Good Will Hunting

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." —Romans 12:2

"What is God’s will for my life?" This question is repeated by people in all walks of life, and at all stages of those lives. Once we have decided to follow Jesus, it becomes a central question to our lives, where is he leading us?

This question caused me no amount of frustration and inner turmoil as a younger man. I spent much time trying to determine a destination, straining to hear God’s voice leading me toward a glorious end. It took years before I realized that God’s will was perfectly laid out for believers in two brief statements. Through obedience to these two small statements, a Christian can learn the will of God for their lives.

The first is found in Matthew 16, Mark 8, and Luke 9, “If anyone would be my disciple, let them deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me.” The second is found above in Romans 12. “Do not be conformed, but be transformed.” In these two statements, we find that we are to realize that our walk as disciples has very little to do with “our” walk or “our” destination, and more to do with looking like Christ.

Being transformed by the renewing of our minds is a process that theologians call “Sanctification.” It is the process of Salvation that is ongoing. When we accepted Christ as our sovereign ruler (Lord) we were Justified by God, our sins washed away by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. But we are still human, we still struggle with the every day decisions. As we pray, read scripture, and live in the community of believers, we allow God to “change our minds” about all manner of topics until we resemble Christ. Paul tells the Romans that it is in this process of renewing our minds that we are able to discern God’s will. I may even go a step further, and say this process is God’s will.

What is God’s will for your life? To look like Christ.

Homework this week: Determine what sources of input are forming your ideas and decisions. Decide whether those forms are helping you to renew your mind to look like Christ. Choose to renew your mind through prayer and the reading of scripture this week.

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