The mark of a new creature in Christ is not the having a better heart, for that remains the same as ever, but the looking at everything as having God for the center, and not judging of things as though man were the center; seeing where God is; looking down deeper to the springs of love in God flowing to us through Christ the fountain; all one spirit with the Lord. How different are God's thoughts from man's as to walk! God looking at the One He raised up and saying, I have not a word against those who believe in Him; their guilt has been all rolled away; they are one spirit with Him whom I love up here; He is the Head; those poor things down there are His hands and feet; I love them, and have given them one spirit with My Son. Are these God's thoughts about us? Yes; and if we did but make them our thoughts too, we should have bright faces and happy hearts passing through this wilderness. What then were all my adverse circumstances? What all that tries me? If God be for me, what is all that is against me? The primitive Christians, when spoiled of their goods, took it joyfully; they lost everything, gave up everything, and had power to go forth with happy hearts, rejoicing in the Lord. Every necessity in us is only something for God to find grace in Christ to meet it.
Have you weighed that expression, "heirs of God"? What! are you heirs of God—joint heirs with Christ? Your names linked up with Christ's name in one lot or inheritance, as in the promised inheritance of the Jews? Each lot had a name attached to it. God has a lot, and from it Christ comes forth; your name is linked with His, and you are to share whatever is in that lot. Oh, what a lot it is! One lot has fallen to us—to suffer with Him here and partake with Him of His glory hereafter.
Your sorrow ought not to be the world's sorrow, but Christ's; singing for joy in the midst of it, because identified with Him. There is no sorrow we can suffer in association with Christ that has not sweetness in it.