How long have you known God?
Now, let’s turn the question around.
How long has God known you?
Here is what He said to Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NET) - The LORD said to me. "Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."
You are not an accident.
You are alive because God planned your existence.
What about the time between your conception and your birth?
Here is what the Psalmist reveals.
Psalm 139:13 (NET) - Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother’s womb.
Even in the earliest stage of your earthly existence, God was there with you.
He expertly wove you together cell by cell and organ by organ.
Just how intimately does God know you?
Here is what Jesus said.
Luke 12:6-7 (NET) - Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
Do you know how many hairs there are on your head?
God does.
That is how intimately He knows you.
He even knows your needs?
Here is what Jesus had to say about that.
Matthew 6:8 (NET) - Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
God planned for your existence.
God was at work on you in the womb.
God knows you intimately.
God knows your every need.
Face it, God knows you.
In fact, He knows you even better than you know yourself.
You were created to have a relationship with God.
A relationship, however, requires two working toward the same goal.
God is half of that relationship,
God has done and continues to do everything He can to make His relationship with you possible.
You are the other half of that relationship.
What are you contributing to it?
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 7, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, September 14, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
The Root of All Evil
It seems as though many of the TV channels I have relied on for documentaries have turned to reality programs as a means of garnering bigger ratings.
Not surprisingly, many of these programs incorporate greed as a driving force.
Thinking about this reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.
I was invited to a party at a private home.
The husband and wife hosting the party were both extremely nice.
It was obvious from their home and its furnishings that this couple had done quite well for themselves.
As I genuinely liked this couple I could not help but feel happy for them.
As the celebration went on, I happened to overhear a conversation that two of their guests were having as they paused behind me.
One said, "If I owned all of this, I could finally be happy."
The guest he said this to agreed with him.
I could not disagree more.
Wealth and possessions do not bring happiness.
The pursuit of wealth and possessions often makes true happiness difficult, perhaps even impossible. to obtain.
We have heard it said that money is the root of all evil.
We have even heard that this can be found in the Bible.
That is not exactly true.
Here is what the Bible really says...
1 Timothy 6:10 (NET) - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
It is not money that is the problem, rather, it is the love of money.
Scripture provides us with many examples of this.
In the twelfth chapter of John, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with an expensive aromatic ointment made of pure nard.
Judas chastised her by stating that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.
John tells us what really motivated Judas.
John 12:6 (NET) - Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.
What did Jesus say about Mary’s action.
John 12:7 (NET) - So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial."
Mary showed that she cared more about Jesus than she cared about money.
In the fifth chapter of Acts, we read of a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Ananias sold a piece of property and withheld some of the money with his wife’s knowledge.
Peter reminded Ananias that this was a lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:3 (NET) - But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
Ananias paid for this lie with his life as he collapsed and died.
Three hours later, Sapphira continued her husband’s lie.
She then paid with her life in a similar way.
The love of money or possessions is a barrier that separates us from real happiness.
Even worse, it separates us from God.
God both demands and deserves to be first in our lives.
When we place more value on money or possessions than we do on God, we practice idolatry.
God makes His feelings very clear regarding this.
Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.
When we place God first, He helps us prioritize everything else.
That includes money and the possessions it will buy.
Placing God first in our lives is the real key to happiness.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 31, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Not surprisingly, many of these programs incorporate greed as a driving force.
Thinking about this reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.
I was invited to a party at a private home.
The husband and wife hosting the party were both extremely nice.
It was obvious from their home and its furnishings that this couple had done quite well for themselves.
As I genuinely liked this couple I could not help but feel happy for them.
As the celebration went on, I happened to overhear a conversation that two of their guests were having as they paused behind me.
One said, "If I owned all of this, I could finally be happy."
The guest he said this to agreed with him.
I could not disagree more.
Wealth and possessions do not bring happiness.
The pursuit of wealth and possessions often makes true happiness difficult, perhaps even impossible. to obtain.
We have heard it said that money is the root of all evil.
We have even heard that this can be found in the Bible.
That is not exactly true.
Here is what the Bible really says...
1 Timothy 6:10 (NET) - For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.
It is not money that is the problem, rather, it is the love of money.
Scripture provides us with many examples of this.
In the twelfth chapter of John, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with an expensive aromatic ointment made of pure nard.
Judas chastised her by stating that the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor.
John tells us what really motivated Judas.
John 12:6 (NET) - Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.
What did Jesus say about Mary’s action.
John 12:7 (NET) - So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial."
Mary showed that she cared more about Jesus than she cared about money.
In the fifth chapter of Acts, we read of a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira.
Ananias sold a piece of property and withheld some of the money with his wife’s knowledge.
Peter reminded Ananias that this was a lie to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:3 (NET) - But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land?
