participate with Christ

1 Peter 4:12-13

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

We have many privileges as those who have come to fully rely on Jesus.   We have found a solution for our tendency to stray from the right path and we have obtained clear directions to help us get back on track.  We have discovered that God has words for us that cut right through to the core of our identity.  We are joined to a family of brothers and sisters with the same faith and there is love and mutual support there.  Although we haven't arrived there yet, we are absolutely confident that we will be in Heaven forever because we have His promise and His completed work on the Cross...crowned with His resurrection from the dead and ascension.  The scripture above reminds us that we also have the privilege of participating in the sufferings of Christ.  We live in a world that doesn't embrace Jesus as the Son of God, at least in mainstream culture.  Our suffering comes when we align ourselves openly with Him.  We are willing to be scorned as "narrow minded" because we have found the narrow path to life.  And the closer we align with Jesus now, the greater our joy will be when we see Him, face to face.