“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” Rom. 12:1-2 (NLT)
What is a paradigm? It is a pattern or model. What is a paradigm shift? It is a change of models or patterns. It is a change from one way of thinking to another way of thinking. It’s a revolution, a transformation, a sort of metamorphosis. It doesn’t just happen, instead a shift in thinking patterns is driven gradually by agents of change.
Agents of change challenge old beliefs with new ones. In the 1440s, Johann Gutenberg invented movable type and an agent of change burst forth. Books were written, information disseminated. The Bible was printed, common people gained access to the Scriptures. Attitudes changed as people were released from religious imperialism.
The personal computer and the internet are agents for global change. These agents have been changing our world for several years now and the rate of change is accelerating rapidly. Changing our way of thinking begins in our minds. Everything about us, our paradigms, have come to us through our heritage, our traditions, and our social and religious education. However, who we are and what we think are not impossible obstacles. By the grace of God, both can change positively and for his glory!
In fact, the Word of God commands us to “Let God transform (us) into a new person by changing the way (we) think.”
A thermometer and a thermostat were having a conversation.
“What do you do thermometer?” asked the thermostat.
“Oh, I’m very important. I measure temperature. I show just how hot or cold it is in this house. This family depends upon me for their comfort.”
“Well, what do you do when it gets too hot or too cold in here?”
“Do? You ask me what I do. Why, I hang here on this wall and show what the temperature is so the family will know. By the way, what do you do, thermostat?”
“Oh, I also measure the temperature in the house. And when it gets too hot, I turn off the heater or turn on the air conditioning as the need arises. When it gets too cold, I turn off the air and/or turn on the heat as the need dictates. I change the temperature in the house so that the family will be comfortable.”
“Tell me, thermostat, how do you change the temperature in the house?”
“Why, thermometer, I just yield to the master’s setting.”
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Forgive us our resistance to change. Enable us to yield to your transforming power. Empower us with the grace to change our thinking that we might become the new person you want us to be. In Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his grace and let him transform us into a new person,