REJOICING THAT THEY WERE COUNTED – Acts 5:41
Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
Peter and the apostles by the help of God escaped from prison. They were then directed to go preach in the temple which they willingly did. The religious leaders determined that they were going to kill the apostles but God sent Gamaliel to argue on behalf of the apostles that if they were called by God, it was best to leave them along but if they were just pursuing the things of man, they would quickly be disbanded.
Rather than kill the apostles, the religious leaders decided to simply beat them and command them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. If the apostles were simply preaching in the name of Christ because they sought the praises of men, they might have reconsidered their actions so that they did not cause any more harm to their bodies. However, the apostles understood that Christ suffered and died so that they might be free and they rejoiced that they too had to suffer because of who HE was.
Gamaliel was very wise in the advice that he gave the religious leaders. If these apostles were working under their own power, it would not take long before the pressures of their position would discourage them and cause them to go find something else to do. However, if the apostles were obeying God, the religious leaders would find that it is impossible to fight against God.
Gamaliel gave the example of two men who were doing their own thing and raised a large following. However, once these men died, their followers quickly disbanded. Gamaliel could have given many examples throughout history of individuals who suffered much because they chose to do what was right in the eyes of God. Gamaliel could have reminded the religious leaders about Joseph, Elijah, and Daniel.
If you are simply serving yourself and doing what seems best in your own eyes, it will not take too long until the pressures of this world will cause you to change your direction. However, if your focus is upon the things of God and doing his perfect will, then you can remain focused upon HIM and you can weather any storm.
The difference between one who is serving God and one who is only looking out for themselves is not easily revealed until the trials come. The apostles were beaten and they revealed that they were the real thing because they gave glory to God rather than going home and figure out what they must do in order to remain popular with the religious leaders.
The apostles had already died to themselves because they did not care what happened to them; their greatest concern was doing the will of God and following HIM. Because the world did not control, it did not matter what the religious leaders did to them, the apostles were able to rejoice and thank God.
When you add temperance to your life, you will be free to serve the Lord with all your heart. You will never find true contentment until you are willing to die to the things of this world and dedicate your life to the things of God. Temperance requires that you do not serve your flesh and the things of this world; instead, you serve God. You have heard that the things of this world will never satisfy; however, until you give up the things of this world, you will never fully understand the freedom you receive when you dedicate your life to the things of God.