Called According to Your Purpose

Romans 8:28 ESV
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

In Romans 8 Paul contrasts a life lived in selfish pursuits of the flesh and one lived in accordance with the Spirit of God. The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, are good. Some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good.

He sees the big picture; He has a master plan. The principle of God working all things together for good is well illustrated in the Old Testament account of Joseph’s life. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. In Egypt, Joseph rises to a position of responsibility. Then, he is unjustly imprisoned and forgotten about by his friends.

God gifts him the ability to interpret dreams, and through that ability Joseph is once again raised to a place of honor and power. When drought forces Joseph’s brothers to seek food elsewhere, they travel to Egypt and encounter Joseph, who eventually saves them from starvation and grants them a livelihood in his new land.

Throughout his life, Joseph trusted God no matter his good or bad circumstances. Joseph experienced plenty of bad things: kidnapping, slavery, false accusations, wrongful imprisonment, rejection, and famine. But in the end God brought things to a wonderful, life-affirming conclusion.

We can take confidence that, no matter what the circumstances or the environment, God is active to fulfill His plan in us.

Prayer:
Father, I can do my own thing, my way, and cross my fingers and hope for the best, but that is a recipe for disaster. So, I’m going to trust You, wait on You, follow You because You have my best interest at heart, and Your plans for me always have the best ending, even if I cannot see it with my natural eyes.