10302021 Romans 8:28

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our Savior. I trust that God has shown you His favor and blessing this week as you have labored for Him.

This morning I wanted to share some thoughts on that wonderful verse, 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.” In my recent pondering on God’s sovereignty, I have considered those words: “all things work together for good.”

Interestingly, not all Greek manuscripts read the same way. Some are worded so that God is the subject, while other manuscripts don’t mention God in that part of the verse. Probably only God knows the actual original wording; some suggest the word “God” was added to some manuscripts for clarity, while others suggest that “God” was omitted from other manuscripts due to redundancy. The bottom line is that whether God is specifically identified or not, He is the one who works all things. Whether explicit (like in Jonah’s story – “God prepared”) or implicit (like in Esther’s story, where He is not mentioned), God is always the one who is working things.

The Greek word translated “work together” (or “cause to work together”) is interesting. It is used only five times in the New Testament. Looking at the other verses provided insight for me. I guess my normal thinking about this verse has focused on work together FOR GOOD, so that I am focused on the outcome. Or I think about work TOGETHER so that I am focused on the orchestration. Both of those are true, but the flavor of the word is really on the universality of ALL things with the flavor of cooperation TOGETHER. The meaning is “to help in work or to partner in labor or to assist.”

That concept is illustrated in Mark 16:20, speaking of the apostles after Christ’s ascension. “And they went forth, and preaching every where, the Lord WORKING WITH THEM, and confirming the word with signs following.” The apostles and God were partners in spreading the gospel, with the apostles being helped by the hand of God.

I Corinthians 16:16 speaks regarding the apostolic team and early church leaders. “That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that HELPETH WITH US, and laboureth.” These men were all partners, working to accomplish the same purpose within the churches.

II Corinthians 6:1 again speaks of Christian ministers as partners with God. “We then, as WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”

(The final verse is James 2:22. “Seest thou how faith WROUGHT WITH his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”)

I realize this discussion is a bit technical and not very personal, but to me the conclusion is extremely personal and practical. The realization is that EVERYTHING is a partner with God to accomplish His purposes. Everything is a helper of His agenda. Everything is on His team. Everything is an instrument in His hands.

When we were children, my brother had a book titled “All Things, Even Frisky,” about a boy and his dog and family dynamics. This title captures the meaning of Romans 8:28. We could substitute anything into that title and see that all things are partners with God in His good plan for our lives. All things, even health problems. All things, even persecution. All things, even family difficulties. All things, even uncooperative governments. All things, even national crises. Whatever it is for you, you can rest assured that it is partnering together with what God is working in your life.

This realization provides confidence and peace to walk forward each day, even in the face of the unknown or the undesired that is known. May you be filled with God’s peace this week.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA