ROMANS 8:26-30 HE KNOWS There is a sense in which we are linked with the groaning creation because of our ignorance. We just don't know what to pray for at times, and even how to pray. Our need is great as we look around us and ahead into the unknown events of each day. Our very inability to express or define our requests may frustrate us and make us to despair of the value of prayer - until we understand! Within us the Holy Spirit enters into the essence of that which we cannot describe, and on our behalf addresses that great need with total understanding. Even further, He knows all the ramifications associated with our prayers, and with urgency and depth of feeling, He takes our case personally to the throne of God.
The Father, who searches our hearts and knows the Holy Spirit is groaning for a saint, knows exactly what the Spirit means when He is presenting our case according to God. We are so limited that we don't even know all that our prayer means, but the Spirit does and intercedes according to God's nature, according to our real needs, according to what is involved in the dangers or blessings of our requests and according to the results. Then we know that God knows - and we can rest in that assurance. We are sure the outcome will be for good. This does not mean that all things will make us happy, but that they will be "for good" to fulfill God's purpose. The long-range results of things may never be known by us, but we know God has a purpose for the little things and big things, seen or unseen, sweet or bitter, peaceful or adversarial. Whatever they are, we can trust God to work out of life's events, exactly what He wants.
When we are "called according to His purpose," it does not mean we have been given an invitation to participate in what God is doing. Rather, it refers to us being objects of God's will. This calling goes way back to the sovereign electing grace of God. God has an eternal purpose and we who love Him are in that realm of His will to be accomplished in us and through us. His purpose has to do with a decision God made to accomplish an objective He has. His purpose is not affected by the circumstances of life that may fall upon me or any of those He has called. He will carry through to completion what He has purposed. So we are not asked to consent to His will in this scripture. We are told what will happen through those that love God. He chose us for this, and by taking the offer of salvation presented in the Gospel, we find ourselves in the realm of His purpose.
God knew us way before we were born. He knew what we would be and do and believe. The point being that He knew the person. What would be the reaction of the person did not affect the purpose of God for that person. His method of reaching the person and putting them on the road of His purpose, was through the presentation of the Gospel. It was true that He knew us so foreordained conformity of us to the image of Christ. He saw us in the past in Christ; sees us in the present and future in Christ. With the closest possible link, we find ourselves connected to the "First-born among many brethren."
God, who had this plan in which we have a part, called us into being. When He did that, He counted us righteous, justified before Him (this is not justification by faith). He also lets us see the conclusion of this great process and purpose by assuring us that we are glorified in our connection with Christ, even though this has not yet been seen. We know this is all true because He knows this from His eternal perspective. It is an accomplished purpose that is being worked out in His people now. What a standing we have! What an assurance! What a purpose! What a future!
I know it is beyond description, but I must try anyway - To grasp in my mind what these amazing words do say. This is not some fantasy or far-fetched dream of a man - But words from the Source of life describing a plan In which I have a part to fill for His eternal glory - That will bring to completion an event in His-own-story And God called us in His sovereign electing grace In this unfolding grand design of things, to have a real place.
I am limited in prayer to what I've experienced and known. The Holy Spirit knows the whole thing, and in intercession He does groan Because there must be an urgency that escapes my understanding. He though, knows what is ahead and what my call is demanding. Therefore I can rest in assurance that God is working everything for good. I do love God, though perhaps don't express it as often as I should. It is my desire to act according to His purpose and His will. Hopefully what He has intended I can accomplish and fulfill.
I know I am not able to describe what is my role. But I believe God knows I love Him with my heart and soul.
And I really long to be like Christ, what a joy to me it would be - If people that are around me in some way Christ would see. He is called the First-born among brethren, and I am one of them. My desire is to cast some reflected light from Him as a testimony to men That I am in Christ and He is mine, and they too need to come To Christ and believe on Him, so they can become a son.
The purpose of God is not just for the future, it includes life now. I may never know all that's involved, or what I should do or how - But I am resting in the fact that the Holy Spirit prays for me. And He knows the eternal purpose and what I am supposed to be. In this case human will is not the point, nor is human consent. God has predestined my life that to His will I am bent. This does not cause me concern at all, it is a privilege that He did choose Such a weak unworthy one, that I for Him my life could loose.
"Father, the whole blessing of being called by Thee escapes my understanding. But the little I can enter into gives a sense of meaning to every activity in life. Things small or great, even known or unknown have significance to me because I know this is in Thy purpose. For this day and in the gathering tonight, may I rest in confidence that all events are known by Thee and have some reason. Help this feeble servant to bring some honor to Thee and meaningful benefit to others. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."