“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV)
In this fallen and evil world, the righteous may not always get the justice they deserve or be adequately rewarded for their righteousness.
In this anti-Christ world, living a godly and upright life may result in persecution. Choosing not to compromise your moral and spiritual values or principles may result in some losses or deprivations.
In this morally depraved society, daring to be different from your colleagues may be greeted with severe criticism or even ostracism, and refusing to yield to temptations to sin may not be celebrated but may result in hatred or hardship.
The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19 NKJV).
Paul also clearly states, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12 NKJV).
Nevertheless, it is God’s commandment that believers should rejoice always.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philip. 4:4 NKJV).
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” (James 1:2 NKJV).
God’s commandments are not burdensome or grievous (1 John 5:3). If God commands us to rejoice in hard times and situations, it is because God knows we can.
The early disciples rejoiced, gloried, and took pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions, and distresses for the sake of Christ. We, too, can rejoice at all times and in all situations today (2 Cor. 12:10, Rom. 5:3, 2 Cor. 7:4).
If we are to count it all joy when we go through fiery trials and tribulations for Christ’s sake, we must have the same mindset, values, and understanding that the early disciples and apostles of Christ had or possessed.
In the first part of this series, we began to explore the secrets of the unending joy of the early disciples, even in the face of opposition, tribulation, and persecution.
First, the early disciples were fully prepared to embrace and endure suffering, tribulation, and persecution for the sake of Christ.
While the Lord Jesus was present physically with His disciples, He did not hide from them what they would face, suffer and endure for His name’s sake. So, they were not caught unaware or unprepared when persecution came.
Jesus taught His disciples to prepare for persecution.
John 15:18-21 – NKJV
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
Therefore, when the early disciples were opposed, imprisoned, beaten, ridiculed, or persecuted for the sake of Christ, they regarded it not as a strange or unusual thing. Instead, they embraced and endured it with joy (Acts 5:41-42).
Second, the early disciples gloried and rejoiced in all their tribulations because of their unreserved and irrevocable surrender and submission to the Lordship of Christ and His will.
The early disciples were sold out to the Lord Jesus – dead to themselves but alive to Christ.
They judged or reasoned “that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Cor. 5:14-15 NKJV).
The ultimate goal of the early disciples was to please the Lord and do His will entirely. In pleasing the Lord and carrying out His will and commands, they regarded nothing as too dear, precious, or great to sacrifice for the Lord’s sake.
As a result, they embraced persecution with joy and esteemed it a great honor to suffer or die for the sake of their Lord, who loved them and died for their sins.
When beaten and imprisoned, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name.
Acts 5:41-42 – NKJV
41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
Paul boasts not in his achievements but in his infirmities!
2 Corinthians 12:10 – NKJV
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What a challenge and encouragement for us today!
You are primarily troubled, offended, and provoked by tribulation or persecution for Christ’s sake because you have not unreservedly surrendered and submitted yourself to Christ and His will.
Self will always seek to defend, complain, protest, and even retaliate or fight back when hated, hurt, punished, or persecuted for the sake of Christ. Therefore, you cannot accept, embrace or endure persecution with joy and calmness if you are not dead to yourself or learn to deny yourself.
The early disciples rejoiced and gloried in their tribulations because they were genuinely dead to themselves – to their ego, pride, status, achievements, positions, or possessions.
Third, the early disciples drew strength and courage to rejoice and glory in suffering, tribulation, or persecution for Christ’s sake from their unshaken and unswerving faith and confidence in the Lord and His promises.
Although the Lord told His disciples that they would experience tribulation and persecution, He also told them to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world for them (John 16:33).
The Lord also assured them of His presence with them in all situations, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).
The early disciples wholeheartedly believed in the Lord’s faithfulness and ability to keep His promises. They were never agitated, restless, unsettled, or unhappy in tribulation. Peter could sleep deeply in prison while in chains (Acts 12:1-11). Paul and Silas could sing hymns to God when beaten, chained, and thrown into the dungeon (Acts 16:23-28).
If we also have absolute confidence in God’s promises and believe He is always with us, we shall be calm and cheerful during any trial, tribulation, or persecution.
Lastly, the early disciples were strong, calm, and cheerful in all their tribulations for Christ’s sake because their minds and affections were set not on mundane or fleeting things of this earth but on their heavenly rewards and glories.
The joy or happiness of the early disciples of Christ was not based on their earthly situations, possessions, positions, or qualifications but on the Lord Jesus Christ and their eternal rewards in heaven.
That was why they were unruffled when all they had was taken away. The Scripture testifies that they joyfully accepted the plundering of their goods, knowing they have a better and enduring possession in heaven (Heb. 10:34).
In the light of their eternal rewards, their present tribulations were considered light affliction. They acknowledged and testified that their “light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17 NKJV).
And that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18 NKJV).
You also can go through any tribulation with joy if you “do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18 NKJV).
Beloved, you will not faint or lose your joy and peace in the face of suffering or death for the sake of Christ if you set your mind on “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Pet. 1:4 NKJV).
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, when going through any suffering, tribulation, or persecution for Christ’s sake, help me to set my mind on the eternal rewards and glories that You have prepared for me in heaven so that I may endure tribulation or persecution for Christ’s sake in this evil world with great joy, in Jesus’ name. Amen.