Read Romans 12:1-21

At a wedding, I watched a dad walk his daughter down the aisle. Most people were looking at the beautiful bride but I noticed the dad. He looked nervous and about to faint. I thought he might need a wheelchair because he was so shook up. But then a few years later, I was the one walking my daughter down the aisle. It was a serious, wonderful and beautiful opportunity. It is all about a change in life, especially for the bride and groom. But also for the parents. And change can be difficult. It is an adjustment but an inevitable part of life.

How do you handle change?

In the same wedding service, the pastor leading the service started talking about Romans 12 and dealing with changes in your life and culture.

He read verse 9: “Love must be sincere.” He suggested to “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it.”

Is love the center of who you are?

In a rapidly changing culture, sincere love can make a difference. Love other people with patience, quiet listening and kindness.

He then read verse 10b: “Honor one another above yourselves.” The Message says “practice playing second fiddle”. Can you play second fiddle or does your ego want you to always be first, always be right and constantly interrupt others?

The MSG says, “Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.”

Romans 12 is full of ideas about how we can live in a changing culture because of what is true. How do we respond to the amazing mercy God has shown us?

This new series is about culture change and what the Bible says about dealing with it. Prepare your heart to read about something everyone experiences: adversity. Can you make adversity your asset? The challenge is to be content in any and every situation. Christ is the secret (see Phil 4:13).

In the next few days we will be looking at culture, change and heartache, handling success, managing money, loving and serving others and more. How can I maintain a Christian attitude in all things? How do we make the most of every opportunity?

Let’s get rid of the me-first attitude of this world and renew our minds with the view of the culture through God’s eyes.

We must break free from, rather than conforming to, the me-first way the human world prefers. We must have our minds renewed, to look at the world through God’s eyes.

Are you adjusting to the culture changes?

Tom Weckesser