Scripture

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 in his glory, we must also share in his suffering.

Observation

All who are led by the Spirit of God are God’s children. We have not received a spirit of slavery, but the Spirit of adoption. We call Him “Abba, Father” because we are His children. We are heirs of the Father’s glory, but if we are to share Christ’s gory we must also share in His suffering.

All creation is waiting eagerly to see who God’s children really are. The creation was subjected to bondage by Adam’s sin, but it will join God’s children in freedom from death. We also have the hope of release from sin and suffering.

Application

We are heirs of the Father, joint heirs with Christ.

Everything that God owns He will share with us. This is the way it was meant to be before Adam and Eve sinned, bringing death and curse into the world. People were supposed to work in partnership with God to unlock the secrets of the creation.

When God recreates the heavens and the earth, we will once again walk in perfect fellowship with God, in a world where there is no death and no sorrow.

As heirs of God’s glory, we will share in His morality and character to a far higher degree than we do now. No temptation and no sin will block us from communion with Him.

We will walk with greater dignity and self-esteem. Bullies and abusers will no longer peddle their suffering. We will see ourselves as God sees us- the pinnacle of creation.

All of this is ours. We are already in the family, so we already share in the benefits. But much more will come our way.

In the meantime, as we enjoy the benefits of being Christ’s joint heirs, we must also share in His suffering. In the west, this might mainly be insults and name calling at the moment, although some have lost their jobs for their stand. In many parts of the world, suffering with Christ is a literal fact of life.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for adopting me into your family. Thank you for the promise of inheritance. Amen.