Proving The Will of God

Knowing the will of God is a hard question for many.  Yet, we are not only to know the will of God, but to prove the will of God.  Romans 12:2, especially the latter half of the verse has been my musing the last few weeks, "...that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." The means by which you will "prove" the "will of God" will be by not being conformed to this world, but by being transformed by the
renewing of your mind.  As our Father's sons and daughters we already know we will serve God first with our "spirit" (Rom. 1:9, 8:5-8) and that this is going to take place by an education He has for us, being His sons and daughters.  The "Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:14) is going to "lead" us through the curriculum our Father has forged before the foundation of the world to accomplish His purpose with us, to wit, conform us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-30).  This education is going to do exactly what our Father exhorts us to participate in per Romans 12:2: the renewing of our minds.  While this is intrinsically grand the renewing of our minds is not the end all, but a means to something further.  Furthermore, the renewing of our minds has a purpose.  This purpose is implied by the word "that".  The renewing of our minds purpose is to "prove" something.  Herein lies the beauty and genius of our Heavenly Father.  "Prove" is a key component to "the newness of life" we have in Christ in connection with the "will of God" in the details of our life.

 

Prove means to try; to ascertain some unknown quality or truth by an experiment, or by a test or standard.  Although, this is part and parcel of what our Father is educating us in regarding "proving His will", it is just that "in part".  We will not be "proving" to ascertain some "unknown quality or truth".  The education we receive will grant us the truths, insomuch, they will renew our minds; therefore, this definition isn't completely fitting.  Yet, there is another definition more fitting to this context, which actually involves "proving a will".  It is, to experience; to try by suffering or encountering; to gain certain knowledge by the operation of something on ourselves, or by some act of our own.  The education we will receive and that will renew our minds is to "prove the will of God"; whereunto, we will then take that "knowledge" and "gain a certain knowledge by the operation of some act of our own".  In other words, we have the privilege as God's sons and daughters to test and try the knowledge that renewed our minds.  Moreover, we ought to participate in the exercising of the education we receive in the details of our lives.  Even simpler, God isn't going to tell you exactly what you are to do, or what decision to make; rather, He gives us more than adequate and sufficient information to make decisions that would end up being the decisions He Himself would make in our unique and particular circumstance we are in.  Henceforth, as a son and daughter, much responsibility and privilege is granted to us.  Truly, to "prove the will of God" is much grander than God telling you what to do or not to do.  The implications of this are vast and far reaching.  Our Father therefore does not communicate to us in a still small voice, or some unction of the Spirit to tell us what to do, but through His word and the Spirit leads us word-by-word, verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book to generate in our minds the thoughts of God, but also, that we may have the mind of Christ.  In one sense and not in any authoritative one, but we are to tell our Father what His will is in our life.  This again is the privilege that has been granted us as God has adopted us. 

Lastly and briefly, this privilege and responsibility is patterned for us by our "pattern" (1 Tim. 1:16), the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:6, "But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment."  Paul is exercising his proving skills and capacity in connection with the marriage relationship.  Although, this is Paul's "proving of God's will", what he speaks is in God's word and therefore equal to God's will and is actually God's will in the situation and circumstance Paul is talking about. 

This is just a brief look and glimpse into this remarkable aspect of God's grace we have, but may it direct you to study these things further and to "prove the will of God".  With this all said, the whole gamut grants us a further and more honorable privilege that is to "approve the things that are excellent" (Php. 1:10) a further aspect of our conformity to the image of Christ.

Look Up,

Pastor Josh Strelecki