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All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 12:37:43 AM
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totalfaith
Posts: 112
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So, when does this happen?
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 12:58:09 AM
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totalfaith
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Sorry, I was going to say delete this. I posted this out of frustration. I realized some things that I'm dealing with and where they came from and it bothers me.
I guess i did have one point though.. Do all things only happen for good after you've become a Christian or since we've been pre-destined.. is it our entire life?
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 1:11:10 AM
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ChoirDJ
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From: So Cal
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quote:
Do all things only happen for good after you've become a Christian or since we've been pre-destined.. is it our entire life?
Personally I believe this reassurance is giving only to believers who love Him. That doesn't mean God will not seek to influence the nonbeliever but the nonbeliever is not the beneficiary of this promise.
_____________________________
"Sin will take you further than you intended to go, keep you there longer than you intended to stay, and cost you more than you intended to spend." Got it?
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 6:56:00 AM
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ShallbeRebuilt
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I think it's very important to realize what ChoirDJ said as well as that "for good" means "for our good" and "for God's good" not necessarily "for what we want to happen".
It's a serious mistake made many times in interpreting this verse. People automatically think of something they personally want as "everything turning out good." But that doesn't work with the context nor the meanings of the words.
Very important also to remember that we can't make deals with God. I have occasionally been guilty of thinking "well, I love God, so why isn't everything turning out 'good'?" (my personal definition of good, of course). As if I were saying "Hey God, I'm keeping my end of the deal...but I don't see you doin' your part!"
Another thing that I sometimes ponder is what did people like Paul and Peter and other martyrs think of this: especially when they had to spend years and years in prison or suffering some sort of torture. Did they wonder if things were going to ever turn out good? And this brings perspective to my own suffering...I haven't suffered the lack of a roof over my head, nor the freedom to go and come whenever I want or a lack of food. So why am I shaking my fist at heaven?
besiderself
_____________________________
Many wise words are spoken in jest, but they don’t compare with the number of stupid words spoken in earnest.
Shallbe's Batty Belfry
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 9:14:55 AM
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CoachSteve
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this is something I am currently struggling with. I recently became single(never married, but dating a lady for a long time), and now I am having a hard time with being single. I have started reading my Bible more, and reading other Christian books to take my mind off of being lonely and redirecting my energy to growing closer to God. A lot of the time it works, but there are times when I am very depressed and very lonely. I am 35 and not getting any younger. I want to have a wife and family and see that I am very selfish, and trying to let God take care of and guide my life, but it is very hard to see where the good can come from this, but Like i said I am trying to see the good by growing closer to God. it is not easy sometimes.
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 9:40:40 AM
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URForgiven
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quote:
ORIGINAL: totalfaith
Sorry, I was going to say delete this. I posted this out of frustration. I realized some things that I'm dealing with and where they came from and it bothers me.
I guess i did have one point though.. Do all things only happen for good after you've become a Christian or since we've been pre-destined.. is it our entire life?
It does not say that only good things will happen, but that God will work all things together for your good. The trouble is that we do not know what "good" is, and many times it will only be in retrospect that we will see the good that God worked.
In the midst of trouble it is difficult to see that God is there and that He is working, this is why we need faith, and we need to be reminded that it is in Christ that we have placed our faith. He will work all things together for our good, and we know this because He has said so, and because we have faith that He does what He says He will do.
I am praying with you that whatever the situation you are going through, you will be conscious of Gods never-ending Love for you, and that you will experience His peace in the midst of it.
Peace
_____________________________
"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/3/2008 10:35:18 AM
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LivingParadox
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Two things come to mind about "all things work for the good to those who love Jesus"...
1. Sometimes the hard things we experience bless others -- what we go through isn't always about us. God uses everything to further his perfect plan. Example: Do you remember those Amish kids being murdered? Heinous...but look at the Amish community enbraced the murderer's family? Only God knows how their actions may have affected the world watching.
2. In hindsight the hard things we go through, though painful, can mature our character, understanding and help develop our reflection to a clearer picture of Jesus in our walk.
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/21/2008 11:07:25 PM
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rosie2773
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Things happen in life. It rains on the just and the unjust.
