Fools

April 1 is known as April Fool’s Day or All Fools Day.

Some historians claim the day has origins that go back as far as 1582.

When the Julian Calendar was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar in 1563, the start of the New Year changed as well.

It went from the last week in March to January 1.

People who did not get the news continued to celebrate according to the old calendar.

Those that made the change ridiculed those that did not.

They also played pranks and hoaxes on them.

This annual occurrence was popularized in 1700 as All Fools Day.

We who call ourselves Christians are often considered fools for believing as we do.

Scripture reminds us that believers have a track record for doing things that seem foolish.

Abraham left his home and moved to a land he knew absolutely nothing about.

Noah spent years making a large boat nowhere near a body of water.

David armed himself with a sling and went into battle against a giant wearing full armor.

Moses led his people into a wilderness.

On the surface, doing things like this could be considered foolish.

These men of the Old Testament were doing God’s will and that is the wisest thing anyone can do,

The New Testament reminds us of another who did something that could seem foolish.

It tells us of one who died after He was abandoned, ridiculed, severely beaten and nailed to a cross between two thieves.

Although innocent of any wrongdoing, He willingly subjected Himself to these things.

He did this because He was doing God’s will.

He did this for the benefit of others.

Even those that sought to do Him harm.

He did this for us.

Luke 22:42 (NET) - “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.”

When it comes to being considered fools, we are indeed in excellent company.

The question remains, why are Christians considered fools?

I am certain that most simply do not understand why we believe as we do.

I am also certain that there are a few that are afraid.

They are not afraid of us.

What frightens them most is the possibility we might actually be right.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 8, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 15, 2016