The Good, Pleasing, Perfect Will Of God
Toni M. Babcock
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 CSB.
What motivates a believer to know and do “the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God?" The Apostle Paul appears to sum it up in his letter to the Romans with one word: LOVE. He wrote, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good,” Romans 12:9 CSB.
A love which longs for God and His righteousness will do that. Paul also wrote “Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters,” Romans 12:10a CSB. A love which longs for God and His righteousness will do that too. In fact, “Do not owe anyone anything except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law,” Romans 13:8 CSB.
Did you catch that? Paul appears to be saying, ‘Want to keep all God’s commandments? Then learn to love.’ He’s not talking about never having any monthly bills to pay. Even Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” but we should never hold back the love of God towards others — the kind of love demonstrated when Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
To sum it up, “The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment; Love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law,” Romans 13:9-10 CSB.
This is “the good, pleasing, perfect” will of God.
Toni is author of Reflections from the Heart, in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens. Contact