All Things

Paul Yanchek's blog

188

stars

readers

All Things

January 23, 2008

959 reads

8:28 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. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

Before I start, this IS NOT a blog about predestination vs. free will!!!! Please don't go there!

What this passage DOES say is that believers have been predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. And Gos will use ALL THINGS to accomplish that end. And why? So that He might be the firstborn - the supreme One, the One who gets all the glory!

I like the fact that "all things" includes good things. Wouldn't it be nice if good things were the fastest route to Christ-likeness. I don't like the fact that the process is usually best accomplished through struggles ad trials. Just like I'm not happy that the road to fitness goes through the brutal "Biggest Loser" cardio workout video my wife and I got!

Through different events, I might pronounce the past 12 months as one of the toughest times I have gone through - no one thing necessarily, but a constant stream of insanity!

It just seems to me that we have a choice to make - take God at His Word or call Him a liar! His Word makes it clear He will use all things in life to make us more like Jesus. Praise God! We can face each hardship, not happy-clappy, but with the confidence and assurance that God is sovereign and will use the sitaution to make us like Jesus and bring glory to His name. BUT, we get too caught up grumbling, complaining, questioning, becoming bitter, setting God aside.

Personally, I wouldn't complain if He chose to use a series of "good things" to move me forward in Christ for a while. If not, will I face it with the assurance of the Psalmists who constantly pour out their hearts to God, only to end with peace and trust in God?

May I be found to truly value my love for Jesus above the comforts of this world - not only in what I say, but in the honest feelings of my heart through "all things" - the good and the bad.

"Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise. When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say - blessed be the name of the Lord..."

<< previous post
Please Pray

>> next post
Tried It All

Reader favorites:
Oh For a Simple Church!
Mind Tricks
Keep Walkin'

To add a comment to "All Things"

	Already have a MyChurch account?
	Log in here

Paul Hospodar

January 24, 2008

My thoughts on the 'good things' vs the 'bad things' was one of my biggest hangups in coming to my Christianity, but once I 'unlocked it', it was the biggest reason I had for realizing that God's plans and purpose do not (and often should not) follow mine or be on my schedule.

I've often said to people that if God were to part the clouds right now, and say "See, I exist, and I know all that everyone does", you would think people would clean up their act pretty fast.

Would they? It didn't work for Adam and Eve.

Not going to the 'free-will' point you'd like to avoid, but our free will is the gift that God gives us to turn away from Him, or to accept Christ and put Him on.

But, living in this world, we have the world to deal with. We aren't in our glorified bodies, so we'll get sick, get overweight, and have to battle back - but the Lord is always on our side, and is working to get us HOME, and to bring His WORD to as many as we can on the journey.

The hymn you quoted plays in a loop in my mind, especially with my last year as well.

AMEN!