Romans 8:28 tells us that no matter what we face in our lives, somewhere, somehow, God will work it for our good. He never promised we would only have good times, only that He would be with us always.
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/21/2008 11:35:37 PM
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LCannon
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Romans 8:18-"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy [to be compared] with the coming of His glory. The anxious creature looks for the revelation of the sons of God: for he has been made subject to this world yet has been redeemed from corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. We know the whole creation cries out in pain together yet we have been saved in hope; but if what we see isn’t apparent our hope is sure in patience. In like manner, the Spirit joins its help to our weakness; for our deepest feelings cannot be expressed[in words] but the Spirit itself pleas for us in its yearnings which cannot be uttered. But he who searches the hearts knows what [is] the mind of the Spirit because he intercedes for the saints abiding with God. We do know that all things knit together in His purpose to those who obey God; to those who are called according to His comfort. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other power, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which [is] in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
_____________________________
"Many of our prayers are for an easy solution. God is more glorifed in Him
when souls exhibit His Grace under pressure." -Elisabeth Elliot-
"But at my stumbling they gathered in glee...[but]How long, O Lord,
wilt thou look on?" -Psalms 35:15-
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/22/2008 7:18:42 AM
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timf
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Romans 8:28-29
I guess i did have one point though.. Do all things only happen for good after you've become a Christian or since we've been pre-destined.. is it our entire life?
In our material rich and comfort oriented culture we tend to read such verses and feel that they are not realized in our own lives because we do not seem to prosper or we experience difficulty.
Read these verses and picture God as a blacksmith. If he were to pick us out of the fire with His tongs and look at us, He would see that we are not conformed to the image of Jesus. He might plunge us back into the fire to get hot and maleable and then bring us to the anvil where we might get pounded on a little bit more. He might then reexamine us and find us a little bit closer to the image of Christ. How much easier this process would be if we were to surrender to God and seek His work in our lives instead of resisting and resenting it.
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/22/2008 7:51:53 AM
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mvic
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Hi Totalfaith,
You chose that name because at one time you had "total faith". Now you're frustrated and have some doubts.
Know this: God has brought you to this situation, and He will surely see you through it safely if you trust in Him.
I'm praying for you.
_____________________________
http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
Welcome to my Blog
MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/23/2008 10:26:43 PM
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deermousie
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quote:
ORIGINAL: totalfaith
Do all things only happen for good after you've become a Christian or since we've been pre-destined.. is it our entire life?
This is a good question, Totalfaith, and an honest one. Please read these 2 verses and I'll answer your question in the end:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8: 28,29
Wow. So much in so few words. The promise is for good, not evil. God gives good things (see Ps. 84:11, too). The people are targeted are "those who love God" - Christians, not unbelievers. God even tells us the reason: "to be conformed to the image of His Son." God uses life to change us from selfish tyrants to like Jesus, loving and kind and gracious and truthful.
I think it's safe to say, since God chose us to be His before we were even born, that all our lives are under His hand and gifts. The abuse I suffered from in childhood has changed me into a far more compassionate person, and it's knocked the rough corners (and I had them on steroids) off my life and is making me whole, while blessing others. Was it good while being abused? No. But God is using those things to change me and have an influence for good (I hope!) on other suffering peoples' lives. And God will judge the abuser, make no mistake, but He leads me on, closer to Him. What could be better?! 
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/24/2008 1:33:46 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
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I think many people see this verse as they see grace.... I can sin and because God's grace is sufficient that makes it okay, or because God says everything is going to work out for good that it is okay to sin...
I don't think these verses are meant to justify sin and wrong choices and the outcomes thereof
_____________________________
"...I have tried to walk away from broken pieces of the past, but their edges tear my feet like shattered glass..."
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RE: All things work for good... - 7/24/2008 9:52:07 PM
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BillBaileyBFAFan
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There is a sermon at www.baptist-city.com by Dr. Jack Schaap, that is called, What's so good about Romans 8:28? It was given right after thier pastor of 40 years had passed away. I would recommend it to anyone. It's very practical, and makes great sense.
Here is the link http://www.baptist-city.com/classic_schaap.htm
it is the second one across on the top row of sermons.
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