Tag: All Things Work Together for Good

No exceptions!

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Grace Gems Whiteby Daniel Rowlands

Romans 8:28, “We know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Make no exception, when Paul makes none. ALL! Remember Paul excepts nothing. Give glory to God, and resolve with Job, “Though He slays me–yet will I trust in Him.” The Almighty may seem for a season to be your enemy, in order that he may become your eternal friend.

Oh! Believers, after all your tribulation and anguish, you must conclude with David, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” Under all your disquietudes you must exclaim, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”

Even affliction is very useful and profitable to the godly!

The prodigal son had no thought of returning to his father’s house until he had been humbled by adversity. Hagar was haughty under Abraham’s roof, and despised her mistress; but in the wilderness she was meek and lowly. Jonah sleeps on board ship; but in the whale’s belly he watches and prays. Manasseh lived as a libertine at Jerusalem, and committed the most enormous crimes; but when he was bound in chains in the prison at Babylon his heart was turned to seek the Lord his God.

Bodily pain and disease have been instrumental in rousing many to seek Christ, when those who were in good health have given themselves no concern about Him. The ground which is not rent and torn with the plough, bears nothing but thistles and thorns. The vines will run wild in process of time, if they are not pruned and trimmed. So would our wild hearts be overrun with filthy, poisonous weeds–if the true Vine-dresser did not often check their growth by crosses and sanctified troubles.

See, therefore, that all the paths of the Lord are mercy, and that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him.

by Daniel Rowlands

God causes all things to work together for good

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Grace Gems Whiteby Thomas Moor

“Counsels and Thoughts for the Spiritual Life of Believers” 1882

“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28

“According to His purpose”–for He had purposed before the world was who His called ones would be, and also purposed that all things would work for their good. The doings of His grace in time, are ever the result of the purposes of His grace before the foundation of the world! Romans 8:30

“Those who are CALLED according to His purpose.”

These are called to know themselves as guilty before God and deserving of eternal condemnation. These are called to know the all-sufficiency of Christ to save. These are called to trust in His sin-atoning death as their only hope of salvation. These are called out of the world. They no longer revel in the world’s gaieties, or are swayed by its corrupt principles. These are called to be followers of the despised Lord Jesus, treading in His footsteps. This is the calling which distinguishes those who love God, and for whose good God causes all things to work together.

Yes, “God causes all things to work together for good . . . ” It is not said that they work singly or alone, but in relationship to one another–they “work together.” One little thing which we cannot at all understand, or see the reason of–the Lord sees is necessary to make several other things properly work for our good. Without that one very unpleasant thing–all the rest would not be for our benefit.

We are too apt to look at things singly, and therefore our mind often becomes perplexed. A single thread is not of much importance in itself–but if left out in the weaving, the pattern in the loom would be rendered imperfect.

These “all things” are so many shuttles running to and fro, weaving the web of goodness and blessing for the children of God. The hand that throws the shuttles is the hand of Jesus. In the web which He weaves, no thread will be found misplaced, when the weaving is over.

Therefore let us leave all things in the hands of Jesus, who has the whole plan of the life of each believer always before Him, and who in His infinite wisdom causes all things to work together for good to them, so as to produce the best results and accomplish all His purposes of love.

Let us trust Him at all times, even when . . . our expectations of earthly things are disappointed, or when our plans are frustrated, or when darkness surrounds our path, or when trials and affliction are our portion.

Be assured that when we have attained a keener vision and a fuller understanding than our pilgrim state affords us–we shall see that God caused all things to perfectly work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose! We will then testify to the wisdom, power, and love of Him who does all things well!

by Thomas Moor