A Crucified Life - - Is Called According to God's Purpose

 

    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.

    Many people have a tendency to omit parts of this verse in order to apply it to themselves. That won't work. It's like trying to put on an article of clothing only to discover it's ripped in places or permanently stained in obvious sites. 

    All things: good things, bad things; wonderful things, awful things; things that bring us joy and things that tear our hearts out. Things that bring us down and things that lift us up are working together for our good. 

    Not everything we put in a bread recipe tastes good on its own. Yeast, for example, smells good but tastes nasty. Yet, when it is included in bread it makes it lighter and softer; on the plus side it tastes great. Raw egg does nothing for me unless you add sugar and milk. Then I'll drink it.

    Before the seed can go into the ground, the ground must first be tilled. After the seed goes into the ground, it requires some form of fertilization to help it grow. It requires water and sunlight. It requires time to process before it can become food. Most raw grains are hard to digest on their own, but once ground and incorporated into a recipe, all grains become edible. Even rice needs to be processed before eating. 

   In the life of the born again believer, everything that happens to us affects us in some way, sometimes in many ways at the same time. Like being in the bowl of a stand mixer and not being in control of anything that is happening. 

    Divorce affects the family as a whole, tearing it up into smaller pieces and scattering it to the four winds. Finances are split or hidden. Children are left without a rootstock on which to build their own lives. Adults learn not to trust anyone. 

    Death of the ones we love is so very difficult. Even if we get to say, 'Goodbye' and 'See you in heaven', we leave them knowing we'll never hear their voice this side of heaven again. But not being able to say our goodbyes is just as difficult. We didn't know they were going to die that day. We didn't know we'd never be able to say 'I love you' again. Death tears a person's heart up, just chews it up and leaves it all crumbled on the floor. 

    But ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM WHO LOVE THE LORD. And I love The Lord! So He is incorporating the bad things (raw eggs) into the good things (sugar and milk) because I love Him and I surrender my life to His will, His purpose. 

    WE ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE

What is His purpose? Repentance (Acts 3:19,20). Salvation (John 3:16). Baptism by water and by Spirit (John 3:5). Live A Holy Life (1 Thessalonians 4:7; 2 Peter 3:11). Tells others about Jesus, God's Saving Grace (Mark 16:15). To Glorify God and Not Ourselves (Psalm 34:2,3). To Love Like Christ (John 13:34; Romans 13:10; 1 John 4:7-10). Plus all the other callings (Answering God's Calls) we have discussed over the last two months. 

CALLED ACCORDINGLY 

Thank You, Lord (for the trials that come my way) - Mary Ann Tam

Don't Let Your Heart Be Hardened - Petra

Midnight - TobyMac

Humble Thyself In The Sight of The Lord - Maranatha! Music

Walk With Me - Kim Walker-Smith

Welcome Holy Spirit - Oasis Worship

Spirit Break Out - Jesus Culture

Gotta Tell Somebody - Don Francisco

Love One Another - Newsboys

Holy Forever - Chris Tomlin