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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

2 Chronicles 17-19
Acts 5:33-6:15

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Acts 5:41 (CSB): “Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

After Jesus went back to Heaven, His Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. They proclaimed the Gospel to the unsaved and spoke God’s Word with power. Some responded with conviction and obedience. However, the pseudo-religious leaders were often filled with jealousy. They despised Jesus’ followers for daring to speak with such authority and boldness while infringing on their territory.

As a result, the Apostles were frequently jailed, threatened, beaten, and/or killed. Can you imagine standing up for Jesus and proclaiming the truth of His Word in such a hostile culture? So many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world read passages like Acts 5 and know all too well what it feels like. Many of us who are fortunate enough to live in a place where the freedom to engage in religious activity is embedded in the Bill of Rights have no idea.

When those of us who rarely, if ever, get “persecuted” for following Jesus read passages like Acts 5:41, we may scratch our heads and wonder how it makes sense. Why would Christians be joyful when they get mistreated for following Jesus?

Acts 5:41 (CSB): “Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.”

I remember going on a mission trip to central Mexico many years ago. We had plans to visit a small mountain community in order to share the Gospel and encourage a believer in that community. However, we discovered right before we drove to that community that the Catholic priest in that area had scared the people there by telling them we were a cult who would create problems for them. When we arrived late that night, we went to the only “restaurant” that would serve us. While we were eating, a gunshot rang out in the night just outside one of the barred, glassless windows of the establishment we were in. Clearly, we were being warned. After serving in that community for the next couple of days, I thanked the Lord for sparing us from any danger.

Yet, we read in Acts 5:41 that the Apostles didn’t rejoice that they had been spared from danger. Instead, they rejoiced that they were treated so contemptuously. They had been jailed, threatened, and flogged, and the Apostles were overjoyed that it happened.

Why?!

First, I believe they rejoiced because they were suffering just as Jesus said they would (Matthew 5:10-12). Their suffering, therefore, didn’t catch them off guard. They didn’t wonder why God had abandoned them. Instead, they knew they were in the Father’s will when they experienced exactly what Jesus said they would.

Second, it “burnt the ships.” When they suffered for Jesus, it helped strengthen their resolve to align themselves with Jesus. They didn’t deny Him in order to protect themselves. Instead, they refused to recant, which made it easier to do the same thing the next time.

Third, it caused them to loosen their grip on the things of this earth and look forward to their eternal reward. If someone’s life is easy and filled with abundance, they may want to go to Heaven … just not anytime soon. But someone who has turned their back on the things of this world gladly joins the Apostle John when he said, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Friend, we don’t desire to be persecuted for following Jesus. But if persecution comes for following Him, then as the Holy Spirit empowers us, so be it. Realize that the persecution can be used by our Heavenly Master to bring about some good things in our minds and hearts that will fit us for here and Heaven.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you view the difficulties you experience for His sake in a positive light, rather than spending time questioning Him or becoming angry with Him.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into how we are to think about suffering for Jesus, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Is suffering for Christ always going to be a part of being a follower of Christ?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)