Romans 8:28 - We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

 

This verse is one of the most quoted verses from the Bible, but frequently, it is misquoted. 

 

  1. God is in control of All Things … Some people, even some founding fathers, believe in deism. They believe God exists but is not taking an active role any more. The Bible shows us He is still active.
    1. Omniscience - All Knowing … Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed with everything we have to keep up with and remember. But God doesn’t have that issue. He knows everything but it doesn’t overwhelm Him. 
    2. Omnipotent - All Powerful … God can do anything. There is nothing He can’t do, no problem too big for Him, no puzzle too complex. 
    3. Omnibenevolent - All Good … If He were all knowing and all powerful, but not all good, that would be terrifying. Fortunately, He is all good and has never been unjust. 
    4. Sovereign - In Charge of the World & Providentially Guiding All Things … God never loses control. 
  2. God is at work in every detail of your life for your ultimate good … This part is often misunderstood. The verse specifies who it is for: those who love God. And it’s not for our temporary satisfaction or instant gratification. It’s for our good so that we become who we were meant to be. Remember Joseph in Genesis? His brothers hated him, threw him in a well, then sold him as a slave. He then gets falsely accused of rape and is thrown in prison. But eventually he helps out Pharaoh and works his way up to be second in command of all Egypt. A famine occurs and his brothers come seeking aid. When they find out Joseph is the one before them, they are terrified, but Joseph recognizes that this was all part of God’s plan to put Him in position to help his people. All of the trials and tribulations Joseph went through made him who he was and set him up for a purpose greater than anyone would have imagined. We may not understand the plan in the moment, but we can trust God to have a plan that will work for our ultimate good.
    1. “God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” —Charles Spurgeon

 

Kintsugi is the Japanese art of using gold to repair pottery. The repaired pots were often more beautiful than the original piece (see title image) and some people even broke pottery on purpose to add the golden seams. Sometimes, we have to be broken to be made into who we are meant to be.

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

 

  • Exalting Jesus in Romans by Tony Merida
  • Teach the Text by Marvin Pate
  • Romans, Preach the Word by Kent Hughes
  • ESV Expository Commentary by Robert Yarbrough
  • Romans for You by Tim Keller
  • The Story of God Commentary by Michael Bird
  • Living Insights by Chuck Swindoll
  • NIV Application Commentary by Doug Moo