#DailyDevotion How Do You Look At You Suffering
Romans 8:18–22
18I think what we suffer now isn’t important when I compare it with the glory to be revealed to us. 19For the created world is waiting on tiptoe to see the unveiling of God’s sons. 20For this created world must waste away, not because it wants to but because its Master would have it so, but it does so with the hope 21that this created world also will be freed from the slavery of decay in order to share the freedom of glory with the children of God. 22We know that all creation has been groaning with the pains of childbirth until now.
Paul is just living in a different world, “I think what we suffer now isn’t important when I compare it with the glory to be revealed to us.” Seriously? Doesn’t he know we’re not supposed to suffer? Doesn’t he know how important our suffering is? It seems that either we think we are not suppose to suffer or all eyes need to be on us when we are suffering. Paul seems to have a slightly different take here on our suffering.
But it’s not as though Paul doesn’t think our suffering isn’t important in our life as a Christian. He just has a different attitude towards it with faith in Christ. In chapter 5 Paul writes, “3More than that, we also boast of our sufferings, 4because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces a genuine Christian character; 5and a genuine Christian character produces hope.” The reason for Paul’s rejoicing in suffering is what it produces in Christians who put their faith in Christ.
In 2 Cor. 4 Paul writes, “17The light trouble of this moment is preparing for us an everlasting weight of glory, greater than anything we can imagine.” Peter in his first epistle writes in chapter 3, “Gold is tested by fire, and your faith, when it is tested, should be found to be much more precious than gold, which perishes. This is how you will have praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ appears again.” You may thinking “light trouble of the moment?” Yes, whatever we are suffering no matter how horrific is light and momentary compared to the judgment to come and the glory we will receive as the children of God. These things we suffer are the fire that purifies out faith. It is preparing us to bear the weight of eternal glory. God intends us to bear or wear his glory in the world to come. I guess the reason we have such a hard time looking forward to that is we really have nothing else to compare it to. But we could not look at the glory of God in our present state without dying. I guess then it is no wonder we have to go through what we go through to be able wear it in the world to come.
Even this world must suffer as it waits for us to be revealed as the sons of God. Paul says “this created world also will be freed from the slavery of decay in order to share the freedom of glory with the children of God.” Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father is not only for the children of men but for creation as well since created was affected by Adam’s sin and our sin. If “climate change” or “global warming” is a thing that is bad the return of Christ and the revelation of us as the sons of God is the cure. All the natural disasters and the like are made right in the revelation of Jesus Christ to the world.
In the meantime as Paul wrote in chapter 1 we live by faith, believing these things to be true.
Heavenly Father, grant us a faith that only rejoices in our suffering as we look forward to the work you complete in us through them so we may live by faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.