(Read Romans 12)
The famous, iconic philosopher Taylor Swift once said, “I second-guess and overthink and rethink every single thing that I do.” We can all agree she’s not alone. When we second-guess everything, we’re putting the brakes and blinders on our life. God has a plan for everyone; while we don’t always understand it or like it, it’s His plan — and He knows more than we’ll ever hope to know.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21
Some of the Proverbs may have come from oral traditions that existed for centuries before, but King Solomon is most often attributed for writing most of them. Verse 19 contrasts our human intentions and God’s ultimate plan. We love to make “perfect” plans from our desires and ambitions; however, despite our best efforts and intentions, Solomon reminds us that God’s purpose will always prevail.
To some, this sounds disheartening, wresting control from our lives. But this system where God is in control instills humility and recognition of our limitations. That’s a good thing. God’s wisdom and providence are far beyond our comprehension. Sometimes our plans align with God’s purposes and other times, they don’t. Proverbs 19 shows us how to trust God’s sovereignty and submit our plans to His will.
Pastor Tim Keller once said, “In a sense, for a Christian, there is no ‘plan B.’” It doesn’t get any simpler than that. Rarely do we know precisely what God wants for us in our choices or everything we need to know for every decision we make, and most of us are never prepped enough to feel 100% confident in our own judgment. Yet, the most important thing for us is that we know what God doesn’t want for us. We might not know whether to take a job offer or stay in our current position, work problems out ourselves or seek professional help, or buy something that’s a great deal or wait because we don’t need it. We can feel completely assured that God wants us to love Him and love His children. We know He wants a relationship with us and wants us to follow the map He gave us in the Bible. He doesn’t want us to take Him out of our choices, living our lives according to our views rather than His.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Romans 12:1
The Apostle Paul was writing to troubled Jewish and Gentile believers in Rome at a time of great turmoil. Tensions were volatile between the two groups, and so were their misunderstandings of the Gospel. Adding to this, the Roman Empire was in decline, conditions were harsh, and persecution was rampant. For some, it was difficult to trust a God who seemed absent or indifferent to their suffering. The Roman Empire was a melting pot of different cultures and religions, making it convenient for people to be influenced by other faiths, even to the point of questioning their own Christian beliefs.
Roman society emphasized the importance of self-reliance and individual achievement. This also made it difficult for people to trust a God who seemed to be asking for personal surrender. Paul passionately pleaded with them to know that God was still in control, loved them unconditionally, and would never abandon them. Living differently can only begin by thinking differently.
While vacationing in New England, we had the fantastic company of friends we hadn’t seen in years. In our late 20’s, we saw each other all the time, playing sports, socializing, going to parties, and starting families together. We didn’t know how basic life was back then. Sure, we talked about all kinds of things, from politics to football, but we didn’t talk about eternal stuff.
During a conversation recently, my friend told me that her daughter, once a passionate churchgoer, seldom worships in church any longer. I told her it was OK because once you’re saved by Christ and accept Him, you’re always saved. “She could be in a season of busyness and distractions,” I told her. I tried to kindly point out that her Baptism, previously strong faith, and prayer life could be going through an ebb and flow. In response to my remarks that once you’re saved, you’re always saved, my friend (G) replied, “Oh no, not me!”
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
Romans 12 is a call to radical transformation, unity, and love. In this powerful chapter, Paul outlines how Christ’s followers should live their lives. We are not to conform to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). This means the world comes second, not first. This means that we are to think differently about the world and live differently in a way that is consistent with God’s will.
If we read Romans correctly, we will let God transform us into a new person by changing our thoughts. Unlike ours, God’s will is “good and pleasing and perfect.” When we worship, pray, and talk to God, it’s OK to ask Him to reveal His will to us. Committing an unknown future to a known God is good, pleasing, and perfect.
My friend went on to tell us that at 16, she was a faithful believer. She said that, undeniably, she was a Christian. When she proclaimed that she would never return to Christ, I replied, “How do you know? What gives you this knowledge?” Our love for each other was reflected in our chat’s calm, respectful, and conversational tone. There was no vitriol, just two diverging opinions. I couldn’t let it go, “Are you dying, I asked?”
“I hope not,” she answered.
“Then, how do you know you’ll never believe in Jesus Christ again?” I persisted. “Until you’ve stood face to face with Christ and denied Him, there’s always hope.”
Paul’s intentions in Romans show that the gospel is not only about the beginning of our walk with Christ, but it is also how we grow in our walk. It seems like (G) had powerful “come to Jesus” moments as a teenager, as evidenced in her serious worship behavior claims. Even if Satan’s favorite targets are passionate new believers, you don’t have faith one day and lose it the next. The Christian faith is about more than learning and doing things. God wants more than just obedience. He wants our hearts.
Some Christians believe in the doctrine of Eternal Security (the perseverance of the saints.) Our salvation is a gift of His grace and true believers cannot lose it. God’s grace is sufficient to keep those He chose, to remain in faith. Since God is perfect and He chose us, it’s not possible for us to throw that away.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
John 10:27-29
My friend doesn’t know I’m anonymously writing about her in this devotional. I’ll share it with her after it’s published. I’m anxious to hear her reaction, not to proselytize her but to continue the conversation. I don’t know what happened to (G) after her active Christian period, but I know she experienced much pain, uncertainty, and torment earlier in her life. She would have every right to see life as being too hard, and like the Romans, felt that God abandoned her — I don’t know. Our time together in New England was too short, and we never were able to get back to the conversation.
I can’t lead her back to Christ; only the Holy Spirit can do that. Some would say that if something snatched her faith, it means she never really had it. Maybe I just love her too much to accept that. Will our friends and loved ones who have turned their backs on Jesus return to Him? That’s not for us to know, but second-guessing God says we know more than He who created us. That’s a big claim!
Key Applications:
- Read Romans 12. Are we presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to God by giving ourselves entirely to Him and by living our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him? How can we show this example in our work life, home life, and how we treat strangers? I think we know the answer.
- Be transformed by renewing our minds by thinking differently about the world and living in a way consistent with God’s will.
- Be kind, compassionate, and humble by showing love and concern for others,
- Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and persevere in prayer by trusting in God’s promises, even when things are difficult.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.