Do you ever think about being in the will of God? I can’t be the only one. I assume most would answer yes to that question. It’s something I think about pretty often actually. And when I do, Romans 12:2 comes to mind:
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Are these three different things? Three ways of saying the same thing? Either way, this verse indicates we can, and should, pursue the will of God for our lives. What I’ve discovered in my studies are these definitions: good describes profitable and useful; acceptable means to be well-pleasing; and the word perfect means to be complete.
These are definitely three different things with a common goal: the will of God.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he uses an illustration of a house and vessels to describe the choices of our lives. And he concludes this thought by saying the person who chooses wisely “…will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). This is the first way to be in the “good” will of God– simply choose God’s way in everything. But of course the only way to do this is to know God’s ways (or we could say, know God’s Word).
Acceptable is a complacent word in today’s society. It almost insinuates “meh” “so-so” or “half-hearted.” But this isn’t the Bible definition. To be acceptable (well-pleasing) is the act of pleasing or satisfying another. We might could even say it means to make someone smile with approval. The story of the centurion comes to mind. In Matthew 8, this man came to Jesus pleading with Him to heal his son. When Jesus said he would go with him, the centurion replied: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” And when Jesus heard the centurion, the Bible says, “He marveled” (Matthew 8:5-10).
The centurion’s faith pleased Jesus greatly.
We could say He was well-pleased. This understanding is much different than our modern definition of “acceptable.” So exercising faith in God is another way of being in God’s will– simply believing in Him and His Word and then acting upon it.
And lastly, perfect. This is the goal– to be in the perfect will of God. I told you it means complete. It can also mean finished. This word is used fairly frequently in the New Testament. It describes patience having its perfect work (James 1:4), or God giving perfect gifts from above (James 1:17), or even God’s Word being the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). But in context to God’s will, the best understanding would be maturity (perfect).
In other words, to grow and mature in truth, faith, virtues, knowledge, etc. is to be in God’s perfect will. The Bible teaches sanctification as a progressive work of grace. In other words, (in Paul’s words), “I have not arrived; but the one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
In another place, Paul admonishes believers for not taking maturity seriously. He said, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age [mature], that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).
It’s okay to say ouch.
We need to be prodded a bit. Today’s culture encourages mediocracy but you and I are children of God and He is anything but mediocre! So the goal is pursuit and continual growth. THIS is how we find and stay in the will of God.
And the result? A life of peace and joy in pure fellowship with Jesus, our Father God, and the Holy Spirit. They want this for you as much as you desire it. So keep growing, keep pursuing, stay in God’s Word regularly and apply what you are learning. “And in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
