Lent Day 29

Romans 12:2

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.

I had a good time this morning looking up the Greek definitions to several words in this verse.  I will leave those definitions at the bottom for you to read through if you would like.   It helps me to understand the verse better knowing the original Greek meanings. Today these definitions helped me to think of this verse in an entirely different way than I had before.   I have always concentrated on the beginning of this verse, but it is the second part of this verse that allows us to see the benefit to us if we follow the command of the first part. 

God’s will by definition is what should be done by us to carry out His divine purpose. His will is beneficial and advantageous to us, pleasing to Him and complete in purpose.  It is what is best for us, fully developed, not lacking any deficiencies or short comings in His plan of giving us eternal life. (Key Word Study Bible).    His will includes His plan for our salvation and eternal life with Him.   The thoughts of this world interfere with the will of God.  They take us away from His will, His path, His plan.  Worldly thoughts make our path crooked, treacherous, unproductive and misguided to our final destination.  God’s will is best for us and leads us on a path straight to Him and His promise.  If we seek His will through the renewing of our minds then we are guaranteed a life with Him.  (Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight).    We want our path to be straight, leading to Him, so do not conform to the patterns of this world. 

When we renew our minds through the Holy Spirit, we are able to test and approve the will of God.  Meaning we are able to distinguish the identity of the thoughts we have as those of God and worthy to receive, from those of the world that should be discarded.  The more we are able to determine God’s thoughts, the more we can follow His will.  There are worldly behaviors we can choose to avoid but still remain proud, selfish, or stubborn in our thoughts.   These thoughts keep us away from His plan.  We need a renewing of our minds in order to fully transform and follow Him.  

As in any goal we set for ourselves we have to have a plan to achieve it.  Nothing is different in the goal of our salvation.   We cannot just want to be there, we have to have a plan, a path to follow that leads us there.  God’s will is that plan. It has already been designed and implemented by Him.   It is perfect, it is what is best for us and can only lead us to Him and His kingdom.   His plan for our lives is complete from beginning to end, it is without defect or deficient in any way.  It cannot lead us astray.  

Peace and Love,

LeAnn

Conform (Greek Syschematizo) To conform to the same pattern outwardly.  !2:2 urges  Christians not to focus their lives upon the external and fleeting fashions of this age nor be shaped by them.  Rather, they should pursue a deep inner change of character by the renewing of their minds. 

Transform (Greek Metamorphoo) Spiritual transformation, an invisible process in Christians which takes place already during their life in this age.  “And quit being so concerned about keeping up with the fads and fashions of the present age; rather concentrate on letting your character undergo a metamorphosis by the renewing of your mind in order that you might be able to evaluate and ascertain what the will of God is, which is good, well pleasing and ideal.

Renewing (Greek Anakainosis) work of restoring something back to a new condition.  Refers to spiritual renewal of the mind.  Romans 12:2 specifically means the degress to which one can ascertain God’s will corresponds directly to the degree to which he has been transformed by his mind’s renewal. 

Test and Approve (Greek Dokimazo) It has the notion of testing a thing to ascertain whether it be worthy to be received or not.  Something good is expected of every proof.   To determine the identity of something through evaluation, distinguish, discover, ascertain. 

Will (Greek Thelema)  designates what is done or what should be done by others as the object of God’s good pleasure in the carrying out of the divine purpose or the accomplishment of what He would have

Good (Greek Agathos) Good benevolent, pprofitable, useful, honorable, noble.  When intending a contrast, underscores the beneficial properties of something and represents something as being advantageous to another, promoting his welfare.  Signifies inherent goodness and describes something as virtuous. 

Pleasing (Greek Euarestos) Well pleasing, acceptable, Used with reference to God, that which God wills and recognizes.  

Perfect (Greek Teleios) goal, purpose.  Describes that which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose.  Complete, perfected, proficient.  Fully developed, lacking any deficiencies or short comings.  Of the will of God it is either morally what is ideal, best, most excellent.