Verse of the Day 6/11
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. English Standard Version (ESV)
Today's verse is one of the verses that I've quoted most often in these posts at least partly because it contains the most sweeping and most loved promises in the Bible. Along with Hebrews 11:1 which tells us that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen".
Romans 8:28 came to mind in writing Friday's post where I referenced Romans 11:36 which led to the transition to application of what we had learned from Romans chapters 1 through 11. It was reinforced when it came up in John Piper's daily message which happened to be on that verse that day, it was yet another examples of "all things" working together. In the message, Piper reminded us that there are three components to the verse. The promise of "all things work together for good" cannot be separated from the other two statements in the verse. First of all it is for those who love God, it doesn't apply to those who hate God or are indifferent to Him. Things may go well for them for now and for the near future, but it won't be so for eternity. The third piece of the verse is that it is for those who are called according to His purpose. It is for those whom He has called and will align their will with His.
John Piper had stated before, to his church and called them to state out loud that "when things don't go the way they should, God always makes them turn for good." Sorrow, pain, loss, and failed dreams are a part of life, but for those of us who have been called, and love Him, we have to believe that He is in control and is working all things together for good.
The "therefore" in Romans 12:1 calls us to look back at the last verse of chapter 11 that "from him and to him and through him are all things" for his glory. They point us back to the sweeping all things statements in Romans 8:28-19 (read the passage from The Message below). The three statements are "all things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28), "will he not graciously give us all things" (8:32) telling us that he will give us all that we need to accomplish his purposes; and "in all these things" , the trials, temptations, dangers and distresses , we who have been called and love God will be conquerors, nothing is going to keep us down.
I'll end with where the verse begins with "and we know", the we is those of us who love God and have been called by Him.
Who knows? Paul begins this comforting verse with two precious words, "WE know!" The people of God know,
believers know,
the redeemed of the Lord know,
those who are "the called according to God's purpose" know.
This is knowledge that only the saints of God have.
They know, not with a bare theoretical head knowledge--but by faith rooted in their hearts.
They know because God has taught them this knowledge effectually by His Spirit and grace.
They know because they believe His infallible word of truth.
They know in such a way as to find solace and comfort in what He has revealed. Frank Hall
I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us." Romans 8:39 The Message
-- In Christ, Mike Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. NIV
Romans 8:28-39The Message (MSG)
26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
No comments:
Post a Comment