Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
This is one of those verses that you often see on a coffee cup, or on a t-shirt in a Christian book store. Which is fine, providing we understand the context of the verse.
The verse is in 3 save 4 parts and we will dissect them to be sure we have the correct understanding of this verse, and hopefully the Lord will speak to your hearts today.
- Romans 8:28a And we know that all things work together for good…
Too often this is where the verse stops. A statement with no understanding where people look at bad circumstances in their lives and then try to find the silver lining.
Another verse that people often use at the end of a bad day is:
Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
To somehow sound more spiritual, when in truth… we are not promised that our day will be a great day…
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Romans 8:28b… to them that love God…
In order for the first part of this verse to have any relevance… you must apply the second part: ye must be saved.
John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
God has no responsibility to bless those who are not saved. Anymore than I have a responsibility to the neighbors kids.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- What am I doing with God?
Romans 8:28c… to them who are the called according to his purpose…
There is a point in your life that, if you are allowing God to work in your life; that you will make choices based of Godly principles rather on the circumstances of the moment.
Examples might be:
- Reading your Bible because you want to vs being told to.
- Rearranging your schedule to consistently read your Bible.
- Coming to Church because you desire to be here to see what God has in store, rather than coming to play.
- Learning the Bible verses and songs because it is a desire of your heart, not a motivation of the flesh. (motivation of the flesh is seeking a reward for doing what is right)
- Allowing your testimony to be such that you never have to tell someone you are a Christian. The way you talk and the way you act tells everyone you are a child of God.
One simple verse with a meaning that is stacked…
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
That God will use the circumstances that life puts us through, as Christians; to allow us to have a greater testimony of what he’s done for you.
Example:
- God allowed my wife to have cancer. At the time it was hard to say that all things work together for good… however, now that we look back we can see:
For the first time in all the years she had been saved, she began to share the Gospel with other women there at the Markey Cancer Center. She was able to lead many women to the Lord who were in the same circumstances she was in, yet without hope. Afterwards she started teaching in Sunday School, helping is different ministries, teaching in a Christian school; the list goes on. God was able to take a bad situation and use it for His glory; making something great out of it.