Every single day you "test, examine, and scrutinize" different situations in your life in order to determine what might be the appropriate course of action.
For example...
- If you were going to go ice skating on a country pond... you would test and examine the ice... to make sure it was thick enough to safely hold your weight before you would fully commit yourself to the ice.
- If you were going to take a bath... you would "test" the temperature of the water to make sure it wasn't scalding hot before you would sit down in the bath tub.
- If you were going on a trip that was going to take you a couple hours of drive time... you would double check your gas level to make sure have enough gas to arrive safely at your destination.
In much the same way... the Apostle Paul encourages us to "test and approve" the will of God for our lives.
Do not conform any longer 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
When it comes to sexual temptation... over and over again we will bump into situations in our lives... and we will need to "test, examine, and scrutinize" what's before us in the attempt to discern the will of God.
For example...
- A woman at work has been overtly friendly and flirtatious with you... and she then invites you to meet her one evening for a drink.
- You're invited to your cousin's bachelor party... and from what you know of your cousin you're pretty sure the party is going to involve strip clubs and prostitutes.
- You discover a bunch of pornographic magazines in a particular restroom at your job. Now each time you need to use the restroom... you have to decide which restroom you're going to use - the one that contains the porn... or the one that doesn't have any porn.
In each of these situations... and many more like them that can occur in your life at any time... you better have the ability to "test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing, and perfect will".
In this episode... and the next...Tony explores what it means to "test and approve" the will of God for your life.
