…And Let It Begin with Me

 

Psalm 38:9 (NRSVue) - O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

In Psalm 38, a penitent psalmist prays for healing.

But individuals are not the only ones in need of healing.

Today’s headlines reveal just how much the world needs this.

The fifth chapter of 1 John includes a testimony about the Son of God.

Moreover, it includes a promise.

1 John 5:14 (NRSVue) - And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

These verses coupled with the time of year put me in mind of a carol.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day was originally a poem written by Longfellow in 1863.

In time, it was set to music.

As we see the state of the world, the psalmists longing is akin to ours

They are reflected in Longfellow’s lines…

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Similarly, John’s words remind us that God hears and answers our prayers.

You can see that connection in Longfellow’s next lines…

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

God knows our longing.

Even our longing for peace in a world long accustomed to conflict.

God can heal individuals.

God can heal nations.

Indeed, He can heal the world.

Where world leaders, diplomats and generals fail, God can succeed.

God created this world.

He sent His Son into this world to redeem it.

And, with the help of the Holy Spirit, each of us can make our concerns known to God in prayer.

All of which reminds me of lines from another song we cherish this time of year...

Let there be peace on earth

And let it begin with me

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, January 5, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, January 12, 2024

Refinement and Love

 

Jeremiah 9:7 (NIV) - Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people? 

Jeramiah lamented the state of the people.

He lamented their sins and deceitfulness.

But Jeremiah received the word of the Lord.

The people would experience difficulties and hardships.

But this was not punishment for punishment’s sake.

God would use these difficulties to test and refine His people.

But what does “refine” mean?

In practical terms, to refine something means to make it undergo a process to remove impurities.

But this is not a painless process.

Metals are often subjected to intense heat until the metal melts and the impurities are drawn off.

Oil is refined by exposing it to a combination of heat and pressure.

So, to refine us, God may subject us to times of difficulty.

At what point do we start becoming refined?

Most probably it starts when we learn to rely more on God than in ourselves.

Christ spoke of refinement as well.

He did this when He foretold of persecution.

Mark 13:13 (NRSVue) - and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

For all that He was, many despised Christ.

Those who followed Him were likewise hated.

Also, persecution is not confined to the past.

People still hate those who follow Christ today.

But even this hatred refines us.

It tests us to see what the limits of our faith are.

How are we to respond?

Christ told us how.

Matthew 5:44 – (NRSVue) – But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

That is a true test for those who aspire to be God’s people.

One of life’s greatest ironies is that those who are hardest to love need love the most.

Followers of Christ will face difficulties.

They may even face hatred and persecution.

But it is through this refinement that we can follow His will for our lives.

And that includes loving those who hate us for what we believe.

It even includes loving those who hate who we believe in.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 15, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, December 22, 2023

Covenant Thanks

 

Jeremiah 32:40 (NRSVue) - I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them, and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me.

God reassured Jeramiah.

God promised Jeremiah that the people would return.

God would also make a covenant with them.

God said, “They shall be my people, and I will be their God.”

God has also made a covenant with us.

Theologians have called this the “New Covenant.”

This New Covenant with us is made possible through Christ.

1 John 4:9 (NRSVue) - God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.

Being part of that covenant is wonderful.

But we have our part to play as well.

We should strive to live in harmony with God.

As importantly, we should strive to live in harmony with our fellow man.

And that means living in harmony with the world in which we live.

God will not break His covenant with us.

He proved this when He sent His son into our world.

Christ guaranteed that covenant with His life and His death.

So, we should remain faithful to that covenant as well.

Today, we celebrate Thanksgiving.

And the New Covenant is something for which we should all give thanks.

Will we always be faithful?

As flawed human beings, the honest answer is “no.”

But when we confess our shortcomings. God is ready to forgive us.

And that is yet another reason for us to give thanks.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 1, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, December 8, 2023

Faith Lives on in Others

Deuteronomy 32:7 (NRSVue) - Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you.

Moses recited these and other words to the people.

He did this just before his death was foretold.

What strikes me now is the part about asking the elders to explain.

They say that with age comes wisdom.

That is not always the case.

But elders within the church take on a unique responsibility.

Along with the pastor, they are leaders within the church.

And not everyone is cut out for that responsibility.

Paul had a unique perspective when it came to elders.

He passed this along in his second letter to Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:5 (NRSVue) - I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

Paul recognized Timothy’s faith,

He also understood the source of that faith.

