Renewal Series – Romans 12:2 – God’s Will

Renewal Series – Romans 12:2 – God’s Will

“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 12:2

Have you ever wanted to know what the will of God is? According to the Apostle Paul, we can know his will more clearly when we are in the process of renewing our minds. That is, to transform our worldview in a manner that abides with God. Paul starts with a warning, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world,…”  The pattern of this world is contrary to the will of God. As discussed previously, King David allowed himself to follow a path which led to adultery with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51:12, David writes in his confession, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” David realized the only way to remain in the will of God was for his Creator to repair his spirit. Other words for “restore” include: “rebuild” or to “reinstate.” David asked God to rebuild what he had destroyed through his sexual impropriety. In the midst of his misconduct, David made other poor choices; one included the murder of his good friend, and Bathsheba’s husband. It was only after David pleaded with God to restore him was he then able to determine the will of God.

On a macro scale, the prophet Ezekiel wrote to the nation of Israel, “I [God] will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” – Ezekiel 36:26.

The prophet replayed the words of God to a nation that had rebelled in ways which included idolatry and sexual sin – they performed acts of misconduct similar to the foreign nations who did not consider God as their king and lord. But God promised that if his nation returned to him then he would restore them. Only in this restoration could his chosen nation know the will of God. Only if a nation returns to the words of God can it know correct decisions and actions to take. The pattern of this world leads to destruction (Matthew 23:1-12 and Luke 18:9-14). But God has the words of life (John 6:68). Life within the will of God.

(Click here to read more.)