Command the Raven

1 Corinthians 4:9-10 [show/hide]1 Corinthians 4:9-10 [9]For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. [10]We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. (ESV)

We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake.
Luke 6:22 [show/hide]Luke 6:22 [22]"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! (ESV)

Blessed are ye, when men shall…reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

Do not be deterred from this fullness of spiritual life by the fact that the world has long since pronounced every one of its possessors a madman. The world has some good ground for its verdict. A madman is one who sees, or thinks he sees, what others see not; illumination of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abiding with the believer [John 14:16-23 [show/hide]John 14:16-23 [16]And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, [17]even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. [18]"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. [19]Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. [20]In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21]Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." [22]Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" [23]Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (ESV)
] he sees what the blind world sees not, and shapes his conduct in accordance with the heavenly light.

Hence, those who see not what he sees must think him beside himself, and express their pity that reason has been dethroned. If you are unwilling to be an unintelligible and sadly misunderstood person in the eye of the world, an enigma to your best friends, who know not the experience of the indwelling Spirit, we advise you to wait till you have conquered the world in so far as to live without its good opinion.

By the grace of God the thing can be done “Be of good cheer,” says the great Representative and Exemplar, “I have overcome the world.” – Daniel Steele.

Trials may come, but they are all good. I have not been so tried for many years. Every week, and almost every day, I am bespattered in the public papers. Many are in tears on the occasion; many terribly frightened and crying out, “Oh, what will the end be?” What will it be? Why, glory to God in the highest, and peace and goodwill among men. – Wesley.

It is not the many who reform the world; but the few who rise superior to that public opinion which crucified our Lord many years ago. – Charles Kingsley
- The Christian’s Daily Challenge – E.F. & L. Harvey