Sweet Memories

The Word is first...

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (NIV)

³ We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I sometimes think it odd the way that my memory works, or doesn't. For whatever reason I don't remember details of events. Dates, times, places, words, appearances all seem to slip elusively from my grasp. What I do remember are feelings and emotions and the people associated with them. So rather than being able to recall what someone did, I remember how it made me feel. Good or bad, I associate and remember people and feelings.

The difficulty with this comes when trying to express thanks to someone. How do I say "thank you so much for making me feel so good?" It seems strange to thank someone for my feelings when they really have no control over how I feel! Nevertheless, I believe the best way to show my appreciation for what others do in my life is to remember them before the Lord. My study verse today speaks of a time when Paul specifically mentioned to the church at Thessolonica how he did that very thing and remembers before God the work of their hands and hearts.

In consideration of this verse, there are five points for me to ponder.

"We continually remember..." speaks to the fondness of heart that is directed towards others. To continually remember means that the memory is so strong as to demand frequent attention and recollection. Now, simply recalling a person, place or thing with fond remembrances alone is a selfish indulgence. But in this context, the continually remembering is translated into prayer. Knowing that God uses others in our lives to accomplish His purposes and that we are to go before the Lord with a heart of thanksgiving, what better way to pray than to repeatedly give thanks for those who have touched our lives?

We do this by bringing this memory and the thanks associated with it "before God and Father." I know that there is a place for a heartfelt face-to-face thank you. I know that there is a place for reciprocation or 'paying it forward.' Each of these has its time and place or season. However, there is no better or more beneficial treatment than to take it before God in prayer and to convert it to praise for our sovereign God.

I note also that Paul specifically mentions three aspects for which he is thankful. He begins with 'work.' We all know people for whom we are thankful for their labors. Whether they are cooking, cleaning, mending, fixing, teaching or otherwise laboring, we realize the immediate benefits of their efforts and feel a sense of gratitude. But I don't think this is necessarily what Paul is speaking of. You see, he mentioned "your work produced by faith." To me, this speaks of a different type of labor, one that is not rewarded by revenue; one that is not necessarily enjoyable; one that is motivated by a higher calling that can only be heard through the filter of faith.

He continues with 'labor' but not just casual labor but rather 'your labor prompted by love.' For me, this speaks of some undertaking which requires a great deal of time, attention and effort that is not necessarily evident in the finished product. I don't want to cheapen this concept but what comes to my mind is spaghetti sauce. Making spaghetti sauce, from scratch, is a labor of love that typically involves a full day in the kitchen with lots of messy ingredients. There's lots of chopping, dicing, boiling, stirring and cleaning involved. In the end, there's a plate of spaghetti. The labor of the day is consumed in fifteen minutes. Now were it not for the motivation of love, it would be far easier to just open a jar, reheat the contents and serve. Fifteen minutes prep, fifteen minutes eating, you're done. But love... that requires effort, forethought and sacrifice. It is only by love that I would undertake the day-long process of sauce-making. I think this is the type of labor that Paul is speaking of; labor that is undertaken by choice rather than pursuing the route of convenience.

He goes further and mentions the 'endurance' demonstrated by the recipients of this letter. The work produced by faith was not fleeting. Their labor prompted by love was not easy nor quick. It required tenacity, perseverance and endurance. I know from experience that endurance is developed purposefully over time by practice, repetition and sacrifice. Running a 26 mile marathon doesn't just happen overnight, it is a long and arduous process of preparation. The endurance required to sustain the preparation and the race itself is all predicated upon something else. The runner races for the prize. Were there no hope for victory, it would all seem as pointless as tilting with windmills. But Paul speaks of the basis for their endurance as being rooted in the most fervent hope imaginable; our Lord Jesus Christ. The Thessalonians did whatever it is they did because of the hope they shared in Jesus.

When I consider the people who serve me or serve alongside me, I wonder if their motivations, I wonder if MY motivations are the same as the church at Thessalonica. Faith, love and hope are the inspiration for great things. As we see in this passage, faith begets works; love begets labor and hope begets endurance. For these things then we must ever be in prayerful remembrance.

Shalom,
Carl

My Heart's Desire

The Word is first...

Song of Solomon 1:7 (NIV)

⁷ Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock

and where you rest your sheep at midday.

Why should I be like a veiled woman

beside the flocks of your friends?

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I hear it at weddings all the time "where you go, I'll go." It is such a sweet sentiment that is built upon the foundation of love that we are willing to go wherever our loved goes, just to be with them. So it is with the believer, we so love the Lord that we are willing to go wherever he goes, just so that we can be with him, that we may enjoy the consolations of his presence.

In today's passage, I see six important aspects that I wish to draw out for your consideration.

Point of view. "Tell me,..." This is a quotation of a petition from the spouse to her beloved; from the shepherdess to the shepherd; from the church and every believer to Christ. The form of address is one of intimacy and great affection. The metaphor of the marriage as a means to teach us of the covenant relationship we should aspire to have with God is plainly presented through-out Scripture. We, the church, are the bride and Jesus the Christ, the bridegroom. We are also familiar with the concept of Jesus being 'the good shepherd.' But the concept of the church and of believers being a 'shepherdess' is a little less obvious but no less applicable. Just consider that Christ the Good Shepherd is in charge of his entire fold (the church) of flocks (congregations). Each church serves an important shepherding role with respect to its own flock (the members). Thus it is a natural representation to portray the church as a shepherdess. The point here is that for each one of us, we should address our own shepherd from a posture of intimacy and great affection.

Object of affection. The love of the shepherdess/bride is directed towards the shepherd/bride-groom; "you whom I love..." For me, this brings to mind the many pet names I have for those I love. Whether it's "punkin" or "little bit" or "darling" these are the terms of endearment I use when addressing my closest family members. In this passage, it is 'you', not just any 'you' but 'you whom I love' and for us it speaks of the deep longing we have when we consider our Savior. Our normal means of address "Lord", "Savior", "Immanuel", "Christ" do not speak of our affection, they speak of fact. Truly he is all these things but he is these things whether we love him or not. I don't mean to imply that the redeemed may not love the redeemer but rather that the aforementioned terms are based on fact and not on affection. I do however submit that the tears that flow so freely when I address my Lord Jesus are rooted in the affection I feel when confronted with the fact of his reality in my life.

Beseeching of knowledge. In this passage, the bride turns to her beloved to beseech knowledge. "Tell me, you whom I love, where you graze your flock and where you rest your sheep at midday." She is saying "just tell me where you'll be so I can be there too." I think that all too often, we say "Jesus, come to me, where I am" and not "Jesus, tell me where you are and I'll come to you." It's a subtle distinction that profoundly changes the object of affection. In the former, it is 'I' or 'me' that is the center. In the latter, it is Christ that is rightly at the center. Too there is a concept here of not interrupting the normal course of matters of life but rather finding a way to experience intimacy in the usual flow of life. It's a lesson that we all can learn that when beseeching knowledge from Christ it is helpful to go where he is, where he is busy tending his sheep. There we may come alongside the Messiah, lift our hands to his work and shoulder to shoulder enjoy his company and teaching.

Assumption of character. There is an implied understanding in this verse that the shepherd is properly tending to his sheep. The shepherdess knows the importance of the proper feeding and resting of sheep and she does not try to interfere with this. Her request for an audience is predicated upon his being a good shepherd. The good shepherd leads his flock to where the grass is; green pastures that they may be properly and safely fed. When the sun is high in the sky, the good shepherd leads his flock into the shade beside still waters that they may rest and not perish in the heat of the day. So it is with Christ that he leads his flocks to where they be fed and strengthened. During the times of heat, whether literal or the figurative heat of life's challenges, the good shepherd offers rest and refuge. The shepherdess knows the character of her beloved and her address reflects this assumption; that he will be where he belongs, doing what he is supposed to be doing. We can count on this in Christ.

Confirmation of allegiance. "why should I be like a veiled woman beside the flocks of your friends?" I believe that this passage speaks of whether we appear to belong to Christ or whether we are followers of other little-g gods. The shepherdess rightly desires to be associated with and in the presence of her beloved shepherd. If she is seen in the company of another she may be mistaken as vulnerable or available. Her being in His presence is assurance of her allegiance and a statement of her commitment. If we as believers are not in the presence of God, we are certainly vulnerable. Perhaps we disguise ourselves in some way, a veil of sorts, and engage in behavior that we know is wrong. Perhaps we choose to place ourselves into the company of pagans and to engage in pagan revelry or debauchery. Mardi Gras comes immediately to mind. Does our every-minute behavior confirm our allegiance to Christ or does it indicate that we have turned aside from him to entertain the affections of another?

