…and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Acts 5:40-41 – After teaching and doing wonderous signs for all to see, after having the multitudes coming to Jesus like never before, the priests arrest the apostles. God breaks them out of prison and the priests realize a humbling truth…they can’t stop this. The movement is happening and no effort of theirs is going to halt it. So they do what they can, they intimidate, beat the apostles, and order them never to speak of Jesus again. For many that would have been enough to silence them forever about Jesus, but we see the apostles instead leaving that whole scene with the priests jumping around, high-fiving, chest bumping, and praising the Lord. Sure, probably bloodied and bruised, but jumping for joy at the same time. How? Why? Because they connected all this to an amazing truth, they were living so faithfully and so like Jesus that they had begun to be treated like Jesus was treated. No, I doubt the bruises felt good, but being so affiliated with Jesus that they were condemned as Jesus was fueled their joy. Looking at our story, often when we begin to feel the pressures against our faith life, the temptation to back down can easily arise. See though from this chapter a group of men that also saw, and felt, the pressure against their faith, but endured through it, and what was on the other side was pure joy. Don’t give up or give in when the enemy comes against your active faith for Jesus. Keep going, endure, and find the joy beyond the pressure that comes when we faithfully serve the Lord even through the hard. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3613
Question To Ponder: How can joy be found after persecution?
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