For my good. For His glory.

January 15, 2022 Pastor Ben Spencer
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Christian Living, Worship
When I doubt it, Lord, remind me
I’m wonderfully made
You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay

You make all things work together
For my future and for my good
You make all things work together
For Your glory and for Your name
 
I know nothing has been wasted
No failure or mistake
You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay
 

You’re not finished with me
You’re not finished with me yet

     -“Canvas and Clay” by Pat Barrett

There are a lot of words in the Bible, so it makes sense that there are passages here and there that are a bit misunderstood or misused. Romans 8:28 may be one of them. At first glance, this verse looks like a promise of prosperity. But if we read, well, the rest of scripture, and we look at the life of the One who goes before us, that doesn’t quite add up. Jesus invites us to die, and that doesn’t exactly seem prosperous.
 
In fact, just a few verses later, the apostle Paul writes, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, ‘for your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ ” No, it is not a promise of prosperity, but a promise of redemption. 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose"

Romans 8:28

There are bad things that happen to us, and there are bad things we ourselves bring about in our lives by the sin we commit. At times like that, the enemy likes to whisper lies in our ear, telling us we’re not worthy of God’s love or that He doesn’t really care about us. But our God is the same God who turned Paul from a zealous killer to a slave of the gospel, used murderers Moses and David to lead His people, and orchestrated the greatest story of redemption anyone will ever know, at the cross. 
 
Sometimes, redemption comes like it did for Ruth, when God lifts us out of the darkness and shows us His grace by providing a way into the light. And other times, like Saul and David, He plucks us out of comfort and brings us through the darkness. He breaks us down in our sin and foolishness, in order to build us back up. Jeremiah was made a pot that was not satisfactory by a potter (Jer 18). So the potter pushed the pot back into a ball of clay again, and proceeded to make it into something better. God likened himself to the potter and the clay to Israel. Sometimes our sin requires Him to break us down and rebuild us for His glory. This is also grace. This is also love. All things work together for good. And the good God works for is the glory of His great name.  
 

What He doesn’t do is throw the clay out. He doesn’t abandon the lost sheep (Luke 15). In His goodness, He uses His word and Spirit to remind us of His faithfulness to accomplish His purpose in us (Jer 29:11). And He reminds us of the life we now live in Christ, not chasing an impossible perfection by man’s will, but being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus (Galatians 2:20). 

 We worship the God of redemption who formed us, trusting in His ability to guide, correct, tear down, and rebuild. We worship knowing He will never forsake us. For He who promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). 
 
You make all things work together for my future and for my good.
You make all things work together for your glory and for your name. 
You’re not finished with me yet.
You’re not finished with me yet. 

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. "

1 Peter 5:10
Christian Living
Christian Living