" . . . always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."
One of the best things about Christian suffering is that it does so much good for ourselves and the rest of the church. Believers are united to Jesus Christ. The church is His metaphorical and mystical "body." To be joined to Christ means that we are bonded to Him in both His death *and* His resurrection. Without being "crucified with" Christ, we cannot be "raised with" Him.
Therefore, let us look upon our most difficult heart-struggles today with a different eye, the eye of faith. What hurts now, helps ourselves and others now, (in ways that we cannot fully understand). And, if we are willing to suffer *with* Jesus, we will also enjoy and experience His glory, too, (cf. Rom. 8:17).
[Puritan quote of the day: "Since Christ is thus comfortably set out to us, let us not believe Satan's representations of Him." --Richard Sib-
bes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]
