This Week’s Passage and Memory Verse (in red): 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. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
My pondering this week is going to focus on our memory verse – verse 28. Definitely one of the premier promises in the Bible and DEFINITELY worth committing to memory.
And – This is a connecting word. It is looking back on the last verses. This great promise assumes that there are going to be difficult times where there will be much groaning in this life. The promise of this verse is still another reason that we groan in the midst of crisis and chaos and don’t grumble.
we know – Paul’s confidence comes in knowing! He is not just wishing or thinking maybe God works in and through the tough times… he KNOWS! There is absolutely no doubt in his mind. How does he know? Because he has seen it play out in his own life over and over again. He has been beaten and jailed and persecuted and through it all God has used him to be an instrument of grace and mercy and forgiveness. People’s lives have been transformed. Churches have been planted. His personal testimony attests to the fact that God works. Therefore he knows!
that in all things – Not some things. Not most things. But ALL things. God’s sovereignty reaches in to every nook and cranny of our lives. Those areas where you might think that God doesn’t care – He cares. That situation that you wonder if God is even aware of – He notices and is alert to every detail. All things means… ALL things!
God works – This is really good news. It is not my job to make everything work out well nor is it my job to fix all the messes that I make or that others make around me. It is God’s job to make everything make sense.
for the good – Truth: God works for the good! He doesn’t make everything good. Bad things happen… and yet somehow God redeems even the bad things and brings good out of them. The bad stuff is a result of living in a fallen, sinful world. But it takes an amazing God to bring good even out of the bad.
of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose – This incredible promise is conditional. It is not for just anybody. It is not for those who could care less about God. It is not for those who are pursuing their own selfish purposes. God promises to redeem the bad stuff that happens only for those who love Him and live their lives for Him. He promises to make sense out of life when life doesn’t make sense if our passion is for His glory and His greatness and not our own.
So if you love God no matter what is going on in your life right now just know this: God is up to something, and that something will be for your good… and for His glory!
I’m just sayin’!
Next Week’s Passage: Hebrews 3:12-14
Next Week’s Memory Verse: Hebrews 3:13