Counted Worthy to Suffer for Jesus

 I would imagine that most of us would be happy that we were counted worthy to receive some honor. That usually would mean that we would get a prize or a monetary gift. However, God has different way of honoring Christians who are faithful to Jesus. Sometimes, He counts us worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. 

That is what happened to the apostles who were imprisoned by the Jewish leaders and beaten for teaching in Jesus's name. (Acts 5:41) After that experience, the apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. That may seem odd to us, but it shouldn't.

One of the greatest things we can do, as Christians, is to suffer for Jesus. Just think about what Jesus had to suffer for us to be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to God. The least we can do is to live for Him openly, and if it causes us to suffer, we should accept the suffering with joy.

Now, I am not talking about trying to go out and make people mad at us. I am saying we should obey the Lord, no matter what anyone says. Then, if God sees our faithfulness, and He counts us worthy to suffer disgrace, we should see it as God's seal of approval on our obedience, and we should know He will be with us through whatever we have to suffer.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 6-8.