Romans 8:18-23
PRESENT SUFFERING AND THE FUTURE GLORY
The saying, ‘
No cross, no crown’ is clearly in relation to the suffering of our Lord Jesus
before and on the cross; and then the joy of the resurrection, ascension and
the glory that followed. And if the words, ‘a servant is not greater than his
master’ is anything to go by evidently, the followers of Jesus Christ have no
shorter way to glory than to suffer in relation to the cross. To this bend, the
apostle Paul having considered and estimated the value of the suffering of the
present time and the glory that would follow, came to this conclusion: the
suffering and the glory are not of the same value. Though the suffering may be
painful and even excruciating and appear unbearable for the present, there is a
future glory, which value is far higher than the pains presently experienced.
The
experience of the suffering varies from person to person across the globe. We
may then ask, ‘What are you presently experiencing? What pains have come to you
in relation to your Christian faith or as
it befalls men? Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, and is set at the
right hand of God. Carry on in Christ, the Joy to come will justify the suffering
experienced.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, when I am going through challenges, help me to retain in my
mind the value of the glory that outweighs the present suffering. Amen
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