New Creations

 

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NRSVue) - Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43 is about restoration.

The prophet states that we should not focus on the things of old.

Rather, we are to consider the new.

Paul wrote about restoration in his second letter to Corinth.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSVue) - So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!

As we continue our journey through Lent, let us remember that we have been reconciled with God.

Moreover, it is Christ that made us right with God.

And as a result, we are new creations.

We are different from what we were before.

Christ leads us forward.

He guides us.

He rekindles our passion to worship and serve.

We are new creations in the body of believers known as The Church.

As new creations within The Church, we can introduce others to Christ.

After all, they long to leave the past behind and start anew.

As new creations, we owe them the opportunity to experience the same.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, March 6, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, March 13, 2026

Love

 

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

Paul wrote these words centuries ago.

Faith is wonderful.

And who among us does not wish to have hope.

Nevertheless, love is the greatest of the three.

While there are distinct kinds of love, the English language offers us one single word.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, people are searching for the right way to express their affection.

Paul expressed that love is greater than faith and hope.

Yet Jesus spoke about the greatest love of all.

John 15:13 (NRSVue) - No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

As we enter the season of Lent, we are reminded that Christ had the greatest love of all.

And we, His friends, are beneficiaries of that love.

It is difficult to find that perfect gift for that perfect someone for Valentine’s Day.

No matter how perfect our choice is, it will pale in comparison to that greatest love of all.

Despite this, scripture makes one thing abundantly clear,

1 John 4:19 (NRSVue) - We love because he first loved us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 20, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, February 27, 2026