The will of God is perfect because it is founded upon His perfect and most Holy character. The implications of this truth are far reaching. His purpose and plan for us is worthy of absolute trust. We should never lean upon our own understanding or seek to do what is right in our own eyes.
Instead, we ought to trust in God and obey His Word, the Holy Scriptures. How is the will of God described in Scripture?
Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The Greek word for ‘conformed’ is suschematizo (soos.khay.mat.id.zo). It means ‘to fashion one’s self according to another’s pattern’. In other words it means bending your mind around His. Too often we try to force God into our pattern. Making Him into what we are comfortable with, however, Scripture says for us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed!
Psalm 119:36 - Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.
Bend my heart to You God! When was the last time you prayed that way? Not, God bless me, not even God thank You for what I have, but God incline my heart! Bend it! Form it to You and not this world.
You see that is the implied opposite there. If we are seeking God’s will, pleading with Him about our heart, then we are less likely to be found seeking dishonest worldly things. You see that connection? Why? Because He is good and perfect and Holy!
Romans 12:2 then says that we are transformed so that we may prove what the Will of God is.
That which is Good. – Meaning that which is excellent, honorable, agreeable, pleasant, and useful. Something that brings Godly joy or happiness.
That which is Acceptable. – Meaning that which is pleasing or approved.
Finally, that which is Perfect. – Meaning complete and lacking in nothing.
How should this description motivate us to live a life of obedience to the will of God?
Evaluate your life, how does your obedience to Christ, your walk, line up to what God’s Word says it should be? Now, listen, disobedience is sin and for the believer that sin was paid for on the cross. I’m not saying that you aren’t necessarily a believer either.
But a believer should have a Holy-Spirit driven desire to be obedient to the Word of God, because it reveals the Will of God. It stands to reason then that if there is no desire to be obedient and FOLLOW after Christ, you may need to evaluate whether or not you are truly in the faith at all...
Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Watch over your heart with ALL diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.
Now, here is something that may interest you. Turn over to Matthew 7:2. The same word for transfigured is used to say transformed in Romans 12:2. It’s not a work we can do, but a work of God! We are here being called to use the means that God has given for us to be conformed to His will! Namely prayer and study of His Word.
What, then, is our response to the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God?
Matthew 6:9-10 says we should pray – Not my will be done God, but YOURS.
How do we do the will of God?
Psalm 40:8 - I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”
I delight to do Your will God, why? BECAUSE Your Law is within my heart.
Ephesians 6:6 - not by way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
We do the will of God ‘not by way of eyeservice’, which means only working well when being watched, ‘as man-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart.’ Not just legalistic actions, but from the heart.
Jesus demonstrated a correct attitude and response to the will of God? How do we imitate that?
John 4:32-34 - But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
What sustains us? God! Can I just suggest to you that the reason God designed us to need food and water was to be an ever present reminder that we are now self-sufficient.
We rely on food. We need to look at that and see that we rely on someone for life. Who? God, the giver of that food. What else do we rely on God for? EVERYTHING!
What sustains Jesus more than food itself? Doing the will of God!
John 5:30 - “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
We make decisions and judgments based solely on the Will of God!
God’s will is perfect because God is its Author and its Preserver!
Psalm 19:7-9 – God’s Word is perfect!
Psalm 12:6 – God’s Word is pure! Refined 7 times, the perfect number)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – God’s Word is inspired! Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Why?
So that we may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Finally, the Word of God is the primary means through which the will of God is revealed.
What is our attitude to be to this?
Psalm 119:127-128 – Therefore, I love Your commandments above gold!
God’s Word is not a yoke on us, it is our delight!
Go home and rejoice in the perfect will of God. Look to His Word and see what it says, then pray that God conform you to it. Transform you!
Instead, we ought to trust in God and obey His Word, the Holy Scriptures. How is the will of God described in Scripture?
Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
The Greek word for ‘conformed’ is suschematizo (soos.khay.mat.id.zo). It means ‘to fashion one’s self according to another’s pattern’. In other words it means bending your mind around His. Too often we try to force God into our pattern. Making Him into what we are comfortable with, however, Scripture says for us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed!
Psalm 119:36 - Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain.
Bend my heart to You God! When was the last time you prayed that way? Not, God bless me, not even God thank You for what I have, but God incline my heart! Bend it! Form it to You and not this world.
You see that is the implied opposite there. If we are seeking God’s will, pleading with Him about our heart, then we are less likely to be found seeking dishonest worldly things. You see that connection? Why? Because He is good and perfect and Holy!
Romans 12:2 then says that we are transformed so that we may prove what the Will of God is.
That which is Good. – Meaning that which is excellent, honorable, agreeable, pleasant, and useful. Something that brings Godly joy or happiness.
That which is Acceptable. – Meaning that which is pleasing or approved.
Finally, that which is Perfect. – Meaning complete and lacking in nothing.
How should this description motivate us to live a life of obedience to the will of God?
Evaluate your life, how does your obedience to Christ, your walk, line up to what God’s Word says it should be? Now, listen, disobedience is sin and for the believer that sin was paid for on the cross. I’m not saying that you aren’t necessarily a believer either.
But a believer should have a Holy-Spirit driven desire to be obedient to the Word of God, because it reveals the Will of God. It stands to reason then that if there is no desire to be obedient and FOLLOW after Christ, you may need to evaluate whether or not you are truly in the faith at all...
Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
Watch over your heart with ALL diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.
Now, here is something that may interest you. Turn over to Matthew 7:2. The same word for transfigured is used to say transformed in Romans 12:2. It’s not a work we can do, but a work of God! We are here being called to use the means that God has given for us to be conformed to His will! Namely prayer and study of His Word.
What, then, is our response to the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God?
Matthew 6:9-10 says we should pray – Not my will be done God, but YOURS.
How do we do the will of God?
Psalm 40:8 - I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”
I delight to do Your will God, why? BECAUSE Your Law is within my heart.
Ephesians 6:6 - not by way of eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
We do the will of God ‘not by way of eyeservice’, which means only working well when being watched, ‘as man-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart.’ Not just legalistic actions, but from the heart.
Jesus demonstrated a correct attitude and response to the will of God? How do we imitate that?
John 4:32-34 - But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
What sustains us? God! Can I just suggest to you that the reason God designed us to need food and water was to be an ever present reminder that we are now self-sufficient.
We rely on food. We need to look at that and see that we rely on someone for life. Who? God, the giver of that food. What else do we rely on God for? EVERYTHING!
What sustains Jesus more than food itself? Doing the will of God!
John 5:30 - “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
We make decisions and judgments based solely on the Will of God!
God’s will is perfect because God is its Author and its Preserver!
Psalm 19:7-9 – God’s Word is perfect!
Psalm 12:6 – God’s Word is pure! Refined 7 times, the perfect number)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – God’s Word is inspired! Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. Why?
So that we may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Finally, the Word of God is the primary means through which the will of God is revealed.
What is our attitude to be to this?
Psalm 119:127-128 – Therefore, I love Your commandments above gold!
God’s Word is not a yoke on us, it is our delight!
Go home and rejoice in the perfect will of God. Look to His Word and see what it says, then pray that God conform you to it. Transform you!
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