Verse of the Day - Acts 5:40-41

They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ~ Acts 5:40-41 (NIV)

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The apostles' response to their treatment isn't what most people would do or expect others to do. I think it would be much more natural to stage a protest, file a lawsuit, write a scathing blog, alert the media...basically, make a big stink about the unlawful and unethical treatment of Christians. Isn't that what you would do, if some of your friends from church were hauled into court and slammed with jail time for preaching on the streets?

And not only did the apostles who had been jailed and flogged not raise a public outcry for the injustice done to them, but they went away rejoicing. Why? Because they "had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." See, back in that day, they had a keen sense of connection with Christ's suffering, having watched it with their own eyes. They had a keen sense of connection with God's love through Him, having touched Him with their own hands. They had given themselves to Jesus 100%, wanting to be like Him in every respect, even to the point of participating in His suffering. They considered it an honor to suffer for Jesus Christ, not an injustice to be rectified!

We can get sidetracked when we deflect the honor of Christian persecution and spend precious time and energy trying to right the wrongs against believers for their faith. The apostles gave God glory for the honor of suffering for Him, and then went right on preaching and teaching. They wasted no time writing petitions, pounding on politicians' doors, or trying to garner support from the people for their restitution. They simply went back to the Father's business.

I think it's interesting that the stories we hear of people fighting for the rights of believers today who are being persecuted for their faith are being waged by those on the outside of the story -- the Western world, the international community, those not experiencing the actual suffering. When you read stories of those who are in the throws of Christian persecution, you hear a very different tune. You hear rejoicing and gladness for being honored to participate in Christ's suffering. And you hear love for their persecutors. Like Christ.

We have a hard time understanding how someone could rejoice when they are cut and bleeding from a flogging, how they could praise God after being thrown in jail because of their religious affiliation. But the apostles and modern day martyrs had come to a blessed understanding of giving their lives for the life of Christ. This is a supernatural mindset, but not unattainable. May we strive to acquire, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that mindset which chooses Christ over all other earthly comforts and concerns, which chooses closeness with Jesus over life itself.

Love,
Joelene