The Light of Life Daily Devotional

Tuesday, 17th May 2022 

TOPIC: SUFFERING GLADLY FOR GOD 

FOR READING & MEDITATION:  ACTS 5:25-41.

25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, preaching to the people!

26-27 The police captain went with his officers and arrested them (without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they roughed up the disciples) and brought them in before the Council.

28 “Didn’t we tell you never again to preach about this Jesus?” the High Priest demanded. “And instead you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring the blame for this man’s death on us!”

29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 

30 The God of our ancestors brought Jesus back to life again after you had killed him by hanging him on a cross. 

31 Then, with mighty power, God exalted him to be a Prince and Savior, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven.

32 And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to all who obey him.”

33 At this, the Council was furious and decided to kill them. 

34 But one of their members, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (an expert on religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the Council chamber while he talked.

35 Then he addressed his colleagues as follows:

“Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 

36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers were harmlessly dispersed.

37 “After him, at the time of the taxation, there was Judas of Galilee. He drew away some people as disciples, but he also died, and his followers scattered.

38 “And so my advice is, leave these men alone. If what they teach and do is merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 

39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, lest you find yourselves fighting even against God.”

40 The Council accepted his advice, called in the apostles, had them beaten, and then told them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and finally let them go. 

41 They left the Council chamber rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for his name.

MEDITATE

The early saints were a pain in the neck of the religious leaders of their day who wanted things to continue as usual. Although the Apostles were bringing light to the darkness of their days, the Jewish leaders were not happy and wanted to fight them to ground their new doctrine but God kept on frustrating them. And because of their determination they couldn't be stopped even in the face of stiff oppositions. 

As you can see, the apostles even seized the opportunity of their trial to preach to the religious leaders of the time. Even when they were beaten as our text indicated, they were still thankful to God for being counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Should that kind of thing happen today to a renowned church leader, we will seek redress in the court of law, but that was not so with the early saints.

The disciples were not acting strangely after all. They were simply responding to the injunctions of the Scriptures found in Matthew 5:10-12 where Jesus said; "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…” If someone diligently studies the Scripture, he will see men and women who gladly suffered severe persecutions. 

You would also find similar records when you read church history. Many Christians were thrown to wild animals to be killed and eaten; many were burnt alive, and yet they chose to be killed rather than deny Christ, and they did it with joy. What was it that drove them to such commitment? Could it be that they wanted to prosper materially? No. It was because of their sincere love for God. 

I want to remind you that there is no other brand of Christianity. A gospel without suffering and sacrifice will not stand the test of time. Apostle Paul calls such gospel; “another gospel”. He warned that if anybody preaches such gospel let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-10).

VERSE OF THE DAY: “They left the council chamber rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonour for his name” (Acts 5:41 TLB).

QUOTE: “A gospel without suffering and sacrifice will not stand the test of time”.

PRAYER: Help me Lord to face whatever challenges I might have in the course of preaching the gospel and to joyfully stand firm, Amen. 

AUTHOR: Rev William Okoye