Romans 8:28 - Blessed Assurance

 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called accoding to his purpose."
Paul begins this verse with a VERY emphatic "WE KNOW". No doubt, no wavering, no pondering, no guessing, no questioning, no nothing. Just "WE KNOW". You cannot shake us; you cannot change our minds; you cannot instill doubt; you cannot move us; you cannot do anything to make us think otherwise, simply because "WE KNOW'. A child of God KNOWS God, KNOWS the truth of God, and is an immovable pillar in this knowledge.
Ah, but what do we know? WE KNOW all things work for good . . . everything: the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Sickness and disease? Yes. War? Yes. Floods and Famines? Yes. Prasie and Worship? Yes. Sunshine and blue skies? Yes. Rain and snow? Yes. Vehicles that won't start? Yes. You name it, God can turn it around for good. But it doesn't always happen, does it? We get frustrated, angry, sometimes we even blame God for bad things out of our control and we forget His promise: ALL things work for good . . . . . . .
Maybe we failed the conditions God has set for the promise to be active. The first condition is that that promise is for "those who love God." Well, I love God. Just ask me, I'll tell you. But the Bible tells us that if we love God, we will obey Him. Have we been obedient to EVERYTHING He has asked? Now....don't get in a huff. Think about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you have not been obedient. 1 John 5:3 says "this is love for God, that we obey His commands......"

The second condition is ". . . who are called according to HIS purposes." Well, isn't everything we do in Jesus name for His purposes? And the answer is NO. We can get so wrapped up in doing good deeds that we begin to practice "Christianese". Just because it's a good work and glorifies God doesn't mean we are to automatically do it. God created each one of us with a very specific purpose for our life. Our responsibility is to find out what that is. Ask God. Constantly. He will direct you, put a burning desire in your heart, guide you into the INTENDED, PURPOSEFUL work He has just for YOU. Every born-again believer has a God-appointed task. The problem with the church today is that there are way too many people who won't ask God what their purpose is, and then step up to the plate and do it. And the other problem is the over-achiever who feels called to "do it all". Both are wrong in God's eyes. In the Lord's Prayer, we pray ". . . THY will be done, on earth as IT IS IN HEAVEN" Matt 6:10. GOD'S WILL, not mine, as it has been established IN HEAVEN, not in my earthly desires.
All of God's promises are conditional upon us. Are you willing to comply with the conditions? Will YOU know that you know that YOU KNOW .......... that ALL thing's work for good . . . . Do you have that Blessed Assurance?







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