Suffering for Christ

Scripture: Acts 5: 40-42
And they agreed with him, 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. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Observation:
The disciples are preaching and the officials don't like it. They throw them in prison and an Angel lets them out. They go to the temple to preach some more and when they are discovered, they are taken before the council, beaten and told to stop preaching, then released. Even after being beaten, they rejoiced that they suffered for Jesus and continue to preach to everyone who will hear them.

Application:
There have been times that I have shut my mouth (believe it or not) because I was told that I should not be discussing religious things to the people I happened to be around. I was actually made to feel bad for wanting to spread the good news when an opportunity presented itself! I wonder if that has ever happened to anyone else? After a number of years, I decided I needed to move on and went someplace else. I will say that I did not look with favor upon what I had to put up with, much less praise God for it. These verses have reminded me that I should be thankful when I am having such a hard time sharing the good news because I must be doing something right or Satan wouldn't be trying so hard to stop it.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, help me remember to always be thankful when I have the opportunity of presenting the Gospel to others. When I am hindered or ridiculed by others for doing so, help me to rejoice, remembering to count it a joy to suffer for YOU. In Jesus Name Amen.