"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28 reminds us that, if we are God's kids, God works all things together for good. All things. Do you realize that even means our sin?
Now let me just state the obvious right up front. God hates sin. He sent His only Son to die for our sin and to appease His wrath. Without Christ's righteousness covering us, without sin being paid for, we are condemned to death in hell forever. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Sin is very serious and has eternal ramifications.
Sin also has consequences in the here and now. The Bible is clear that we will reap what we sow. As believers, we are not immune from that reality. Galatians 6:7-9 instructs us: "Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. for whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit." Paul instructs us in Romans 6:12, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires." We are called to be holy as God is holy (I Peter 1:15).
We all know the pain of our own sin. We know the heartache of choosing our way over God's and the hurt we have caused in the decisions we have often made, the words we have spoken and the actions that have ensued. Our sin has damaged relationships, hurt those we love and dishonored the King. We don't have to think hard or long to remember consequences we have reaped from sin we have sown.
YET, that is not the end of the story for those who love the Lord. It's the middle. It's just part of the story...because God works ALL things together for good, even our sin. Really!
Last week we saw the sin of the Israelites in not seeking the Lord before they went up to attack Ai.
They didn't seek the Lord and then, to boot, they only sent up a tenth of their fighting men because they thought the win was sure. In pride they marched ahead, and the consequences were not only defeat, but the death of 36 men. They paid a steep price.
But that is not the end of the story. Once sin was dealt with, purity restored, and dependence on God was pursued...God used their sin to bring about victory over Ai. It was military prowess at it's best and one can't help but smile at God's ingenuity! Joshua 8:3-8 gives us the details:
"So Joshua and all the troops set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand of his best soldiers and sent them out at night. He commanded them: “Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready. Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. They will come after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us as before.’ While we are fleeing from them, you are to come out of your ambush and seize the city. The Lord your God will hand it over to you. After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow the Lord’s command—see that you do as I have ordered you.”
Did you catch that? God used their sin, their previous battle, for good! He used it to formulate a new plan of action that was executed flawlessly, by His great power and might. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:8-10).
Isn't this truth so very comforting? Doesn't this reality leave you just a little bit speechless, filled with a whole lot of wonder? Doesn't an understanding of God's purposes and plans make you want to fall to your knees and lift your hands in praise? Doesn't it anchor your soul to hope and infuse your heart with joy?
We are called to pursue holiness, we are called to follow Christ's example and be like Him, and we are called to walk the path of obedience. Oh, may that ALWAYS be the desire of our hearts. But when we sin, and we will, may we be quick to confess, repent and turn back to our great God knowing that the sting of the consequences we face will ultimately be removed in the victory bought for us at the cross, by Christ! ALL will work together for good!
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:11-13
Romans 8:28 reminds us that, if we are God's kids, God works all things together for good. All things. Do you realize that even means our sin?
Now let me just state the obvious right up front. God hates sin. He sent His only Son to die for our sin and to appease His wrath. Without Christ's righteousness covering us, without sin being paid for, we are condemned to death in hell forever. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Sin is very serious and has eternal ramifications.
Sin also has consequences in the here and now. The Bible is clear that we will reap what we sow. As believers, we are not immune from that reality. Galatians 6:7-9 instructs us: "Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. for whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit." Paul instructs us in Romans 6:12, "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires." We are called to be holy as God is holy (I Peter 1:15).
We all know the pain of our own sin. We know the heartache of choosing our way over God's and the hurt we have caused in the decisions we have often made, the words we have spoken and the actions that have ensued. Our sin has damaged relationships, hurt those we love and dishonored the King. We don't have to think hard or long to remember consequences we have reaped from sin we have sown.
YET, that is not the end of the story for those who love the Lord. It's the middle. It's just part of the story...because God works ALL things together for good, even our sin. Really!
Last week we saw the sin of the Israelites in not seeking the Lord before they went up to attack Ai.
They didn't seek the Lord and then, to boot, they only sent up a tenth of their fighting men because they thought the win was sure. In pride they marched ahead, and the consequences were not only defeat, but the death of 36 men. They paid a steep price.
But that is not the end of the story. Once sin was dealt with, purity restored, and dependence on God was pursued...God used their sin to bring about victory over Ai. It was military prowess at it's best and one can't help but smile at God's ingenuity! Joshua 8:3-8 gives us the details:
"So Joshua and all the troops set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand of his best soldiers and sent them out at night. He commanded them: “Pay attention. Lie in ambush behind the city, not too far from it, and all of you be ready. Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us as they did the first time, we will flee from them. They will come after us until we have drawn them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us as before.’ While we are fleeing from them, you are to come out of your ambush and seize the city. The Lord your God will hand it over to you. After taking the city, set it on fire. Follow the Lord’s command—see that you do as I have ordered you.”
Did you catch that? God used their sin, their previous battle, for good! He used it to formulate a new plan of action that was executed flawlessly, by His great power and might. "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love. He will not always accuse us or be angry forever. He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:8-10).
Isn't this truth so very comforting? Doesn't this reality leave you just a little bit speechless, filled with a whole lot of wonder? Doesn't an understanding of God's purposes and plans make you want to fall to your knees and lift your hands in praise? Doesn't it anchor your soul to hope and infuse your heart with joy?
We are called to pursue holiness, we are called to follow Christ's example and be like Him, and we are called to walk the path of obedience. Oh, may that ALWAYS be the desire of our hearts. But when we sin, and we will, may we be quick to confess, repent and turn back to our great God knowing that the sting of the consequences we face will ultimately be removed in the victory bought for us at the cross, by Christ! ALL will work together for good!
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." Psalm 103:11-13
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