Rom 8:28-30 is a portion of Scripture that tells of God's divine unfailing purposes, "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. Vs. 28 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be come conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; Vs. 29 And whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." Vs. 30

Notice the 'all things' in verse 28! James 1:2 assures us that there will be
trials:
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials."
And notice, it does not say 'IF' it says 'WHEN'. It also tells us that we are to 'count it all joy'.
Because the trial is joyous?? NO, but because God is at work in our lives strengthening our faith, producing patience; that we may be perfect and complete. Therefore, we must see from God's vantage point and have a right attitude.

Also notice, there is not a period after, 'God causes all things to work together for good'. I have had non-Christian friends who stopped there, they have no interest in God or in the Cross of Jesus Christ. If they loved God they would love His only unique Son! Scripture qualifies the first part of the verse with 'to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.' And who are those? The ones who know God, who love Him and His glorious plan of salvation and reconciliation in Christ.

This is born out in verse 29, 'for those He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son'.

In Ephesians 1:3-5, the Apostle Paul tells us in this way, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (FOREKNEW) Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." (PREDESTINED)

'Predestined us to adoption'!
"The Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible" says of adoption:
"In the New Testament, the Greek word translated adoption literally means 'placing as a son.' It is a legal term that expresses the process by which a man brings another person into his family, endowing him with the status and privileges of a biological son or daughter."

Look again at Romans 8:30.
What a blessed assurance this verse is for every Believer! To those He foreknew; He predestined, He called, He justified, He glorified! Knowing this, we can accept the circumstance of our trials and testings with a much different attitude. For we know that it is the Lord God who is at work in our lives to grow us up and bring us to maturity, just as Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

How blessed we are that 'God so loved...He gave' and in His glorious unmerited grace He called each one of us to be His own in Christ Jesus our Lord. Words simply cannot express the magnificence or the magnitude of such a gift! With thankful hearts let us worship the God of all creation in humbleness, reverence and obedience.

We magnify your Holy Name, Lord God. Amen