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Things Work Together for Good
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8: 28).
This text virtually shouts:
“Be patient, give God time to be God. He’s working.”
He is most capable of working even the most challenging of events together. He is very adept at doing it. He is capable of managing every aspect of our lives.
First, a disclaimer, not all things are good when considered in isolation. Life is not perfect and easy for the most saintly Jesus follower. Life is contested by evil, adversity, pain, heartbreak, suffering etc. He is able to work all things, not some things together. He works them for good together, not in isolation. That includes even our sufferings working together for our good and His glory.
That includes even in our worldly losses or gains, poverty or riches, reproach or commendation, contempt or honor, pain or ease, sickness or health, and the ten thousand changes of life; work together — All things, even sin itself; because from our falls, God’s children arise more humble and committed. Afflictions are chiefly intended; the worst and grossest, those things that are evil in themselves, to work for good to the children of God who work with Him repentantly.
Those to whom this is applicable are described as those who are called according to His purpose and love Him. Those are Christ followers who love and obey Him, not everybody. Certainly, the Lord does good to all people in some sense. He sends the sun and rain on the just and the unjust, for instance, so that both groups of individuals can have food to eat.
With who or what do all things work together for good? They work together with the Lord as He works, they work together with one another as they interact, and they work together with those who love and serve Him. Again, they work together with us; we ourselves must agree and be active; we must labor and endeavor to get good out of every circumstance.
As things work together they tend to purge us from our corrupt passions and lusts, as gold and silver are purified from their dross in the fire.
Hence, even Plato, a heathen, could say, “Whether a righteous man be in poverty, sickness, or any other calamity, we must conclude that it will turn to his advantage, either in life or death.”
The godly Saint Chrysostom’s dying words are summarily befitting of our lips in death, “Glory be to God for all things.”
“For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God” (II Corinthians 4:15).
Shake Off the Ashes
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (II Timothy 1:6).
The concept of “stirring up” brings to mind the image of a campfire that needs stirring in order for the flame to burn brighter.
General Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, wrote to his followers: “The tendency of fire is to go out; watch the fire on the altar of your heart.”
“Stir up” comes from the Greek, “ana/zopureno.” The root “zopureno” refers to embers in which the flame has subsided. By putting the prefix “ana” in front it means “to kindle anew the flames of the fire.”
A modern translation reads: “I am reminding you to shake the ashes off the God-given fire that’s in you.”
Are you a Christian who is more like smoldering ashes than dancing fires?
I love to sit around a campfire with friends. I delight in using a long poker and moving the firewood around more often that is necessary. Every time they are stirred the fire burns better. Ash tends to form on the logs and smother would-be embers. When stirred the fire blazes. If fires had personalities they probably wouldn’t like the agitation. However, it enables the fire to do what it was created to do.
For some to grow spiritually they are going to have to reorder their priorities. They will have to stir up their schedule. That means rearrange it. In order to seek first the kingdom of God some stirring has to be done.
Has the ash of complacency taken the place of the fire of aggressive ministry in Christ’s name? Have you come to take the ministry of the church for granted?
Have you arrived at the point where you feel you have done your part and someone else should now take over?
Have the ashes of business take the place of service for the King in your life. Are you more pre-committed to some civic, social, or service organization than to serving the Lord?
Are the ashes of devotion cold on the altar of your heart? It is time to stir up the gifts of God that are within you.
It is a “gift of God” entrusted to you. It is His gift, you are responsible for its use. If, and it is His gift, it is a good gift. Get the drift? You have at your disposal God’s gift for you to use. What are you not doing spiritually that you know you should be doing? If there is such you are hiding your candle under a bushel.
Now is an ideal time to do what you have likely sung: “This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine. Hide it under a bushel, no I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine.”
Prayer, Bible study, and worship are means of stirring up the gifts.
Once done, you likely will wonder why you didn’t do it a long time ago.
Give Your Best in All Things
“Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (I Cor. 9: 24 – 27)
William Mervin Mills, also known as Tamakoce Te’Hila, was an Oglala Lakota native on the Pine Ridge Reservation. His is perhaps the most underrated performance in the history of Olympic sports. As a Native American he experienced rejection on and off the reservation. He was given little attention as he entered the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His rejections were many, but he remembered his dad said, “It takes a dream to heal a broken soul.” He wrote down his dream to heal his broken soul: “Gold medal, Olympic 10,000-meter run.”
