All Things for My Good?Намуна

“All things work together for my good.”

Sound familiar? That’s a promise I built my life on. But, until recently, my understanding of that truth was woefully incomplete and self-centered.

In my mind, I applied that verse to every circumstance that I or anyone else faced. Even when something happened that we might call evil, I reached back to that verse and anchored my reality to it. “What the enemy meant for evil, God worked solely for the purpose of my good.” Right?

In my selfishness, I stopped there. I focused on the word “my.” - “God will work it for my good.” I believed the Holy Sovereign Creator of the universe was duty-bound to serve me while I sat on my throne.

How often do we turn God’s glorious promises into a self-serving motto?

Continuing that thought, in Romans 8, I read that not only is God working all things for my good, but He predestined me to be justified and glorified in His presence. I hate to belabor the point, but I want to drive it home: I thought that God predetermined, before the beginning of the universe, to secure me on my throne and work everything for my good.

I hope that makes you cringe just a little bit.

As you read today’s scripture, I hope you will pick up on what I missed and how self-centered I was. In the following days, we will view Romans 8:28-30 through the lens of a parable Jesus told and hopefully gain a better view of our identity in God’s Kingdom.

Question: Why does God work all things for the good of those who love Him?