Words To Remember - "It's All Good"

In Romans 8:28, we see these words penned by the Apostle Paul, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." (NRSV).

In the surrounding passages of this verse, we see the mention of the sufferings of the present (8:18) and the subjection to the sin of the past (8:20).  However, in the midst of it all, we see the salvation of the future (8:18b,21-25), which brings us to those wonderful words aforementioned, "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

As we look back over this year, 2009, we see victories, but we also see defeat; we see life, but we also see death; we see joy, but we also see sorrow.  But in the midst of it all, God would have His people to know that It's All Good!  Why?  Because "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose."  God has a glorious future for His people, despite the sin of the past and the sufferings of the present.  And this glorious future involves His people being "conformed to the image of his Son..."(8:29); God wants us to look like Jesus.

So no matter what you might have faced in this past year, or even what you might be currently facing in the present, be encouraged in this, that it is all working for good, if you love God, and are called according to His purpose.  There is a bright future ahead.  It's All Good!

Words To Remember - "The Beauty Of Our Salvation"

John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  And John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (NRSV).  In these verses, we see that the beauty of our salvation, is found in the Incarnation, which is the reason for the Christmas celebration.

What a beautiful thing to know and understand, through the revelation of Scripture, that the Word, who was God, became man (flesh), and settled among humanity, so that He Himself could completely identify with and redeem it.  And as a result of this, we see the comforting passage that is found in Hebrews 4:15-16, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Merry Christmas!

Words To Remember - "The Believer's Walk" Part III

Matthew 16:24-26 says, "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.  For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?  Or what will they give in return for their life?'"  (NRSV).

We previously made the statement that, "the believer's walk is a walk of faith."  We took this from II Corinthians 5:7, wherein the Apostle Paul says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight."  This walk of faith is best seen in Matthew 16:24-26, for to follow Jesus and being willing to give up our pleasures for Him, is the utmost of walking by faith and not by sight.