Hosanna Restoration Church

When it comes down to it, we all prefer to look good. We don’t want to look like fools. Unless of course we mean to be acting like fools, and then we want to be considered good at it. Yet in this scripture we see the disciples rejoicing that they could suffer shame for the Name. The amplified bible says they were [dignified by the indignity]. How could they, or why would they feel this way? Well, the answer is simple.

They understood that it did not matter how they looked to men, as long as they looked good to God. They were doing what God told them to do, and they knew that this made them pleasing in His sight.

The question for all of us is, “who do we want to look good for?” How often are we guilty of sacrificing what is right in God’s eyes in order to look good for people. We expect God to understand that we don’t want to look foolish or over zealous for the things of God! We are willing, for the most part, to serve him in the church service, but may have another standard in the restaurant and perhaps even in our homes.

The disciples had determined that the only one they really needed to please was God. They attempted to be at peace with all men, as long as it did not cause them to compromise their standing with God. So, when the world tried to put them to shame for preaching Christ, they knew they had done a great job! You always celebrate when you have had success. They had been arrested, jailed, freed by an angel, warned not to preach, beaten and released. Now that was a joy unto the Lord. That is what caused them to rejoice. Can’t you just sense God’s joy when you put Him first in a situation.

It may be that we first have to be broken hearted over denying the Lord, before we can be excited about losing face for Him. I am not sure why it is this way. But we do know that everyone of the disciples ran away when Jesus was arrested. They also experienced the joy of being forgiven by Jesus in person. It was probably the sick feeling in their stomach over denying Him, that made them determine that they would never do that again.

It may be that during their flogging they felt a very powerful presence of God that started them rejoicing right then. What ever the reason, they had discovered the way to live in victory. Isn’t that what we all want? It is most certainly what we all need.

If we determine that we want to look good in God’s eyes above all else, I believe that God has given us the measure of faith to rejoice in Him in any situation. Joshua said, “choose this day whom you will serve.” We can not be on both sides! Who do we want to look good for? I pray we can all say, “Jesus now and forever.”