A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"What Good?  Whose Good?"

One of the most abused Scriptural promises is Romans 8:28. This may seem like a harsh statement. It is not meant to be harsh. Through my years of pastoral ministry I have heard this passage quoted in a myriad of ways and the majority have been out of context. It is often quoted in an effort to comfort someone going through difficult times or as a platitude for tragic circumstances. This is not to suggest that this verse doesn't speak to people in such circumstance. It is to say that we must be careful not to use it incorrectly thereby give false hope. The verse confidently proclaims, "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

The problem is we quote this verse thinking it means that everything will turn out okay. Is that what it means? What does "good" mean? Just what does this verse say about God's work? What is it that we are "to know" and take confidence in.

This blessed promise is ours in Christ, but it is essential that we use it correctly. To properly understand it we need to hear it correctly and be sure the words are defined biblically. At the outset we need to recognize that this is a conditional promise. Only God's faithful servants can claim this promise. It is for those that love Him and are living according to His purposes. This is not a blanket promise for all people.

To grasp the full force of the promise we must have the proper understanding of "good." We have difficulty with this word for we want to define it according to our limited understanding. Good for us is usually linked to happiness, success or materials. But this is not necessarily the case. When Jesus was addressed as "good teacher" He responded, "Why you call me good. There is none good but God." Good has to do with God and His purposes. In other words, God working all things to good means that God is accomplishing His purposes, which involves making us holy. God, Who is good, works His good in the lives of His people. We may not see the good or even recognize it at the time, but our confidence rests in the fact that God is at work in everything that happens. The good is eternal in nature and has to do with God's holy work in and through His people.

He uses all things to accomplish His good work. We must be careful not to use this verse to answer our questions about why or who, cause or allowed. It is tempting to get involved in these arguments. Why did God allow this to happen? Did God cause this or did He allow it? This is not the issue Paul is dealing with here. Rather he is affirming the wondrous confidence and comfort we have knowing there is nothing in our lives that will be futile or meaningless. God can and does use everything that happens to accomplish His holy work. In His creative, re-creative hands everything is used by Him to accomplish His good.

The proper understanding heightens the impact of this glorious promise. It grants greater comfort for we recognize that God is always at work accomplishing His purposes using whatever life throws at us for those purposes. God is neither hindered nor halted by circumstances, situations, or happenings.

Beloved, let us continue to love God and be faithful to Him so that this promise is actualized in us. Let us take comfort and have confidence knowing our God is working all things for the good in our lives.
Keep Close to Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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