“…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)
THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN SCRIPTURE BUT I WONDER HOW WELL UNDERSTOOD IT IS?
- WE KNOW: we’re not sure if we know, we don’t think we know – WE KNOW!
- ALL THINGS: not some things, not most things – ALL THINGS!
- WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD: not dabble together, not fool around together – WORK TOGETHER!
- THOSE WHO LOVE GOD: not those who kind of like the Lord, not those who really like the Lord, – THOSE WHO agapaō THE LORD!
- WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE: not those who just feel like they should be doing something, not those who really like this kind of work – THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED BY GOD TO HIS PURPOSE!
So then, who is called for God’s work? “Only, as the Lord has assigned to EACH ONE, as God has CALLED EACH, in this manner let him walk.” (1 Corin. 7:17) Paul adds this to reveal to us about our calling, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to WALK WORTHY of the calling with which YOU WERE CALLED, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-3) God has a purpose and a calling for each one of us!
“As EACH ONE has received a gift, MINISTER it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)
-Bill Stockham