Acts 5: Rejoicing in suffering

No sane person enjoys suffering. This has always been the case. And yet, it seems that we modern-day citizens of developed countries have become quite extraordinarily intolerant of discomfort.

I, for example, am inspired each summer to reflect in horror upon the fact that there once was no such thing as air conditioning.

Such daintiness was utterly foreign to the apostles, who, after being arrested and beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus, leave "rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ" (5:41-42).

I like to think that, if called upon to do so, I would be willing to suffer dishonor, beatings, and even martyrdom for my faith as the apostles did. But, in reality, I don't even want to sacrifice an extra 30 minutes of sleep in the morning to wake up and start the day with prayer; and as Jesus said, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much" (Lk 16:10).

If we want to be great witnesses like the apostles, we must first devote ourselves "to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (2:42). If we wish to withstand some great trial in the hypothetical future, we must be willing to endure small sufferings in the present with joy. Regularly sacrificing some creature comfort -- food, drink, leisure -- is one way we may train ourselves.

(Image: Fyodor Zubov, "Ministry of the Apostles," 1660)