And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
After concluding that God causes all things to work together for good…FOR THOSE THAT LOVE GOD. My joy in this hope filled verse quickly plummeted when I read the end of the verse. I needed to be called according to HIS purpose. Would God call me? Isn’t a call from God for the super Christians or for those called to life long ministry or for people that live in monasteries or nunneries.
Nope..Called is the word Kletos. It is used to be called, invited to the kingdom of heaven and its privileges, in a sense appointed, chosen.
Oh to be chosen. YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN! Here is what God says about your called-ness…
(God) who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:9
~Please note you were called before the beginning of time. Before you were even conceived, before given a choice to choose God back, you were called.
He predestined us to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—Ephesians 1:5
~Predestined…determined in advance to be adopted as God’s children!
Lastly….just read ahead in the verses that follow Romans 8:28. Our answers can actually be found in the context of what we are already studying.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:29-31
Can we actually go back full circle to PROVIDENCE? Care and preparation in advance….God’s foresight to call you. Now what you do with that call, with the God providence in your life is your choice. Respond or not….you’ve still been called, even before you drew your first breath on this earth.
And this is why I know that GOD is indeed the one who has worked all things, thus far, in my little life for good. For HIS good. For a good that I couldn’t have even dreamed of and a good that is not just for me but for the generations that follow me. A good that my children and grandchildren will testify of. A good that others are watching right now and some know and understand it is the goodness of God. Others are looking out of the corner of their eye holding out their trust in such a God to see if it really does work out, if God really does work it together.
Keep watching and soon you too will know, the love of God will overwhelm you and compel you to love Him back and all things will indeed work together for good, because you, my friend were called!