Spiritual Jell-O

Romans 12:2  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

I grew up in church. I have been to more church potlucks than I can count. I can tell you all the potluck staples: fried chicken, tons of different casseroles, potato salad, macaroni salad, kale salad (who brought that?), and of course, desserts. Ahhh, dessert! Cakes, pies, lemon bars, and Jell-O salads. You had to be careful with the Jell-O salads because somebody would always bring one with cottage cheese in it. Blecch! And, of course, the Jell-O had to be in a mold. Usually a ring mold, and the weirdest mold of all: the fish mold!

I’m not sure what possessed the first person to decide, “You know what? I think Jell-O would be tastier if it was shaped like a fish!” They need mental help, I am sure.

Every time I read today’s verse I think of those Jell-O salads. You pour liquid Jell-O into a mold and it takes on whatever shape the mold is. It doesn’t have a shape of its own, it just copies.

There are a lot of people who are just like Jell-O. Whatever crowd they are around, that’s the shape they take on. They merely copy those who are around them. Instead of setting the standard, they are merely becoming like everyone else.

Today’s verse tells us that Jesus should be the mold we conform to, not the world around us. Instead of being influenced by the world, we should be influencing the world! That can only happen when we let Christ transform our minds. That transformation allows us to find God’s will for our lives. And God’s will makes our lives the best they can be.

Today’s Readings:  Proverbs 16-18; Romans 12

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