In Truth and with Love

 

Isaiah 12 is only six verses long.

But in those six verses, the prophet offers both Thanksgiving and praise.

In the second part of verse four, Isaiah reminds us how we can put these concepts into action.

Isaiah 12:4b (NRSVue) - make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.

In Matthew, Jesus commissions the disciples.

Jesus concludes this with specific instructions for them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSVue) - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

The Great Commission applies to all believers.

It was not just for a handful of followers two millennia ago.

Isaiah’s reminder, though far older, still applies.

The world still needs bold witnesses.

As believers, we are called to be those witnesses in today’s world.

Our words and actions can be effective testimony if they are rooted in love.

That testimony must also be founded in truth.

That is a tall order for anyone.

But we can count on the Lord to help us choose our words and our actions.

With His help, we can reflect both His light and His love into an often dark and chaotic world.

Others cannot help but be attracted to that light and that love.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, September 5, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, September 12, 2025

Our Story

 

By the time we get to Exodus 7, God has already called Moses.

Moses resisted, but God would not be denied.

Exodus 7:1-2 (NRSVue) - The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land.

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul has a similar message.

2 Timothy 4:2 (NRSVue) - proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.

God has a similar mission for us.

We are to share the Good News with those whom we encounter.

And like Moses and Timothy, we are to do so clearly.

With God’s help, we can also do so confidently.

We may not be ordained ministers or missionaries, but this task falls to every believer.

Perhaps the best place to begin is with our own personal story.

Every believer is familiar with those moments when God changed their lives for the better.

That makes for a strong beginning.

Those who do not yet have a personal relationship with God need that kind of transformation.

As I have often said: On my best day I cannot save anyone.

But even on my worst day, I can introduce them to the One who can.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 18, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, August 25, 2025

Our Divine Advocate

 

In Isaiah 59, the prophet speaks of sin.

He also states that all sin is known to God.

Isaiah 59:12-13 (NRSVue) - For our transgressions before you are many, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions indeed are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing and denying the Lord and turning away from following our God, talking oppression and revolt, conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart.

The author of 1 John also speaks of sin.

He also reminds us that we have an advocate.

He reminds us that we should not commit sin.

But when we do, Christ intercedes on our behalf.

1 John 2:1 (NRSVue) - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,

In legal terms, an advocate is someone who pleads the cause of another.

Christ pleads our cause.

That is one reason confession is so important.

When we confess, God already knows our transgression.

We are not telling God what He does not know.

In confessing, we admit to ourselves that we were wrong.

God heals and forgives through Christ because of His great and abiding love for us.

When Christ was crucified, he was mocked by those in attendance.

Christ was their advocate when He asked The Father to forgive them.

If Christ was able to forgive so much, why are we hesitant in forgiving so little of others?

After all, Christ is their advocate too.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 4, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, August 11, 2025

Use What You Have Been Given

 

In Daniel 2, God revealed the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream.

In the words of Daniel:

Daniel 2:22 (NRSVue) - He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.

None of Nebuchadnezzar’s advisors could explain the dreams that troubled him.

But Daniel knew that God could reveal the meaning behind the dreams.

In John 17, Jesus prayed for His disciples.

In His prayer, Jesus stated that the world did not know the Father.

But Jesus knew the Father,

And through Jesus, the disciples understood He was sent by the Father.

John 17:25 (NRSVue) - “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

God gave Daniel the ability to tune into His revelation and interpret dreams.

God gives us abilities as well.

Some call these talents or gifts.

And there are still those who live in the world who do not know God.

But those who know Jesus also know God.

As we encounter those who are still of the world, may we use what God has given us to reach them.

On our best day, we cannot save anyone.

But even on our worst day, we can still make the introduction to the One who can save them.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 18, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, July 25, 2025

Where to Turn?

 

Psalm 25 is about delivery and guidance.

In verse 16, the desire for delivery is obvious.

Psalm 25:16 (NRSVue) - Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

In Mark 10, we read of a man named Bartimeus.

This blind man begged by the roadside.

When he heard Jesus was passing by, he did more than pray.

Bartimeus shouted.

Mark 10:47 (NRSVue) - When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Although others told him to keep silent, Bartimeus shouted even more.

Jesus had the blind beggar brought to Him.

When he arrived, Jesus asked what the man wanted.

Bartimeus asked for His sight.

Jesus said that his faith made him well and Bartimeus began to see once more.

Jesus did not need to ask Bartimeus what he desired.

Jesus asked this for the benefit of the crowd.

As we encounter the pains and problems in our lives, may we call upon Jesus.

Jesus knows our problems before we even think to ask Him for deliverance.

May we recall the psalmist and Bartimeus who knew where to turn for healing and comfort.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 4, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, July 11, 2025

But Deliver Us from the Evil One

 

Psalm 125 is about security for God’s people.

The psalmist compares God’s protection to a wall of mountains.

Psalm 125:2 (NRSVue) - As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people from this time on and forevermore.

In John 17, Jesus prays for His disciples.

He prays for their security as well.

Jesus knows that the world hates them.

But Jesus does not pray for them to be removed from the world.

Instead, Jesus prays for God to make them secure from “the evil one.”

John 17:15 (NRSVue) - I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.

Like a wall of mountains, God’s love surrounds us.

And, like the disciples of old, we too must remain in the world for a time.

During our time, we are also protected from “the evil one.”

In Matthew 6, Jesus taught His followers how they should pray.

This is how we should pray as well.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

As we live out lives of service in this world, may we remember God’s love and protection.

May we also remember how we should pray.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, June 20, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, June 27, 2025

His Love Endures

 

Psalm 103 is about gratitude for God’s goodness.

The psalmist also talks about God’s love,

Psalm 103:17-18 (NRSVue) - But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.

God’s love for us is ‘steadfast.’

That means God’s love for us never wavers.

It is also ‘from everlasting to everlasting.’

That means God’s love for us is without end.

The author of Revelation had messages for each of the churches.

To the church in Philadelphia, he wrote...

Revelation 3:10 (NRSVue) - Because you have kept my word of endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

God’s love for us endures.

It will even sustain us through times of trouble.

His love for us will continue even after our mortal lives end.

Thanks to Christ, we know that death is just a transition.

Yes, God is faithful.

Yes, His love for us is without end.

And even when we falter, God does not.

When we stumble, God will forgive us if we but ask for forgiveness.

So, as we go through life, let us always look to God.

May we be certain of His love for us!

And…may we also be just as certain of our love for Him!

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, June 6, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, June 13, 2025