Wednesday, 4th June, 2025
Bible Reading: Romans 12:2
Memory Verse: 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)
An experiment was conducted on social conformity. It shows a dentist’s waiting room with 10 people, 9 of whom were actors. Whenever a beep sounds, all the actors stand up momentarily and then sit. The one ‘test subject’ initially looks confused when this happens, but after only 3 beeps she starts joining in. The actors then leave one by one until only the test subject remains and, even when alone, she continues to stand up at each beep.
The experiment becomes really interesting when a new person arrives. After hearing the beep and seeing the woman stand, he asked her, “Why are you standing up?” She replied, “Everybody was doing it, and I thought I was supposed to.” He then joins her in standing at the next beep. It seems unbelievable and it’s easy to think, ‘I would never do that,’ but social conformity is often something we are unaware of, it’s below the radar. Social conformity is the act of changing one’s beliefs or behaviours in order to fit into a group. It’s a type of social influence that can occur when people are exposed to the attitudes and beliefs of a group.
Friends, do you know that the Bible warns against negative social conformity. Romans 12:2 (MSG) says, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Friends, the culture of the kingdom of God is not the same as the world.
The standard of God always stands sure, having a seal on it from generation to generation. The world is increasingly making sin appealing and socially acceptable. The media, the Internet, the billboards, adverts on our television screens, radio jingles, the entertainment industry (Bollywood, Hollywood, and Nollywood), celebrities, etc., are increasingly making sin, nudity, immodesty, etc., become a new normal. Friends, you must guard your heart, and say no to such. You need a daily renewal of your mind. How can a man of God climb the pulpit saying, ‘I am your father, I permit you to sleep with the man you want to marry before your wedding’? Spiritual charlatans on the altar of God!
What a ravenous wolf in sheep clothing! Everybody is doing it does not make it normal or acceptable unto God. Virginity is gradually eroding as a godly virtue in today’s world. Everybody does it doesn’t mean God approves of it. Stay in God! “Life is a game of influence. If you are not influencing someone, then you’re being influenced. You must consciously determine to be on the side of the Word of God” – Pastor Irene
Quote: Culture change isn’t a license to kingdom compromise.
Prophetic Decree: May your convictions about God, and His Kingdom culture stand the test of time, in Jesus name
Prayer Focus
1. I am sorry, O Lord, in everyway I might have compromised your statutes and standard, in Jesus name.
2. O Lord, please help me to always remember that, “Everybody is doing a thing does not mean I am supposed to do it.”
3. My Father, deliver me from the culture of the world system, its affections, and its many lusts, in Jesus name.
4. Daily, may my mind be renewed by the principles and wisdom of the Bible, in Jesus name.
5. In this dying world, O Lord, please keep me steadfast, unmoveable, and always abiding on the Old rugged way, the path of crucifixion, where Christ died, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 4-6
