Romans 12:1-2 (1)I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (2)Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(ESV)
Romans 12:9-21 (9)Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. (10)Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (11)Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (12)Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (13)Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. (14)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. (15)Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (16)Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (17)Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. (18)If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (19)Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (20)To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” (21)Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.(ESV)
Testing everything only helps if we know what we’re looking for.
Paul connects discernment with transformation. A mind shaped by the world will call worldly things good. A mind shaped by pride will defend whatever protects pride. A mind shaped by fear will often call safety wisdom. Before we can reliably recognize what is good, the one doing the judging must also be changed.
That is why “good” can’t simply mean effective, comfortable, profitable, popular, or personally satisfying.
Something can succeed and still be wrong. It can feel peaceful and still be avoidance. It can gain approval while producing rotten fruit. It can accomplish exactly what we wanted while pulling us farther from God.
Romans 12 doesn’t leave good as an abstract idea. It shows us what good looks like when lived: sincere love, hatred of evil, patience in suffering, generosity, humility, peace, and refusing to answer evil with more evil.
Good resembles the character of God.
That gives us a clearer standard. We should ask not only whether something worked, but what it produced in us. Did it make us more truthful, loving, faithful, humble, and obedient? Or did it simply give us the result we wanted?
Once something has been tested and found good, Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians becomes urgent: hold fast.
Don’t cling to something merely because it’s familiar. Don’t release something merely because it’s difficult.
Let truth expose what’s false. Let God transform the mind that judges it. Then, when what’s good becomes clear, hold onto it.
Walking With Christ 
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