Only Good Can Come From Loving God; Romans 5-8

May the mumbling commence!

After the tears, Micah (my son) had a good first day at Kindergarten.  And I was worried!  Today, there were no tears when I left.  And we will have the weekend to recover.

I know that some Christian like to point out a particular passage from Romans chapter when other people are worried or when other people slip into hard times.  Sometimes the passage is held forth as if it is a talisman to turn bad things into good.  Read it below from the NRSV:

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.  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 within a large family.  And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Verses 28-30)

Often times, it is only that first verse that is quoted (the sentence in bold italic).  Sometimes, I wonder if the thought process ends at the word “good”.  You know, all things work together for good.  What a nice idea!  But that is not what Paul is trying to say with these words.  If they are misused in this way, they can harm rather than heal.

We must consider the context of this thought.  All things work together for good for those who love God.  What does it mean to love God?  Think about what Paul speaks about right before this verse.  Paul speaks about prayer.  Paul speaks about how the Holy Spirit of God intercedes for us when we do not know what we are to do or say.  And the Holy Spirit interceded in accordance with the will of the Lord.

To love God is to do the will of the Lord… to be called according to His purpose.  Obedience was God’s plan from the very beginning.  Obedience will forge us into the family of God.  Obedience is in imitation of Christ.  It is the call of Christ Jesus to us.  Christ’s obedience to the Father in heaven has justified us and glorified us.  Let us return that glory unto God.

To grow in obedience to the Lord is a painful process.  That is evident from what precedes the passage on prayer with the Holy Spirit.  We will suffer as we seek God’s way in the world.  But that suffering will be well worth it, because our hope is far greater if we choose this path.

So all things work for the good for those who love God and want what God wants.  I do not define what is good and what is not.  God does.  I want what God wants – no matter what pain and suffering that will follow in the here and now.  Because I know that what God wants is the very best for me.  In fact, what God wants for me is perfect for me.  What God wants for us is perfect for us.  May we be perfected in God’s love!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out