by Daniel Rowlands
Romans 8:28, "We know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Make no exception, when Paul makes none. ALL! Remember Paul excepts nothing.
Give glory to God, and resolve with Job, "Though He slays me—yet will I trust in Him."
The Almighty may seem for a season to be your enemy, in order that he may become your eternal friend.
Oh! Believers, after all your tribulation and anguish, you must conclude with David, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes."
Under all your disquietudes you must exclaim, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!"
Even affliction is very useful and profitable to the godly!
The prodigal son had no thought of returning to his father's house until he had been humbled by adversity.
Hagar was haughty under Abraham's roof, and despised her mistress; but in the wilderness she was meek and lowly.
Jonah sleeps on board ship; but in the whale's belly he watches and prays.
Manasseh lived as a libertine at Jerusalem, and committed the most enormous crimes; but when he was bound in chains in the prison at Babylon his heart was turned to seek the Lord his God.
Bodily pain and disease have been instrumental in rousing many to seek Christ, when those who were in good health have given themselves no concern about Him.
The ground which is not rent and torn with the plough, bears nothing but thistles and thorns.
The vines will run wild in process of time, if they are not pruned and trimmed. So would our wild hearts be overrun with filthy, poisonous weeds—if the true Vine-dresser did not often check their growth by crosses and sanctified troubles.
See, therefore, that all the paths of the Lord are mercy, and that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love Him.
All the events that take place in the world carry on the same work—the glory of the Father and the salvation of His redeemed people.
Every illness and infirmity that may seize you,
every loss you may meet with,
every reproach you may endure,
every shame that may color your faces,
every sorrow in your hearts,
every agony and pain in your flesh,
every aching in your bones
—are for your good!
Every change in your condition . . .
your fine weather and your rough weather,
your sunny weather and your cloudy weather,
your ebbing and your flowing,
your liberty and your imprisonment
—all work for good.
Oh, Christians, see what a harvest of blessings ripens from this text!
The Lord is at work; all creation is at work; men and angels, friends and foes—all are busy working together for God's glory and your good.
Oh, dear Lord Jesus, what have you seen in us that you should order things so wondrously for us, and make all things to work together for our good?