Remorse and Anger

Remorse and Anger are in all of us.  They are like sin defense apps that were factory-installed by our Creator, God.

Remorse is like malware defense.  It creates in us a desire to NOT sin.

Anger or Indignation creates in us a desire to remove sin from the world around us - or at least to combat it, as there is no way we could ever remove it.

As long as we continue to walk in the Spirit and let the Lord control these parts of our character, they will serve us well.  But trouble comes when we allow Satan to sneak into our minds and hearts.  He uses these two very important attributes in a way that flies in the face of their intended purpose.  I believe it's one of his favorite things to do - use our own gifts against us.

Waiting for the Good Stuff

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

I have spent years reading this verse, hearing it spoken to me, believing it to be true, and...

              

                                                     waiting on God to start working on all of that good stuff for me - to miraculously turn                                                                the bad things into good things.

Until recently, my understanding of this verse was only on the surface, to put it plainly and politely.   If you want the plainer but less polite version, then I was a self-serving, immature Christian, looking for the scriptures to pander to me and make me feel better about my life.   

Like so many other verses that have been tragically misrepresented and misused by well-meaning Christians - even some very faithful Christians, in my experience - my fear is that this one has been downright abused.  I liken it to quoting Phillipians 4:13 in the local gym as you attempt to convince yourself that Christ will give you the strength to bench 300 lbs.  Even though you can't even bench 100 lbs.  In fact, you don't even work out.  

Likewise, Romans 8:28 does not mean what many people have interpreted it to mean.   It does not mean that if we love God, all will go well in our life… because He is like a heavenly puppeteer, causing all of our circumstances to miraculously and gloriously iron themselves out.   

No.  He has a different definition of what is “good for us.”  And we've missed it.

It means that when circumstances arise, a sovereign God has allowed them to happen, and that, as believers, we fall prostrate to that sovereignty and employ our ability to have great faith;  knowing that, as we seek him and wait for his understanding of how he is using our circumstances to purify our hearts, he will purify our hearts.  For our Good.  We will emerge from those circumstances better than before, spiritually and eternally speaking. 

Is that not Good enough for us?