"Living out a Bible verse through daily obedience is more important than simply memorizing or quoting it." ~ copied

Good morning and welcome. Today is Monday, October 19, 2026. I bring you greetings from Romans chapter 8. Our teacher yesterday, Bro. Benny, did an excellent job covering some amazing truths from this portion of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the called-out local assembly meeting in Rome, Italy. This chapter includes the widely cherished verse numbered 28 in our Bibles:

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” —As rendered in the Greek Interlinear Bible (NT).

 

I’ve known many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who have named this verse as their favorite. I'm reminded of one in particular who claimed this verse. He played a major role in shaping the person I am today. He was my mother’s dad, my grandfather, Paw Paw Mac. He was born in 1900 and left this spinning globe for his heavenly home in 1971.

 

My grandad knew well the meaning of “all things” in that verse. His life was marked by challenges and adversities, along with some gut-wrenching tragedies. He wasn’t perfect, but his life demonstrated his faith in the God he loved. That faith was what he clung to throughout his sojourn here. Romans 8:28, his favorite verse. His lived-out testimony. Don't be mistaken; there were good times too, but on balance, as they used to say back home, he had to carry more than his fair share. 

 

I’ll not go into the truly sad details of all that happened to him and his family, ours too, over his seventy-one years. However, it is a blessing that those in our family today can look back and remember how openly he lived out his faith through it all.

 

The verse he loved went hand in hand with the song he loved: “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow,” written by Ira Stanphill and published in 1950. I’ve mentioned before that he couldn’t sing a lick, but I can still see him swaying back and forth when we sang that particular song in our church service. How does it fit Romans 8:28? Here are the lyrics. I report; you decide:

 

1)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

 

Refrain: 
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

 

2)
Every step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden’s getting lighter;
Every cloud is silver lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye,
At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.
[Refrain]

 

3)
I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood.
[Refrain]

 

We did sing that song at his homegoing service. I believe everyone present could agree that it reflected his devotion to God and his servant’s heart. He was a quiet, humble man who lived out his testimony, and that Bible verse and that song help tell his story.

 

I often think how wonderful it would be if I could leave behind anything close to the example set by this simple, godly man. Amen.