With Open Arms

 

Isaiah 30:18 (NET) - For this reason the Lord is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the Lord is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed 

The heading from this translation’s text is a great reminder.

It states that the Lord will not abandon his people.

This verse reminds us that the Lord is ready and waiting.

He is ready and waiting to show his mercy and compassion.

But what is God waiting for?

In truth, He is waiting for us.

He is waiting for us to return to Him.

Perhaps the best example of this is in a parable of Jesus.

Specifically, the parable of the Prodigal Son.

In this parable, a young man demands his share of the inheritance before his father dies.

Having received the money, the son traveled to a distant land.

He quickly spent his inheritance and then found himself in the middle of a famine.

He then took a job feeding another man’s pigs.

In desperation, he found himself longing for the food he was feeding the pigs.

The son then decided to return home and throw himself upon his father’s mercy.

He felt unworthy to be called his father’s son.

He would be happy just to be employed as a hired hand.

But Jesus tells us that something wonderful happened.

Luke 15:20 (NET) - So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.

The man’s father had been waiting for him to return.

He rushed out to greet his son and showered him with affection.

Jesus paints us a perfect picture of God waiting for us.

Waiting for us to return to Him.

God wishes to welcome us back and shower us with His affection and mercy.

Such is His grace.

So, what are we waiting for?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 5, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, November 12, 2021

Complete Forgiveness

Jeremiah 31:34b (NET) - “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.”

In this section of scripture, God makes a covenant with his people.

God finishes with words of forgiveness.

But God states that He will do more than forgive our sin.

He promises never to hold them against us again.

That is the mark of true and lasting forgiveness,

Paul understood this.

This is evident in Acts 10 when he visits Cornelius.

This man tells Paul about a remarkable experience he had.

As Cornelius spoke, Paul realized that God shows no favoritism.

This also prompted Paul to echo the reality of complete forgiveness.

Acts 10:43 (NET) - About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Everyone has a past.

But everyone can begin anew.

This starts when we are forgiven through Jesus Christ.

It continues because God chooses to no longer hold our sins against us.

But what is expected of us then?

What does God want from us?

Where will this hope lead us?

Only God can reveal that to us.

But shouldn’t we be forgiving of others along the way?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 15, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, October 22, 2021

Constant and Continual

 

Psalm 44:8 (NET) - In God we boast all day long, and we will continually give thanks to your name.

The heading in this translation refers to Psalm 44 as a “well-written song.”

I am inclined to agree.

First, the Psalmist reminds us that we are to praise God “all day long.”

Second, he reminds us to “continually give thanks.”

But human beings find praise and gratitude difficult at times.

We certainly find praise and gratitude easier when things are going well for us.

But they do not come so easily when circumstances become difficult.

Is it possible to praise God when illness strikes?

Is it possible to be grateful when we face unemployment?

Is it possible to praise or be grateful when a loved one dies?

Despite human reasoning, the answer is yes.

Paul, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, reminds us to rejoice always.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NET) - Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

That means rejoicing no matter the circumstances.

But how can we rejoice when faced with things like illness, unemployment, or loss?

Paul gives us the answer.

We are to “pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is the key.

In prayer we find that the Lord is our strength.

In prayer we remember that the Lord is worthy of praise throughout the day. 

In prayer we find that we are always able to praise Him even in difficult circumstances.

Prayer reminds us that there is no one like God.

It reminds us that we may approach God daily for there is no other help but His.

Challenging times are temporary.

But God always hears us and answers us.

Therefore, God deserves our constant praise.

He also deserves our continual gratitude.

Both are possible when we persist in prayer.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 1, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, October 8, 2021

Lingering Doubt

Isaiah 42:1 (NET) - Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

In these words, the prophet speaks of the commissioning of a very special servant.

A servant who is yet to come.

That servant is Jesus.

It would take centuries for this prophecy to be fulfilled.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read about the time Jesus confirmed the prophecy.

Jesus goes to Nazareth and enters the synagogue.

He stands up to read and the scroll of Isaiah is handed to Him.

He looks for a particular passage and reads the words.

Luke 4:18-19 (NET) - “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus then returns the scroll.

Everyone looks at Him waiting for Him to speak.

His words astound them.

He tells them that the scripture was fulfilled even as they heard it.

At first the people are amazed.

Luke 4:22 (NET) - All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

But Jesus continues to speak.

He reminds them that “no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.”

The people are filled with rage.

They force Him out of town and threaten to throw Him down a cliff.

But Jesus passes through the crowd and goes safely on His way.

Many doubted Isaiah’s prophecy.

Especially as it took centuries to unfold.

Even those who heard the words directly from Jesus doubted.

Now, 2,000 years later, people still doubt.

But those who believe know that Jesus is our redeemer.

We know we can continue to rely upon Him.

We can speak well of Him.

We can praise Him.

As we do, we also help others overcome their doubt.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 17, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, September 24, 2021

Words and Conduct

 

Leviticus 23:32a (NET) - You must not profane my holy name,

When we think about profanity, we immediately think in terms of careless language.

The Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20 certainly warns of this.

We are commanded not to take the name of the Lord our God in vain.

But to be honest this warning from Leviticus goes beyond language.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves what the word “profane” really means.

Simply put, the verb “profane” means “treating the sacred with irreverence or disrespect”.

This certainly happens with a careless choice of words.

It also happens through a careless choice of conduct.

We must be as careful with our conduct as we are with our words.

Peter understood the importance of Christian conduct.

In fact, he pointed this out in his first letter.

1 Peter 1:15 (NET) - but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,

Peter stated that our conduct helps make us holy.

Controlling our words can be difficult.

Controlling our conduct can be even harder.

That is why we need Christ in our lives.

He understands that love is the key to controlling both.

Love helps us choose our words.

Love also helps us determine our conduct.

In Matthew 22, an expert in the law tests Jesus by asking Him which commandment is the most important.

Jesus surprised him with a two-fold answer.

The first is to love God with all our being.

The second is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

When we fail to love God, we profane God.

When we fail to love our neighbor, we also profane God.

John Amos Comenius (1592-1670) put it this way:

“Whenever you encounter one of your neighbors, regard him as yourself in another form (which he is), or indeed as God in another form, for he is the image of God, and God will be watching to see how reverently you treat him.”

Like most worthwhile things in life, we can find loving others difficult.

But God can help us.

He can help us reflect his infinite love through our words and our conduct.

He can bolster our faith and guide our steps as we move among those whom He created.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 3, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, September 10, 2021