Father, I am grateful for Your direction and answered prayers. We could ask for no better hands in which to find ourselves! All praise to You!

Romans 8:17 (<<click here to read the passage)

When you run your toe into the dresser or hit your thumb with the hammer, is your pain limited to that extremity alone? At least in my experience, the answer is no. When those kinds of things happen to me, the pain radiates through my whole body – everything hurts it seems!

So, if that is the case, read this verse – Colossians 1:18a,

He is also the head [the life-source and leader] of the body, the church… AMP

Then Amplified Bible notes on the word church reads,

This refers to the entire body of born-again believers (whether past, present, or future), not a local congregation. (emphasis mine)

Now read today’s verse,

And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory. Romans 8:17 AMP

The part I want to hone in on is if indeed we share in His suffering…

My NIV Reflecting God Study Bible states,

The Greek construction used here does not set forth a condition but states a fact. The meaning, then, is not that there is some doubt about sharing Christ’s glory. Rather, despite the fact that Christians presently suffer, they are assured a future entrance into their inheritance.

When one part of the Body suffers, we all suffer. We rejoice with those who rejoice but we also mourn with those who mourn. God’s Word puts it this way,

Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Romans 12:15 AMP

We don’t need to seek out suffering to gain His glory, believe me, it will find us. It may be in some fashion like the sufferings of Christ. And His sufferings were many.

  • physical suffering – just think of all he went through in the days prior to and the actual act of crucifixion He endured.
  • emotional suffering– Matthew 23:37

“Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Murderer of prophets! Killer of the ones who brought you God’s news! How often I’ve ached to embrace your children, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you wouldn’t let me. MSG

  • spiritual suffering – the old King James Version quoted Jesus saying numerous times, “O ye of little faith…” (Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 16:8). He had invested in his followers so greatly and still…

He suffered on many fronts, but He also suffers because we suffer. He has great empathy for us. And if you really think about it, His Body – His Church – follows right along in His footsteps.

Suffering is just part of who we are in Him. It doesn’t mean we’re in the wrong or that we have to earn our place in Heaven. Jesus paid it all and all He asks of us is to follow Him knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us. Amen.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT

Feb 22nd, 2023, Wed, 12:27 pm