We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose. For those he foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified, and those He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 HCSB
The first verse of our scripture passage today is one of those verses in the Bible that contains what I call a qualifier. It promises that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. It does not say that all things work together for good for everybody. You have to love God and be called according to His purpose. In other words, you need to be doing what He has called you to do. Now, if you don’t feel that you have been called to do anything, perhaps it is because you have stepped so far away from God that you can’t hear Him calling?
The next verses tell us that those of us that God knew, well that’s all of us right? I mean God is our creator. He knew us before we were formed in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5) right? So we could say that He foreknew each and every one of us. Those that he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. God intended for each and everyone of us to be like Jesus. Jesus was fully man and fully God. He was tempted. He suffered the emotional pain of rejection. He suffered the physical pain of the torture that was inflicted on Him and the pain of the crucifixion. But He was sent here not only to take on our sin so that we might live, but to live as an example. When He was being mocked and ridiculed on the cross He asked God to forgive them. He lived a life without sin.
Our scripture says that those He predestined, He called. If you are sitting around looking pretty, know that God has a job for you to do. Know that it is a qualifier to all things working out for your good. We are called to work for God. God gives each of us specific gifts to use to serve Him. Maybe like my husband you have been gifted with a wonderful singing voice that lifts hearts to the Lord. Maybe like my dear friend, you are a talented pianist and can bless people with the beautiful music that you play. Maybe you are like my other friend who is good at organizing and can do multiple things including techo savvy stuff that I can’t begin to comprehend. Another good friend is wonderful at decorating and organizing children’s programs. God gave us all a gift (Romans 12:6-8). We are meant to be a part of the body of Christ. Just as our body has two arms, two legs, two ears, two eyes, one nose, one mouth and each of these parts has a purpose, so is it with the body of Christ. We all have jobs to do (1 Corinthians 12:27-28).
So let me simplify this for you. We get up and go to work because we want that paycheck, right? How we perform may depend on our administration. There are leaders that promote a good work environment and you want to do your best work for them, right? You are willing to come in early and stay late to get the job done. Now, the Bible tells us that when we work we are to work as though we are working for the Lord, so we should really be doing our best in all that we do, regardless of our supervisor. In other words, we should see God as our supervisor. But when we work for the Lord, we have the best boss ever, right? When we love Him and I mean, really love Him then we want to do His work and we want to do our best at it. Oh and by the way, the pay is phenomenal.
We all want all things to work out for our good. We know that we will have good days and bad days, but we want to know that even our bad days will turn out okay. Well, if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind as we are commanded to do (Matthew 22:37), you will want to do the work that He has called you to do. I don’t know if He has called you to preach, to sing, to lead music, to teach, or to share the gospel with others, but I know He has a job for you.
Our scripture goes on to tell us that those He called, He justified and those He justified, He glorified. So if you are not feeling very justified or glorified, maybe you are not doing what you were called to do, just sayin’.
Today I am asking you to take a minute to search your heart. Are you doing what God has called you to do? Are you working for Him to the best of your ability? Know that when we love Him and we are doing what He has called us to do, that He works everything out for our good. When we put Him first, He handles everything else in our life (Matthew 6:33).
My prayer for you today is that you are secure in the work that God has called you to do. I pray that you are busy working at whatever assignment God has given you. But, if you are not, know that it is not too late. Draw near to Him and enter into a close relationship with Him and He will give you your assignment. The good thing about it is that God will also equip you to do the work. He will give you all you need to do it.
The best thing about doing God’s work is that even if it is something outside your comfort zone, you will truly enjoy it once you get started. So what are you waiting for? Get to work doing what God has called you to do!
Have a great day!