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Today's Pathway: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The theme of chapter 8 has been walking in the Spirit (verses 1, 4). We need to be led by the Spirit (vs. 14). We need to allow the Spirit to help us mortify the flesh (vs. 13). The Spirit helps us to know that we are God's children (verses 15,16). The Spirit intercedes for us (verses 26-27). Now Paul gives those who are allowing the Spirit to do His work the tremendous encouragement of verse 28. When a Christian is trying to walk with the Lord under the direction of the Holy Spirit and troubles enter into his life, it would be easy for that person to question God's love and leading. This verse shows that God's will and the Spirit's leading are always for the believer's best.

Let's break this verse down. The word "know" means an absolute knowledge which one has beyond any doubt. It is not speculative, but confident. How do we know? Because God has said so. The verb tense used here indicates an event that has taken place in the past that continues into the present with lasting results. There came a point where Paul knew this, and it has kept him going ever since. Since the Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13), He begins teaching this principle to the one that He indwells from the moment of salvation. So, while we may struggle with understanding why things happen, we know that God is doing what is best.

"All things" means exactly what it says: everything. There are no limitations. There is nothing that happens to the child of God that is not a part of God's plan. The word translated "work together" means "to cooperate". We get our English word "synergy" from it. It carries the idea of the working together of various elements to produce an effect greater than the sum of each element acting separately. Albert Barnes put it this way:

"They shall mutually contribute to our good. They take off our affections from this world; they teach us the truth about our frail, transitory, and dying condition; they lead us to look to God for support, and to Heaven for a final home; and they produce a subdued spirit, a humble temper, a patient, tender, and kind disposition".

The end result of the inter-working of these circumstances is "good" for the believer. The word means " beneficial, profitable or useful" God wants us to be the best Christians that we can be. He wants to be able to say "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" when we stand before Him. If we respond properly to the "all things" that take place in our life, we will be becoming what God designed us to be. Of course, this promise is only for the child of God. Only the Christian can love God, and only Christians have accepted God's call to salvation.

So, whatever you may be facing today, no matter how difficult, God has designed it and allowed it to happen for your spiritual benefit. Don't get bitter about it, or turn your back on the Lord. The Holy Spirit will help you to handle it properly, and if you allow Him to lead you through it, you will come out of it a better and more useful servant of God.