Christian Living

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"And we know that all things work together for good..." - Romans 8:28-29

Something particularly intriguing about how Paul states that now oft-quoted verse in Romans 8: "we know".

Why is that he did not say, "I know", or even, "you know"?

I believe this ties in with what Jesus said in John 17. I or any one of us cannot know this truth of the pervasive goodness because all goodness is of the Lord, who is too big to know by any one person. Jesus prayed that the body of believers would glorify God because of His immensity. Just as true is the infinitude of God's goodness.

In addition how does one display a likeness of Christ except in rightly relating to others, especially fellow believers? (Galatians 6:9-11) Isn't this why Jesus said that all would know we are His disciples, but by the Christ-like love we have for one another? (John 13:34-36) Is that not the greatest good of the Lord that Romans 8:28 refers to?

Are we even so community-minded that we can recall how each of us, at least at times, displays the Lord's goodness while we are together?

Do we know that goodness in each other?

I believe Paul said "we know" is because this is a truth known as a congregation of believers. We know this truth as a group. It is one reason we are meant to have an interdependency with each other as a fellowship.



We Know

All alone I can't see
all the good that's meant for me.
But when I am with all of you
we all know all's meant for good.

By myself I cannot brood
on all intended for the good.
It's too big for this one man.
I need the help of many friends.

The 'all' we know that works for good
we know as one, as we should.
Apart we lose sight of this truth,
our lonely heart is our proof.

The dark can't stand when we're one,
when good is working toward the Son.
Together is where we all grow,
the good for God that we know.


© 9-22-2010

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