Rejoicing through pain

Acts 5:41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.

As a human being, we experience a range of emotions on a daily sometimes hourly basis. And many of those emotions depend on our circumstances around us. When something good happens, we are happy; when someone hurts us, we become angry and sad. And a lot of times, our emotional reactions are justified. There is a time to cry, there is a time to laugh, a time to sing, a time to mourn.

However in today’s verse, we see something quite contrary. The apostles had just been flogged (beat with a whip) with an order to never again speak in the name of Jesus. Such a circumstance would normally result in a range of negative emotions: fear, regret, sadness, anger and so on. Plus the physical pain they had to endure from the flogging would not be something worth celebrating. But how do the apostles react? They rejoice! That’s not just being happy, that’s deep inner joy. The type of joy that would normally come when a mother sees her child come out from her womb, or when a prodigal child returns home. What’s even more amazing is the reason for which the apostles rejoiced. They were filled with joy because they got to suffer for Jesus Christ!

When you think about it, only someone who is deeply in love with someone else would be willing to suffer for that person. They had truly understood who Jesus was. And suffering for Christ was considered to be the greatest privilege of their life. No one could stop them from doing what Christ called them to do. The disciples were sold out for Jesus.

This scripture reminds me of the story of the man who watched his children and wife being killed in front of him, while standing firm in his faith in Jesus Christ. As they threatened and literally killed his entire family, he spoke these words, which later became one of the greatest hymns of all times –

I have decided to follow Jesus.No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me,No turning back, no turning back.

Though none go with me, still I will follow.No turning back, no turning back.

The next time somebody mocks you for your faith or criticize you for your beliefs, remember the words of Christ Himself:

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:10-12)

Choosing joy over sorrow is easier said than done. But if we truly love Jesus, we also like the apostles will consider it  a great joy to not only work for Christ, but also suffer for Him. I think it’s a level of ministry that cannot be enforced or even trained. It is a sole outcome of our closeness with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.