He acknowledged the contributions of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

This resonates within me.

Like Timothy, Godly grandmothers and a Godly mother played significant roles in my faith.

The faith of Timothy’s grandmother and mother lived on in him.

And so, the faith of my grandmothers and my mother lives on in me.

God generously gives us elders, grandparents, and parents.

He does so that they can build a foundation of faith within us.

We learn not only from their words, but from their example.

Although I instruct adults, I see children in church every Sunday.

I also know that children instinctively watch adults.

I understand that a careless word or action on my part could be harmful.

That is why I pray to be a good example for them.

I was blessed by those who contributed to my spiritual life when I was young.

Now it is my turn to do the same, be it directly or indirectly.

With God’s help, perhaps some of my faith will live on in others.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 17, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, November 24, 2023

From Roots to Fruits

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NRSVue) - Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

In this chapter, the prophet discussed Judah’s sin and punishment.

He also described those who trust God.

He compares them to a tree planted by water.

When the rain does not fall, the tree remains strong.

It can do so because its roots have access to the water nearby.

It also bears fruit.

Christians also bear fruit.

These are the fruits of the Spirit.

They are evidence of faith to those around them.

But what are the fruits of the Spirit?

Paul discussed this in his letter to the Galatians.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSVue) - By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

The triune God makes all this possible.

The Father creates.

The Son redeems.

The Holy Spirit makes holy.

The moment we accept Christ as Savior, our roots begin to run deep.

These roots preserve us even in times of difficulty.

We also begin to bear the fruits of the Spirit.

Others bear witness to our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

There is no better way to introduce others to the triune God.

Then they can experience all these things for themselves.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 3, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, November 10, 2023

The Call of Discipleship

 

Jeremiah 7:23 (NIV) - but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.

The prophet warned the people against worshipping false gods.

False gods are worthless.

The worship of false God’s invites the Lord’s wrath.

Beyond this, false gods can do absolutely nothing for the worshipper.

But confusion was not confined to Old Testament Times.

The eighth chapter of John provides a good illustration of this.

The chapter begins with the scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman to Jesus.

They claim to have caught her in an act of adultery.

They then try to put Jesus on the spot by reminding Him that the law condemned her to be stoned.

Admittedly, my first question is: “Why did they bring her only?”

Surely it takes two to commit adultery.

But that aside, they wanted to trap Jesus to charge him.

But Jesus did something unexpected.

He bent down and began writing on the ground.

Scripture does not tell us what Jesus wrote, but it obviously had a tremendous impact on those present.

As he wrote, they departed; first one then another.

Finally only Jesus and the woman remained.

There was no one left to condemn her.

Jesus did not condemn her, but He did tell her to depart and sin no more.

Jesus was there for the woman.

Likewise, He is there for us.

The chapter goes on to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.

It even reminds us that Jesus was aware of the fate that awaited Him.

Finally, it reminds us of who His disciples are.

John 8:31 (NRSVue) - Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples,

People still worship false gods.

Some may not even be aware that they are doing so.

This is a pity as false gods can do nothing for us.

Jesus still does.

And once we come to terms with that, our discipleship begins.

But as Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, there is a cost to discipleship.

Matthew 16:24 (NRSVue) - Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Discipleship is a privilege.

Discipleship is a call.

The question is: Are we ready to listen?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 20, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, October 27, 2023

Compassion for the Ungrateful

Hosea 11:8-9 (NRSVue) - How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim, for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.

In Hosea, the prophet speaks about two things.

First, he speaks about the people’s lack of gratitude.

Immediately thereafter, he speaks about God’s compassion.

The people worshipped idols and made sacrifices to them.

Fortunately for the people, God was compassionate.

Broadly speaking, are we any better today than God’s people were back then?

Don’t we worship idols?

Don’t we put things and people above God?

Fortunately for us, God is still compassionate.

To prove this, He sent Christ into the world to take our sins upon Himself.

The triune God did this in order that we might be saved.

Christ understood that this was the task set before Him.

His words reflect this.

John 12:47 (NRSVue) - I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world but to save the world.

When it comes down to it, we should not put possessions and people above God.

After all, we were created in His image.

But God’s gift of grace is for everyone.

On our best day, we are incapable of saving anyone.

We cannot even save ourselves.

We, like those who came before us, often lack proper gratitude,

But God remains compassionate.

We still belong to Him, even when we sometimes lose sight of that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 6, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, October 13, 2023

Provision for Need, Not Greed

 

Psalm 105:40-42 (NRSVue) - They asked, and he brought quails and gave them food from heaven in abundance. He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. For he remembered his holy promise and Abraham, his servant.

The Psalmist speaks of God’s provision.

But God’s provision went beyond food and water.

God gave land and descendants to Abraham.

Before he sent drought and famine, God provided Joseph.

When enslaved, God provided Moses.

When freed, God provided the people with the spoils of their masters.

God still provides today.

But it is important to remember that he satisfies our need, not our greed.

Christ reminded His followers of this when He taught them to pray.

Matthew 6:11 (NRSVue) - Give us today our daily bread.

Even during difficult times and negative headlines, God continues to provide.

In fact, we are a part of that provision.

The world God created is remarkable.

No two people, not even twins, are exactly alike.

And everyone has specific needs.

As we make our way through this world, let us follow the example Christ set.

Let us pray for God to provide for our need and not our greed.

And may we find it in ourselves to give as we have received.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 15, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, September 22, 2023

To Rule or to Serve

Judges 8:23 (NRSVue) - Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.”

Gideon was a judge and a man of war.

But before he was either, he was a farmer who hid from the Midianites.

Although Gideon’s faith was small, God used him.

God used Gideon and a small army of 300 to defeat the Midianites.

What we learn from God is twofold.

God can and does use those whom He chooses.

God also takes what is initially a small faith and turns it into a bigger one.

After the victory, the Israelites wanted Gideon to rule over them.

Most would be tempted to have both rule and authority.

Gideon declined both.

Centuries later, Christ dwelt among us.

He also spoke of the importance of humility and service.

He spoke of this when he denounced the Scribes and the Pharisees.

Matthew 23:11 (NRSVue) - The greatest among you will be your servant.

But Christ did more than speak about service.

He demonstrated this as well.

In John 13, Christ washes the feet of his disciples.

John 13:13-15 (NRSVue) - You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

In fact, His entire life upon earth was an example of what it means to serve.

Christ reached out to the sick, the outcast, and the downtrodden.

In fact, He served all mankind in the most selfless act of all.

He willingly laid down His life in order that we may live.

So, like Gideon, may we resist the temptations of power and rule.

And, like Christ, may we welcome the opportunities to serve which surround us daily.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 1, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, September 8, 2023

Remember Those Who are in Prison

 

Genesis 39:20-21 (NRSVue) - And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

There is much wisdom in the Old Testament.

The account of Joseph is a prime example.

Joseph faced much in the way of adversity.

Sold into slavery by his brothers, he wound up in prison after being falsely accused.

But even in prison, God’s steadfast love never diminished.

God was with Joseph even in prison.

As a result, even Joseph’s jailer was moved to find favor in him.

The New Testament finds Paul and Silas imprisoned.

Their crime? They revealed the truth about the abilities of a slave whose owners profited from her.

But like Joseph, God’s steadfast love was with them.

Other prisoners were moved by their prayers and hymns.

Acts 16:25 (NRSVue) - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

God’s love remains as steadfast today as it was centuries ago.

The life, death and saving power of the resurrected Christ serve as proof.

But it does not take concrete and iron bars to make a prison.

In fact, many are confined in prisons of their own creation.

Doubt, fear, jealousy, anger, bigotry, and the desire for revenge merely begin a list of self-made prisons.

But the steadfast love of God can be found in even the darkest of prisons.

It can even be found in prisons of our own creation.

We must remember this.

Moreover, our lives must bear witness to this.

As we think about those imprisoned, let us pray for them.

Let us also pray for God to reveal to us how we may best serve them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 18, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, August 25, 2023

Returning in August

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be unable to post for the next few weeks.

I hope to return to this ministry in August.

Thank you for understanding.

 

Blessings Always,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/

Close Call

 

Psalm 34:2 (NIV) - I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Psalm 34 is a special Psalm.

It is a Psalm of David that is an acrostic poem.

This means each verse begins with consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

But that is not the only thing that makes it special.

Verse two is about the rejected and downtrodden.

The psalmist offers God his praise and lifts those whom society rejects in prayer.

Paul offers similar sentiments in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV) - Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Paul reminds us that we are to rejoice and glorify the Lord.

In fact, he reminds us twice!

He also reminds us that the Lord is close by even when circumstances appear dark.

He also reminds us that as Christians, our gentleness should be evidence to all.

Fortunately for us, Christ told us how he wants us to treat others.

Moreover, He demonstrated how we are to live.

As a result, we really have no choice but to praise and glorify the Lord.

And the combination of peace and joy we feel proves that the Lord is near.

As we reach out to others, especially those in difficult circumstances, they too can rejoice.

They too can glorify God.

They too can experience his nearness.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 7, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, July 14, 2023

Manly Responsibilities

 

Isaiah 38:19 (NRSVue) - The living, the living, they thank you, as I do this day; fathers make known to children your faithfulness.

Hezekiah was ill.

In fact, he was near death.

When Isaiah arrived, his words were not words of comfort.

“Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.”

Hezekiah prayed.

God sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah with a promise of fifteen more years.

Upon his recovery, Hezekiah wrote.

In gratitude, his words included: “fathers make known to children your faithfulness.”

Paul, in his letter to the Colossians touched on a similar sentiment.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NRSVue) - As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

We are commanded to walk in Christ.

Those whose fathers taught them are particularly blessed.

In a little over a week, we will celebrate Father’s Day.

But, for one reason or another, not everyone has an earthly father to celebrate.

That is why I think men… all men, have a responsibility.

We must choose our actions as carefully as we choose our words.

The example we set can have a tremendous impact on young lives.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us everything we need to live a Godly life.

Most importantly, He gave us His Son who taught us by both word and deed.

As such, our lives should revolve around Him.

In doing so, our lives reflect His light and His love.

And, in doing so, we teach our faithfulness to the young.

It does not matter whether they are our children or not.

The young observe us with great scrutiny.

If there are chinks in our spiritual armor, they will find them.

That is why we must be aware of the example we set.

And, considering the state of today’s world, the young need every advantage we can provide.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 16, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, June 23, 2023

The Eternal ‘I AM’

 

Exodus 3:14 (NRSVue) - “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

In Exodus 3, God reveals Himself to Moses through a burning bush.

He then commands Moses to go to Pharoah and deliver His people from bondage.

Moses first questions why God should choose to send him.

He then asks how he should respond when the people ask who sent him.

The name God gives is ‘I AM’.

Not I WAS, or I WILL BE, but ‘I AM’.

This speaks volumes as God is eternal.

The name ‘I AM’ confirms this.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, speaks of another of God’s eternal aspects.

He speaks of God’s eternal love through Christ.

Romans 8:31 (NRSVue) - What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

God, the eternal ‘I AM’ delivered His people.

God, the eternal ‘I AM’ enabled those in Rome to set aside their fears.

God, the eternal ‘I AM’ delivers us and gives us confidence.

We no longer have a reason to fear.

Even physical death has lost its power to intimidate us,

God, the eternal ‘I AM’ gives us His peace, His love, and His hope.

There may be times we fail to recognize His presence, but He is there, nonetheless.

He has plans for our future.

And, when our work is done, He has already prepared a place for us.

All these things, and more, are gifts of the eternal ‘I AM’.

They are God’s gifts of love to us through Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 2, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, June 9, 2023

True Forgiveness

 

2 Chronicles 30:18b-19 (NIV) - “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.”

In 2 Chronicles, King Hezekiah celebrated the Passover.

He sent messengers throughout the kingdom asking the people to return to the Lord.

Many mocked the messengers.

Yet some of the faithful traveled to Jerusalem with their sacrifices.

Many were ceremonially unclean, so the Levites consecrated their offerings.

And so, Hezekiah prayed to the Lord to pardon everyone, even those who were ceremonially unclean.

In Mark 2, Jesus showed forgiveness.

He forgave and then healed a paralyzed man.

He dined with sinners.

The Pharisees criticized Jesus for doing so.

Jesus explained His actions regarding sinners.

Mark 2:17 (NIV) - On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I honestly believe that forgiveness is something people struggle with.

This can be true even of Christians.

And when taken to task on this, we find it too easy to justify our unwillingness to forgive.

And just as sad, we sometimes have trouble forgiving ourselves.

This is a tremendous and unnecessary burden which we impose on ourselves.

But the truth of the matter is that we are completely and forever forgiven.

This is not our doing.

True forgiveness is made possible through Jesus.

And He extends that forgiveness to all.

He even extends it to those we find difficult to forgive.

Even when we find it hard to forgive ourselves, Christ offers complete and eternal forgiveness.

Through Christ, we are forgiven.

Through Christ, we are made new.

Through Christ, hearts of stone are made flesh once more.

Through Christ, relationships are mended.

When we truly seek forgiveness, Christ is there, ready to forgive.

And when that happens, we are free to love and forgive others.

We can even forgive ourselves and forever lose the guilt which burdens us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 19, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, May 26, 2023

A Temporary Journey

Psalm 39:4 (NRSVue) - “Lord, let me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.

Psalm 39 is a prayer.

It is a prayer for mercy and forgiveness.

The Psalmist prays to be reminded that we are here temporarily.

He prays, “let me know how fleeting my life is.”

Paul understood that, in the grand scheme of things, we live for a brief time.

But he also knew that physical death is not the end.

Death is a transition.

Paul explained this to those living in Corinth in his second letter.

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NRSVue) - For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Believers understand that our citizenship is in heaven.

But we sometimes lose sight of this.

This is easily done when we become distracted.

It is easily done when circumstances seem to be against us.

In the grand scheme of things, our lives are indeed fleeting.

Each of us journeys through this world for a time known only by God.

We are born.

We live.

And yes, we die.

But despite that, we still have hope.

Through the resurrection power proven by Christ, we will have a new body.

We will have a new life.

Best of all, we will have a home.

Like citizens who have traveled abroad, we will wander no more.

We will go to the home planned for us from the very beginning.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 5, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, May 12, 2023

Being Still

 

Exodus 14:14 (NRSVue) - The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.

Moses led God’s people out of Egypt to the sea.

As Pharoah’s chariots approached, the people were certain the end was near.

The end was near, but not in the way they expected.

Moses told them God would fight for them.

All they had to do was keep still.

The people obeyed, and God did fight for them.

In the end, their pursuers drowned.

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, shared a similar sentiment.

In the fifteenth chapter, Paul writes about the resurrection of Christ.

He then discusses the resurrection of the dead.

Paul then discusses the resurrection body.

Paul knew this concept caused people a great deal of confusion.

He understood that we, as creatures of flesh and blood, could not possibly enter the kingdom of heaven.

A transformation is required.

That transformation is only made possible through Jesus.

God will grant us this victory.

All we need to do is to keep still.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NRSVue) - But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Keeping still in today’s world is perhaps harder than it ever was.

We are bombarded by distractions throughout our busy day.

Then come the days when the distractions seem impossible to overcome.

Perhaps we have lost our job.

Perhaps we have received sad news.

Perhaps we have been injured in an accident.

Perhaps a loved one has died.

Perhaps a natural disasters or a conflict has turned our predictable world upside down.

It is during such times, even though it seems difficult or impossible, that we remain still.

That means trusting God completely.

The Psalmist understood this as well.

Psalm 46:10 (NRSVue) - “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.”

Keep still and let the Lord fight for you.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 21, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, April 28, 2023

Walking in the Light

Isaiah 2:5 (NRSVue) - O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Scripture makes many references to light.

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The prophet Isaiah made such a reference when discussing the future house of God.

He invited the people to “walk in the light of the Lord.”

As we continue our journey through Lent, our thoughts turn to Jesus and what He endured.

We think about those who tried to trap Him.

We think about His betrayal.

We think about a crowd who welcomed Him one day and shouted, “Crucify Him,” the next.

We think about those who abandoned Him.

We think of His mockery of a trial.

We think about how He was tortured,

We think about His cruel execution among criminals.

We also think about His burial in a borrowed tomb.

Given all this, how can we possibly “walk in the light of the Lord?”

We can for one special reason.

Jesus is the light of the world.

And, if we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness.

Moreover, we will have the light of life.

Christ assured us of this.

John 8:12 (NRSVue) - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Christ died for every single one of us.

But each new dawn should serve to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.

We do not have to live in fear of darkness any longer,

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us remember that Jesus is the light of the world.

Let us also pray that our lives may reflect His light to others still living in the darkness.

Together, let us “walk in the light of the Lord!”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 7, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, April 14, 2023

The Power of Love

 

Zechariah 2:8 (NRSVue) - For thus said the Lord of hosts after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.

The prophet encountered angels sent by the Lord.

I am struck by the second part of this verse in which God’s people are called the apple of his eye.

This is an expression of love.

As Christians, we are commanded to love.

Christ frequently reminded us of this.

He did so in Matthew 25.

And the way He reminded us of this is anything but subtle.

Matthew 25:40 (NRSVue) - And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.’

Speaking plainly, we are to love everyone just as God loves everyone.

Sometimes, as human beings, we find some people easier to love than others.

But here, Christ reminded us we are to love everyone.

We are even to love those we find difficult to love.

After all, they are the ones who need love the most.

As we continue our journey through Lent, we remember Christ.

We should also remember how He told us of Gods great love for all.

John 3:15-17 (NRSVue) - “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Every person in creation is special to God.

To borrow from Zechariah, they are the apple of His eye.

We must remember that.

We must also live by that.

As we mature in faith through God’s love, we can.

Paul also reminded us of just how important love is in our lives.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NRSVue) - And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, and the greatest of these is love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 17, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, March 24, 2023

Goodwill Ambassadors

 

Job 14:1-2 (GNT) - We are all born weak and helpless. All lead the same short, troubled life. We grow and wither as quickly as flowers; we disappear like shadows.

Job lost everything.

He lost his home.

He lost his children.

Then, to compound matters, he lost his health.

His lament in chapter 14, serves to remind us that we are here for a short time.

In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul reiterates that message.

Hebrews 13:14 (GNT) - For there is no permanent city for us here on earth; we are looking for the city which is to come.

Yes, our days are numbered.

As I grow older, the gray in my beard advances steadily upward.

I even hear noises in my joints that I never heard before.

Perhaps the strongest reminder is the increasing frequency of funerals I attend.

But for the believer, signs like these are neither cause for alarm nor fear.

We are born into this world.

And, when the time comes, we will depart it.

But unlike us, God has neither a beginning nor an end.

Therefore, his love for us never ends.

And it is that love which sustains us through our days,

And that same love allows us to look forward to the future with hope.

But how is this even possible?

Paul provides the answer in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 3:20-21 (GNT) - We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. He will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like his own glorious body, using that power by which he is able to bring all things under his rule.

The dictionary defines ambassador as: “an authorized representative or messenger.”

And, since we are citizens of heaven, that is the role we have.

The season of Lent should also serve to remind us of this.

Not one of us knows exactly how much time we will have here.

What is important is to make the most of the time we do have.

And we do that by loving God and loving our neighbor.

Then, when our work is done, we will leave this world behind and go on to our heavenly home.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 3, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, March 10, 2023

Living in Expectation

 

Zephaniah 1:7 (GNT) - The day is near when the Lord will sit in judgment; so be silent in his presence. The Lord is preparing to sacrifice his people and has invited enemies to plunder Judah.

One fundamental belief in Christianity is the belief that Christ will return once more.

This belief has ancient roots going back to Old Testament prophecies.

Zephaniah was a prophet who lived six centuries before the birth of Christ.

He is referred to as a Minor Prophet.

This has nothing to do with the importance of the book that bears his name.

Rather, it has to do with the brevity of his book as compared to those of the Major Prophets.

Zephaniah opens the chapter with the day of judgment.

In verse seven, Zephaniah urges believers to “be silent in his presence.”

In Matthew 24, Christ tells his followers about the coming destruction of the Temple.

Matthew 24:44 (GNT) - So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.

Naturally, they ask Jesus when this will occur.

Jesus tells them about future troubles.

He also tells them that no one knows when He will return.

Jesus advises them to “always be ready.”

There were those who lived in fear of this knowledge.

Many are still afraid.

But for the faithful, there is no need to fear.

Instead, we should live in hope.

How we choose to occupy our time should prepare us for that coming day.

The way in which we live our lives should be an example to everyone.

Our lives should demonstrate that we await His return in hope.

And that demonstration must be rooted in love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (GNT) - Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 17, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, February 24, 2023

God Still Delivers

 

Psalm 91:9 (GNT) - You have made the Lord your defender, the Most High your protector,

The Psalmist reminds us that God is our protector.

There will be difficult days.

There will be challenging circumstances.

But even in difficult times, we can trust on the Lord to see us through them.

That is because we rely on His strength rather than our own.

John’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus is the way to the Father.

John 14:1 (GNT) - “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me.

My mother loved this verse.

I love it for her memory.

But I also love it for the truth within it.

Christ is the way to the Father.

So, when times are difficult, we are not to worry.

When we face difficult challenges, there is no call for us to become upset.

And just as we believe in God the Father, we also believe in Jesus the Son.

This puts me in mind of yet another Psalm.

Psalm 118:5 (GNT) - In my distress I called to the Lord; he answered me and set me free.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 3, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, February 10, 2023