A Verse
Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
A Comment
As I prepare to transition to a new ministry role in January with World Hope Ministries International, I find myself studying more about the global church. In my new role, I will be working closely with global church pastors around the world, and one of the things that I have noticed is that many in the global church are acutely aware of suffering. For many, suffering is a daily experience. And, as you might be aware, it is often in the midst of suffering that deep questions about God’s goodness and power come to mind. If God is good and powerful, why would He allow suffering into our lives?
Some Christians in the West assume that suffering is never part of God’s plan for Christians. These Christians have bought into a false understanding of God’s promises. For, if we consider this morning’s passage, we see that even as children adopted by God through the Holy Spirit our share in the inheritance of His promises is not without suffering. In fact, suffering, according to verse 17, is a prerequisite to sharing in Christ’s glory. But what does that mean?
For starters, it doesn’t mean we should seek out suffering as if we have some martyr complex. No, the idea in our passage is not that we need to seek out suffering but that those who follow Christ will inevitably suffer. Those unwilling to suffer with and for Christ are not worthy to be called followers of Christ. What, then, are these sufferings?
NT scholar Douglas Moo provides a helpful comment on these sufferings. He writes, “The suffering Paul speaks of here refers to the daily anxieties, tensions, and persecutions that are the lot of those who follow the one who was ‘reckoned with the transgressors’ (Luke 22:37). In other words, the Christian’s suffering is what comes with following Christ faithfully. But why is this important?
It is important because suffering is often used as an example of why people should not trust God. Yet, if we take God’s Word seriously, we will find that we are not called to trust God just when things are good but also when we perceive things to be bad. In fact, when we find ourselves suffering for the sake of following Christ, when our friends or family members do not want to have anything to do with us because of our commitment to Jesus, when our career aspirations are derailed on account of our allegiance to Christ, we should not view this as some sort of sign that God does not love or care for us. Rather, we should view such sufferings as part of what it means to be found in Christ, to belong to Christ.
If this sounds like bad news, though, don’t miss the last section of our passage. While we might suffer with Christ for a moment, there is an eternal glory that we will inherit as the children of God. And that eternal glory will make the temporary sufferings seem like “light and momentary afflictions” when we get to compare them in that last day (2 Corinthians 4:17).
A Prayer
Would you pray with me?
A Blessing
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11)
Sharing in His Suffering