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Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I’m sure I’ve preached from this verse at least a dozen times; but on every occasion, I gain some incredible new insight I missed previously. And today is no exception.
Generally, we tend to focus our attention solely on what the author said, and/or what we believe he is saying. So we painstakingly review language, sentence structure, prose and verse design: all in hope of gaining better insight into what is in the author’s head. But this morning, I challenge us to not only review what Paul says, but look at who he is saying it to.
Of the 27 books of the New Testament, 14 are attributed to Apostle Paul. And as we study each book we are finding subtle clues to what was going on in each location he wrote to. Paul didn’t write one letter for everyone. Instead he wrote personalized letters to each group (or person) addressing their specific issues and sensibilities. In other words, what worked for the Colossians may not be understood by the Philippians. What motivated the Thessalonians was probably foreign to the Galatians. He was a master at getting to the core of what made a specific audience “tick”. So today as we read Romans, let’s keep in mind who they were, and how this Gospel resonated in their day and time.
The Romans thought themselves to be ultra religious, intellectual and refined. So Paul wrote a really “heady” and heavy doctrinal thesis for them to digest. The same Gospel to the Philippians may have fallen of deaf ears at the time. They would not have studied the Torah or been exposed to the Prophets. But the Romans definitely were.
And he sets them up real good. When he opens up 8:28 with the statement, “And we know...” he is challenging them with their own (bias) understanding and deep rooted belief concerning predestination, election and selection. He traps them in their own theology. He reasons that since you know God is good, and he works out all things to the benefit of his “elect” (which the Jews thought were them alone) what is going on at this present moment must be in perfect harmony with Gods plan. Hence our situations and struggles are in perfect alignment with our impending blessing.
Some consider this to be a great paradox. But I don’t see a problem with it at all. If God is good all the time, then what he does or does not do by definition has to also be good. So even though a term like Good-Trouble would ordinarily be oxymoronic, in spiritual terms it makes perfect sense.
Let me try and make it a bit more relevant. After hemming and hawing, I took the Covid-19 vaccination. The first day or so, I was perfect. But by day three I was feeling body aches, chills, leg pain and tiredness. So I called my doctor brother to complain, and the first words out of his mouth was, “good”. Good? How is me being in pain, feeling sick and uncomfortable good? Well, he explained, all the symptoms I was experiencing were normal and expected. And although I was hurting, the hurt was a sign that the medicine was working. If I didn’t have any symptoms or signs, that might worry him more. Yes, I was having trouble; but it was good trouble.
I love when life imitates scripture. I know some of you understand exactly what it means to have good trouble. I can imagine now God hearing my prayer and supplication; hearing me cry out to him concerning my pain, grief and suffering, and he answers, “Good”. Good? Why do you say good Lord? That means it’s working. My trials are working for my good. My temptations are working for my good. My tears are working for my good.
Dear Children of God, I conclude today by reinforcing what Paul told his audience in Rome:
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
God Bless
