“And
we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love
God, to those called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 [NASB]
Let me begin with a studied paraphrasing of this famous
passage. We know because we see and hear God, acknowledge what He says, and act
upon what He says that God causes good to come from things He causes to work
together. God is the Originator of this good and thus the Definer of good. Good
comes from God’s being. He is the one Who causes good to be and to happen in thought,
action, and word to each person who loves God, a love of God that becomes part
of the heart of the person and leads to active obedience of God’s commands, His
will, not just simply admitting God exists, for evil Satan admits God’s existence.
These people who love God with their whole being so they live out their love to
Him in obedience to His commands are those whom He called to receive salvation,
just like He calls all people to come to Him, and these are the ones He calls to
His service. These are the people who love God with their whole being; they hear
God from His throne, recognize His voice, acknowledge it, accept His purpose for
their lives, and live out their lives in obedience to His call, His purpose.
These called people – called for salvation and for service to Him – are the ones
for whom all things work together because of God causing them for the good of
His children, the ones who love Him with their heart, mind, soul, and strength.
We each must decide for ourselves if we are the people
about whom Paul wrote in this passage. Are we each a person who loves God with
our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength? Are we actively loving God in
thought, word, and action? Do we truly know God so we see and perceive Him, acknowledge
and admit to His love, call, and purpose, and then act upon His calling?
Now we get to the hard stuff. Do we forget God is
great and causes good to occur for us who love Him with our whole being or do
we become beaten down by our struggles? As Christians active in this world, we
will have struggles. We will fall down with beatings. We will have temptations.
But God…God causes all things to work together for good…for us who love Him
with our whole being and are living according to His purpose for our lives.
God is good! God causes good. He is the source of good
and nothing can stop it from happening. When God calls you, He also causes good
for you. You are not alone with no good thing and only struggles. Look up. Look
around. Look inside your spirit, heart, and mind. Perceive God and His good for
you. He called you to salvation. God calls you to eternal life. He calls you to
this time and for this purpose. God has not left you. The Lord went before you
and provided salvation for you. He is with you and provides hope and strength
for you because of His love for you. God goes ahead of you to prepare a place
for you in His kingdom.
Don’t forget! God causes all things to work for good
for you, the one who loves Him totally, the one called according to His
purposes. God’s good is all around you. Look. God is there now. Call out. Reach
out. Grasp Him and hold on tight. If God is for you – and HE IS – then nothing
can go against you. Nothing can defeat you because God has been before you, is
with you now, and has gone ahead of you. Paul said in Romans 8:38b, “If God is
for us, who is against us.” In all our struggles, trials, troubles, and temptations,
we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us!! (vs. 37) That is God’s
good to us. He works all things for our good. To paraphrase Paul, “Nothing can separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord!” (Romans 8:39)
God is almighty, and He works all things together for
our good, we who have accepted His call of salvation, who love Him with our
whole being, and who serve Him according to His purpose. God’s good is all around
you. His good triumphs over evil. Since God is for you, nothing can defeat you.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not
depend on your own understanding. See His will in all you do, and He will show
you which path to take.”
Proverbs
3:5-6 [NLT]
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of
God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world – our
faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus
is the Son of God?”
1
John 5:3-4 [NASB]
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making
His appeal through us.”
2
Corinthians 5:20 [ESV]
Lord,
God, so often I take my eyes off you, then I stumble, or my faith grows weak as
I live in the middle of the battle. Forgive me for not seeing You and for not
seeing Your good for me. Forgive me for forgetting you are the conqueror and so
we, too, conquer. Help me keep my eyes on You and to tell others about You no matter
what I face. Help me to always remember Your promises and love for me so I can
stand strong not matter what comes against me. Nothing I will face is greater
than You, Lord. Lord, You are almighty and You have all understanding and wisdom
needed to face today, and tomorrow, and a thousand tomorrows more. Help me to
always remember to abide in You, to stay deeply devoted to You, and not lean on
my own understanding. True wisdom is reverence of You, God. You alone are God.
Amen.