The sun hung low in the late afternoon sky. It’s October 14, 1964, National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo. The runners toe the line for the 10,000-meter race. No American had ever won this race.
Mills was lightly considered in the games by virtue of the several world class athletes entered in the 10,000 meters race. This race belongs to Ron Clarke, an Australian who holds a world record in this event. An announcer puts it plainly about Billy’s chances: “Billy Mills of the United States is in there — a man no one expects to win this particular event.”
As the race progressed he was shuffled around and given unsettling elbows as he maneuvered for position. Working his way into fourth position his teammates were amazed and proud, finishing fourth would be remarkable, they thought. They became amazed at what they beheld. With this long race nearing an end, underdog Mills sprinted unbelievably fast to move to the front and win the Gold Medal in what is considered one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history.
“It takes a dream,” do you have one? That is, what do you envision as to what the Lord wants to use you to achieve. Remember, God doesn’t expect you to be the best at anything. He expects you to be your best at everything.
It is a dream to be your best at even the most menial task. In all things: “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” (Philippians 3: 12)
Don’t allow yourself to develop an “I have attained” mentality, but maintain an “I press on” outlook.
An infant is a human being, but not yet fully developed. Set your dream and press on to become the mature Christian Jesus created you with the capacity to be.
Some Christians know, and even rejoice that Jesus has laid hold of them, but fail to realize there is a reason for which Jesus has also laid hold of them.
Find and fulfill your dream and that will heal even the most broken spirit.
Resolve, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) Dream it! Make it a lifelong process of pressing.
You Are Blessed
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you, The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6: 24 – 27)
THINK BLESSED,
TALK BLESSED,
WALK BLESSED,
ACT BLESSED,
Because you are BLESSED.
God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him by evidencing we are blessed. That is a wonderful way to let others see Jesus in us and be attracted to Him.
If you don’t feel blessed go outside in some open space and look around. Let the blessings of the design of nature wash over your soul as you are blessed by the creative artistry of the divine Creator. If He has done all of that by design He is surely able to refresh and renew His apex creation, the wonder and wonderful you.
Blessed are those who see lovely things and beautiful people in humble places.
You are blessed to be a blessing. “So encourage each other to build each other up…” (I Thessalonians 5:11). Blessed to be a blessing.
You can be a blessing if you “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2)
You can do it by a timely kind word spoken. Remember, “Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body” (Proverbs 16:24).
You are blessed when you decide to live in harmony with God’s holy will for you and resolve to fulfill it against any odds. It should be remembered, however, that there are persons who can’t tolerate people who are living by His standard.
Be encouraged by this: “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (I Peter 3: 12 – 17).
As an inspiration, sing or at least remember that little chorus with these lines. “When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
A Self-Centered Life
In the cartoon “The Wizard of Id” the dwarfish king of Id enters the workshop of Wiz and finding him staring through a telescope asks, “whatcha looking for Wiz?” The astrologer answers, “The center of the universe.” The little king responds, “Speaking!” That is a powerful statement of self-centeredness.
In his best selling book “The Purpose Driven Life” Rick Warren opened with these lines, “I chose those four words—‘It’s not’—to start The Purpose Driven Life because that’s the most countercultural message you could give in today’s world. Nearly everything in society—songs, video games, TV shows, news stories, and advertisements—says you’ve got to think about yourself first.” He continued, “Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake.”
The more you lead a self-focused life, the more you’re prone to discouragement. Every time you forget that it’s not about you, you’re going to get prideful or fearful or bitter. Those feelings will always lead to discouragement because they keep you focused on yourself.
Everybody needs strengthening and encouragement. Modern behaviorist Dale Carnegie said, “About three-fourths of the people you will ever meet are hungering and thirsting for sympathy. Give it to them, and they will love you.”
A healthy minded person is empathetic. Being empathetic toward others requires one to put themselves in another person’s shoes and understand their feelings. Self-centered people may not be able to see things from another person’s perspective in order to empathize with them.
They may not be able to recognize that they’ve done something wrong and may blame others for any mistakes.
The actor who doesn’t respect the audience soon loses favor with them. So, the person who doesn’t respect his friendship circle soon loses favor with them.
“God does not exist to make a big deal out of us. We exist to make a big deal out of Him. It’s not about you. It’s not about me. It’s all about Him,” wrote Max Lucado.
Embedded in the Book of Galatians is this gem worthy of emulating: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Focus your life on these principles.
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12: 3).