WEDNESDAY’S WISDOM
Let Me Get This Straight… You Just Got Beaten up and You’re Happy about It?
SCRIPTURE: ACTS 5:40
The apostles of the early church lived in a very brutal and depraved era. Under Roman rule, violence and humiliation were common forms of punishment. This spilled over onto the Jewish religious system. Floggings, stoning, and other forms of corporal punishment were common if you didn’t comply with the powers that be. The apostles, having been warned not to, continue to preach in Jesus’s name and the Lord performs miracles. They are again arrested and beaten for their disobedience… and they rejoice.
Why?
Because it validates all that Jesus spoke about their fate and they are honored to suffer for His name’s sake. And we can’t handle a little rejection from sinners who don’t even know the Lord. It’s amazing how compromise will tempt us to tone it down; don’t witness at work or pray for someone who’s hurting.
Fear of rejection causes us to pass up a lot of opportunities to stand up for God. We can’t avoid rejection forever, but we can avoid the pain. Jesus took a bloody beating to spare us the pain of rejection… not the act, but the pain. It doesn’t hurt as much as we imagine it will. After a while, we expect and endure it. Don’t be afraid, beloved. Get ready to rejoice.
The Master is pleased with you.