"We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
All the afflictions, all the temptations, all the oppressions, all the oppositions, and all the persecutions which comes to a Christian, shall work for his good.
Every cross, every loss, and every disease which comes to the believer shall work for his good. Every device, every snare, every deceit, every stratagem, and every enterprise of Satan against the saint of God shall work for his good.
They shall all help to make him more humble, more holy, more heavenly, more spiritual, more faithful, more fruitful, and more watchful.
Every prosperity and every adversity; every storm and every calm; every bitter and every sweet; every cross and every comfort--shall ALL work for your good, if you love God and are among the called according to His purpose.
When God gives a mercy, that shall work for your good and when God takes away a mercy, that shall also work for your good.
Yes, even all the falls and all the sins of the saints shall work for their good. Oh, the care, the fear, the watchfulness, the tenderness, the zeal, which God raises in the souls of His saints by their very falls! Oh the hatred, the indignation, and the detestation, which God raises in the hearts of His children against sin by their very falling into sin!
Oh what love to Christ, what thankfulness for Christ, what admiration of Christ, what cleaving to Christ, what exalting of Christ, what drawings from Christ's grace are saints led to by their very falls!
It is the glory of God's holiness that He can turn spiritual diseases into holy remedies! He can turn soul poisons into heavenly cordials! He can prevent sin by sin, and cure falling by falling!
O Christian! What, though friends and family frown upon you, what though enemies are plotting and conspiring against you, what though needs, like armed men, are breaking in upon you, what though men rage, and devils roar against you, what though sickness is devastating your family, what though death stands every day at your elbow--yet there is no reason for you to fear nor faint, because all these things shall work for your good! Yes, there is wonderful cause of joy and rejoicing in all the afflictions and tribulations which come upon you, considering that they shall ALL work for your good.
O Christians! I am afraid, I am afraid, that you do not run as often as you should to the breasts of this promise, nor draw that sweetness and comfort from it, that it would yield, and that your circumstances may require. "We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." But the condition of God's people calls for the strongest encouragements and the choicest and sweetest comforts.
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