One of my favorite scriptures is Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” That has always brought me tremendous comfort when life goes sideways and things don’t go as I had planned. I see how the enemy came in with his intentions of harm, and that harm touches me for a moment, but then God comes in and turns that harm into something good. Then, in the end, things are better because of it. More good came out of it because God was involved.
But, have you ever thought of that scripture in relation to our mistakes and failures?
You know, the devil loves it when you screw up. He dangles temptations and frustrations in an attempt to get you to take the bait and sin. He knows that sin separates you from God. Satan knows precisely what causes you to shrink back and withdraw. And if he can get you to withdraw from God in your guilt, shame, pain and regret, then he can whisper his lies in your ear that much louder.
Yes, the devil intends to harm you with those frustrations and temptations. But God takes the enemy’s intended harm, and he turns it around for good. God takes your failures and he uses them as opportunities to show you his grace. He takes your mistakes and he uses them as opportunities to redirect you to his better plan. He takes your sin, forgives it, shows you immeasurable mercy, lavishes you with his love, and saves you again and again.
The enemy intended to harm you with that last screw up of yours. Oh he wanted to absolutely crush your confidence. He wanted to convince you that you will never be good enough. He wanted to make you believe you can’t move past this one. Wow, he was discouraging you. Gosh, he was depressing you. Look at the anxiety he stirred up. The darkness he surrounded you in.
BUT GOD.
But God took your mistakes and your regrets and he pulled you in close so he could fix this. He reworked that harm and used it to help you grow. Now, you see His light. You know his love. You walk in his grace. You were saved.
Satan wants you to run and hide so he can destroy you in your guilt. God wants you to run to him so he can save you in your guilt. Satan wants to remind you of how wrong you are in every way. God wants you to know he will make you right with Him and count you as righteous.
Yesterday, we learned that being counted as righteous is to receive a credit that outweighs every debit in our account. Sin debits and takes away. Sin will leave you empty and bankrupt. But God deposits everything you will ever need. Forgiveness, redemption, healing, redirection, better plans and purpose. He overflows your account with these deposits.
To be counted as righteous is to be made right with God. We’re wrong, but he makes us right. He works within us to bring change.
Now, Paul is writing this letter to the Church in Rome and he is giving examples of those who have been wrong, but were made right with God. Those who had failed, BUT GOD had turned their failure into growth and a closer relationship with Him.
Romans 4: 6-8, “David spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it.” (Now he quotes David’s writings from Psalm 32, “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt.”
This is the example of King David. Remember, he was once the little shepherd boy out in the field with his father’s sheep, and he was chosen by God to be the next King of Israel. Little David courageously faced the enemy’s giant, Goliath, and defeated him with his slingshot and a rock. David became mighty and powerful. God was pleased with David because David continually sought him and obeyed him with courageous faith.
But then,