans 12:1-5

If we meditate on God's Word daily, it will influence our thoughts and help us grow to be more like Jesus Christ. Then we will act in a manner that pleases Him. Pressures of the world will continue to try to shape our character, but they will not succeed if God's word is changing us from within.

If we are being transformed by the word,

we won't be conformed to the world.

Our Daily Bread - June 3, 2002