For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. — Romans 8:16-17, NLT
I can be gentle and indirect when one of my kiddos has something another wants. I’m good with a mild suggestion that doesn’t quite sound like a mild suggestion.
Then, too, depending on the tension in the moment, I have also said firmly, “Share that!”
I am not sure anyone wants to share Christ in his suffering. There is at least a slight reservation with the following thought: “This sounds really painful, sign me up for that!”
No one welcomes suffering. While we certainly experience losses of all kinds in our lives, no one jumps at it.
I hear Paul saying we don’t have share Jesus’ suffering as much as we must share that he did suffer for us. Said differently, we don’t have to suffer ourselves. We simply share that he suffered. Yes, we have rough days and perhaps even rough seasons, but here’s the Christian’s truth: as a result of Jesus’ suffering and death on a cross as the sinless, sacrificial Lamb of God, we will never know profound, eternal suffering. This isn’t for us. This isn’t in our future because heaven is the place where all are healed of all hurts. Heaven is the place where all tears are wiped away.
We are heirs to what Jesus has done for us, and what he has done for us? Well, that is glorious. Truly glorious.
PRAYER: Jesus, remind us that we are to share your story of your suffering. As God’s children, we are to share that you died for us so that we not only will have eternal life, but also, we will that that eternal life pain free. Amen.