“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 RSV). The Greek for “works with those” (“work together” KJV) that Paul uses here He uses in two other places (1 Corinthians 6:1 & 2 Corinthians 3:9); these are about God “working through” or “working together with” us as God’s partners. What this means is there is something deeper that we have missed in Romans 8:28. This means that God is partnering with us as His co-laborers to bring about good as we follow His call. This is much more than Him making good come out of bad in our personal lives; it means that we partner with Him for that to happen. Even greater still, this is about believers who love Him, living out their call in this world having partnered with God, to bring good out of bad in the world around us. This is a call to have a vision to advance Kingdom initiatives around us in the pain, disease, hunger, injustice, etc. that is always all around us. The meaning is thus, “We know that in everything God works in partnership with those who love Him for good…”. May this truth grip us in a fresh way. Open your eyes; you and your senior Partner have lots of good yet to do.
