Jesus transforms us by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), ultimately helping us to see that conformity to this world will only lead to our demise. When we pursue this calling, our reward is beyond imagination. You see, in addition to having our lives transformed by the living God, our minds renewed by His Word, and a life of prayer developing us in the Spirit, we are then capable of receiving the spiritual truths that await us. Why do we do this? So that we can prove “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” In other words, the more we understand spiritual truths, the greater our ability to stay in the will of God! The Bible tells us to prove things to ensure they are the perfect and acceptable will of the Lord. The greater our ability to do so, the higher levels of wisdom we experience.

What does it mean to walk in the “perfect will of God?” The perfect will of God is just that—perfect. When we come to a place where we are in His perfect will, there is nothing necessary to bring His will to a place of completion except our obedience. His will is perfect; it’s our response to it that’s flawed.

We sometimes try to fit God into our own box, which I did for a long time. “Okay Lord, I will answer the call, however, this is the call I’d like to have: I prefer not to be the weepy intercessor because I do not like to cry and that is hard for me. But I really like to study and teach the Word. I love to pray, and I love the warfare, so yes, I will answer the call, but I am going to need you to work within these parameters.” (I am fortunate that He did not just smite me on the spot!)

I sought to create a walk for myself, a call for myself, a life for myself within ministry that would please my flesh. I remember when God began to pull that desire out of me and I began to hunger for His will and His way instead of my own. I remember the transition that took place when I began to see that His plan, while it might be painful to walk through, was the one that would bring me true peace, true shalom.

I am not saying it was easy. It was a struggle to face the things that I had to face, however, His plan was the one that would draw me into a level of love by the Father that I had craved my entire life. It was what would bring me into the place of true fulfillment of my purpose—the very reason I was created. Once that took place, I became so driven for more of Him, more of His Word, more of His will. Why? Because what took place in my flesh, when I engaged in His will, no longer mattered to me. What truly mattered was seeing His perfect will accomplished, not just in my life but in the lives of those He created me to impact. Whether this was one person or the entire nation no longer mattered to me as long as I was in His will.

At this point, I saw things differently—I saw love differently. Not a love that was given to me, but how I would love my fellow man. Something clicks when you step into the perfect will of God, that which needs nothing else to be complete. Something clicks within you and everything that you read in Romans 12 and 13 about love begins to come into play in your life. “Let love be without dissimilation” (no hidden agendas). “Abhor that which is evil, cling to that which is good, be kindly and affectionate to one another in brotherly love, preferring one another, not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, distributing to the saints, given to hospitality.” These are the practical applications of love.

Paul continues his instructions in Romans 12:14-16 as he deals with our interaction with others. “Bless those that persecute you, bless and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, weep with them that do weep. Be of the same mind of one toward another. Mind not high things but condescend to men of low estate.” This phrase means to identify with, yield to, or submit yourself to a lowly state. This refers to an inner lowliness and describes a person who depends upon the Lord, rather than self.

There are very few things that help us achieve this “inner lowliness and dependence upon God” than facing persecution and identifying and serving the needs of our brethren. Paul details proper responses to our struggles as we interact with both Christians and those who strive to destroy the Christ within us.

The refining of Malachi 3, creating vessels of gold and silver, will be deep if we follow the Word of God. We are not to comply with the world, we are to comply and identify with the ways of God. If our enemy hungers and thirsts, we are to provide for him. Serving those who despise the Christ within us is not easy, but there is a powerful refining that takes place in each of us when we proceed, regardless of the potential outcome.

Romans 13:8 says, “Owe no man anything but to love one another; for he that loveth another, hath fulfilled the law.” What does it mean to fulfill the law? What is the law? The entire law can be summed up in two precepts that Christ gave us in Mark 12:28-31: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus came. He walked this earth without sin. He died for us while we were still full of sin. He rose again, overcoming death, that we might have eternal life. We can enter the presence of God because of the blood of Christ. His holiness clothes us. His blood protects us from the holiness of God. That is love. You see, these are products of the transformation of the inner man, the transformation and the renewing of our mind. We do not have to work at love; it begins to flow naturally and becomes a part of who we are. It is a product of “Whose” we are, who God is in us, and the work He is doing in us. It starts deep within and then begins to flow forth from us.

How much do we love ourselves? The first step to truly loving ourselves is to lay down our life for Christ, thereby denying our flesh—our soulish nature—so that we might be so infused with Him that it is Christ who lives through us. When we deny our flesh, we can be imparted with the Spirit of the living God and live our lives on this earth as vessels, pouring out His Spirit to others.

How much do we love our neighbor? Enough to share with them the beauty of eternal life? Do we care for them enough to lay down our own heart, mind, soul, and strength that they might have eternal life? It is a process for us to come to understand how the transformative work of the living God prepares us to lay down our lives for our brethren.

When we lay down our lives, our pride and our fears, and instead, convey the message of the Gospel, we are demonstrating the greatest love we can have for another person. We cannot just deliver the Gospel in words, we must live the Gospel. When we do, laying down everything for another becomes a product of the transformative work of the living God. This requires death to the flesh. However, the more we allow our flesh to die and the more we feed the Spirit of the living God, the greater our passion will be for the will of God to be accomplished in this earth. Whatever our part is, He gives us the grace for the call He placed on our lives—no more and no less.

To be continued next week…

Blessings & Love,
Ricci Wilson