Jell-O Molds

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV). OK… I just can’t seem to help myself! Even though this year’s football team finished badly and there seems to still be a lot of confusion in the program, I am an Aggie. No big surprise there for anyone, I’m sure. However, not long ago Mary and I were walking through an outlet for various kitchen gadgets and saw a Jell-O mold for Texas A&M. You may be surprised to note I did not purchase the mold; however, I was sorely tempted. I guess the only reason I didn’t get it is that I really don’t like Jell-O. Somehow I always associate it with some sort of illness. It did remind me of our reading today though. The Apostle Paul wrote to the young Roman Christians in this letter some very basic information concerning the way they should apply their newfound life of grace in the world. He encourages them to be transformed. Let me make the connection between this truth and Jell-O. One significant fact about Jell-O is that it can be formed into so many interesting shapes; you pour it as a hot liquid into a mold and as it solidifies it takes that shape. The reverse is significant. Getting the Jell-O ready means nothing without a mold to pour it into; even if you leave it in the pan it was cooked in, that pan becomes the mold. It will take the shape of whatever it is poured into. This is true for our Christian lives also. It can be positive or negative. Sometimes Christians look around, see how the rest of society is living, and do their best to shape themselves like the world they live in. Their culture becomes their “mold.” We have seen this kind of transformation in many churches through the centuries since Christ established it. We can all too easily adopt the values and attitudes of those who do not confess Christ’s name, following the world’s thinking on materialism, sexual immorality, selfish indulgence, entertainment, and foundational morals. This is certainly not what the apostle encouraged. Paul begins our reading by issuing a challenge to be transformed by a special renewal. His basic theme is that Christians must stand out as different from the world. I like the J. B. Phillips translation here: “Do not let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold.” The peer pressure of conforming our lifestyle to that of unbelievers is constant. But Paul calls us to be transformed so that we conform to the mold of the loving, caring, sacrificial Christ. Our minds should be set differently than the world’s. We can do this by a consistent pattern of understanding the Scripture. The molds we find within God’s words of instruction and inspiration will allow us to be formed into the perfect image of His will and purpose for our lives. What does your “mold” look like?