THE DETERMINED OBJECTIVE OF SALVATION "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28). -- Tomorrow:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." (Romans 8:28-34, NKJV)
Devotion 6 of 33
We have been presented with the complexity of spiritual life. It is being lived out in the crucible of conflict, suffering, and frustration. The matters over which we have no control are so numerous we cannot number them. It only takes a day of living by faith to confirm we are not reigning with Jesus yet. Those who boast of continual triumph have not told the truth. Either they are deceived, or they have deliberately misrepresented their circumstance – and either condition is inexcusable. Now, the Spirit will show us that the heavenly Architect is working behind the scenes. We have not been left to shift to and fro with the winds of circumstance. Eternal objectives are being worked out IN those who are in Christ Jesus – and FOR them. Here the Spirit will begin to open up the grand purpose into which salvation has inducted us.
WE KNOW
Faith moves us into the realm of spiritual knowledge. This is not the mere knowledge of facts, but the confident persuasion of reality. This is NOT the knowledge gained through the senses, or experiential knowledge. This is the knowledge of faith, which is not based upon experience. Faith itself is the experience. Faith is founded upon Divine affirmation. The word used here is used throughout Romans: "We KNOW that what things the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law . . . We know that the law is spiritual . . . We know that the whole creation groaneth . . . we know not what to pray for as we ought . . . we know that all things work together for good" (3:19; 7:14; 8:22,26,28). The only way such knowledge can be possessed is by believing what the Lord has declared.
We will find there is no other proof for the reality that is known to be embraced. It cannot be demonstrated in human experience or satisfactorily explained through human logic. Even though once such things are known, they may be associated with experience, it is only because they were first known by faith. The knowledge of reference did not proceed from the experience, but from the exposition of the experience given by the Spirit. This should become very apparent to us as the Spirit develops this thought.
WORK TOGETHER
" . . . all things work together for good . . . " Other versions read, "God causes all things to work together for good" (NASB), and "in all things God works for the good of those" (NIV). This is a high view, like viewing the earth from a distant planet. It will enable us to obtain confidence and live boldly in the world. This is a knowledge that proceeds from a broad perspective, not the examination of the details. It is the marvelous panorama of truth that brings us to such holy conclusions.
Trouble and suffering, therefore, do NOT work against salvation. Rather, God works them together to accomplish the fulness of salvation. It is when our troubles are assembled into the objective of God that good begins to come from them. Yet, the "things" do not of themselves bring about good. It is God Himself who causes ultimate good to result from them.
"ALL THINGS"
The "all things" have to do with the conflicting experiences of life – both the inward and outward ones. For the saints, no human experience stands on its own. It is part of a whole. It neither happens nor results in things unrelated to God's purpose for us. Nothing is omitted, everything is included.
"WORK TOGETHER"
Things are not simply falling together by chance. They are BEING WORKED together by God Himself. The effects of our experiences are the result of God weaving the tapestry of life, blending everything together like Joseph's coat of many colors.
Behind the scenes, undetected by the human eye, but discerned by faith, God is manipulating our circumstances. He is seeing to it that everything fits together. He will take the circumstances of Joseph being thrown in a pit, sold to Ishmaelites, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and life in prison and will work it all together, making one harmonious whole of it all. He will work the circumstances of Moses together, so that being raised in the king's palace, and keeping sheep on the back side of the desert will all fit together.
Do not imagine these are only for the choice servants of God. This is the manner in which God works with all of His children. That is the point of this passage. What is more, only the Lord can cause everything to contribute to the ultimate advantage of His children – and that is precisely what He does.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you that my times are in Your hand.