Notes of Faith December 27, 2024
And We Know
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
In his 1618 book about the promises of God, Puritan Nicholas Byfield said, “The promises are called the unsearchable riches of Christ to assure us Christians we are very rich people when our hearts are stored with the promises of God, well applied…. God’s promises will drive away grief, discouragement, or fears that may at any time seize us. They will sweeten all our afflictions.”
Perhaps the most all-encompassing promise in the Bible is Romans 8:28. We know God works in all things. He is working behind the scenes on our behalf and for our good. Not everything that happens to us is good, but God can use everything that happens to us for good in His long-term plan and by His overruling grace. He knows how to manufacture treasure out of various and sundry components, and we must trust Him with that.
Today, remind yourself of this great promise. Apply its truth to what is troubling you. Take courage! God will work it all for good!
These promises soundly studied and laid on our hearts will breed cheerfulness of spirit and contentment, which makes godliness a great gain.
Nicholas Byfield
Rom 8:28-39
who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
"FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is indeed NOTHING that can separate us from the LOVE of God! We who belong to Him know His promises, cling to His promises, look ahead to His promises fulfilled when we live with Him forever in a place prepared for us from before the foundation of the world. Come to Jesus. Believe, and received the inheritance of the saints, the incredible glory that God has promised and prepared for us!
Pastor Dale