Romans 8:28-30 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Please read these verses very carefully. These verses are misunderstood more than about any that I know of in the Scriptures. Perhaps, if you have time, write down what you think these verses are saying to us as believers. When you write something down it forces you to really come to grips with words and remember words matter.

I believe the biggest problem is the word 'good.' Many want to snatch this word out of the context of these verses and make it say something that is not there. I would say about half of the people that do this 'good' thing are people who have sinned and are trying to justify what they have done. They will say, "Well, pastor, you know God works these things out for the good." The question is for the good of what? The what comes down to the purpose. This 'good' is tied to those who have been called according to His purpose. In verse 29 the purpose is revealed as His followers becoming like Jesus Christ. We will sin, but it is not so we can become more like Jesus Christ. When we sin we must repent and ask God for forgiveness. When God forgives He wipes the sin away forever. I am not saying that God can't take our sins and use them for His glory. What I am saying is God does not take our sin and help us become like Jesus Christ.

I believe in predestination, but not as the many of the philosophers speak about this subject. Most who believe in predestination wind up becoming fatalist. They will say, "Well it is God's will." When they say that it means we are to just sit back in whatever circumstance and just take it. The atheist who is a fatalist sees the world in that the fix is in the DNA. We have no control over our circumstances, therefore we just hang on for the ride. No where in the Scriptures does it teach fatalism. Look at the context of the word predestined and you will find that it is in context of Christ followers being conformed to Christ's image. We as followers of Christ are destined to be like Jesus. If any fix is in, it is that God is going to deliver on His promise!

Are you aiming to become like Jesus Christ in your character and in your mission? What action steps are you taking on a daily basis to create an environment for this growth to happen?

A Christian is:
a mind through which Christ thinks;
a heart through which Christ loves;
a voice through which Christ speaks;
a hand through which Christ helps.