Connections

“Do you know who I am?!?”

Chances are we have had this question screamed at us at least one time.

This is especially true if our profession puts us in contact with the general public.

It happened to me long ago when I worked in a store.

I am certain it still goes on in retail today.

People in law enforcement get their share of this as well.

Someone will take take out their frustrations on us and yell, “Do you know who I am?!?”

They will likely follow this question with a reminder of some connection they have to some person of importance.

Someone whom they believe can threaten our livelihood.

But every coin has two sides.

What about those of us on the receiving end of such tirades?

We have some powerful connections as well.

Take our Father, for example.

Romans 8:14-15 (NET) - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.”

What about our Brother?

He is important as well.

Romans 8:29-30 (NET) - And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

When it comes to connections, the world has none more powerful than these,

That said, we are reminded not to repay such treatment in kind.

Our connections are already aware of the situation we are in.

Psalm 33:13-15 (NET) - The Lord watches from heaven; he sees all people. From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth’s inhabitants. He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.

There is one thing that goes along with having such powerful connections.

They require us to forgive.

In the heat of the moment, this is not the easiest thing for us to do.

We must remember that we have already been forgiven.

Ephesians 4:31--32 (NET) - You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Forgiveness is not always easy for us.

It is likely the one thing that Christians struggle with most.

But we do not have to face the challenge alone.

There is an old hymn that reminds us to “take it to the Lord in prayer”.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 1, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, June 8, 2018

Thoughts on Resurrection

I am currently teaching a class on Heaven.

This also makes some discussion concerning resurrection a necessity.

People tend to struggle with the concept of resurrection and understandably so.

Some simply cannot understand how a lifeless and decayed body could possibly be resurrected.

A look at scripture can help us better understand this.

First, let’s examine what Jesus did for Lazarus.

The book of John tells us that Jesus loved Lazarus.

When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus.

Before Jesus arrived, Lazarus died and was buried.

In fact, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days when Jesus arrived.

Jesus ordered the stone covering the tomb to be removed and Martha objected.

John 11:39 (NET) - Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, “Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.”

The tomb was unsealed, and Jesus called for Lazarus to come out of it.

Lazarus emerged from the tomb and Jesus commanded that his wrappings be removed.

Lazarus was once again among the living.

The Old Testament also provides some insight into the concept of resurrection.

The Lord brought Ezekiel into a valley full of dry bones.

The Lord asked Ezekiel if the dry bones could live?

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to them.

Ezekiel 37:7--8 (NET) - So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied—I heard a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. As I watched, I saw tendons on them, then muscles appeared, and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath in them.

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy once more.

Ezekiel 37:10 (NET) - So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.

Lazarus had been entombed for four days.

The bones in Ezekiel’s valley had been dead far, far longer.

Scripture refers to these bones as “dry”.

This implies a state that goes even beyond death.

Is resurrection possible?

Absolutely!

God spoke the universe into being.

Even the tomb in which Jesus was laid was found empty.

God’s power is limitless.

1 Corinthians 15:42 (NET) - It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.

Death is no longer something to be feared.

If God can resurrect the dead, just imagine what He can do with the living.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 18, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, May 25, 2018