Gathering in Christ

Ecclesiastes 7:7

Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason, and a bribe debases the heart.

The wisdom of God is arrant stupidity to the wisdom of the world, until all of a sudden God makes the wisdom of the world foolish (see 1 Corinthians 1:23-25)…. You will come across extortioners -- cunning, crafty people who use their wits instead of worshipping God, and you will appear a fool. Are you prepared to appear a fool for Christ’s sake? To suffer for Christ’s sake is to suffer because of being personally related to Him.

…If you are going to be true to God, you will appear a fool among those who do not believe in God, and must lay your account with this. Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men…” and it tests a man for all he is worth to confess Jesus Christ because the confession has to be made in the set to which he belongs and esteems. [It’s the] “shame of the gospel.” “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” says Paul.

Excerpts from Oswald Chambers

Daily Devotional Bible, Reading 241 (8/29)

From Shade of His Hand

This is one of two paintings ever done by me, Jeanette Ze Artiste!