Skip to main content

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. (Romans 8:28) 

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him— (I Corinthians 2:9)

 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12) 

In the passage from Romans, which is often quoted as a means to dismiss someone else’s struggles, we’re only told that God works things together for good. One is tempted to say, “That’s nice.” But when we get to I Corinthians, it’s as though Paul was sitting across the poker table from himself and says, “I’ll see your ‘good’ and raise you, ‘What no eye has seen…’ and, ‘For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but THEN…’” 

Of course, we can’t see what no eye has seen. It’s often hard to even see things working together for good. Both take faith. There are times when they take more faith than others. When things are going well, we might be able to believe that things will be even better then. That’s when we need to remind ourselves how great things will be. When we get in the habit of thinking that way when we’re up, it may be a little easier to trust God when things aren’t quite good. And if we can build that habit eventually, we may be able to hold on to that faith when things get tough.

There are times when I have told people, “This is the worst _________ I’m ever going to make.” I don’t know if I’m telling the truth, but potentially, what I learn from my mistakes while making it this time means that next time, I’ll do better. Next time, the Lemony Blueberry Scones may be Lemony Blueberry Scones instead of Lemon Scones with Blueberries. In the same way, next time, we may see more of the good if we work at seeing the good. We may see only a reflection as in a mirror, but we may recognize more of the image. The key is to work at it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saved?

  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:28-30) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21-23) Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.” (Romans 3:4)   What conclusion do you draw when someone who was raised in a Christian family and church, perhaps even playing a significant role in a chur...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Shepherd!

                 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep . (John 10:14) God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Genesis 3:14) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths     for his name’s sake. Even though I walk     through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil,     for you are with me; your rod and your staff,     they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4) For the Jews, it was politically incorrect to make claims about yourself as a teacher (or possibly as anything else.) Teachers were expected to take pride in the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen To Him

              The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him . (Deuteronomy 18:15)           Today, we switch from Jesus’ claims of “I am” to prophecies made about Him. My Bible platform is starting in Deuteronomy. I’d start in Genesis, where we would learn that the one who would save us would be a descendant of Eve (Genesis 3:15), of Noah (by default), Abram and Sara(Genesis 12:1-3). Isaac (Genesis 17:19), Jacob (Genesis 25:23), Judah (Genesis 29:8), and David (II Samuel 7:12-16). There were also references to a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-32). In addition, there were prophecies about when and where the prophet/Messiah would be born and what would happen to him.           Of course, naysayers will claim that Jesus’ life was retrofitted or reverse enginee...
Post a Comment
Read more