Welcoming all things for the glory of Christ
“And we know that to those loving God all things do work together for good, to those who according to purpose are called”
(Romans 8:28 – literal translation of the Greek)
Hello Chosen Ones,
Every rose has its thorns; every storm cloud has its destructive force but waters the ground for harvest time, just as the raging seas feed the inhabitants of planet Earth. Out of the ashes of the forest fire springs a renewed landscape, while the pain of childbirth brings a new life into the world. Wars produce helpless victims, who in their misery discover a merciful God that reveals salvation to them. The stinging bees produce the sweet nectar, while the Son of God, battered and bleeding brings redemption to mankind. Life is filled with pain and sorrow as all of creation groans under its bondage to decay. Yet, true joy is discovered in the journey towards redemption that awaits the faithful.
When God writes that “all things work together for good”, do you really think He meant “all things”? Do we have enough faith to believe that God actually has the power and ability to take the worst and make it the best, or are we too busy being mad at God for allowing such a terrible thing to happen? Do we “love God” enough to trust Him to know what He is doing, even in the midst of our suffering – “Love always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”! Have you read Romans 8 recently? It is about living in the Spirit, with God the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us, as children of God – Children of our Abba Father who loves us, and when we ask for bread will not give us a stone, for He is a perfect Father (Matt. 7:9-11). But, even if He did give us a stone, it would be good since we could use it to grind the wheat and make our own bread! We’re called, with a purpose, and if God is for us…who can be against – He’ll make all things work for good! The Spirit of God knows us and is interceding for us, according to the will of God – will God not answer the prayers He has prayed on our behalf? Does He know what is best for us at any given time? If trial and hardship will produce the best thing we need at the time, will He not give us “all things” to make the best thing happen? Can we open our minds to believe that the worst possible thing according to our human mind might be the best thing for us at the time, according to God’s mind?
I was recently given a book called “Forgiveness: A Legacy of the West Nickel Mines Amish School”. It’s the story of an Old Order Amish community in Pennsylvania, whose response to a horrific crime in their community communicated the Gospel of love, forgiveness and reconciliation, ministering to millions across North America. In 2006, a gunman walked into their one room schoolhouse, tied up 10 young girls and shot them, killing six. Afterwards, the Amish were able to demonstrate incredible forgiveness and reconciliation, even to the family of the gunman who shot himself at the scene, much to the criticism of the many. God was working in the midst of the whole story, witnessing to the love of Jesus who interceded for His perpetrators who crucified Him, “forgive them for they know not what they do”.
God, our God, the God of mercy and redemption has predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son (8:29). He conforms us to the image of Jesus by giving us "all things", including the very hard things: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (8:16-18). Is our suffering the way God chooses to demonstrate the Gospel to the world? “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (8:32). There it is again! “All Things”! If God gave His Son up for us, to suffer a horrible death on a Roman cross, and out of that death produce the greatest thing ever given – forgiveness, redemption, reconciliation – will He not give us “all things” so we can demonstrate the same to a dying world? “Consider it pure joy when you go through trials of various kinds” (Jam. 1:2); “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:8-11).
From Abraham, to Job, to David, to Peter and all in between…is there any who did not endure “all things” in order for the love of God and the God of love to be revealed in their lives? Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). In the same passage, He says, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (John 12:24-26). Does the way we communicate the Gospel involve how we demonstrate going through “all things”, especially the really difficult things? Is our best preaching done through extending undeserved love, forgiveness and reconciliation? Think about it: (Rom. 12:14, 17-21; Col. 3:12-13; 1Pet. 3:8-9).
Be Blessed as you grow in Christ!
"Advancing the Kingdom of God by releasing Spirit-filled followers to serve Jesus in freedom and joy."
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