Heart's desire. The heart's desire of the shepherdess is to be in the presence of her beloved. So too should the desire of the believer's heart rise and set for the presence of Christ. I know that I do the things that I believe will draw me ever nearer. Whether through prayer, study, journaling, teaching, serving, worshipping or waiting, my heart's desire is to see Jesus, to sit with him, to dine with him, to rest in him.

In His Grip,

Carl

Juxtaposition

The Word is first...

2 Corinthians 6:10 (NIV)
¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

The new life of the believer is one of juxtaposition. There is always a dynamic of placing things side by side for purposes of comparison such as; values, actions, habits, character and purposes. The new believer is keenly aware of how their old values determined their actions, developed into habits, defined their character and allowed them to pursue the purpose which they ascribed unto themselves. It is an important exercise that brings understanding and awareness of the certainty of the new life into which they have been born. By juxtaposing the darkness of their former lives, they provide greater contrast of the new life.

In today's study verse, we see the Apostle Paul employing just such a device. He is speaking of the manner in which he has conducted himself as he went about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Beginning in 2 COR 6:3 he lays out a veritable litany of the hardships he had endured in the name of Christ. Yet this was not to curry sympathy for himself but rather to illustrate the fervent dedication and the spirit of perseverance with which he lived his life. Nor was this intended as for his credit. Rather, it is used as a teaching tool to exhort the Corinthians to open not just their minds to Christ but their hearts as well.

In V10 we see three contrasting conditions which set apart the believer from all others. We begin with "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing". Indeed, the believer spends a great deal of time in the condition of sorrow. The broken heart of the believer is at all times aware of his own state of sinfulness and the extremes to which Jesus went to overcome our sin. Concerned for the state of salvation of our loved ones, family members, business associates, neighbors and friends, we grieve those who turn away from God's truth. When we consider the plight of the unredeemed, we are moved to tears and great sorrow. But by contrast, our sorrow is the pathway by which joy arrives that we may enter into rejoicing. In the worldly heart there is no room for spiritual joy. In the unrepentant heart there is neither capacity for joy. That is not to say there is no passing happiness but it is just that, passing. Whereas the joy of the believer is not subject to the changing dynamics of living in this world. It is based on faith in the certainty of the things to come. With our sorrows comes consolation and is followed by joy. This is as certain as the night following the day, sorrow and joy are inextricably linked together.

The second comparison is "poor, yet making many rich". I laugh out loud at the truthful absurdity of this statement! It flies in the face of worldly wisdom which espouses that the rich beget richness. For the believer, it is the very process of losing everything that opens the storehouses of Heaven from which God's bounteous blessings tumble and flow into our lives. It is the surrender of the slavery to the coin of the realm which frees us into a life of joyful servitude for the currency of God's kingdom. If we have not coin, how then do we make many rich? It is certainly not a matter of money. For what we give away is not divided by the giving, it is multiplied. The manner in which we make many rich is by the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ! In this way, in our perceived poverty we are able to make many truly rich as they are added to the kingdom.

Third is "having nothing, and yet possessing everything." There is an elegant beauty in this statement. As believers we accept that God is the creator and possessor of all things. We willingly take on the mantle of stewardship that we may faithfully handle all those things which belong to our master. In this we give over any ownership to which we may cling so that we may have nothing. Having nothing, we are slaves to nothing. Yet we cannot forget that our master is our heavenly father, the King. As his children we are heirs to the kingdom and in that, we possess everything. But at the same time, we eschew ownership, give it back to Him and continue in our roll of stewardship. The more we give to Him, the more He blesses us and a virtuous cycle is enjoined.

So rejoice and again I say rejoice for The Lord is good! His love endures forever. If you are a believer who struggles with sorrow, rejoice! For joy is coming. If you are a non-believer who struggles with sorrow, repent! For forgiveness is yours for the asking and a joy which you cannot yet comprehend awaits you.

If you are a believer who has neither gold nor silver then rejoice! You may give away an endless supply of God's love and in so doing, make many rich. If you are a non-believer who is impoverished, then repent! There is a banquet table set for you and a great celebration awaits you.

If you are a believer who has nothing, rejoice! For the faithful steward will be rewarded. If you are a non-believer who lusts after worldly gain, repent! Receive the keys to the kingdom of God that your needs may be met and you may take hold of your portion of an inheritance from God himself.

