Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
Today’s encouraging Scripture:
Romans 8:28 (NLT) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those that love God AND are called according to His purpose.”
Here are my thoughts about the verse:
Does this mean that if we are Christians that everything in life will automatically work out for our good? Well, even as Christians, we can still make wrong choices that are not according to God’s purpose. We can still think carnally and sin if we choose to, or we can simply make choices without praying about it or allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us. The verse does not promise that God will work all things out for our good that are NOT according to His purpose. If we back up to earlier verses in chapter 8, it tells us to live Spirt led lives, and not to follow our own fleshly desires. Let’s look at a few of those verses:
Romans 8:6 “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:12-13 “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. (13) For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature you will live.”
I think the chapter makes it clear that when we follow our carnal nature, those choices do not work out for our good, but instead they lead to death. I think that just means that living our own way will lead to destruction in our lives, and I think that can include simply making choices without praying about them first. For example, I think we should pray for guidance before we make the following decisions: Who we should marry, what job we should take, what car or house we should buy, etc. I believe Romans 8:28 is saying that if we do things God’s way, in His timing, and according to His will, that is the requirement for all things working out for our good. But that is just my take on what is being said in Romans chapter 8 if you read the chapter as a whole.
Here are a list of other verses that I feel have the same theme as Romans 8:28:
Joshua 1:8 “Study this book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Things will work out for your good when you Meditate on God’s Word and obey what is written in it.)
Psalm 1:2-3 “But they that delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. (3) They are like trees planted along a riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” (Things work out for people that delight in God’s Word, and meditate on it day and night.)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. (8) They are like trees planted along a river bank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit.” (God causes things to work out for people that put their trust and hope in Him.)
Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (God will take care of you if you put Him first in your life, and live your life His way.)
We have a lot of wonderful promises from God that He will take care of us, and He will cause all things to work out for our good, but each verse that promises that, has a requirement that we must fulfill first. So, I don’t believe God just works things out for us automatically. We are to read His Word, meditate on it, and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in all situations. So if we do things God’s way, then God will cause all things to work out for our good. That is how I understand it anyway
"And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified." Romans 8:27-30
This is really a life verse for me, too! I memorized it at least 35 years ago. And I don't think I fully understood it. Plus, there are some translations that imply that that things work to good for everyone. NET here, clearly says it only works together "for those who love God," which is also what the Greek says.
So, when we are walking with Christ, we love him. And that love is put there by God, when he saves us. For me, I think that means that even if we go astray, sin, fall down, or don't follow the good path God has given us, God in his omnipotent, omniscent power, is able to use even the wrong in our life for good.
The worst thing that ever happened to me was getting Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was so mad at God! Turned away from him for 2 years. But, he picked up the pieces of my heart, called me to Seminary, then used me as a chaplain in long term care, and now another degree, doing research on how to help people.
It is a path I would never have chosen, if I had been healthy. Today, we did some visitation, and it all came back what a blessing it was to have done that. And yet, another block, I can't walk well enough to still do it. But, there is no reason I can't just visit sick people.
Anyway, not only does God work things out together for God, he is GOOD!