Shaped

For last week’s reflection on the outlook of life and peace in Romans 8, click here.

For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:5-6

 

Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

Romans 12:16

For some time now I have been deeply contemplating what it means to be shaped by God in every season and stage of our spiritual formation. As one who is in mid-life, mid-ministry, and mid-almost everything, it is a deeply encouraging thought to recognize that shaping is still possible.

We can get stuck at any stage. Those in the beginning stages of awe and need of God, just beginning to recognize Him, can stay awestruck without real commitment. Those who move to the next stage of discipleship can learn and learn, yet feel paralyzed and unready to do. And we who get to the glorious doing for God stage might become starstruck by our productivity for the kingdom and stay in an identity of doing, resisting anything that requires the immobility of being.

But our Father, in His great lovingkindness, is bent on our formation in every season, at every age. He will allow something to disrupt us, edging us out of our stuckness and inviting us to deeper shaping.

Shaping is the objective of the Holy Spirit. He is shaping our outlook from death to life, for that is our eternal destiny. His goal for us is life forever and life abundantly.

The Greek word shape, used here in Romans 1 and again in Romans 8 for life and haughty, is φρονέω (phroneō). It means to exercise the mind, to interest oneself in, and to be modest, especially about oneself.

It’s curious to find phroneō used again in Romans 12, in the context of our community here on earth. We are exhorted to exercise our mind and interest ourselves in harmony and humility with others, and to associate with the lowly.

I find that the lowliest of all are those who have surrendered to His shaping. Perhaps it is because in the painful shaping process, they have discovered the truth about themselves, which is lowly indeed. We all need a Helper. When we see the unfiltered length and breadth of our need, we are laid low. Yet the Savior lifts us to a place of new joy in the utter realization that we are beloved despite it all.

This is beautiful lowliness.

I want to be shaped according to His will, in every season. #spiritualformation Share on X

I am looking for the lowly, and I want to be lowly. After all, this is how Jesus described His own heart.

Lord, shape me in every season. May I remain surrendered, pliable, in Your lowly, holy hands. Amen.

@audreycfrank