Paul
the apostle told the people in Rome,
“The
Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children
of God”,
and he added, “And
if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him,
that we may be also glorified together.”
In chapter eight and verse eighteen of Romans,
Paul wrote to his readers concerning, “the
sufferings of this present time” where
we read:
For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
The
verse begins, “For
I reckon that the sufferings of this present time …” Paul
began with the word, “for”
which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and
therefore” “I
reckon”
or “Paul accounted, computed and calculated” “that
the sufferings”
which means “that the misfortune, calamity, evil and affliction”
“of
this present time”
which means “now and at the current and immediate time”. Paul
referred to “calamities, evil and afflictions” that were
currently in the lives of “believers in Jesus”.
The
verse continues, “...
are
not worthy to
be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Paul
continued with the words, “are
not worthy”
which means “”do not have the weight,value or what is due” “to
be compared”
or “towards, near and with regard or advantage” “with
the glory”
which refers to “with the splendor, brightness and honor”“which
shall be revealed”
or “that will be uncovered, laid open, disclosed and made known”
“in
us”
which means “within Paul, his companions and his believing
readers”. Paul shared how there would be no way to “compare”
the “glory”
that God shall unveil to those who “suffer affliction, pain and
evil” in this lifetime.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see no exemption for
“suffering” in the “present time”. Pain, evil,
suffering and affliction will be within the life of the person who
puts their “faith and trust” in Jesus Christ as “Savior and
Lord”, however, that is not the end of the story. God has promised
to “glorify” those who “suffer” on His behalf,
and the reward and blessings for enduring adversities in this life
shall far exceed the temporary difficulties we face in this life. May
all who are “suffering” read these words and know God has
a plan, and He is going to work it out.
Next
time Paul tells his readers about, “the
earnest expectation of the creature”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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