God's Promise: Transforming All Things for Our Good

Devotional

Day 1: Trust in God's Unwavering Promise

God's promise in Romans 8:28 is a profound assurance that all things work together for good to those who love Him. This promise is not dependent on our understanding or perception but is rooted in God's unchanging nature. Even when life seems chaotic and circumstances are beyond our control, we can trust that God is at work. His divine assurance is like an anchor in the storm, providing stability and hope. The certainty of this promise is unwavering, and it stands firm regardless of our circumstances or understanding. We are invited to rest in the knowledge that God is actively working in every aspect of our lives, transforming even the most challenging situations into something beneficial for our souls. [03:40]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life that feels chaotic or out of control. How can you actively choose to trust in God's promise that He is working it for your good today?

Day 2: The Divine Chemistry of Life's Experiences

God's promise encompasses all things—sweet, sorrowful, satanic, and sinful. Each element, when surrendered to God, is woven into His grand design for our ultimate good and His glory. This divine chemistry transforms every experience into a part of His perfect plan. Just as a pharmacist mixes various elements to create medicine, God takes the seemingly harmful and painful experiences in our lives and, through His divine chemistry, transforms them into something beneficial for our souls. The completeness of God's work assures us that nothing is wasted, and every experience is part of His grand design. [05:19]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18 ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a past experience that was painful or challenging. How can you see God's hand in transforming that experience into something beneficial for your spiritual growth?

Day 3: The Sovereignty of God's Orchestration

God Himself is the cause of all things working together for good. His sovereignty assures us that nothing is beyond His control, and He is actively working in every aspect of our lives. Our limited perspective often leads to doubt, but God's vastness is our assurance. He orchestrates every detail of our lives according to the counsel of His will. This divine orchestration is a testament to His power and love, reminding us that we are never alone in our journey. We can find comfort in knowing that God is in control, even when we cannot see the bigger picture. [20:35]

"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to see God's hand at work. How can you surrender this area to His sovereignty and trust in His divine orchestration?

Day 4: The Heart's Devotion to God

This promise is specifically for those who love God. It is not a blanket promise for everyone but is rooted in our heart's devotion to Him. Our love for God is not measured by our abilities or resources but by our sincere desire to know and serve Him. This love is the condition for experiencing the fullness of God's promise. It calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that our devotion to God is genuine and wholehearted. As we grow in our love for Him, we align ourselves with His purpose and experience the transformative power of His promise. [23:34]

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." (Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV)

Reflection: Consider your current relationship with God. What steps can you take today to deepen your love and devotion to Him?

Day 5: Transformation into Christ's Likeness

The ultimate good that God is working towards is our transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is not about our comfort or happiness but our conformity to the image of His Son. This transformation is the ultimate goal of our lives and the culmination of God's work in us. As we journey through life, facing various trials and triumphs, we can rest in the assurance that God is using every experience to mold us into the likeness of Christ, preparing us for eternal glory with Him. This transformation is a lifelong process that requires our cooperation and surrender to God's will. [31:53]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)

Reflection: In what ways do you see God transforming you into the likeness of Christ? How can you actively participate in this transformation process today?

Sermon Summary

Romans 8:28 is a profound promise that assures us that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This promise is not just a comforting thought but a divine assurance that God is actively working in every aspect of our lives, even when circumstances seem dire or incomprehensible. Just as a pharmacist mixes various elements to create medicine, God takes the seemingly harmful and painful experiences in our lives and, through His divine chemistry, transforms them into something beneficial for our souls.

The certainty of this promise is unwavering. It is not conditional on our understanding or perception but is rooted in the unchanging nature of God, who cannot lie. The completeness of this promise encompasses all things—sweet, sorrowful, satanic, and even sinful things. Each of these elements, when surrendered to God, is woven into His grand design for our ultimate good and His glory.

The cause of this divine orchestration is God Himself. He is the one who works all things according to the counsel of His will. Our limited perspective often leads us to doubt, but the vastness of God's sovereignty assures us that nothing is beyond His control. The condition for this promise is love for God. It is not a blanket promise for everyone but is specifically for those who love Him. This love is not measured by our abilities or resources but by our heart's devotion to Him.

