Good News… from God’s Word… Romans 8:28-29
And we know, that all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to his purpose. God, in His foreknowledge, chose us to be conformed to the image of his Son. ~ Romans 8:28-29
There is plenty of ‘bad news’ out there these days… Living in a time of..
• Global unrest – National difficulties – Statewide and community political unrest – Personal
Lives disrupted…
• Everyday lives, families, jobs, schooling , health
• Limiting personal relationships – church gatherings, friend & family gatherings…
Uncertainty… Who to believe, who can we trust? This atmosphere can resulting in…
• Fear, anxiety, worry, disappointment, loneliness, depression, poor decisions…
Bring out the worst in us… discover things about ourselves…. We’re not as ‘nice’ as we thought
• Unloving, judgmental, impatient, untrusting, unkind, mean…
Let’s get back to the ‘Good News’
In times of uncertainty and ‘not knowing’ a lot; It’s good to be anchored in and reminded of things that we ‘do know’. – These verses from Romans… "We know - that to them that love God - all things work together for good - to them who are called according to His (eternal) purpose." God, in his foreknowledge, chose us to be conformed to the image of his Son. ~ Romans 8:28,29
That to them that love God… That’s us…
All things work together for good…
1. Working together… synergy – circumstances, situations, God is in the middle of it all… for good.
2. Working together for good… This is NOT saying..
• Our circumstances are necessarily good…
• That the outcome will be ‘our’ present preferred outcome… how we think it will be…
• That this working together will be according to our timeline…
3. These verses ARE saying… All things work together for GOOD…!
• When God says it’s going to be ‘good’, it will be good. Give it time, you’ll see.
God, chose us to be conformed to the image of his Son- Be more & more like Jesus
1. To be more like Jesus requires change, yes??
2. God uses the circumstances of our lives, especially trials and difficulties, in this process…
• Count it all joy, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. ~ James 1:2-4
• In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. ~ 1Peter 1:6-8
Be reminded that God is at work, working ‘all things together for good.’
Welcome God’s shaping hand in making us more like Jesus:
In loving God, loving people,
• practice grace – people are hyper-sensitive, easily offended (don’t know what is ‘normal’)
• extend forgiveness to family and others
• be kindness towards others,
• be prayerful, and thankful – for we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. God, in his foreknowledge, chose them to be conformed to the image of his Son. ~ Hebrews 8:28-29
Inherent in God’s purpose is His enduring faithfulness: … being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 1:6
