The Ministry of Crying Part 2

Last time I shared with you the value suffering has in the life of a believer.  Simply put,

"Suffering is the currency that buys intimacy with God."

"Wait a minute", you might be saying.  "I want to draw closer to God and I am prepared to suffer for the Lord here and there, but are you telling me that I cannot grow in intimacy with Jesus unless I am CONSTANTLY suffering?"  Well, yes I am.  And no, I'm not.

To my original saying I would like to add these important words,

"It doesn't have to be your suffering."

You see the fellowship a believer has with the Lord is not exclusive.  It is a fellowship shared with all believers.  This is how John can write,"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

You see fellowship with the Father is also fellowship with his people and fellowship with his people is fellowship with the Son, etc, etc, etc.  This is how you can "rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." I Peter4:13.  

As we "mourn with those who mourn" we fellowship with the Lord and with his body.  As we enter into the suffering of others through intercession and participation, we grown in intimacy with the Lord. 

So don't insulate yourself from the suffering of the world.  Embrace it.  Pray for those in pain, as if the pain is yours, because in the body, it is.