…and if (we) are children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  Romans 8:16

The theology of suffering is an expansive topic but in today’s scripture, it’s crystalized into something pretty simple.

Jesus suffered.

He told me that if I followed Him, I would suffer.

And if I suffer with Him, I will one day be glorified with Him.

If I am only someone’s friend in fair weather, my love for them has not yet been tested. Let hard times come and my commitment to them will cost me my own comfort. To enter their pain, I will sacrifice things like time, money, and perhaps my need to have my theology of suffering tied up in neat little boxes. Questions about faith in God’s goodness and faithfulness will arise if I remain intimate with my friend.

There is nothing abstract about that. Suffering is part of sonship. It is not proof that I have been abandoned, but often proof that I belong to Him. We want inheritance without pain, glory without fellowship in His wounds, resurrection without a cross. But if I am someone’s friend only in fair weather, my love has not yet been tested. Let hardship come, and my devotion will begin to cost me comfort, certainty, convenience, and maybe even my theology of suffering tied up in neat little boxes.

The same is true with Jesus. My willingness to remain with Him in adversity authenticates my discipleship. If I am faithful only when life is manageable, then my love has not yet been proven. If I keep the cross at the center only as long as it stays symbolic and does not become costly, then I have not understood what it means to follow Him. Jesus told me to take up my cross, not admire His from a distance. His faithfulness to the Father while suffering revealed His Sonship. My faithfulness to Jesus in suffering reveals mine.

The heart of my Savior was laid bare on the cross. My heart is laid bare when affliction strips me. Suffering reveals what comfort can keep hidden. When everything was taken from Jesus, His love still prevailed. When my comforts are removed, when I am pressed, disappointed, undone, my love for Him is exposed too. That is sobering. I’m asking Jesus to keep me near His cross when I am tempted to harden, and give me grace to stay faithful when obedience is costly.

Oh, but I depend on Your grace to love You as You have loved me.  Amen