Read: Romans 12:1-2
How do I know God’s will? All of us have asked this question at one point or another in our lives. But the truth is that the area of God’s will is one of the most hotly debated issues in the western church. Some churches will teach that you can only know God’s will if you hear Him speak directly to you and confirm His will. Some churches will teach that we need to allow God to open and close doors to show us His will. The question seems to remain, how do I know God’s will?…
Here in Romans 12 Paul provides a simple answer to that question. When our minds are renewed we “will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” As God renews our mind through the work of His Spirit and through our participation (see yesterday’s study) we are able to know and understand what God’s will is. Our mind is renewed so that we can understand how God desires us to live.
When Paul talks about God’s will he is not talking about what job to take, who to marry, where to live or other decisions like that. Paul is talking about the way that God desires His people to live and to act. He is talking about matters of sin and righteousness. That we might know how to live lives that are holy and pleasing to
This in turn guides us as we make specific life-changing decisions. In all that we decide we are guided by what God desires our lives to look like. Because it is God’s will that we avoid sin and the wicked ways of the world and pursue holiness we will only make decisions that are clearly within the boundaries God provides in Scripture. Within these boundaries and guided by the wisdom found in Scripture God gives us freedom to choose and silently guides our decisions according to His will. We do not need to be paralysed by waiting for some kind of sign from heaven to make a decision. God has already provided us all we need.
Notice that Paul says that we will be able to ‘test and approve’ what God’s will is. Throughout Scripture we always find that God’s will and desire for how His people should live is not just some kind of arbitrary decision He makes or a test that He puts us through. His ways are truly the best way. When we live according to God’s will we find that His commands bring true, lasting and full life. Those who follow God’s ways find the most joy (even in trials), enjoy the most satisfaction in God (even when nothing else in our lives seems to be going right) and bring the most good to those around them. God’s way truly is the best way.
This is what Paul means when He says that we ’test and approve’ God’s will. We are not making sure that God is right as if we can sit as judge over Him and over His will. Instead we are demonstrating or showing in our own lives that God’s way truly is the best way. We are showing by our own lives that God’s way truly leads to a rich and full life. As God renews our minds let us always seek to live according to His will and be a visible demonstration that God’s way truly is the best way.
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray for the gathering of God’s people tomorrow around the world to worship God, to study the Word and to encourage one another. Pray that God would give those who are preaching boldness, wisdom and insight that they might preach faithfully. Pray that God would be growing His people.
*If you would like more information on making decisions according to God’s will consider the book Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung
As people see you living out your Christian faith and living according to God’s ways they will be drawn towards the differences in your life. Be ready to explain why you live the way you do and to share the gospel at every opportunity. You never know how God will work.
1. Why do you think Christians are so divided over how to find out God’s will?
2. Can you think of a time when you had a big decision to make? How did you go about it?
3. Based on this passage and your knowledge of Scripture what is a biblical process for making big life decisions?
Intro: How do you know what God wants you to do? How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
Share: A time when you weren’t sure what the right thing to do was. What did you do? Who did you go to for help?
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Paul tells his friend Timothy something amazing about the Bible. What does he say about it? Paul tells us that the Bible helps us know what God wants us to do. Who could you ask for help when you aren’t sure what to do? Do you think you could ask God for help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He provides help to us through the Bible. Pray that He would help you do what is right.
Intro: How do you know what God wants you to do? How do we know what is right and what is wrong?
Share: A time when you weren’t sure what the right thing to do was. What did you do? Who did you go to for help?
Read: 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Paul tells his friend Timothy something amazing about the Bible. What does he say about it? Paul tells us that the Bible helps us know what God wants us to do. Who could you ask for help when you aren’t sure what to do? Do you think you could ask God for help?
Pray Together: Thank God that He provides help to us through the Bible. Pray that He would help you do what is right.
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