Reflections on Romans 12 – Part 1: Test the Will of God – Do Not Think of Yourself More Highly Than You Ought to Think

Main Idea

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the words of Saint Paul the Apostle: “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, acceptable, and perfect will of God,” explaining that a person should seek God’s will in his life rather than walking according to his own will or according to the will of others.
He emphasizes that knowing God’s will requires calmness, patience, and careful examination, because excessive enthusiasm and haste may result from a person’s own desire rather than from God’s guidance.
He explains that God’s will is characterized by calmness and patience; its path may be longer, but it is safer. Therefore, a person should say to God: Let Your will be done, not mine.
He also explains the difference between God’s will and God’s permission, because not everything that happens in life is necessarily God’s will. God may permit things that He does not desire, while His will is goodness, righteousness, and salvation.
The Pope emphasizes that the renewal of the mind is the way to discern God’s will, and that the spiritual person who does not conform to the world can receive inner enlightenment and discernment that help him know God’s will.

Spiritual Message

The teaching then moves to a warning against a person thinking “above what he ought to think,” meaning exceeding his spiritual stature, abilities, and proper limits, or seeking spiritual matters greater than his level. The Pope gives examples of people seeking visions, dreams, revelations, and spiritual gifts that are not appropriate for them, which may expose them to spiritual deception.
He refers to examples such as Adam and Eve, the Tower of Babel, Saint Peter the Apostle, and Job, explaining that when a person reaches for what is beyond his level, he may fall into pride or error.
He also warns against becoming a person who wants to reform everyone, interfering in matters that do not concern him and appointing himself as a leader or teacher of others without first correcting himself.
Reform and giving advice are not rejected, but they must be practiced with reason and wisdom, without exceeding one’s role or spiritual stature.
The Pope emphasizes the importance of humility in confession, because a person who thinks that he understands more than his father of confession may turn confession into an argument or debate instead of making it a means of spiritual growth.

Educational Lesson

This part teaches us that the spiritual life is not based on suddenly jumping to higher levels, but on walking calmly, step by step, according to what God permits and what is appropriate for a person’s spiritual stature.
A person should not cling to his own plans, but should present his desires before God and allow Him to establish what is from Him and remove what is not from Him.
A person can also seek advice from spiritual people who possess knowledge and discernment, so that they may help him distinguish between God’s will, the desires of the self, and the influence of others.
True change begins from within; the renewal of the mind leads to a change in outward behavior and life, whereas outward change without a change of heart does not last.

Practical Application

The practical application is for a person to become calm before making decisions, examine his motives, and ask himself: Is this what I want, what other people want, or is it truly God’s will?
He should pray, worship God, and return to himself through repentance, because repentance, holiness, and spiritual growth are all means through which a person changes and his mind is renewed.
He should also learn to be content with his present spiritual stature and grow within it gradually rather than seeking things beyond his capacity.
Finally, the Pope emphasizes that spiritual change is a continuous process: a person moves from evil to goodness, from goodness to what is better, and then toward perfection, through continual renewal of the mind and life.

For better translation support, please contact the center.