As he approaches the question of suffering we see how Paul first draws attention to our relationship with our Father God. From the security of that intimate relationship we are in a position to deal with the question of suffering.
”Not only are you invited into an intimate relationship with Me, but you have as a Brother, Priest and King, One who has experienced the full depths of rejection and suffering. Who is able to understand, teach and comfort each one of you as you face the inevitable times you will suffer, so that the suffering does not separate you from My love but should actually draw you closer to Me.”
As we start this important subject of suffering let us move slowly and carefully to get the maximum benefit from Paul’s teaching. Please Read Romans 8:16-25.
The context then is Paul’s discussion on what can make us feel separated from God’s love. The first important subject has been sin and the desire to be saved by the law. The second is the question of suffering. Suffering can have devastating effects on our perception of whether God truly loves us or not, however for many it has the effect of drawing us much closer to Him. As I said earlier he launches his discussion from the position of reminding us, as God’s children of the intimate relationship we have with Him.
The opening statement in vs 18 is extremely important, as it sets the basis on which we must view suffering. Paul is telling us that we need to get our thinking right before we dig into the details. So all suffering needs to be seen through a lens which tells us this is only temporary and cannot be compared to the glory that we are going to experience one day. All the thinking and teaching and experience of suffering takes on a different colour seen against the background of the incredible glory which is to come. We have to practice reminding ourselves of this reality, since suffering is so real and ever present while the glory remains an often considered distant hope. We need to keep telling ourselves that it IS real and based on the eternal unchangeable promises of God.
The next thing Paul wants to remind us of is that suffering is universal. We have already seen in vs 17 that there is a specific suffering which Christians experience because of our relationship with Christ. But we must understand the universality of suffering. He reminds us of the result of God’s curse in Eden and uses picturesque language describing the frustration and vanity creation is experiencing. He likens this to the pains of childbirth vs22. As we look around us we can see everywhere how this is being played out. So we too (vs 23) are not exempted from this bondage to decay. It affects us as much as it affects creation, which we are just actually a part of. Notice he uses the word groaning which is just shorthand for suffering.
Way back in vs 19 he pictures the creation as waiting eagerly to welcome the sons of God, who will then be revealed. So, in a mystical way creation is being prepared to welcome us when we go to be in God’s glory.
So that is the reality that we must embrace. He is going to tell us more about how to deal with our suffering, but the first step is to get our thinking right. He will go on to emphasise the importance of hope, but that is just building on what we have seen today. See you all next week.