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Whose Good?


And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose for those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  (Romans 8:28-30) 

                So often when people quote Romans 8:28, they use the NASB translation: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good.... They stop there, then they look at the circumstances. The death of a loved one? A child born with problems requiring repeated surgeries or a life with disabilities, perhaps requiring complete care for life? An abusive spouse? Abandonment? Natural disasters? An attack that leaves one physically or emotionally crippled? Cancer? Hunger and poverty? Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, ALS, Autism, HIV/AIDS? These horrible things are good? That's not what it says. These horrible things work together for good? That's not what it says.
          What it says is that for those who love God, for those who have been called according to His purpose, for those who God foreknew and predestined to be conformed to the likeness (image) of His Son, for these people God works in everything for their good. That good is not momentary enjoyment. It is conformation to the likeness of His Son. We tend to look at this verse in the light of our circumstances. I think God looks at it through in the light of our Christ-likeness.
        As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. During Jesus' three-year ministry, He fed the hungry, healed the sick, the injured and the crippled;  and raised the dead. I don't recall reading about His ending anyone's physical poverty. Had these people or their relatives not suffered from these horrible things, I doubt they would have paid much attention to Jesus. I sometimes wonder whether we are actually harming the people we think we're helping as we seek to eliminate the circumstances though which God is working for their good.




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