Peace,
Carl

Seriously, Nothing

In the beginning is the Word,

John 6:63 (NIV)
⁶³ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

Last night I was engaged in a conversation with some friends concerning certain conditions with which people are born. Someone used the term "wrong with them" and a bell went off in my brain. I realized that we often determine the difference between 'right' and 'wrong' based on our own understanding, prejudices and preconceived notions. I offered to the group that if we believe in a sovereign God then we must accept that conditions at birth are not accidental. Though we may be unable to perceive God's purpose in this, we can rest assured that it is nevertheless purposeful. I went on to suggest that we place too much emphasis on 'this life' which inhibits our ability to understand God's purposes for the trials and travails people experience as preparation for the next life. That was a very effective conversation killer as everyone withdrew into themselves ostensibly to digest what was said. Imagine my surprise this morning when I received my study verse!

Though we may live in perfect health, enjoy financial success, prestige and power, if we do not have the Spirit within us, we have not life. My friend Jesus spoke to this specifically in

Matthew 16:26 (NIV)
²⁶ What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

It was not God's intention for us to be zombies or to simply go through the motions of life. He intends for us to have life and The Spirit is the seal of this intention. Having been a zombie myself for the better (worse) part of my life, I personally attest to the resurrecting power of Christ and The Spirit.

In today's study passage, Jesus reminds us that what we experience before The Spirit is not life. Real life, that is living in God's will and according to His purposes is only accomplished by The Spirit. By way of contrast, the flesh counts for nothing. By 'the flesh' I understand that he means 'living according to my desires, appetites, lusts and fleshy pleasures.' Worldly success in the absence of faith is necessarily included. Living 'in the flesh' is the means by which we forfeit our very soul.

Jesus came to give us life and that abundantly. This was accomplished not only by the remission of our sins and the fulfillment of God's promise to send 'The Spirit' but also by every word he spoke. Jesus said that we don't live by bread alone but by every word of God. As much as I like warm bread, straight from the oven I'll take the bread of God's word that is still warm from the oven of our intimacy with God. Returning to my study passage, Jesus confirms that his words are spirit and they are life.

My response to this passage today is to issue a challenge to you. Consider for yourself these question; What if Jesus meant everything he said? Do you lead your life in the Spirit or in the flesh? Do you sup on the word of God or is it just an occasional snack? Do you have life?

In His Grip,

Carl

It's No Accident

The Word is first...

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I'm a curious fellow, not that I'm interesting or worth further investigation but rather I am interested in knowing the why's and wherefore's of many things. One such thing concerns how I came to be adopted by God. I have no question about the factual certainty of that adoption but knowing me, where I've been, what I've done, who I was, I am sometimes incredulous at my good fortune that I am counted among the friends of God. It's just so unlikely as to be unbelievable. Yet, it is so.

Anytime that I find myself re-examining this situation, I inevitably come to the conclusion that its' just a "God thing." Don't you just love that phrase? To explain the inexplicable, we say its' just a "God thing." :) How else can I explain it? Its' certainly not a ME thing!

My study passage today very simply explains, in very simple terms that I can understand, how it is that I came to be the man I am today; a child of God and a man that pursues a relationship with God with faltering steps and steadfast determination.

"It is because of him that [I am] in Christ Jesus." It IS a "God thing." Its' no accident, its' not luck, there's no chance involved at all. It has been divinely planned and elegantly executed. God intends for me to be His. God intends for you to be His. Though the path by which I arrived was twisty and strewn with obstacles of my own device, He drew me to Him with loving kindness and everlasting love. He drew me. He draws me still. The knowledge of this fact simply breaks me and causes my eyes to leak.

What He has drawn me to is a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus the Christ. He has placed me in Christ, covered me with Christ, enveloped me with Christ. When God looks my direction He doesn't see my foolishness, my weakness, my sinfulness. What He sees is the covering of His Son. My unrighteousness is overcome by Jesus and I am justified. My unholiness is defeated by Jesus and I am sanctified. My sin, the stain of my sin is washed away by the flood of the blood of Jesus and I am glorified. By Him and through Him I am perfected. This is the perfect wisdom of Almighty God that became flesh that my spirit be redeemed.

