I cannot count the number of times when I was going through a difficulty someone quoted Romans 8:28 to me. “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.” [HCSB]
I cannot count the number of times that God proved that Scripture true in my life.
But, as much as I love that scripture, it is the following two Scriptures that I love even more! “For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.” [8:29-30 HCSB]
Two things about those two verses make my heart sing with joy and reassurance. First is that word “conformed.” According to Strongs, conformed (Gk: summorphos) means sharing the same inner essence-identity (form).
One day I am going to share the same inner essence-identity as Christ Jesus, God’s Only Son. This, however, is nothing I can do on my own. Every time I do try to do it on my own, I fail.
So, what is the second thing about those two verses that makes my heart sing with joy and reassurance? It is that God is the One Who promised that I would be conformed to the “image of His Son,” and not only conformed … but also called, justified, and glorified in Him.
That assurance is for all of us. When we are discouraged … when the enemy is telling us to give up because we will never measure up … when we feel weak or defeated … we have the joyful assurance that God will finish in us what He has started! Amen & Amen!
