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JULY: The Kingdom of God

July 26

AN ALL-INCLUSIVE PROMISE

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

Let us look at the all-inclusiveness of the promise--"all things work together for good." It is generally agreed that the "all things" has special reference to trials and tribulations. Here is one of the most remarkable claims ever made for Christianity. Here is certainly the boldest justification of God's ways to man.

Let us observe what this verse says. Perhaps we shall best be able to grasp its significance if we approach it along the negative route. We see clearly that, as Christians, we are not promised an easy time in this world. Our Lord Himself in His teaching told the disciples that they would have tribulations and trials and sufferings. And in the same way Paul teaches that "unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake" (Philippians 1:29). The Christian's view of life and of the world is realistic, not romantic. He does not avoid troubles and problems. Neither does he try to minimize the seriousness and the greatness of the troubles and problems. The glory of the gospel is that it faces the whole situation without shirking anything, and yet shows the way out.

Some of the older versions bring out this feature in our text very clearly by adding the word "God" to "all things work together for good"--i.e., that "God works all things together for good to them who love him." And that is undoubtedly what the apostle teaches. These trials are not to be ignored; neither are they without any explanation whatsoever. God uses them to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." That is the ultimate justification of God's ways; that is the ultimate answer to all our questions as to why God allows certain things to happen.

A Thought to Ponder
God uses our trials to our advantage in order to bring His own great purposes to pass.

From Why Does God Allow War? pp. 116-117,119.



Today’s devo is taken from Walking with God Day by Day © 2003 by Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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