My desire is that my simple thoughts will speak to your spirit and be helpful in some unique way.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Romans 8:28, Part 2

I'm excited to see what God gives me today regarding Romans 8:28 so I can share it with you all.  Let's review the verse from the NIV of the Bible.

Romans 8:28)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

In the course of my study I learned something important about the verse and I feel it is crucial to share.  The "good" mentioned is a specific kind.  The good mentioned in Romans 8:28 is a good that does my soul good.  It is a good that makes me more Christ-like, less attached to sin, and nearer to God.  This good is preparing me and fitting me for heaven.  I like the word "fitted" because it reminds me of fitting a racehorse or show horse.  Their bodies and minds need prepared to compete at the highest level.  The same goes for us humans except we have another element, a soul, that needs shaped into something holy.  So let's keep the right definition of what the "good" really is. This is true good and good in every sense of the word.  The word is derived from two Greek words.  One meaning good for the inside and the other meaning good for the outside.  It is a complete and comprehensive good.

Yesterday we looked at what it means to love God.  Those who are called according to His purpose also love Him.  It seems to me that the two go hand in hand.  Again, I feel there is a sense of action here.  Followers of Christ have a purpose here on earth.  One purpose is to bring Him glory and another is to be His witness to all the ends of the earth.  He wants us DOING something for Him.  He wants our faith to have feet because truly loving Him is doing something.  I don't mean senseless service that we do begrudgingly, but rather living out our faith in our everyday actions.  I do not think one day I will find this grand purpose for my life.  I believe that purpose is exposed in each decision I make either for God or against Him.  Little by little as we are obedient to God He shows us a little more of our purpose. 

What if Romans 8:28 read "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to our purpose?"  That really changes the meaning.  His purpose is so beyond anything I could fathom that it is a total waste to put my focus on my purpose.  I didn't say it was easy to take the focus of my purpose and put it on His.  Loving God desires His purpose above my own.  By saying "His purpose" the priority is taken off temporal, earthy things and readjusted to face heaven.  God is all about heaven and humans are all about now.  Isiah 55:8 has been my battle cry ever since my mom was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer on March 26, 2008 (yep, that was Eli's 1st birthday).  It became even more poignant as I watched her be destroyed by cancer.  It has also been my crutch in the depths of my frustrations over my own health condition.  It reads, "'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and neither are your ways my ways', declares the Lord."  The good I describe earlier in my post comes to those who have their hearts faced towards heaven.

A version I used of the verse yesterday used the term "divinely-summoned."  The dictionary says that summon means to "to call upon to do something specific."  I like that because Christians are here to do something specific.  Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Jesus is giving instructions to his Apostles here, but I think it is appropriate for us modern day Christians also.  We are called to show others the love of Christ and to bring a broken, sin-infested world eternal hope.  The summons in this version of Romans 8:28 has divine attributes. 

You see, God has a purpose for all of us individually.  He challenges us, stretches us, bends us, and often times allows us to be broken so we become more like Jesus.  The good that comes from each and every trial is what makes us more like Him.  Loving God is also loving who and what He loves.  Followers of Jesus have a divinely-inspired call and we are to be living out that call each and every day.  When He knows we have His best interest at heart every struggle and every pain will work for our good. 

I do not only think our trials and tribulations work for our good if we are followers of Christ, but also our mountain top experiences and our successes.  I have battled the thought that God really doesn't want good things to happen to me and when they do, well I feel guilty.  No!  Romans 8:28 doesn't just say the bad things work for our good, but ALL things.  It also doesn't say just the big bad/good things, but ALL things.  We have an opportunity to give God the glory in the wonderful successes in life, but also in the struggles because they ALL work for our good. 




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