Day 80 of 90 Devotion

Dearest e-votees-

Day eighty of our cover to cover voyage through the Bible. We have completed Acts. (44 down, 22 to go) If you want to see the readings for our trip through the Bible you can follow this link:

www.christthegoodshep.org/biblein90days.html

Peace,
Karl

--------------

Day 80 Readings: Acts 28:17-Romans 14:23

Included in today's reading is one of the great promises in all of scripture:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28, NIV

The promise is not that everything that happens to us will be good (as if God would or could shelter us from every consequence of this sinful and broken world or our sinful and broken selves). The promise is not that in some things God will be concerned and work towards the redemption of us (as if the smaller or more trifling or less holy parts of us are somehow beyond God's concern). No, the promise is much stronger and better than those.

The promise is stated explicitly for those who have been called according to God's purpose (which you have, refer to your baptism). The promise is for those who love God (which you do). Our love for God is not complete and consistent and thorough. That is a work in promise. We love because God first loved us and that responsive love is alive and well in you. God brings to completion the good works that God began. Your love for God will come to completion.

In the meantime you do love God and you are called according to God's purpose. Therefore, God will work all things for the good. That doesn't mean that everything that happens to you is good or God ordained--clearly it is not. But that means that God can be at work in whatever happens and bring to bear redemptive and healing power. No matter what comes your way God can bring from it for you and through you. That is a deep and abiding promise. Lean into it.

God loves you and the world so much that even the hard, painful, bad things aren't beyond redemption and the building of a better world. God is at work in your life. For your sake and for the sake of the world God is at work in and through your life. You will suffer some hard and undeserved things. You might question if and why God sent something your way (see Job and his friends). You might feel set upon beyond your ability to bear. In the midst of those times I hope and pray that you know God's love, peace, comfort, presence and the surety of all of God's promises including Romans 8:28.


God, thank you for your redemptive ways no matter what comes our way. Amen.