“The
Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and
if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we
suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17 NKJV).
Our
sharing in God’s glory is only to the extent we identify with Christ. We are
glorified only in association with Him, for besides Him, we can never have any
claim to glory. Identity with Christ involves identifying with Him through
suffering. The popular chorus that says,
“me I no go suffer” may not be completely right if that includes not suffering
for the sake of Christ. Paul in our text affirmed strongly that we can only be
glorified with Christ if we indeed suffer with Him. He taught Timothy, “This is a faithful saying: For if we died
with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with
Him. If we deny Him; He also will deny
us” (2 Timothy 2:11-12 NKJV). Paul was communicating to Timothy an
objective position of God in relation to our identification with Christ. We
died with Him to sin; we now live with Him for righteousness. In living with
Him thus, difficulties and challenges come from time to time demanding
endurance. If we endure with Him, then we will reign with Him in glory both now
and in the world to come. But if for
whatever reason, we deny Him by compromising our commitment to Him because of the
allurements of this world, then He will deny us.
Our
Lord warned, “Not everyone who says to
Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will
of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7: 21 NKJV). Doing the will of the Father
sometimes if not always involves going contrary to our will. It is at the point
where your will crosses with the will of the Father that the cross Jesus asked you
to carry and follow Him is created. When you insist on doing your will instead
of God’s for whatever reason, you drop the cross. Whenever you drop the cross,
you deny Jesus and turn your back against His glory. But when in obedience, you
faithfully lay down your desires in preference to God’s; you create a platform
for experiencing His glory.
As
believers in Christ, we should not see suffering for the sake of Christ a
distasteful experience, but rather as a prelude to glory. The Apostle Peter explained, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to
you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that
when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” (1 Peter
4:12-13 NKJV). There is nothing that is done for Christ that will not be
rewarded both in this life and in the life to come. God makes demands from
people He trusts. If He is not making any demand on you, it may be because He
has not seen you as a serious person. Get serious with God this year and let
Him know that you are all out for Him. Stand for your faith and let the world
know you are for Christ.
Some
people because of what it would take do not undertake big things for God. They
always opt for the very minimum that is required in any task. When you call for
fasting, they will do just the minimum that will enable them to be counted
among those who are fasting. When you ask for financial contribution, they will
opt for the least, even though they have what it takes to do better. This year
will be different. You must attempt big things for God and see Him work wonders
for you in glory. Resist the demon that belittles you and set out boldly for
God in every way.
Let
us pray with these inspired words of Apostle Peter, “...May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen,
and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
(1 Peter5:10-11 NKJV)
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