Why do we often find it difficult to know what God’s will is for our lives? Over the next few studies we’ll be doing a deep dive into some well-known verses that will help shed some light on this.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
The last part of verse 2 talks about finding or discerning (ie. “test and approve”) God’s will. Yet this is at the end of a series of responses Paul is earnestly beseeching His readers to undertake.
Therefore, in order to grasp what Paul is saying regarding discerning God’s will, we need to follow his train of thought. So let’s go backwards through these two verses, from the end to the beginning, asking questions along the way – and see what we find.
Firstly, how do we discern God’s will?
Verse 2 says that we actually need to have our mind renewed – only then will we “be able to test and approve what God’s will is.” If our minds are on things that are not of God, we’re not going to be able to properly discern God’s will.
So how can we get our mind renewed?
We need to make a choice to stop conforming to the pattern of this world. We have to be willing to let go of the old ways of thinking and behaving in order to grasp hold of new ways of thinking and behaving.
God’s ways of thinking are very different from the world’s ways of thinking (Isaiah 55:8-9). The good news is that the Holy Spirit loves to do this transforming work. We just need to be willing to co-operate with Him as He does it (eg. Galatians 5:16-26).
But how can we stop conforming to the pattern of this world?
Worldly patterns are all around us, and are continually shaping us, whether we like it or not. The only way to break out of these patterns is to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. That’s an all-in commitment to His kingdom, which is not of this world.
Why should we offer ourselves to God?
It’s because of God’s incredible mercy. He took the initiative and opened the way for us to be His children. It is our heartfelt and genuine response to a loving God who loved us first.
So how do we find God’s will?
Following Paul’s train of thought reveals that it begins with our response to God’s incredible mercy, and our willingness to lay our own will (along with everything else!) on the altar of sacrifice. It’s an act of worship that flows out of relationship with Him.
Yes, sometimes God graciously shows us His will even when we are unrepentant or not fully surrendered. That’s His prerogative. But if we are not surrendered then we will always have an internal fight on our hands between His will and what we want. And that is a very difficult place to be in.
As we dive even further into these verses over the next few posts we’ll begin to grasp the depth of the response Paul is so earnestly urging from his readers. I’m looking forward to it!
