"And when they had called for the apostles and
beaten them, they commanded that they should
not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
So they departed from the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for His name."
Acts 5: 40-41
In the early days of the Church, apostles were
arrested
and beaten for sharing the Good News. Yet their response
was not one of anxiety or fear. Instead, they rejoiced! Why?
Because “they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His
name.”
The apostles’ joy was not dependent on their pain level
or location; their joy came from knowing that they were
obeying Christ’s command to share the Good News of
the Gospel with the world.
Choosing to rejoice in stressful circumstances
is not a normal reaction in our world. But it
should be the Christian’s response.
We know the One who is sovereignly reigning
over all the earth. We know the Creator of the
sunrise and the sunset. We know the Father
who cares for His children.
Therefore,
rejoice in all circumstances.
We can say with the apostle Paul, “Rejoice
in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Do it
today, no matter what comes your way.
"Lift up your heart, lift up your
voice! Rejoice, again I say,
rejoice!"