Page 42 Sharpening Your Spiritual Instincts There are three passages in the New Testament that shed light on the discovery of God’s moral will. When I walk through these texts, I find very practical instruction on the matter. The first one is Romans 12:1-2: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And 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. (NKJV) Paul writes to the church in Rome and exhorts the believers to offer their bodies to God as a living sacrifice. Herein lies an important spiritual principle. The Lord does not reveal His will to those who are unwilling to follow it. Jesus said, ,If any man will *is willing to+ do His will, He shall know . . . (John 7:17). ,If your eye is single [you have single devotion to the Lord], your whole body will be full of light (Matt. 6:22). Paul goes on to discuss the renewing of the mind. The net effect of offering our bodies as a living sacrifice and renewing our minds is that we will be able to ,prove or demonstrate the perfect will of God. This is a reference to His moral will as the context shows.
While the will is the ultimate determiner of all choices, it is influenced in its choices by the strongest forces brought to bear upon it. These compelling forces come from a variety of sources. It may be the subtle suggestions of Satan and his world system (Eph. 2:2) or the evil enticements of our own sinful nature (Jas. 1:14). It may be the urgent voice of conscience, the earnest reasoning of a loving friend, or the quiet prompting of the Holy Spirit. But from whatever source these compelling forces come, they reach our wills through either our reason or our emotions.
Jerry Bridges