My response to this fact, aside from the incredulous smile on my face and my leaky eyes, is to offer back to Him everything He has given me; my heart, my mind, my soul, my body, my very life, my all. And to reach out to you to share what has been given me, to place your hand upon the latch of the gate that leads to the garden of God's love. So today, now, here, I offer to you the love of God, the wisdom of God that is Christ Jesus. Brother, sister, sojourner, sufferer, take it, take the gift from God that defies logic and reason. Accept your own sinfulness. Believe that Christ has paid your penalty in full. Confess your heart before God and be redeemed, reborn and adopted into the family of God.

Peace and Grace to You,

Carl

A Wise Investment (Hot Tip)

The Word is first...

Psalm 130:7 (NIV)
⁷ O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

In general, people seem to have no problem sharing hot stock tips or recipes but they are more reticent when it comes to sharing things of greater or eternal importance. For instance, I've never gotten an e-mail or a phone call telling me "you've got to try this with your wife, it saved my marriage" or "you won't believe how "this listening technique allowed my friendships to move to a higher level." I get plenty of jokes, recipes and shopping tips in my e-mail all of which are summarily deleted but very seldom do I get anything that is truly useful.

The same cannot be said for what is revealed to me in God's word. It is amazing to me that each day that I turn to God's word, there is something useful and timely before me. Admittedly there have been day when I would read the appointed verse and go "huh?" But after prayerful consideration and contextualization, God has always delivered just what I need. I think of this as proof of the 'living word of God' and the efforts of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Nevertheless, today is not one of those 'huh?' days, it's one of those "I need to call my friends and tell them about this great investment tip" days.

Consider the passage at the top of this post and allow me to share my thoughts with you.

First, the passage is addressed to the nation of Israel. I am of the mind that I have been adopted into the family of Abraham and therefore any advice to that nation is equally applicable to me. Consequently we I read this passage I mentally substitute my name for 'Israel' so that in this case it reads "O Carl."

Secondly, the nature of this passage is advice. When my earthly father is ready to offer advice, it begins with "what you need to do is..." Often, due to my own weaknesses, when I hear that phrase I immediately erect mental walls and brace myself for what follows. I suspect that there are a great many who respond the same way to advice offered from God. Of course, knowing this, I should be careful to tear down my walls and to listen eagerly to the advice before me.

The nature of the advice is essentially an eternal investment strategy. We are to 'put our hope in the Lord.' To liken this to earthly advice like "buy Google" is to cheapen it and I only offer that comparison as a means of understanding, not comparison. It is our choice where to place our hope. I myself have placed my hope in a variety of worldly things such as; money, people, power, prestige, luck, skill and cleverness. By experience I have learned that to hope in these things is to throw my hope away. The better place to invest my hope is, as this passage teaches, in the Lord.

The reason for the security of this investment is "for with the Lord is unfailing love." Companies fail and stock becomes worthless. People are unpredictable and guaranteed to disappoint. Prestige is fleeting and ultimately without value. Luck is random and comes in two varieties, good and bad. Skill is personal, individual and subject to decay. Cleverness is a charade and a farce and is ultimately deceiving. But the Lord, he is unfailing, solid and unchanging. To entrust our hope to the Lord is not a sure bet, it is a wise investment.

The returns of such an investment is 'full redemption.' Consider the magnitude of that pay-off. I consulted Merriam-Webster on the word 'redemption' and here is the definition; "the act, process, or an instance of redeeming." So, naturally, I looked up 'redeeming' and discovered that it means "serving to offset or compensate for a defect." Ouch! With this understanding then I am to conclude that in the Lord, my defects are completely overcome. He completes every shortcoming and corrects every defect. How can I even begin to calculate the rate of return for such an investment? I am incapable of that level of divine math. What I do understand is that putting my hope in the Lord is not only a risk-free investment, it is a guaranteed winner.

So, I'm using my blog today to offer you the best advice ever offered to me. This is a HOT TIP and you should pay close attention, do not delay and act immediately. Place your hope in the Lord. Oh, feel free to share this with everyone.

Peace,
Carl

The View from 30,000 Feet

The Word is first...

Romans 8:28 (NIV)
²⁸ 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.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

I had the opportunity for a plane ride this week during which I glanced out the window at the world below. The view from 30,000 feet is considerably different from the view to which I am accustomed. In my normal view, I am surrounded by all manner of things, hemmed in as it were by buildings, fences and features of the terrain. From a higher perspective it is clear that I live in a beautiful and sprawling world. Buildings are of no consequence, fences are invisible and the features of the terrain which I stuggle against are revealed in all their glory.

