Gratitude for a Hopeful Future

 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSVue) - For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

This is from a letter the prophet wrote to the exiles.

Jeremiah promised that they would return one day.

He also reminded them that the Lord has a plan and their future is hopeful.

Paul, in his letter to Rome discusses both life in the Spirit and future glory.

Romans 8:21 (NRSVue) - that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Those who trust in God have hope.

Circumstances, even adverse ones, do nothing to lessen that hope.

And, for that, we can be profoundly grateful.

What is required of us is to trust God’s will in our lives and to respond accordingly.

We have a future, and that future is a hopeful one regardless of our current circumstances.

And, although it may be difficult for us to see, God will make all creation new one day.

This is a promise made repeatedly in scripture.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, let us give thanks to God for that future.

Let us also give thanks to God for hope.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, December 6, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, December 13, 2024

A Just Reward

 

1 Samuel 26:23 (NRSVue) - The Lord rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the Lord gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.

In this chapter, David spares Saul’s life a second time.

Not only does Saul recognize this, but David explains his motivation for sparing Saul.

Because Saul was the Lord’s anointed, David would not take Saul’s life.

David understood that the Lord would reward him for this.

Paul, in his first letter to Corinth discusses the ministry of the Apostles.

Followers of Christ should be trustworthy.

Moreover, no one is to judge until the Lord comes.

The Lord will judge, and nothing is hidden from Him.

And those who do not judge will be commended by the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:5 (NRSVue) - Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.

As Christians, we are to serve faithfully.

But we must also serve righteously.

And God can give us the strength to do both.

That means not judging others.

Then, when the time comes, we can stand before Him in the hope that He has found our lives pleasing.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 15, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, November 22, 2024

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

For His Name's Sake

 

Psalm 23:2-3 (KJV) - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23 is among the most memorized passages of Scripture.

Many people have taken comfort in its words throughout the years.

Perhaps that is why it is so often recited in times of loss.

But these words do more than provide comfort.

They are a reminder that the Lord really is our shepherd.

Verses two and three remind us of what our shepherd does for us,

He makes us do things we would not normally do of our own accord, such as rest.

He leads us where He knows we need to be.

He also restores our souls which is something only He can do.

And He leads us on paths we would not otherwise take.

The Psalmist clearly understood our need for a shepherd.

Jesus did as well.

John 10:27-28 (KJV) - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Jesus speaks and we listen.

Where Jesus leads, we follow.

Jesus gives what we cannot obtain on our own – eternal life.

That is why Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.

He knows what we need rather than what we want.

As we continue our journey through Lent, let us also be mindful of the shepherd’s duty.

John 10:11 (KJV) - I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

This bears careful consideration especially now.

Jesus proved beyond doubt that he is the Good Shepherd.

He willingly laid down his life for us.

We are His and no individual or power can ever change that.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 15, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, April 22, 2022

Lifting Our Souls

 

1 Timothy 6:6-7 (KJV) - But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Paul leaves instructions in his first letter to Timothy.

He also gives Timothy a good reminder in verses six and seven.

Paul states that we both enter and leave this world with nothing.

Of course, this is in terms of material assets.

That said, there is the possibility of gain.

That gain can be found in contented godliness.

The Psalmist also recognizes this.

Psalm 143:8b (KJV) - cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Godliness means hearing God, acknowledging God, and living the way God wants.

The Psalmist also lifts up his soul to God.

But what is the soul?

The soul is both the eternal and the immaterial part of our being.

It continues even after the physical body it occupies dies.

As the Psalmist lifts up his soul to God, he offers it to Him.

In other words, he worships with all that he is.

As we continue our journey through Lent, we recall not only how Christ died, but also how He lived.

Christ lived in complete obedience to His Father’s will.

As His journey to the cross drew near, Jesus prayed.

Luke 21: 41-42 (KJV) - And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Jesus understood the humiliation and pain that lay before Him.

Despite this, He would endure it all in obedience to the Father.

He then literally lifted up His soul to God.

John 19:30 (KJV) - When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus followed God’s will fully all the way to its completion.

Three days later, his followers would find an empty tomb.

As a result, we have hope.

A hope that is just as real and just as eternal as the soul.

We come with nothing, and we leave with nothing.

But while we are here, we should strive to live in godliness and lift our souls to God.

We should lift them in praise, in service, and in love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 1, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, April 8, 2022

Solid Footing

 

1 Samuel 2:2 (NET) - No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God!

In this verse, Samuel praises God.

He declares that God is both unique and truly Holy.

He then compares God to a rock.

What the prophet is really saying is that God is stable and dependable.

