Daily Thoughts from Romans: Predestined Outcome (8:26-30)

Daily Thoughts from Romans: Predestined Outcome

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  (Romans 8:26-30 ESV)

Believers are further aided in suffering by the intercedings of the Holy Spirit.  He actually prays for us.  This is because in suffering we often lose the ability to know how to pray, how to ask God for what we need and how to relate to Him.

I’m in a prayer chain where someone wrote this:  “A friend declared to me, “I will never pray again,” three years ago upon the death of his 17 year old son.  Yet he stood in a circle of men a few weeks ago and prayed for another child.”  Suffering does a number on us but the Holy Spirit anticipates this and “groans” inaudibly to God on our behalf in perfect accord with God’s will.  That means His prayers in our place are answered.

And God’s answer to prayer in suffering is He uses it in our lives to shape us into the image of His Son.  That is the good that comes from suffering.  God’s greatest desire for us is holiness and He predestined us for it.  That means is will happen.  And though He also desires our health and happiness, He subjected the world to futility and so made suffering inevitable, but all so He could make us like Christ.

The same ones He predestined to Christlikeness He also called to salvation, an irresistible call that resulted in our being justified by faith in Christ.  And those He justified He will glorify at the coming of the kingdom to earth.  It is as good as done.

——————————————-

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the Scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation.  While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse.  “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  One lady’s opinion was, that it was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ.  Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.  She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, and begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.  “But Sir,” she said, “do you sit while the work of refining is going on?”

“Oh yes, madam,” replied the silversmith, “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.”  At once, the lady saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them.  Their trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back and said he had still further to mention, that he only knows when the process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver.