Go Whole Hog

 

We went to the Fort Worth Stock Show today. It’s a big event – last year there were over one million visitors and thirty thousand entrants (animal and human) during the three week run. I enjoy seeing the livestock and the attention they get from their owners. There is a lot of money involved. The grand champion steer sold last year for $375,000, the champion hog sold for $140,000, and over $10,000,000 went to other competitors.

 

I have great respect for those who show livestock, for all the work they do and all the effort they put into making their animal look its best for the show. The bottom line, though, is – you can do all the skin conditioners, lotions, and other treatments you want but - it’s still a hog.

 

We should be committed to the cause of Christ. We can’t be satisfied with just keeping up appearances, maybe going to church and contributing to some worthwhile charities. Our goal is to be transformed within, not just putting beauty treatments on a worldly mindset but instead seeking to have the mind of Christ which pervades all we think, say, and do.

 

This transformation is not something we can accomplish by our own efforts. We need the Holy Spirit to work in us and on us, not as a one-time event but as an ongoing renewal. We make ourselves available to the Spirit in our worship and prayer time and in the events of our day-to-day lives.

 

May Paul’s encouragement to the Romans be for us as well.

 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:1-2).

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The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.