All Things That Are Have Been and Will Be Again
What is the Meaning of "All Things Piece of work Together for Our Good?"
Ending Poverty Together
How long could yous go without a source of income? If you didn't accept a paying job for a few months or even a yr, would you even so be able to trust that God was working everything together for your good?
When Larry Ward founded Food for the Hungry (FH) at the historic period of 45, he felt a clear call from God. According to Norman Rohrer'southward biography of Dr. Ward, One at a Time , Dr. Ward had but received a pay increase at his previous task. Nevertheless he resigned from that position to follow God's call.
Rohrer writes, "In (Dr. Ward'due south) new mission, he would work for two years without a salary. He was not beginning with small-scale plans. He was prepared to pay the price of venture."
Did you take hold of that? He was a successful, driven professional with a young family at domicile, yet he would become for two years without a salary.
Two years without whatsoever income would make most of us wonder if we had truly heard God'south call. Just in moments when God'south timeline doesn't announced to match upwardly with our expectations, nosotros can trust God's promises.
A Promise for Our Good
Romans 8:28 is a promise that rang true for Dr. Ward, as it has been true for Christians throughout history.
And we know that in all things God works for the practiced of those who dear him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans eight:28 (NIV)
The Living Bible translation words it this way: "And nosotros know that all that happens to us is working for our practiced if we dearest God and are plumbing equipment into his plans."
The Campaigner Paul wrote the book of Romans, which many consider to be the most rich theological treatise in Scripture. He begins chapter viii by discussing the differences between living by the Spirit and living by the flesh. He points out that living past the Spirit makes us sons and daughters of God.
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God'due south children. Now if we are children, so we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed nosotros share in his sufferings in order that we may likewise share in his celebrity. – Romans viii:sixteen, 17 (NIV)
Then Paul compares the sufferings that we face in this life with "the glory that will exist revealed in united states" (Romans 8:18). He entreats united states of america to expect patiently and to trust that the Spirit intercedes for usa when we don't know what to pray for.
All Things Work Together
The promise of Romans 8:28 that God works for our good "in all things" is reassuring. It ways that no matter the circumstance, there are simply two qualifiers for God to be working all things together for our good.
Get-go, He works for "the adept of those who dear Him." If yous dearest God, yous can trust that He is working for your good. He loves you back, and when we love people, we seek their welfare.
Second, He works for "those who are called according to His purpose." Do you realize that following God entails submitting to His purpose for you? You take been called by Him for a purpose that He holds for your life.
In fact, the diction of this verse suggests that these two qualifiers–loving God and experiencing His call–are actually one. Those who love God are chosen co-ordinate to His purpose. And vice versa.
Being called according to God's purpose also reminds us what "our good" actually is. It'south not our comfort or worldly success. Information technology'due south the furthering of His purpose through us.
Small and Large Things
Today, FH workers continue to see God working things together for their expert every mean solar day.
Amalia Toc has served with FH in her abode country of Guatemala for 11 years. Equally a child she lived in an FH customs and was a sponsored child . Afterward, as an adult, she learned of a task opportunity at FH and applied.
Amalia took the step of organized religion to work for FH, but in her showtime few weeks on the job, she doubted God's phone call. She couldn't see God working all things together for her skilful. Like Dr. Ward, she took a pay cut to join staff at FH. She also left backside a job with a pending promotion, frequent bonuses, and skilful friends.
When she arrived at FH, her first task was to translate a stack of messages between sponsored children and their sponsors. "Although I enjoyed translating the letters, information technology became monotonous after a few days. The dubiousness hitting me once again."
Amalia'due south strong faith kept her coming to piece of work. "And then I stumbled upon a letter of the alphabet that brought the respond I was looking for," she said. "The sponsors wrote with so much dear to a sponsored child. They told this immature girl how much Jesus loved her, and that He had beautiful plans for her life. They encouraged her go along working hard in school."
"Reading the letter brought me to tears," she said. "I could feel that those words were from God to me, as well. Since and then, I've known that God wanted me hither."
How About You?
Are you going through a circumstance where you tin't run into God working? When Dr. Ward founded FH, he had already been through many religion-building experiences that led him to trust God'southward promise to work things together for his good. He persevered through those two years of need by remembering God's faithfulness in the past. And later, every bit he continued to face challenges and hardships in ministry, he gained strength by looking dorsum on that time equally yet another circumstance in which God had worked.
Also, Amalia has had the courage to serve with FH for the past xi years because she can remember a specific way that He spoke into her life when she felt lonely and confused.
Today, take a moment to thank God that He is working all things together for your adept, even in the circumstances where you lot can't yet see the result.
Go along reading:
Five Daily Devotionals to Draw Closer to God
What is the Meaning of "Act Justly, Love Mercy, And Walk Humbly With Your God?"
Iv Global Bug to Pray For in 2021
Source: https://www.fh.org/blog/what-is-meaning-all-things-work-together/
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