Monkey See, Monkey Do

“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)

I wanted to give you a little context on the title before I dived into how the verse mentioned above correlates to the title.  I did a little research on the title because I wanted to know where the saying came from.  “Monkey See, Monkey Do is a saying that originated in Jamaica in the early 18^th century and popped up in American culture in the early 1920s.  The saying refers to learning something by mimicry, without understanding why it works or concerned about the consequences.” I found this information on KSPS PBS website.  Would you say we are in a Monkey See, Monkey Do state in society these days?

There is so much violence in our society today.  You have law enforcement and Caucasians killing/attacking our African American men and women.  The violence in the African American communities is running rampart as well as other races attacking our Asian Americans.  Individuals continue to do those things because (1) others are doing it without consequences and (2) along the way society has made it seem like things that are wrong are acceptable which circles back around to the title Monkey See, Monkey Do. 

Reread the verse above.  We should not do as the world does because that is not of God.  As believers we are to let God change us into the person that he desires for us to be.  He does this by changing our mindset.  The world has convinced us that the mindset being seen in society is what is right.  God loves all his children no matter if you’re black, white, red or yellow.  We all belong to him.  He made us and has a purpose for each one of us in the world.  No one person is better than another in God’s sight.

The last part of the verse says you will learn God’s will for you and it good and pleasing.  Ask God daily to renew your mind.  Do not use the world as an example of how to do life.  It seems like they have it good, but believe me they do not.  James 1:17 (NLT) says, ^“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.^”