The Plumbline

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.  (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12:2) When one 'conforms', they will become similar in form, nature, or character to that which they are seeing modeled. Behavior is most often 'modeled' before it is anything we 'conform' to, isn't it? For example, you may not even consider having an ice cream cone until you see everyone along the boardwalk happily warding off the heat of the day with their favorite scoops. They became the 'models' of the behavior you are about to conform to - obtaining a cone of your own delightfully rich scoops! The ice cream example is tame compared to some of the things modeled for us today - things that we may not exa...

28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  29  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  30  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-29) What a joy it is to come to the place where we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is at work in our lives - doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.  Paul says that we "know" - we have come to recognize, understanding completely, become so familiar with God and his ways that we don't question his plans or purposes.  This comes through experience - there is no substitute for seeing God work in our lives - no substitute for the manifestation of his purpose. What is it that we come to know about God and how he works? ...