November 19, 2021 – Friday
Romans 8:17 NIV
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Comment.
What an interesting verse. So many things to make sense of starting with Now if we are children? Now means we have to look at what was said prior, so let us do just that. Looking at verses 14-16 we read, For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children
Being led by the spirit means we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior acknowledging He died on the cross for our sins. And further we are no longer driven by the flesh or the need to make choices we know are not the right choices. Instead, we begin to make decisions according to the Spirit, the conscience the Spirit provides to let us know what is right and what is wrong. And then leads us to make the correct decision. As such we find our status has been changed to that as the children of God. Not as slaves to God, but adoption to sonship with God as our father so we can cry out to Him as Abba, Father, where Abba is simply Aramaic for Father. And the Holy Spirit actually testifies that we are God’s children.
This leads us to our Verse of the Day, Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. First of all, as heirs of God, we are co-heirs with Christ! This is part of our inheritance knowing we are part of God’s family. While everything actually belongs to Jesus, by His saving grace on the cross we share in what is His. Let me restate that this way, as co-heirs with Christ we get to share in all that is His!
But wait a minute; this comes with a condition. It is true if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. What are we to make of this sharing in his sufferings? We have to return to being led by the Holy Spirit in making decisions that please God and not our flesh. We are to choose what we KNOW is right and good and pleasing to God and not any other choice no matter what others want us to do or our selfish ego wants us to do. We know what to do when we face such choices to please God. And we know what to do when we face such choices to please our ego or our flesh. Share in Jesus’ sufferings and chose to make the choice you KNOW will please God.
Many think you must suffer physically. That is not so. His suffering was enough. But when we truly identify with Jesus and His suffering we need to be prepared to suffer for our faith. We may face ridicule or even persecution for out faith. Much of the world, even in our own country, is antagonistic to those of us who follow Him. So let us then persevere because of our wonderful hope.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, How wonderful You permit us to become co-heirs with Jesus in Heaven. Even imagining such makes any suffering here seem so miniscule in comparison. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton in Beavercreek