The ultimate consequence of this promise is our transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The good that God is working towards is not merely our comfort or happiness but our conformity to the image of His Son. This transformation is the ultimate goal of our lives and the culmination of God's work in us. As we journey through life, facing various trials and triumphs, we can rest in the assurance that God is using every experience to mold us into the likeness of Christ, preparing us for eternal glory with Him.

Key Takeaways

1. The Certainty of God's Promise: Romans 8:28 is an ironclad promise that all things work together for good to those who love God. This assurance is rooted in God's unchanging nature, and it stands firm regardless of our circumstances or understanding. We can trust that God is at work, even when life seems chaotic. [03:40]
2. The Completeness of God's Work: God's promise encompasses all things—sweet, sorrowful, satanic, and sinful. Each element, when surrendered to God, is woven into His grand design for our ultimate good and His glory. This divine chemistry transforms every experience into a part of His perfect plan. [05:19]
3. The Cause of Divine Orchestration: God Himself is the cause of all things working together for good. His sovereignty assures us that nothing is beyond His control, and He is actively working in every aspect of our lives. Our limited perspective often leads to doubt, but God's vastness is our assurance. [20:35]
4. The Condition of the Promise: This promise is specifically for those who love God. It is not a blanket promise for everyone but is rooted in our heart's devotion to Him. Our love for God is not measured by our abilities or resources but by our sincere desire to know and serve Him. [23:34]
5. The Consequence of Transformation: The ultimate good that God is working towards is our transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This is not about our comfort or happiness but our conformity to the image of His Son. This transformation prepares us for eternal glory with Him. [31:53]
** [31:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction to Romans 8:28
[01:14] - The Chemistry of the Cross
[02:54] - The Certainty of God's Promise
[05:19] - The Completeness of God's Work
[07:21] - Sorrowful Things for Our Good
[09:36] - Joseph's Story of Redemption
[11:58] - Satanic Things for Our Good
[15:12] - Sinful Things for Our Good
[19:00] - The Smallest Things Matter
[20:35] - The Cause of Divine Orchestration
[23:34] - The Condition of the Promise
[27:49] - Jesus as the Door
[31:53] - The Consequence of Transformation
[34:49] - The Ultimate Good: Being Like Jesus

Sermon Clips

And we know KNN o w that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them that are the called according to his purpose what an incredible verse that is if you go to the pharmacy you need some medicine that pharmacist will take bottles from his shelf sometimes and powders and other things that may be by themselves noxious poison but he mixes them together and makes medicine for us and so many times God does the same thing he takes situations and problems and things that in themselves look like they're bad and hurtful and harmful and then God mixes these together in The Crucible of his love and The Crucible of his wisdom and the result is medicine for our souls something good and something wonderful. [00:01:24]

No ifs ands and butts about it this is a promise of God it is Ironclad it is Rock ribed no stutter no stammer you can say I don't care what happens I don't care how bad it may seem I know that I know that I know that this is going to work together for God's glory and for my good FB Meyer was a preacher of another generation but he said something so ful I copied it down and this is what he said he said if any promise of God should fail the heavens would clothe themselves with sackcloth the sun moon and stars would reel from their courses the universe would rock and a hollow wind would moan through a ruined Creation The Awful message that God can lie but friend he can't lie he cannot lie and he says that all things work together for good to those who love God. [00:03:29]

Now we know that the sweet things work together for good all the many sweet things that happen in our lives today and they just make me want to be a better Christian they ought to make you want to be a better Christian for the Bible says in Romans Chapter 2 and verse4 the goodness of God leads us to repentance the goodness of God God is so good count your many blessings name them one by one it will surprise you What the Lord Has Done the sweet things you say yes I can understand that but now wait a minute not only the sweet things things but the sorrowful things do you have a broken heart today will you say is that good no I don't think a broken heart is good but I'll tell you this it'll work for good it'll work for your good. [00:05:25]

Think about how God dealt with the people of Judah and God carried the people of Judah away to a Strange Land it would be as if the Russians had subjugated the United States and took us and put us in siber would we say that's good we'd say no that's not good but put in your margin Jeremiah 24 and: 5 where God is speaking about how he carried his people away and God says I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chans now listen for their good now if you I were to wake up this morning in Siberia we would say this is terrible but it may be that God would have done it for our good as a matter of fact I think God is getting ready to do some Terrible Things To America for our good we have been cursed with blessings I think we're about to be blessed with cursings. [00:06:22]

