Greetings sisters!
I hope your day is going well and you are enduring in your obedience to Christ showing the power of a transformed life.
Are you a fool for Christ's sake? We see what the apostles went through for the cause of Christ.
"For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
1 Corinthians 4:9-13
What an example for us to be inspired by!
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence."
1 Corinthians 1:18-29
How are we doing at overcoming our flesh for Christ, being willing to be thought a fool?
There's this little verse I had barely noticed in times past about striving against sin.
"Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
Hebrews 12:4
It really helps me to see the extent we must go to in order to fight against sin...unto death.
I've been thinking about the depths of loosing your life for Christ and not trying to hold onto our own cosy flesh but stepping out in the Spirit. I know Christ is worthy!
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
Mark 8:35
I am encouraged by the bravery of queen Esther going into the king, which could have been punishable by death in order to save her people, the Jews. How much more courage and strength should we have to live for Christ and uphold the truth!
"Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
Esther 4:16
I'm greatly encouraged by these men of faith in Hebrews 11 and what they did and suffered for their faith in God.
"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
Hebrews 11:32-40
Amazing! Such strong faith in the true and living God. May we godly women have the same resolve to fight through everything, knowing whom we have believed. I know there are countries where you can be killed instantly if you are a believer in Jesus. Praise God most, and probably all, of us don't have that but how strong is our loyalty to Him in the relative peace we have been given? I want to have strength that can push through the greatest barriers and press on not looking to the right or the left. Easier said than done at times yes.
Sisters, this life is so short and the darkness and evil so deep and our God so holy and pure that we need to press on with a GREAT urgency in obedience. Yes it's hard I know in parts, but the longer we do it I know we shall be more mature and not care so much about it.
We have those areas that pertain to women such as biblical dress, headcovering, and quietness and submission in which the world and often many claiming Christ think foolish, but there are many other areas also in which we may have to be considered a fool for Christ and endure reproach; separation from sinful things not ordained in the Word which are false traditions, separation from people on earth who are worldly or believers who live in sin to name a few. All these and more can make us fools for Christ. I know it's a wonderful thing really.
We set our affections on things above and as humble servants doing just what was commanded us looking forward to having fought a good fight and being rewarded by a just and faithful God.
"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."
Matthew 25:21
We pray the Lord for strength, and thank Him for the encouragement of the brethren! We are compassed about with many witnesses! Let us lay aside those sins and weights for Him!
Love in Christ,
...a daughter of God
See the gospel to eternal life through Christ here.