Romans 12:1-2 (Phillips NT)
With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

Do you ever get the feeling that you are getting a little too comfortable with the way things are? Do you find yourself reacting to situations without even thinking about it? Do you give the impression that there is very little difference between you and those who don’t even claim to know Christ?

Maybe you have become so adjusted to the culture around you that “you fit into it without even thinking.” As Phillips puts it: “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.” That sounds like there is pressure being exerted to force you into conformity. The world wants you to think as they think, feel as they feel, want what they want, value what they value, and do as they wish. As long as you go along, you don’t notice the force toward conformity. But the moment you resist, the moment you seek to move in a different direction, the moment you set your face against the wind of worldliness, you find out just how strong the forces of conformity really are.

Jesus spoke of the forces that work against spiritual formation and growth in Mark 4 in a parable that has been called the Parable of the Sower, but more accurately may be titled the Parable of the Soils. He talks about the coldness, callousness, and cynicism that hold back any spiritual progress.

When we refuse to allow the spiritual any room in our lives, we grow hard and heartless toward God and others. Make no mistake: our world can be a brutal place, beating away at faith, seeking to pound us into submission. We must not allow it to cause us to become hardened to spiritual realities.

Jesus talked about the shallowness of commitment that cannot withstand the pressures, troubles, and difficulties thrown at it. The joy of the initial commitment is dampened by the trials of life and soon sours in the heat of turbulent times. Firm resolve to press on and fight through these challenges is necessary.

The cares of the world can often leave little room for the spiritual. We have responsibilities, commitments, schedules, workload, duties, family obligations, etc. But we cannot do everything and when we fill up our lives with these “cares,” we may be doing so to mask the void that we feel when we are not “busy.”

Maybe we need to learn the lesson that Martha was challenged to learn and put aside the “cares of the world” to care for what really counts.

Luke 10:41-42 (ESV) 
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

So much of what we do and so much of what we think is important will someday suddenly evaporate in the light of eternity.

The deceitfulness of riches can cause us to lose our way. We get sidetracked pursuing the blessings instead of the Blesser. Riches are deceitful because they promise to satisfy. Our culture is in the business of creating dissatisfaction so that it can offer something that it promises will satisfy. But, as we know but often forget, the satisfaction is temporary and wears away far too quickly. Isn’t it interesting how quickly the excitement of Christmas presents dissipates. Only God can satisfy the restless soul.

The phrase “desires for other things” is certainly vague, but Phillips may shed some light here. He translates this as “all sorts of other ambitions.” If I just get that new job, that raise, that promotion, that new home, a new spouse, better children, etc. I’ll finally be happy. Again, these things can’t deliver what we seek.

The level of our spiritual growth and fruitfulness is determined by our willingness to “humbly accept the message that God has sown in your hearts, and which can save your souls” (James 1:21 PHILLIPS). The more thoroughly we allow it to take root and grow the more fruitful and satisfying our lives.