For good
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.”
As God, He has purposed everything for our “good”….or for our value. And He knows what will be of value to us….what will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit….what will bring us closer to Him….no matter what valleys or mountains we cross.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil….for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)
For we are the called according to His Purpose….His leadings, His determination.
(Purpose here in the Greek means “a setting forth”….as the shewbread was on the top of the Table in the Holy Place…at all times: when the Tabernacle stayed put, and in travel.
The shewbread was not taken down, but kept on the Table….but the Table had a border on it. Though it slid around, it could not fall….for God had already seen to it’s care.
So is our Purpose….we may go through many various circumstances….yet God has already seen to us…that we fall not.)
“All things work together for good”. Certainly it is for God’s good….and that should be what we are always looking to….for God’s honor and glory.
For Paul is speaking “to them that love God”.
How gracious and providing our God is!
Psalm 46:10-11 “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
“Be still”….we think of our words….when it also means to still our inward thoughts, and inward turmoil….no matter what the reason.
How?
“…and know that I am God:…”
This is the way to a stillness of spirit, soul and actions.
We may say, “I know God…that He is God, that He is Sovereign….that He is Almighty. I have experienced many things…and I certainly know that God is God.”
But God is infinite….and our knowledge of Him can grow.
As our need is shown, our sight of God is enlarged and widened.
But this also suggests that He knows us, as well.
Here also is a word of great encouragement: “The Lord of hosts is with us;” For surely He knows our fears and worries.
The Lord that has a thousand armies at HIs disposal….Who can call upon the beasts of the field to do His Will….Who can speak to the hornets to do HIs bidding….
….Who also can make one person, standing with HIm, in prayer or speech….to fulfill HIs Will.
Do we know HIm as such? Have we experienced HIs great deliverance when we were among enemies?
“The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Jacob was a schemer, yet God was his God….and brought him through many dangerous situations….till he became Israel. So our God can bring us through….till we are “changed into His likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18)
As God, He has purposed everything for our “good”….or for our value.
There are times that we are busy….we are praying…and we know God.
But here, the psalmist shows that we are to know God also, in stillness.
There are times we just have to stop and “be still”.
It is not just a sense that we can not argue with God about the circumstances….but it is, a complete giving of ourselves over to the circumstances….until God changes them.
(We could use the Israelites at the Red Sea as an example. We know what happened….but they did not know why God had led them this way….especially when they saw the armies of their enemies coming after them.
We could use Joshua against the five kings as an example. Way out numbered,…after an overnight march….they were told to fight them….and so they did. Completely unaware that God would send hailstones on their enemy. That day God had the sun stand still…and they fought all this time.
We could use Paul being taken to Rome….and a storm, a shipwreck, followed by a snake….yet Paul is the one comforting his captors.)
Where will God lead us in our Purpose? What will we have to do,….endure….suffer….or be delivered from….only God knows….and yet that is a comforting thought: God knows….
….and He has worked all things for our good.
Romans 8:28 “…all things work together for good to them that love God….”
Paul is writing to them that would soon be under persecution (think of the Christians fed to the lions)…
All things….work together for our value to them that love God.
Here is the wind in the sails of our Purpose…..our love to God.
For assuredly, God loves us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 