God’s Pleasing, Good, & Perfect Will

What is God’s will for my life?

An age old question.

But a question that I believe has a clear answer.

In Scripture, Paul lays out this way:

“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, emphasis added).

We are to—in light of God’s mercy—offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.

One aspect that this comes down to is this idea of self-control.

See, I would go so far to say that Christ-like character is unattainable if self-control is not a central piece in our character development.

Because as followers of Jesus—this man that we’ve pledged our allegiance as Lord to—this man whom we’re striving to live like, to pattern our lifestyle after, and to be with—we are called to live lives that are set apart. That are counter-cultural to the ways of this world.

We’ve been called out of the ordinary and have been extended an invitation to participate in the extraordinary story of bringing Heaven on Earth.

And within that invitation lies the opportunity to live and experience life and life to the full.  

But self-control is difficult.

It’s really hard to practice self-control in a world where essentially everything is within our grasp.

It’s really difficult to be people of self-control when living in the materialistic, go-after-your dream, western society. And it could be tempting to use our privilege, or our socioeconomic status, or our location, or our technology as excuses for why self-control just isn’t possible in this day and age. That it’s our circumstances that are really driving up the difficulty to be people of self-control.  

But this isn’t a modern-day problem, this is a humanity problem.

The pursuit of self-control has been going on since the beginning of time. And to be people of self-control, to exercise moderation or even restraint in a culture that’s constantly pursuing more could end up being one of the greatest tools we have to exposing others to the Character of Christ.  

But again, this isn’t easy.

And the Apostle Paul talks about the struggle many of us endure on an almost daily basis.

Do these words resonate with anyone? 

Romans 7:15:

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” 

What?!

What I want to do, I don’t do but instead, I do what I hate to do?!

How does that make sense Paul?!

Not doing what you want to do but instead, doing what you hate to do?

Who does that? (sarcasm intended).

Skip down to verse 18:

“For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it” (Romans 7:18-20, NIV).

Does anyone else feel like their mail is being read?

I am!

How does Paul know this?!

How does he know that self-control is so hard? That it’s so complex? That it’s such a struggle? That I so desperately want to do what is good but in the end, I do what is evil.

Could it be more than just me?

And if so, will I ever be able to change?  

Can you relate?

See we—as followers of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit—have been given the desire to do what is good. But our sinful nature is constantly at war within us convincing us that the ways of the world, the ways of indulgence, the ways of sin and evil, the ways of lust and desire, are all worth giving into. 

So what do we do?

Is there anything we can do to break free of the sinful nature within us?

Well, my friends, good news, there is!

We return to Romans 12:1-2:

“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.” 

What is God’s will for my life?

It is to conform to God’s way over the ways of this world.

It is to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.

It is to practice self-control.

So today, let us be people who exercise self-control!

People who practice restraint in a world full of indulgence.

People who practice moderation in a world full of gluttony.

People who practice patience in a world full of instantaneous fulfillment.

May it be so in us, we pray.

Amen.