"For God's Glory & My Good" Long Sleeve Tee

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.”

This verse is often quoted alone because it is such a succinct summary of God’s trustworthy kindness as we experience the unexpected and even tragic at times. But preceding verses give so much context to this “good” God works together all things for His children:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God…In this hope we were saved” (Romans 8:18-21; 24a).

We are not promised smooth sailing in the Christian life (to the contrary; John 16; 1 Peter 4; James 1) but we are told that this time of earthly trial is 1) temporary and 2) for our heavenly good, that 3) that God is good and trustworthy even when things around us are crumbling (Daniel 3); “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) and 4) that God is glorified in the midst of our sufferings (1 Peter 4).

Thomas Watson on Romans 8:28:

“All things work for his good—the best and worst things. ‘Unto the upright arises light in darkness’ (Psalm 112:4). The most dark cloudy providences of God, have some sunshine in them. What a blessed condition is a true believer in! When he dies, he goes to God; and while he lives, everything shall do him good. Affliction is for his good. What hurt does the fire to the gold? It only purifies it. What hurt does the winnowing fan do to the grain? It only separates the chaff from it. God never uses His staff—but to beat out the dust. Affliction does that which the Word many times will not, it ‘opens the ear to discipline’ (Job 36:10). When God lays men upon their backs—then they look up to heaven! God's smiting His people is like the musician's striking upon the violin, which makes it put forth a melodious sound. How much good comes to the saints by affliction! Like bruised flowers—when they are pounded and broken—they send forth their sweetest smell.

Affliction is a bitter root—but it bears sweet fruit. ‘It yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness’. (Heb. 12:11). Affliction is the highway to heaven; though it be flinty and thorny—yet it is the best way. Poverty shall starve our sins; sickness shall make grace more helpful (2 Cor. 4:16). Reproach shall cause ‘the Spirit of God and of glory to rest upon us’ (1 Pet. 4:14). Death shall stop the bottle of tears—and open the gate of Paradise! A believer's dying day is his ascension day to glory. Hence it is, the saints have put their afflictions, in the inventory of their riches (Heb. 11:26). A child of God say, ‘If I had not been afflicted, I would have been destroyed; if my health and estate had not been lost—my soul had been lost.’

• 100% airlume combed ring-spun cotton
• Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
• Athletic Heather is 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142.4 g/m²)
• 32 singles
• Regular fit
• Side-seamed construction
• Crew neck
• Cover-stitched collar
• 2″ (5 cm) ribbed cuffs
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Honduras, or the US

Size guide