Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Aug 15, 2024 - All Things Work Together for Good”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsAll Things Work Together for Good
Reading: Romans 8:26-30
As we await our future glorification, we groan in anticipation. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God”(Rom 8:26-27). The Spirit also groans along with us. He groans as he intercedes for us, communicating to the Father what we struggle to say because “we do not know what to pray for as we ought.” Especially does the focus on his groanings (v. 26) imply that he listens to our hearts and more than just our words, taking them to the throne of God. God understands us fully—especially the great passions and longings of our hearts—thanks to the intercession of the Spirit.
Contemplating this blessing leads Paul to a general statement: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”(Rom 8:28). This is less a promise that everything in life will work out and more a declaration of God’s consistent focus on our good. He has done so much to benefit us: sending Jesus, setting us free from sin, sustaining us through the Spirit, promising us great things, and hearing our prayers. “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified”(Rom 8:29-30). God has planned for us—foreknowing and predestining us so that we would be like Jesus. He has then called us and declared us innocent and glorified us (the great promise we still await). He has made it all good for us!
Christians are the most tremendously blessed of all people. God has shown his goodwill to us in every way and has promised greater glory to come! Life now may not be ideal, but when we love God, he works things for our ultimate good.
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One Thing to Think About: What emotions are these thoughts intended to produce in me?
One Thing to Pray For: To be further conformed to the image of Jesus (v. 29)
