Henri Nouwen Society - Daily Meditation
Friday June 6, 2014

Joint Heirs with Christ

We continue to put ourselves down as less than Christ.  Thus, we avoid the full honor as well as the full pain of the Christian life.  But the Spirit that guided Jesus guides us.  Paul says:  "The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God.  And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16-17).

When we start living according to this truth, our lives will be radically transformed.  We will not only come to know the full freedom of the children of God but also the full rejection of the world.  It is understandable that we hesitate to claim the honor so as to avoid the pain.  But, provided we are willing to share in Christ's suffering, we also will share in his glory (see Romans 8:17).

- Henri J. M. Nouwen  
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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, �1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible �1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Photo by V. Dobson.