All Things For the Good

 "All things work for the Good for those who love God" Romans:8:28

This very often quoted Scripture  does not say work for "our comfort" ,  but our good,  that is our  Lord  can take any bad  situation that we might face in our lives and uses these situation(s) for His purpose in our lives and Salvation,  which is our Eternal Best Good,  Our Lord works  to shape us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.

In each our lives  things occur that are painful and often unjust. We may ,over the course of time lose many tings, occupations, heath, relationships , freedoms or even our very lives.  All things can be lost ,yet God works  in the midst of it all for our good.

Yet  in the midst of  bad things our lord steps in and turns it into a blessing for us. When we face difficulties  who knows what seeds God may  have been planted or what sprouting seeds may have been cultivate?

The point is God can bring to pass good in our lives , in the midst of bad. Things which some meant for harm God meant for God.

 Joseph in Slavery

Look at the Patriarch Joseph, he had received of God, through dreams,  that he would be blessed to have a place of prominence over his brothers and other members of his family, yet for a time this assurance seemed elusive and in question. 

We find that,  his brothers were motivated by jealously , largely due to the fact  that Joseph was Jacobs favorite son were moved to cast Joseph into a well then they sold him into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt became a servant to an Egyptian official, then false accusations of inappropriate behavior was brought against him. Joseph was then imprisoned with little or no hope of freedom, yet forlorn  as he might have been our Lord was there working even if Joseph did not see how or why. God then, through the gifts of dreams led Joseph to in the end stand next to Pharaoh .  Ultimately these difficulties that Joseph  faced led to the preservation of his family .We can read Joseph's story in Genesis: 37-50 

  
God’s Hand

After the death of Jacob, Joseph's brothers were afraid that he would  seek revenge for all the harm that they had inflicted on him. Joseph gathered them all before him and    as he faced them Joseph utters  the word that reveals  of Joseph awareness of the providence of God in all his circumstances  he tells them,  “what you meant for harm, God intended for God” Genesis:50:20

Joseph saw God’s hand in his life even in the hard times , that  God’s had a purpose for the difficulties that were encountered throughout his life time, God worked in and through these things and redeemed everything  all for His purpose. God's providential hand was there.

 Do Not See Why

We, however,  may not always understand those things which beset us, those difficulty and trails that come upon us all,  especially when they are imposed on us  by others  for their gain at our essences . many of us have experienced these things . When difficulties ,what ever their form ,  befall us , God is  yet in the midst of them working  redemption for our lives , even when we can not see the purpose that is under way even when others do for harm our Lord  God can  work for good.

Jesus’ Death, for Our Good

Even in the life of  of our Lord Jesus, He was persecuted and slanderous attacks were spoken against Him. What made it worse is, that  this was done by persons who were “religious” those who claimed to be pious servants  of God.

Unfortunately we can encounter "religious  persons"   who uses scripture and even church attendance to add a facade of legitimacy to their actions ,  the Pharisee did so under the pretense of  devotion to God for the action taken against Jesus. 
Jesus who was the most just and loving ,  had justice withheld from Him.  Jesus  was the object of ridicule and insult  and in end persecution that led to His death upon the cross,  all for our good. What the religious establishment meant for  harm against Jesus,   God intended for good, all our good and worked redemption and are beyond the grasp of the powers of this age.

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,

what no ear has heard,

and what no human mind has conceived”—

the things God has prepared for those who love him—

these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit" .1Corinthians:2: 6-10

God gave us victory and undid the powers  of this world at the very height of their “perceived” greatest moment in bring about the death of our Lord Jesus, yet in this moment  God brought about the greatest good for His Son and all humanity and brings the victory.

 "But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Corinthians:15:57

 "There is in truth only one victory, that victory is this,  that God is God , this has is and always will be eternally true. This truth, that God is God,  has manifest through out all  time and  all eternity ."

This victory, this truth, has emerges throughout the history of salvation , from the preservation of  Noah and his family , to David facing Goliath , to the cross and resurrection of our Lord,  the preaching of the Apostles to Christians facing challenges each day in their lives even to the end of the world and the return of Jesus putting and end to human misrule . All theses things just demonstrate what is and always has been true, that God is God and there is no other.

Joining in His Suffering and Glory

 We are in union  with our Lord even in sufferings ,yet  His death brought us Victory , His victory that we all  share in ,  no matter what we may face that victory is ours. If we join Jesus in suffering we will join Him and Glory as well.

For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously: Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed. For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 1Peter:2:21-25

All Things For the Good

 God will work and carry out His will in our lives even as we face challenges and hardships what form they take.

Joseph the Patriarch, came to know  this  even in the midst of . betrayal from his brothers , disgrace, false accusations , imprisonment  , challenges,  loss of position. Through it all   Joseph came to know  that God was faithful. He was to Him and will be to us all.  What ever the hardship  God can work and use the situation.  He can and will uses  all things for the good

"God All things work for the good for  those who love Him" Romans:8:28...Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com