Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
THE SPOILS OF VICTORY -- PERSECUTION
The earlier part of Acts 5 talked about how certain apostles were imprisoned but miraculously freed by an angel of God. They followed the angel's command to go and preach openly and it didn't take long to receive more persecution for this activity. Some of the members of the Jewish council were so upset that they were ready to kill the apostles right then and there. Instead, after the advice of a senior member named Gamaliel, they beat the apostles and let them go.
Certainly, they could be thankful that their lives were spared but it was hardly fair at all to be beaten for simply preaching. It would have been easy for the apostles to get bitter at God, especially since it was obedience to His command that brought these hardships upon them. But instead, their attitude was completely different. They rejoiced that they were allowed to suffer for the name of Jesus. And they continued their devotion and obedience to God by not giving in to the threats of council. In the very next verse (42) we're told that they continued to teach daily in the temple and in homes about Jesus Christ.
The apostles recognized the right to suffer for Jesus as a blessing, as a spoil of the resurrection victory we might say. At this prospect some might say they were crazy or out of their minds. But these men knew exactly what they were doing. They rejoiced out of love and courage for Jesus, not out of lunacy. They knew that when they suffered for doing God's will, even if it was unfair punishment, they were marked as one redeemed by Christ the crucified. What a blessing, indeed, to be one of God's own instead of being one of the world -- even at the cost of persecution.
