Thursday, March 5, 2009
Decision Making By the Book, Part 9 of 20
TEXT: "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" (Romans 12:2).
IDEA: I want some specifics for living out God's will for my life.
PURPOSE: God's direction is clear and unambiguous: we are told the means by which we achieve the goal of bringing glory to God.
God is involved in history. History ultimately is God's story. Calvin captured this truth in his theology: he recognized that God's eye isn't merely over history, but God's hand is on history.
That's important to know. But sometimes we want more "guidance" than that. For this reason theologians talk not only about God's sovereign will but also about His moral will. The Bible spells out God's moral will for us in specific commands as well as in general objectives.
For example, we know that God's will for us as His children is that we are to live for His glory:
"Above all things, have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins.' Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever, Amen." (1 Peter 4:8-11).
Knowing that this is the goal of our lives helps us in what seem to be ordinary decisions. If our lives are not repeatedly dedicated to the glory of God, then any choice we make is as good—or as bad—as the next.
While the Bible is clear that glorifying God is our ultimate goal, it doesn't leave us with vague generalities. The Bible also spells out intermediate goals: we are to tell others about Christ, to serve them and to teach them.
God wants the knowledge of His moral will to habitually inform our minds and hearts. In many of life's decisions, that knowledge determines our choices.
God's moral will also limits the means available for reaching our goal. The Bible says that we are to strive within God's boundaries. We can't take a shortcut through the stands at a football game simply because we think it's a way to score a touchdown.
No illegal shortcuts ever glorify God:
We cannot lie.
We cannot pretend God has done what He hasn't done.
We are to proceed lawfully and wisely.
God cares about our motives: what we are is far more important than what we do.
In summary, we are to act in love and kindness. We are not to be self-serving. We are to have integrity. We are to be faithful and generous. And we are to operate out of proper motives. God's direction is clear and unambiguous: we are told the means by which we achieve the goal of bringing glory to God.
