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 learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Are you a thermostat or a thermometer? The question may sound a bit weird, but let’s think about it for a moment.
A thermometer is an instrument for measuring and indicating temperature. It’s is like a mirror, it reflects the temperature of its environment. It is influenced by what is going on around it. When the temperature of a room is hot, the reading is high. If the temperature of the room drops, the reading drops too! Thermometers are in a constant state of change based on its environment.
A thermostat, on the other hand, is used to regulate its environment. It is used to maintain a desired temperature! This means when the temperature of our homes drops below the desired level, the thermostat turns the heating on to bring it back up. Likewise, if the temperature of our homes rises above the desired temperature, the thermostat can bring it back down. It works by constantly monitoring the environment and whether the temperature gets too hot or too cold, it corrects the situation every single time.
The real question is, as a Christian do you reflect the environment you’re in or do you want to be the change? Do you conform to your environment or do you set the temperature and make a change? Are you a thermostat or are you a thermometer?
Being an ambassador for Christ isn’t about reacting to the atmosphere, it’s about setting it. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” We’re designed to be agents of change. If our environment is toxic, at home, at work, at school or even in the church, God is calling us to be a thermostat, to change the emotional and spiritual climate of this world. Be the change you want to see! We can’t be agents of change on our own. We must let God transform us into a new person by changing the way we think, by renewing our minds. How is this done?
1. Fill your mind - The first step toward renewing your mind is the intake of God’s Word. Peter calls Christians to “desire the pure milk of the word, so that you may grow up into your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). We are to not just read the Bible; we must study and meditate on it.
2. Guard your mind- If filling your mind refers to what you take in, guarding your mind refers to what you keep out, which can be a challenge. We live in an age of social media and entertainment. The information we let in, the thoughts we entertain, the ideas we foster, all can do much good—or much evil.
3. Frame your mind- Lastly, not only are we to fill our minds and guard them, we are to frame them as well. Your frame of mind is your mental attitude and outlook on the world. When we have a personal relationship with God and we spend time with Him we have a different outlook or perspective of the world.
Let’s pray that God renews our mind, changes the way we think, so that we can be a thermostat and agents of change in this world!
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