"And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." (Acts 5:40-41)

The story is told of a distinguished Botanist who was exiled from his native land and obtained a job as a gardener in the United States. On a cold winter day, his employer received a valuable plant. Unfamiliar with the plant and its needs, he placed it in the greenhouse under the glare of the sun. When the plant began to die, the man asked the gardener to look at it. Quickly identifying its origin, he explained, "This is a plant which thrives in cold weather." He immediately took it outside and exposed it to the frost, heaping pieces of ice around the flowerpot. Before long the plant became healthy and flourished again. (From Bible Illustrator)

Just as some plants thrive under harsh conditions, faithful Christians rejoice when they are required to suffer hardship and persecution for the name of Christ.