Proving the Will of God

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.

There are so many deep messages packed into this passionate plea from Paul the Apostle. He points us all toward faithful obedience to the will of God. It’s not always easy to determine the will of God. But, the prerequisites are easy to understand. I need to present myself to God as a sacrifice. That requires me to acknowledge that His will is more important than mine. It’s helpful to remember that Jesus taught us to pray for God’s will to be done in our daily lives. Also, Paul teaches us to resist being shaped by the world around us. Rather, we need to crave a different kind of change. God can help transform me from the inside out. The transformation of God’s presence and power affects decision-making. God’s presence in my life has affected my life in a significant way.

Yesterday, I made a difficult decision to step aside from full time pastoral ministry at Heritage Fellowship Church. This has been a prayerful decision for Lynn, Nick and me.  All along the way, we have been sensitive to the guidance found in Romans 12:1-2. I love my church family at Heritage Fellowship and it is not a decision that was precipitated by a problem or a crisis at the church. It has been a privilege to serve as senior pastor for nearly 10 years. We leave with immense gratitude for the love and care provided by our church family. The decision to leave Heritage is a decision to “prove” what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. I am grateful for God’s direction in our lives and I look forward to the opportunities that He has given us to continue to serve. As I teach, write and invest in developing others, I will do so having been blessed by my experiences at Heritage. Also, Lynn, Nick and I are very happy to continue to reside in Knoxville as we serve the Lord.