The Plaque

     While finishing up my education at a college in the suburbs of Washington, D. C., I worked at a Christian book store.  We did have a rather good selection of books to sell but we also sold a number of other things such as paintings, plaques and other small items such as jewelry.  Many of the plaques would contain a verse from the Bible.  These verses would be inspirational in the sense that it would show a person's faith, hope, and supposedly a glimpse into their character.  Joshua 28:15 was one of the more chosen items along with Philippians 4:13, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 23 and the list goes on and on.  The owners of the bookstore would make a trip to Pennsylvania about every 4 or 5 months and stock up on a number of these items to sell in the book store.  Another one of the more popular items was the following verse.   Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 

       This is a verse of Scripture that we often use to bring up when things are just going badly in our lives.  When grief, sorry, and troubles come into our lives, we often fall back on this verse of Scripture.  We also use it when we can't come up with any good reason why these things are taking place in our lives.  It is like saying, "When all else fails, quote Romans 8:28.  The verse certainly gives us hope when seemingly all else is falling apart around us.  Adam Clarke says of this verse, "That the persons in whose behalf all things work for good are they who love God, and, consequently, who live in the spirit of obedience."   The verse is a comfort in times of trouble.  It is, however, also good for us to notice the little passage, "...to them that love God."   Most people, especially believers, will say that they love God.  That is something that is assumed or they wouldn't be Christians in the first place.  The Lord Jesus Christ reminded us that we love God.  "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."   When I look at my own life I come to the conclusion, that I am not loving Him with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my mind.  It is something that we need to keep check on in all of our life.  Erosion takes place and things begin to creep into our mind.  The world system is constantly demanding more attention and if we are not careful, the little erosion becomes bigger and bigger until we look for other ways to explain our  problems in life.  Keep your hearts in tune with God and His Word on a moment by moment basis.  Truly, all things do work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.  Praise God for His working in our lives today.