This of course is a physical representation of a spiritual thought. Consider that from our perspective, we are hemmed in by our circumstances, constrained by opponents and opposed by the landscape of our hearts and minds. But from God's view, 30,000,000 feet (give or take) our circumstances are but fleeting shadows, our opponents insignificant and the landscape of our hearts and minds the result of our own handiwork. Where we see only the mountain, God sees the valley on the other side. Where we see opposition, God sees opportunity and where we see struggles and toil, God sees growth.

My study verse today is an important lesson in perspective and it represents the view from 30,000 feet. In times of adversity and bewilderment, many Christians rightly run to this verse for encouragement. In that God's Word is always a great refuge, this verse bears scrutiny that we may further understand its implications in our lives.

The passage opens with a statement that "we know." I 'know' what the time and temperature is. I 'know' what I need to do today. I 'know' that the room I am in is uncomfortably warm as I write this. I 'know' the score of the basketball game last night and I 'know' how the movie I watched ends. All of these things are facts that are 'known' by anecdotal observation, they are head knowledge. This is not the 'knowing' to which Paul refers in this passage. Instead Paul is referring to a knowledge by faith, an intuition of the truth of the matter based on supporting experience and evidence. This is 'heart knowledge' that we accept as being truth because for it not to be true would introduce a variable of inconsistency that is incompatible with God about whom this knowledge pertains.

This intuitive understanding applies to the purpose of the circumstances which disappoint us, the tests, trials, temptations and tribulations of our every day life. Yet not only the matters of the created world but also the consequences of our decisions and of those around us; the consequences of sin. It is 'all things' not just events but all the powers of the world. I believe that specifically this is in reference to the good things which give us joy and also those things that are intended to undo us. The efforts of Satan, the interference of his minions, the deception of our own hearts and nature, all things big and small; physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. This is a reflection of the fact that all things above and below are within the sovereign control of God and that all things are used by God.

It is important to note that the tense of this passage indicates an active state. "... in all things, God works." Our God was, is and will ever be. In the same way, the word 'works' indicates an ongoing and present effort. Whereas justification was fully accomplished at the cross ("it is done") the process of sanctification is just that, a process. One that has been going on, is going on and will continue till we stand perfected in the presence of God. This is the present work of The Holy Spirit in our life.

The manner in which "all things" are "presently used for the good" is not that we immediately recognize the benefit, though there is an aspect of that. This is more a reference to the 'synergy' with which God harmonizes the ultimate outcome of all things. We must not lose sight of God's goal for us in this respect. God has established as a priority that we be refined for his service in this life and for His eternal presence in the next. It is this process of perfection, our own sanctification, that is the chief aim of His harmonizing all things for the good; it is for the greatest good, not for the lesser good.

Consider the manner in which God prepares us for noble purposes. The ultimate aim is not only sanctification for our heavenly existence but also that we may be ever increased in our ability to serve Him by serving one another. We need look no further than

2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)
⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

to understand how this works. God has revealed this to us that we may understand and make best use of the opportunities presented us by adversity and suffering.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge that this 'promise' is not about all people. It is specifically reserved for "those who love him." I contend that there are many who 'love' with only their mouths. This promise is not for them. I base this understanding on the words of Christ as found in

John 14:21 (NIV)
²¹ Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Perhaps this is a hard saying but it nevertheless true. Lip service is not love. Obedience in thought, word and deed is a fundamental requirement that we may receive all the blessings which God has prepared for us.

Lastly, there is the matter of "called according to his purpose." The fact of the matter is that God has invited mankind to a party. It's not just a voice calling from the wilderness "here I am." It is a personal invitation delivered by messenger that a great feast has been laid out. The accommodations are lavish all those who love the Lord will be there. Of course, that means that Jesus will be there! Those who accept the invitation and prepare themselves accordingly are those that have been called according to his purpose. They will be inside with the full realization of how everything in their life was for that moment alone. They understand the view from 30,000 feet.

As his obedient disciples then we may take comfort in knowing, intuitively and experientially that no matter what obstacles, constraints or opposition we face, no matter how evilly intended for our destruction, our God will use those things for our ultimate perfection. In this we may rejoice!

In His Grip,

Carl