藉着心思的更新而变化
我们不该模仿世代，反要藉着心思的更新而变化（弗四23，多三5）。模仿世代，意思是在外面采纳摩登的样式；变化却是让生机的元素作到我们这人里面，使里面产生新陈代谢的改变。我们需要藉着心思的更新而变化。罗马十二章的心思与七章和八章的心思都不同。在七章，心思是单独的，独立行动的。在八章，心思是倚靠的，是置于灵的。然而，我不信八章的心思得了变化或更新。仅仅将心思置于灵是不彀的。心思不但该倚靠，也该更新。十二章二节告诉我们，我们需要更新的心思。心思更新不是单单藉着外面的教训，乃是藉着基督的元素加进来。主耶稣将祂自己从我们的灵扩展到我们的心思，我们的心思就会得着更新。藉着我们心思的更新，我们的魂就新陈代谢的改变。这样我们就在魂里经历变化；这对教会生活是必需的。我们若要实行教会生活，就需要藉着心思的更新，在魂里经历这样的变化。
验证神的旨意
我们需要心思的更新和魂的变化，叫我们“验证何为神那美好、可喜悦、并纯全的旨意”。神的旨意是甚么？神的旨意是要有身体生活，教会生活。不要将十二章二节所题神的旨意应用到你个人的人生景况，应用到婚姻、职业、或住屋的事。有些人祷告：“主阿，我要买新房子。你的旨意如何？该有几间卧房？该有几间浴室？我该付多少钱？主，我要知道你的旨意。”忘掉这样的祷告，因你越这样祷告并寻求主的旨意，你就越发觉自己在黑暗中，在祂的旨意之外。十二章二节所说的旨意，乃是要有教会生活。你所买的房子，你所有的工作，你结婚的对象，都应当在于教会生活。甚至你所穿的衣服，也应当在于教会生活。你若与教会生活是对的，就会知道你必须作甚么。一切必须为着教会生活，因为过教会生活是神惟一的旨意。这是美好、可喜悦、并纯全的，并且这是为着身体生活。献上我们的身体，变化我们的魂，并更新我们的心思，都是为着身体生活。
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Pleasing God – By the Renewing of the Mind (2) — Rom. 12:2
We should not be conformed to the age, but transformed by the renewing of our mind (Eph. 4:23; Titus 3:5). To be conformed to the age means to adopt the modern fashions outwardly; to be transformed is to have an organic element wrought into our being to produce a metabolic change inwardly. We need to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. The mind in Romans 12 is different from the mind both in Romans 7 and Romans 8. In Romans 7 the mind was alone, acting independently. In Romans 8 the mind was dependent, being set on the spirit. However, I doubt that the mind in Romans 8 has been transformed or renewed. Simply to set our mind on the spirit is inadequate. The mind should not only be dependent, but also renewed. Romans 12:2 tells us that we need a renewed mind. The mind is renewed not only by outward teachings, but by the element of Christ being added to it. When the Lord Jesus spreads Himself from our spirit into our mind, our mind will be renewed. By the renewing of our mind our soul is metabolically changed. In this way we experience transformation in our soul, a necessity for the church life. If we intend to practice the church life, we need to experience such a transformation in our soul by the renewing of our mind.
To Test and Prove the Will of God
We need the renewal of our mind and the transformation of our soul that we “may prove by testing what the will of God is, that which is good and well-pleasing and perfect.” What is the will of God? The will of God is to have the Body life, the church life. Do not apply the mention of the will of God in 12:2 to your personal human situation, to the matters of marriage, employment or housing. Some people pray, “O Lord, I am going to buy a new house. What is Your will? How many bedrooms and bathrooms should it have? How much should I pay for it? Lord, I want to know Your will”. Forget about praying in this manner, for the more you pray and seek the Lord’s will in this way, the more you will find yourself in darkness and out of His will. The will mentioned in 12:2 is to have the church life. The house that you purchase, the job that you have, and the person that you marry should all depend on the church life. Even the clothes that you wear should depend on the church life. If you are right with the church life, you will know what you must do. Everything must be for the church life, for to have the church life is the unique will of God. This is good, well-pleasing and perfect. And this is for the Body life. The presenting of our bodies, the transforming of our souls, and the renewing of our minds are all for the Body life.