A Word of Hope-August 2026

By the time you read this, the Romans quote which follows has been read from the lectern, and included in the sermon, yet will be treated just a bit differently here. Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For me, this has always been a word of hope. But perhaps not in the obvious way. The obvious is that God plans for our ultimate good, our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. What is less obvious is that God includes bad things in the “all things” which work together. Bad things happening can shape our understanding of God, and His rescue plan for our lives. It also, less obviously, reveals that God may use other people (unbelievers as well), whether acting knowingly on His behalf or not, to do helpful things for God’s people. Consider also that God chooses to bless even those who do not yet know Him with good gifts for their lives in this world. An unbeliever, an infidel (whatever we think that means!) and even selfish, evil-minded people can all appreciate the beauty of the world God has created for us all, appreciate help offered in need, and respond to it in positive ways. God created the world for all creatures, even the ungrateful ones.

This works to the benefit of God’s people in particular by providing an avenue for conversation and witness to others who may not yet know that God loved them enough to send His only Son to the cross on their behalf. Maybe you have heard the question expressed something like this: “why do good people do bad things?” Try turning that around to ask yourself, “how can ‘bad’ people do good things?” God chooses to bless His whole creation, the good and the bad, as he guides us through His Spirit to our heavenly home. Hope abounds in this understanding.

Pastor John Scheuermann