Ananias paid for this lie with his life as he collapsed and died.
Three hours later, Sapphira continued her husband’s lie.
She then paid with her life in a similar way.
The love of money or possessions is a barrier that separates us from real happiness.
Even worse, it separates us from God.
God both demands and deserves to be first in our lives.
When we place more value on money or possessions than we do on God, we practice idolatry.
God makes His feelings very clear regarding this.
Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.
When we place God first, He helps us prioritize everything else.
That includes money and the possessions it will buy.
Placing God first in our lives is the real key to happiness.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 31, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Remembering Kindness
The other afternoon, I stopped at a local restaurant to enjoy a cup of coffee with friends.
There was a man waiting in line who looked me over and then called me by my name and then asked if he was correct.
I told him he was, but I on the other hand had absolutely no recollection of this man.
He removed his sunglasses and introduced himself.
It was only then that I realized I indeed knew this man because we had once worked together over twenty five years ago.
He had yet another surprise for me.
He told me he remembered a kindness I had shown him those many years ago.
Not remembering it myself I had to ask what exactly that kindness was.
After all, a great deal of time had passed and those days were long ago.
At this point in my life I can barely remember what I had for breakfast Tuesday morning.
He related the incident and as he related it the memory of it returned.
This man had made a mistake on the job and knowing our employers the way I did, I feared they would make an example of this man.
I knew this man needed the job and firing him would bring tremendous financial hardship on him.
I spoke to his supervisor and a member of management and told them of his circumstances hoping they would perhaps show him some leniency.
My words fell on deaf ears.
They told me that the decision to fire him had already been made and I received a rather stern speech for trying to intercede for him.
A coworker ran into him a few days later and told him about my efforts.
I had forgotten completely about the incident and my efforts.
This man did not.
Even though more than a quarter of a century had elapsed and the final outcome did not change, this man remembered how I tried to intervene on his behalf.
It reminded me how fortunate I was to have someone intercede on my behalf.
Paul reminds me that I am a sinner.
Romans 3:23 (NET) - For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.
Even in my fallen state, I have someone who intercedes on my behalf. And where I failed in my attempt, the one who intercedes for me will never fail.
Romans 8:34 (NET) - Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.
Why would Christ intercede for me?
I can do nothing to earn salvation.
I certainly can do nothing to deserve it.
If I were to get what I truly deserve my situation would be most dire.
It is because of God’s love and mercy that Christ paid the price I could never hope to pay.
John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that the everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
It is through Christ’s willingness to follow His Father’s will to the cross that I have hope.
That is a kindness I will never forget.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 10, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 3, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
There was a man waiting in line who looked me over and then called me by my name and then asked if he was correct.
I told him he was, but I on the other hand had absolutely no recollection of this man.
He removed his sunglasses and introduced himself.
It was only then that I realized I indeed knew this man because we had once worked together over twenty five years ago.
He had yet another surprise for me.
He told me he remembered a kindness I had shown him those many years ago.
Not remembering it myself I had to ask what exactly that kindness was.
After all, a great deal of time had passed and those days were long ago.
At this point in my life I can barely remember what I had for breakfast Tuesday morning.
He related the incident and as he related it the memory of it returned.
This man had made a mistake on the job and knowing our employers the way I did, I feared they would make an example of this man.
I knew this man needed the job and firing him would bring tremendous financial hardship on him.
I spoke to his supervisor and a member of management and told them of his circumstances hoping they would perhaps show him some leniency.
My words fell on deaf ears.
They told me that the decision to fire him had already been made and I received a rather stern speech for trying to intercede for him.
A coworker ran into him a few days later and told him about my efforts.
I had forgotten completely about the incident and my efforts.
This man did not.
Even though more than a quarter of a century had elapsed and the final outcome did not change, this man remembered how I tried to intervene on his behalf.
It reminded me how fortunate I was to have someone intercede on my behalf.
Paul reminds me that I am a sinner.
Romans 3:23 (NET) - For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.
Even in my fallen state, I have someone who intercedes on my behalf. And where I failed in my attempt, the one who intercedes for me will never fail.
Romans 8:34 (NET) - Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.
Why would Christ intercede for me?
I can do nothing to earn salvation.
I certainly can do nothing to deserve it.
If I were to get what I truly deserve my situation would be most dire.
It is because of God’s love and mercy that Christ paid the price I could never hope to pay.
John 3:16-17 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that the everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.
It is through Christ’s willingness to follow His Father’s will to the cross that I have hope.
That is a kindness I will never forget.
Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 10, 2012.
Please enjoy the contributions of my fellow Christian bloggers while you are there!
I’ll be back here on Friday, August 3, 2012.
Schedule subject to change.
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