Friday January 27, 2017
“The tempo and beat of God’s
purpose”
28 And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according
to His
purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined,
these He also called; whom He
called, these He also justified;
and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
– Romans 8:28-30
The Plan of Grace
The Plan of God – cont. (b)
Have you ever watched the Tongan “sit-down dance” (ma’ulu’ulu) and have
been mesmerized and taken by the rhythm of the drums? And if you’ve ever
witnessed the masters from island of ‘Uiha.. as they say, “OUAAA”!!! So what
does this have to do with our text and topic of God’s plan of salvation? Verses
29-30 of Romans 8 is often referred to as the “Golden Chain.” Reading it sounds
rhythmic and you can almost nod your head to a beat – even a marching beat – or
even a “ma’ulu’ulu” drum beat, building to a climax of artistic dance and
excitement!
Paul, in this passage, calls the plan of God, PURPOSE and it’s a great encouragement to the child of God. These
wonderful words, purpose, foreknowledge,
predestination, calling, justification, glorification are more than
theological bullets for your Jesus shotgun. They are the beats, the rhythm of
the marching tempo of God’s plan which build to the crescendo of His Purpose!
Paul is intent on explaining the rationale which lies in the divine mind.
How can all things he worked together by God for good? The answer is at hand.
It is because God’s ultimate purpose
is to make us like Christ.
Challenge: The next time
you listen to your favorite song or a song with a good beat, remember that God
also has a beat…His beats always has a purpose. His purpose is to bring all
things to bear and to “mix” His master work, that includes his children, for
His own glory.
This Day in Christian History:
Jan 27, 1852 –
death of Vermont (USA) Pastor Daniel Jackson’s wife, Mary Jackson. In a time when medical care wasn’t as advanced and
early death was common. But for Christians, they “died well”. An excerpt from
her obituary written by her husband gives testimony to her faith and hope in
her dying moments..
Speaking of the happy state into
which she was about to enter, she exclaimed, “Oh glorious day, O blessed hope,
my heart leaps forward at the thought.” When distressed for breath, she would
say, “Blessed Jesus, receive my spirit.” When I spake to her about her thirst,
she said, “when I have been thirsty I’ve thought of that river whose streams
make glad the city of God.”
Pastor Jackson ends with these words:
I am left as a lonely pilgrim with no
one to count my sighs or wipe away the falling tear. But hush, my soul, what
means this repining? Couldst thou look beyond the spheres of material worlds,
and see the glories of thy departed one, thou wouldst say, “the Lord gave and
the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Memory Verse: (Sun Jan 22)
Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand – Ephesians 6:13
Ko ia, mou to‘o ‘a e mahafu kotoa ‘a e ‘Otua, koe‘uhi ke mou lava ke
talitu‘u ‘i he ‘aho ‘o e fai mai ‘a e kovi; pea kuo lava kotoa pē kae tu‘u pē
– ‘Efeso 6:13
Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)
Week 4 – Gen 41-50; Psalm 24,
108, 25; Mark 16, Gal 1-3
No comments:
Post a Comment