“I ran across the term, ‘all things’ in two different places while I was journaling his morning,” Stan began.
Continuing, he said, “I wondered what it meant so I did some quick research.”
“And what did you find?” I asked.
“Very technical,” Stan said with a smile. “It turns out that ‘all things’ means ‘all things’.”
“I would never have thought that,” I responded. “Let’s dig deeper. Where was it you ran across the use of the term?”
“First, there was the very familiar Romans 8:28 verse that says that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that one,” I replied.
“The second one was in the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus where he implored the Ephesians to alway give thanks for all things.”
“So,” I said, “two different perspectives. One dealing with what God does and one dealing with what I am to do.”
“Exactly, my friend,” Stan responded. “The verse from Romans says what God does and what He will do with those people who love and are called by Him, while the verse from Ephesians says what I am to do. However, I think there are choices involved on my part in both instances.”
“First,” he continued, “looking at the verse from Romans, it is limited to those who love God and who are called according to His purpose. If I limit my love for God or if I don’t respond to God’s call the way He intends, I will have missed the mark of God’s ‘all things’.”
He then added, “And looking at the verse from Ephesians, if I fail to give thanks for ‘all things’, whatever they are, I will again be missing the mark of what God desires from me.”
“Bottom line,” Stan concluded, “I think it goes right back to where we started. I am to take to heart the ‘all things’ God has for me to take to heart. I am not to forget that ‘all things’ means what it says!”
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And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.
Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. Ephesians 5:20.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your provision of everything. Thank you that you do cause all things to work together for good to those who love you and are called according to your purpose. Please forgive all of the times I have not been thankful for all things that flow from you. And please forgive me when I do not see how you are working for my good. Please, Father, lead me and help me to follow in always being thankful for all things, knowing what you mean by that. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 