Wisdom and Patience

 

Jonah 4:4 (GNT) - The Lord answered, “What right do you have to be angry?”

God called Jonah.

But Jonah resisted the Lord from the beginning and tried to run away.

Eventually, he gave in and obeyed the Lord.

He went to Nineveh and proclaimed the Lord’s message of their pending destruction.

Everyone, including the King, heard the message.

Filled with fear, the King issued a proclamation.

All were ordered to fast, pray, and give up their sinful ways.

The people of Nineveh obeyed.

God then relented and spared the city.

Jonah did not understand God’s ways and grew very bitter.

In fact, he became quite angry at God.

He even dared to tell God that he knew this would happen.

But God had a question for Jonah.

“What right do you have to be angry?”

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, gave them sound instruction in bearing each other’s burdens.

Galatians 6:1 (GNT) - My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too.

As we journey through this world, we will see God at work through us and through others.

But, like Jonah and the Christians in Galatia, we will not always comprehend His ways.

What then?

Will we become angry with God like Jonah did and lash out at Him?

Or will we perhaps ignore Paul’s warning and allow ourselves to be tempted like those we try to reach?

One thing is certain.

We will not always understand God’s methods.

Scripture reminds us that His ways are not our ways.

And because of that, we should indeed consider ourselves fortunate.

While others found us impossible to love, God still loved us.

When others considered us forever lost, God reached down to us and saved us.

So, what do we do when we find it difficult to understand God’s ways.

We pray for wisdom and patience.

We do not have to understand God’s ways to be faithful servants.

But if we ask for wisdom and patience, God will provide.

Only then do we become His effective servants in a confusing world.

John 3:16-17 (GNT) - For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to be its judge, but to be its savior.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 4, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, November 11, 2022

The Need For Stillness

 

Deuteronomy 26:15a (GNT) - Look down from your holy place in heaven and bless your people Israel;

In this chapter, the people are instructed about harvest offerings.

If the offerings are acceptable, the people can be assured of God’s blessings.

But these offerings must involve a relationship.

It is not enough to simply go through the motions.

In Luke 2, we read of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

A man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem.

He was a man who loved the Lord and was awaiting the Deliverer.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, he was assured that he would not die until he beheld the Deliverer.

The Spirit led him to the Temple just as Jesus was brought in.

Simeon took the child into his arms and gave thanks to God.

Luke 2:30-32 (GNT) - With my own eyes I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples: A light to reveal your will to the Gentiles and bring glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon was truly blessed.

He was blessed because he recognized the child Jesus as the Deliverer.

But he was also blessed in his love for the Lord and his relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Where the Spirit led, Simeon obediently followed.

His obedience was rewarded.

One of the things I frequently discuss with my students is how easily distracted we have become.

We feel we must always be doing something, watching something, or even listening to something.

As a result, we become easily disconnected from each other.

The pandemic has also encouraged this.

But just as we easily lose our connection with each other, we also disconnect from God.

We need to heed the advice of Scripture and take time to “be still.”

For it is during the quiet moment, free from distraction, that we connect with God.

Psalm 46:10 (NLT) - “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

We must take the time to “be still.”

We must set aside the distractions.

Then, the Lord will open our eyes and ears.

We will then recognize that He is with us and all around us.

He is within everyone and everything.

That is when we experience Him anew.

We can then experience this relationship regularly.

We can raise our voices and praise Him sincerely.

Most importantly, we will not just be going through the motions.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 21, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, October 28, 2022