Joseph loved God with all of his heart but you know what happened to Joseph Joseph was put in the pit by his brothers he was sold as a slave he was cast into prison and languished in prison for two years and he' not done anything wrong but his abasement made him ready for his advancement and he became the prime minister of Egypt and this is what he said to his brothers in Genesis 50 and: listen but as for you you thought evil against me do you have somebody who's doing you wrong do you have an enemy just keep on loving God because listen but as for you you thought evil against me but God meant it unto good you see all things work together for good your enemy trying to do you harm. [00:08:54]

Paul had an Affliction that Affliction was called a thorn in the flesh and then Paul called it a m messenger of Satan but he says there was given to me a messenger of Satan who gave it to him God gave it to him you say I don't understand this well you see all things work together for good and God rules in the heavens and even Satan unwittingly becomes the servant of God I think I have an illustration that fits perfectly here years and years and years ago I heard of a poor woman who lived in a threadbear apartment and she loved God with all of her heart she had a landlord the landlord didn't love God at all as a matter of fact he took great joy in ridiculing her because of her faith and her trust in the Lord and this poor woman this Widow was living from hand to mouth and the time came that she had no food in the house and she prayed to God and she said said God I don't have any food I don't have any groceries oh God you promised to meet my need Lord I ask you give me some groceries. [00:12:16]

And we know that all things work together for good literally uh some translations give it this way and we know that God works all things together and put that with Ephesians 1:1 the Bible speaks of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will now if you think that what I am saying today about all things working together for good to those who love God if you think that's far stretched do you know why you think it's far stretched because you just don't believe in a big enough God you see we know that God is the one who is working all things that's the cause of it and sometimes we get our eyes off of that. [00:20:09]

This is not a promise for everyone this is not aaic for everybody there is a condition to Romans 8:28 listen to it and we know that all things work together for good to what do you see it look at it to them that love God to them that love God now you can't put your initials by this unless you love God despisers of God cannot claim This Promise haters of God cannot claim this privilege and this promise and by the way if you don't love God there's something wrong with you it's well been said that somebody who does not love God is a Beast with a man's head you know what encourages me about this condition I'll tell you what encourages me about this condition others may be able to give more than I can give others may be able to sing or preach or serve better than I can but there's nobody on Earth who can love God more than I can or you can or anybody else. [00:23:12]

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and have you ever thought about it that you could put Romans 8:28 in reverse all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who don't love God all things work together for bad did you know that just put it in reverse you say well I'm living High wide and handsome right now but friend is working not for your good but for evil in your life all things work together for evil let me put it that way to those who don't love God let me show you how seemingly good things can work against you for example preaching can work against you did you know it's dangerous to come to church if you don't love God and you come and listen to me preach and you have no desire to love God and don't want to know God maybe you've come for whatever reason I don't know but you don't intend to love God did you know this sermon will do you Dam Dage it'll do you harm the Bible says the gospel that we preach is a Savor of Life unto life or death unto death the gospel sword is a two-edged sword. [00:24:59]

What is the good that it all works together for you know sometimes we we trivialize this verse we're driving down the road and we have a blowout and we say oh well all things together for good I guess there's a sail on tires somewhere no that's not what this verse means that's not what this verse means listen in verse 28 I'm going to tell you something profound it's followed by verse 29 now look in verse 29 four and that word for is a preposition which means unto it moves towards something for because whom he did Forno he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son do you know what the good is that all things are working together for you know what it is not to make you healthy not to make you wealthy not to make you happy not to give you fun but to make you like Jesus to make you like Jesus the good is that we be conformed to the image of God's son and how wonderful that is that you and I can be like the Lord Jesus Christ and be with the Lord Jesus Christ be glorified with him in eternity what a blessing. [00:31:50]

And that good is that you'll be like Jesus and when the purpling dawn of Eternity is mingled with the Setting Sun of your life when all of the things that you've dreamed for and schemed for have gone and you see him and you're like him you say hallelujah for Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose. [00:34:49]

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