All Things for Good

Does God take the failings of others and turn them into good for God’s people?

Onesimus was separated from Philemon because he ran away. Paul thinks that maybe God separated Onesimus and Philemon, not to create division, but to create a deeper bond in Christ. Paul is ascribing a higher reason.

God wants to take things that are broken in the world and restore them into something that is good. However, this is not a promise to everyone. (Romans 8:28) The key in the Onesimus/Philemon story is that Onesimus found Paul and came to faith. The very first act of turning bad to good is to call you according to his purpose–to turn you around, from bad to good.

For those called according to His purpose, God takes our circumstances and works them for good so that we may be conformed to His image.

"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29