For the Name! Part I

"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." (Acts 5:41;NIV)

It's time...time to figure out what life is all about! Life is about the Name of Jesus Christ. It's not about your name...it's not about my name..it's not about "our" purpose in life or where we are going to live,etc. Yes, those things are important and yes, God the Father intimately cares for you and me and those things. However, before all of that, there was Christ...after all of that...Christ! Our lives are to be about the Name of Jesus!

Aside from Jesus, we have no purpose, no calling, no hope, no future. The apostles figured this out. So, they did not look for their purpose and go where the money was. They did not say, "God wants me to be happy so I must go where the bigger homes are". They went to where Jesus needed to be preached and suffered disgrace"for the Name".

The word "disgrace" comes from "dis"- meaning "opposite" and "grazia" meaning "grace". It is the "opposite of grace"...in other words, misfortune, out of favor. God would not call us to suffer "misfortune" would He? That's not American Christianity. Your right...it's not American Christianity; but it's what Jesus meant for Christianity! Jesus calls us to "suffer for the Name." That is our purpose in life! That is a call to rejoice!

The apostles "rejoiced" that they had been counted "worthy" of "suffering disgrace" for the Name of Jesus...let that soak in. Usually, we say, "It must be God's will because I get a bigger salary; I must be in the right ministry because everyone speaks well of me and I have a big office." The apostles were not spoken well of...they did not have a big office. Not that those things are bad, they can be a blessing from Jesus. But, that's not all God has called us to. We are called to suffer disgrace "for the Name."

The apostles did just that! They performed miraculous signs and wonders...taught in the Name of Jesus Christ and were thrown into prison. An angel of the Lord got 'em out of prison and told them, "Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life (Acts 5:20)."

Dude, they had just gotten thrown into prison for just that thing! Well, they spoke the Name of Jesus and did what the angel of the Lord said...guess what? They got flogged for it! That's when they said verse 41 above! First prison...then being beaten with a whip! Where were the free doughnuts?

Here is how you and I will know if we are "4 the Name" Christ followers: we will preach Jesus Name til we "suffer disgrace" for it. Then, WE'LL DO IT AGAIN! "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE on Him, but also to SUFFER for Him." (Philippians 1:29;Emphasis mine;NIV).

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21;NIV)