God's will is good, acceptable and perfect
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
The one true God (Jer 10:10) has designed a good and acceptable and perfect life plan (will) for each of us. When we follow this plan God is blessed and glorified and those around us (i.e., friends, family, colleagues etc) see the wonder and joy of having a close relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (1 Ti 6:15) who loved us and gave himself for us (Gal 1:4).
Good
We have all received from God a ‘good’ personalised life plan. A feature of this life plan is that we have been set free from sin! (Gal 5:1,13). Living in the realisation of this blesses our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the unsaved – as they will see what it is to live in the hope that only God can give. This hope is extraordinary preserving us through the most frightening circumstances (Rom 5:5), purifying us (1 Jo 3:3) and will never be taken away from us (Rom 8:31, 37-39). This hope will inspire and may even lead those around us to know Christ as their Saviour (Mal 2:6).
Acceptable
The original word for acceptable can also be translated as well-pleasing. It is wonderful to reflect that we sinners who are saved by grace, can conduct ourselves in a way that God can find well-pleasing. The challenge for us is to do this continually regardless of the situation. Sometimes, it may require us to endure hardness like a soldier (2 Ti 2:3) drawing on the strength of the Lord (Eph 6:10). Our Lord Jesus is the perfect example, he endured – what no person could endure, he suffered – what no person could suffer, all for the joy that was to follow (Heb 12:2)
As a result of his endurance and suffering, we will never be condemned, for we (who have accepted the Lord as our saviour) are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).
Perfect
God’s will is correct and complete – perfect! We know this because he has designed it and his ways are past finding out! (Rom 11:33). Following it may not be easy and may lead us into extremely challenging situations. However, God guarantees that we will never be crushed even though we may be afflicted, and neither will we be driven to despair, even though we may feel perplexed. Further, he has assured us that we will never be forsaken even though we may experience persecution and we will never be destroyed despite being struck down (2 Co 4:7-9).
Let us never forget God’s promise:
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
