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Co-suffering with Christ

I've been convicted by a book - a book on adoption.

"But you've already adopted! How can you be convicted to do something you've already committed to?"

I quote the passage from Romans 8 a lot:

Romans 8:14-17

English Standard Version (ESV)
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[a] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.


In the book "A guide to Adoption and Orphan Care" edited by Russell Moore, Timothy Paul Jones writes, "The Holy Spirit co-testifies with our spirit that we are co-heirs.  We co-suffer.  We will be co-glorified.  That's adoption." (page 21)

YES! Co-heirs with Christ - woohoo! Imagine that! Christ is my brother!

But wait... co-suffer? In other words, we are to expect suffering, not as something that we might escape in life.  Did Christ suffer? Yes, more than anyone ever has or will suffer.  We will not escape suffering, nor should we want to.

We are currently spending a lot of our time teaching our selfish 5(ish) year old children to care for each other.  Josh is teaching Moses that a godly man protects, defends, and takes care of others.  I am teaching Ana that a godly woman serves, looks for ways to bless, and cares for others.  If Christ is our brother, we should desire to share in his suffering.

But then additionally, I also missed the co-glorified part of the equation.  I am, in myself, unworthy of ANY glory, whether man-made or God-made.  And yet, as co-heir with my brother Jesus Christ, I will not only suffer as he did, but I will be glorified as he is, by God our Father - the creator and sustainer and judge of the universe!

Another point made somewhere in this book is that God did not HAVE to adopt us in order to save us.  He could have saved us from eternally damnation but not made us his sons and daughters.  Yet, he chose to do that.  How amazing is that? Instead of being simply allowed to enter heaven, God desires intimate relationship with us that is only afforded a father to his son or daughter.
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