One of the Bible’s best-known verses is certainly one of my favorites.
Perhaps it is also one of yours:
“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.”
Romans 8:28 NASB
If I love God, everything that happens in my life is for my good. Everything I experience – the good, the bad, and the ugly – is for my benefit and God’s glory.
Everything.
That’s quite a promise.
But like many of God’s promises, it has a condition. It only applies to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. This promise is only for genuine believers in and lovers of God.
If I don’t love God, then everything in my life will not be for my good.
This raises the question: What does it mean to love God?
I like John Piper’s answer, from his sermon “All Things for Good, Part 1.” (See below for a link.)
“Loving God is desiring God himself beyond his gifts.
Loving God is treasuring God himself beyond his gifts.
Love for God is delighting in God himself beyond his gifts.
Love for God is being satisfied in God himself beyond his gifts.
Love for God is cherishing God himself beyond his gifts.
Love for God is savoring God himself beyond his gifts.
Love for God is valuing God and prizing God and revering God and admiring God beyond his gifts.”
“All these words are grasping for that essential response of the heart to the revelation of the glory of God, especially in Christ through the gospel. It is a glad reflex of the heart to all that God is for us in Christ.”
Love for God happens first and foremost in the heart. Those ten verbs capture well what should be happening in my heart – not perfectly, but consistently and increasingly – as I grow to love Jesus more and more.
By His Spirit, may God enable us to cultivate this kind of love for Him and His Son, for “If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed.” (1 Corinthians 16:22 NASB)
EDITOR’S NOTE:
All Things for Good, Part 1, a sermon by John Piper, is available for free in text and MP3 formats here:
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/all-things-for-good-part-1
This is Part 1 of a 3-part sermon series on Romans 8:28. I have benefited greatly from all three sermons. I highly recommend that you listen to and/or read all of them. You’ll find links to Part 2 and Part 3 in the link above.
- The Infinite Greatness of Jesus - February 22, 2026
- The Love of Jesus on Display - February 15, 2026
- Why Did John Write the Book of John? - February 8, 2026
