Friday, October 19, 2007

GOOD

GOOD
Genesis 37-50
Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

What does it really mean when you hear that God works everything together for good? Does that mean He can correct our mistakes? Does it mean that we can goof up and everything will be OK? Does it mean that we can be bad, and it won’t matter?

We learned previously that our sovereign Lord can redeem our sin and weave our past into good for our future. But when we take advantage of that grace, we cheapen Jesus’ death on the cross. Giving into temptation just because you know God won’t let things turn out badly, is taking advantage of His grace. How pathetic if we dare to do this! He won’t let us get away with sin, which has consequences, and demands payment.

Consider Joseph. Read it for yourselves—in Genesis 37:12-36, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. After decades of time went by, these same brothers wept at his feet for their sin against him (Genesis 50:20). Verse 20 says Joseph knew his brothers meant him evil, but "God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result."

That, in a nutshell, is what Romans 8:28 means. But Romans 8:28 has a stipulation: "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are called according to His purpose."

This gives us promise and security. We can accept the past, and let it go—even when knowing that we made bad choices. Nothing in our past is outside what God can handle. We can walk confidently in the present. It’s a waste of time to play the "what if" game. Learn from the past, but let it go.

Our job is to love our Lord with all our heart, soul (Deuteronomy 30:10). God wants us to walk in the present because that’s where His grace flows. We look forward to our futures, and God controls that, too. Walking in the Spirit means we can live life to the fullest—unafraid of making mistakes—confident for what is unseen.

Take Home Nugget

Praise God that He can and will work things out in your future for godly good. No one can do anything bad to you without God's knowing. Nothing you do is beyond God’s grace and redemption.

Walk in the Spirit by faith so that you see God’s hand in the most awful circumstances. He is not limited in any way. Praise to our Lord; thanks be to God!


How blessed I am
That my Father works
Hard to bring forth good
When I am in a jamb.
J. D. Griffith
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