"...But be Transformed by the Renewing of Your Minds,..."

Acts 28 : 25-28 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: "The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah, 'Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand,and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their hearts and turn- and I would heal them.' Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen."

Paul was quoting the prophet Isaiah to make his point that the hearts of the Jews to whom he was speaking, were not open to the truth that was before them and that God's salvation would go to those who would hear the message and believe.

I kinda feel for the Jews at the time of Jesus. They were part of a 2000 year plus religious tradition that pointed to but did not make totally obvious that Jesus was the Messiah. Some of them were looking for something quite different. He taught a radical new message of love. I think that some of the Jewish leadership was just not willing to give up the laws, rules and ceremonies that they had practiced all of their lives. They were also not willing to give up the power that they had. There are many different reasons people of all ages refuse to look at the truth. It often hurts and might require uncomfortable changes in our lives. Sometimes it means that the way we always did it just won't cut it anymore or that we will have to accept things that aren't familiar to us. Who hasn't heard spirited discussion about contemporary versus traditional worship, what hour to hold worship or what is appropriate to wear to church? I believe that our transformation due to the renewing of our minds that is spoken of in Romans 12: 2 is a continuous, life-long process. Surely if we seek His truth and are absolutely open to responding to what He shows us, we will be able to recognize what is good and acceptable and perfect, and true.

Father God, please lead me in the way of love and of truth. Transform and renew my heart and mind that I might love what you love. Amen.