I have had Acts 5:41 on my heart for probably the past week or so and it has crushed me. Let me give you a run down of what happened previous to this verse. After Jesus had already risen from the dead and revealed Himself to the apostles, He told them to go and share the good news all over the world to the ends of the earth. At this point the apostles were in Jerusalem and preaching in the name of Jesus and healing people. More and more people were coming to Jesus every day. Everyone that came out with sickness or had anything else wrong with them were being healed by the apostles. The Sadducees were jealous of the apostles and had them arrested. The apostles went without force to jail but later that night God sent an angel and let them out of jail. The apostles went right back to town and kept preaching Jesus. The captain and his guards found them once again and brought them to the Sanhedrin before all of the high priests. Peter told them that the apostles must obey God and not what humans say. God had given them the Holy Spirit and they were to spread Christ. After much deliberation the court decided to let the apostles go.
Then comes verse 41 which says “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” That’s the part that really gets me. I don’t know about you but that sounds completely opposite of how most Christians think today especially in America. There are a couple things that jump out to me in this verse. First is the word suffering, second the word disgrace or shame as some versions put it and finally rejoicing through everything. These are things that nobody wants to endure in their life and here are 12 men that rejoice because they were counted worthy of it. In my own life I never would have found joy in hardship or disgrace.
When I look back in my life I see countless times when I was too afraid to say something to someone even when God was telling me to say it just because I was scared of what that other person might think of or say to me. Maybe I am the only one but if I had to guess I am sure I am not alone in this. Image what kind of world we would live in if we became bold, like the apostles, and listened to what God has to say. But even more than that, that we would listen to what He says and then acted on that. What if we were just obedient to God? The apostles listened to what the Holy Spirit had to say to them and they acted unafraid and unashamed. Because of their obedience many were added to the kingdom each day. Disgrace meant nothing to them. It makes me wonder where have we gone wrong? Why are we so concerned with what others think or say and care so little about what the God of the universe says for us to do? How have we gotten so mixed up? How have we gotten so far away from listening and doing what God wants us to do? It is time to get back to the example the apostles, and Jesus for that matter, have set for us!
The second thing I see is suffering. My first thought is about Joseph and his suffering. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. (Shout out to my brothers, I promise not to sell either of you.) He was a slave that rose up from slave to master only to be falsely accused and sent to prison. And then again he went up from prison to being trusted to be the pharaohs right hand man. And though he endured all that, God was able to use it to bless Josephs family, his own brothers that sold him, with food during the famine. Suffering really sucks, this I know personally. I had a period in my life were I had severe back pain and because of it I had to have surgery. By the grace of God I have been pain free since then! God uses situations of suffering or being uncomfortable in order for you grow from them. And it’s not just a physical feeling. It can also be a testing of your faith. James says to consider it a joy when you face a trial. The testing of your faith produces perseverance. Once you have persevered then you become complete or mature. Back home it is easy to get comfortable. You can go where you want and be with who you want to be with so its easy to create that place. I am learning this already on the race. I can’t control what we do or who I hang out with. We have done some stuff that is not in my comfort zone and that has stretched me. But because I was obedient and willing to step out God has already showed up in big ways!
That’s where the rejoicing comes in. If I weren’t to have joy while I had that uncomfortable feeling and just sat back and felt sorry for myself then I may have never stepped out and got to experience God. All that did was bring my relationship with Him to another level. You can either decide not to have joy and seek God during a trial and just sit in it for who knows how long or you could choose joy and seek God and He will bring you through it and deepen your relationship with Him! It’s all up to us. The apostles chose joy and not only did God take them out of jail, He got them in front of the court and set free. If that were me in that situation then it would only strengthen my faith to be taken to jail and then set free. 1 Thessalonians says to rejoice always, pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances for this is Gods will for us in Christ Jesus. God uses all things for good.
So with all of this said I’m challenging you, along with myself, to step out of your comfort zone. Forget how other people see us or what they think about us. A man can’t serve two masters. Lets seek to please only God. Lets embrace whatever trial that God has put us in and the suffering that comes with it and do our best to have joy throughout it. Better than a fair chance that God will show up big. Why not try and find out for yourself. And if you haven’t faced a trial yet or you are not in one right now just wait because one is coming. That’s the only way we will ever grow. I also think a huge part of us growing and being able to step out and do what God has for us to do is encouragement from others. You can’t let that be where you find your acceptance though. That can come only from Christ. I know in my own life that when I am encouraged that it makes it easier to step out and do because I am less worried about what others think of me or once I have stepped up encouragement after the fact doesn’t hurt either. So lets also seek to be encouragers! The bible says in Hebrews “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” So if we love each other, which we are called to do, then encouraging should part of our daily lives. Previous to me leaving I was not an encourager but since I have been here I’ve realized how important it can be. It’s not always easy for me but I am working on it daily and if it’s not natural to you it is never too late to start encouraging. It is biblical so lets me and you work on it together.
That’s what God has laid on my heart to say. I hope you enjoyed reading it and get as much of a blessing out of it as I have in being shown these things and in writing. Lets live a life with no regrets because we are scared. Lets live a life of joy pleasing to God!
