The Worst Things Work for the Godly pt. 2

We are looking at Romans 8: 28. That “God works all things together for good, for those who love Him, to those called according to His purpose.” In our last entry we shared how God even works evil or bad for good. We looked at the first of what Thomas Watson called the four evils God uses for good to those who love Him. The discussion was on affliction and how at God’s hand it comes our way for our good!

The second of these evils God uses is temptation. With this thought Watson points out that “The devil has his circuit he walks everyday; he is not fully cast into prison, but, like a prisoner that goes under bail, he walks about to tempt the saints.” So, it is our enemy at work we must be aware of. And at that, we must be aware that God allows him to do such a work among Christians. Why? Well, our verse we are studying says, “for our good”. Remember, loving God does not mean “all goes well” but all that goes on, well or not, is FOR good!. Yes, God even uses temptations the enemy casts our way.

“Satan observes the fittest time to tempt as in a cunning angler cast in his lure when the fish will bit the best. Just like a soldier after battle leaves off his armor, Satan watches his time, and when he least suspect, then he throws in a temptation” (Watson pg. 33). So, beware if all seems well right now. Rest in Jesus but be ready. Rest and being ready go together. We are ready when we stay in prayer and keep the Word right on the tip our lips as well as a constant in our minds. So, rest in Jesus but keep in restful prayer and knowing God’s Word. Read it and let it be what gives you the rest knowing that the enemy cannot handle God’s Word when He is tempting you (Matt. 4). Our enemy like to “excite and irritate the corruption within us and work some kind of inclination in the heart to embrace a temptation” (Watson pg. 34). We already have the sinful disposition in us. What the enemy tries to do is to stir up what evil is already in our heart. So, we must protect ourselves from ourselves! Be on the alert for the sin that is already in you heart. Cast it before God in prayer, submit to God’s rule and authority over you, and be constant at putting Scripture in your heart so it will flow out and the sin the devil likes to stir out of you!

What do you think? Temptation is coming. God uses it to keep us in need of HIM. Isn’t that good? Yes, that’s the good. We run to Jesus because temptation is coming or is at hand. The good is that temptation keeps us running to God in dependence. That’s real good!!!