We like to think that the ground upon which we physically stand is solid and firm.

But, thanks to the internet, we can see footage of sinkholes suddenly appearing.

Pedestrians, cars and even buildings suddenly disappear.

I remember when Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.

In video captured just prior to the eruption, a landslide was captured.

This landslide of rock and ice was perhaps the largest ever recorded.

The speed at which it descended was more than 100 miles per hour.

Granted these instances are not commonplace, but they do illustrate one thing.

Even the firmness of the ground upon which we stand is not guaranteed.

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians talks about what is solid and dependable.

The firmest of foundations is Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NET) - For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Christ is the cornerstone of the Church.

He is the foundation God provided upon which we confidently build our faith.

And it was that same Christ who cautions us to rely on His teachings.

Matthew 7:26-27 (NET) - Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed—it was utterly destroyed!

As humans, we like to think that the foundation we base our lives upon is solid.

But a change in circumstances can ultimately prove that we have built upon sand.

As we continue our journey through Lent, we follow Christ’s journey.

That journey led to a cross.

But it was a journey undertaken with a love that was perfect.

It is by that love that we were granted grace.

Only in Christ can we find solid footing.

No matter what happens, that foundation will always remain solid.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 18, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, March 25, 2022

Rooted in Love

 

Psalm 119:6 (NET) - Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands.

The Psalmist declares his desire to remained focused on God’s commands.

But this desire is not rooted in legality.

Rather, it is a desire to live the way God wants all of us to live.

That means building and strengthening our relationships.

As the created of God, we need to have a strong relationship with Him.

But it does not stop there.

We also need to build and foster relationships with others.

For they, like us, were created in God’s image.

And God loves others as much as He loves us.

Jesus echoed the Psalmist’s sentiments.

Christ desired to do God’s will.

John 4:34 (NET) - Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.

Once, a Pharisee tried to trap Jesus.

The Pharisee asked Him which of the commandments was most important.

The Pharisee must have been surprised when Jesus gave him a twofold answer.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Jesus innately understood that by keeping these two commandments, we would be keeping them all.

That is because they are rooted in our relationships with God and others.

Both the Psalmist and Jesus desired to live according to God’s will.

That should be our desire as well.

In God’s word, He tries to teach us a love for Him that is open and honest.

God also wants us to love our neighbor.

This means respecting them even when we disagree with them.

The Holy Spirit can help us do that.

God made us in His image.

Therefore, God can teach us to love as He loves.

And Christ, by example, can teach us what love really looks like.

That is why it is essential for us to focus on His commands.

After all, they are rooted in love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Love Continues

Philippians 4:7 (NET) - He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.

I have attended many funeral services over the last year and a half.

As I write these words, I am about to attend yet another.

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, discusses Christian practices.

But these practices are not related to rites and rituals.

Rather, Paul’s words refer to our relationship with God.

They should also be reflective of our relationships with one another.

As I think about those who have passed, I am struck by the impact of their lives upon my own.

It also makes me think about the impact their lives had on others.

Prior to verse seven, Paul reminds us to give both praise and thanks in every situation.

This includes times of personal loss.

For it is in such times that we can give thanks for the influence our loved ones had.

Paul also reminds us that we can find comfort in God.

We can find safety and peace beneath His wings.

Paul also discusses this in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NET) - And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Even when we experience loss, God grants us true peace in Jesus.

It is the kind of peace that cannot be completely understood.

As we journey through this world, we will have to say goodbye to those we love.

But no matter how many of His faithful depart, God makes certain we never run out.

God raises up others to continue His ministry of reaching out to others in love.

God will continue placing others in our lives to share His love and to be examples for us.

Hopefully, we will allow God to do the same with our lives.

Once we do, we become part of this wonderful legacy of faith, service, and love.

One thing more.

This path of ministry requires no special training or certification.

The only requisite is love.

And thanks to God and His departed servants, we know what that love looks like.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 18, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, February 25, 2022

Correction Signifies Love

 

Jeremiah 10:24 (NET) - Correct us, Lord, but only in due measure. Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.

The prophet remembers God’s command concerning idols.

It is true that the Lord detests idols.

It is also true that idols are created by man and are completely worthless.

The prophet recognizes God’s complete sovereignty.

He also understands that those who worship idols are foolish.

Therefore, he prays for God’s judgment.

The prophet does not pray for destruction, but rather for correction.

For destruction comes from anger and rage.

By contrast, correction comes from love.

Paul touches on this in his first letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NET) - For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Here, Paul emphasizes that God did not create us merely to punish or destroy us.

Rather, God created us because of His love for us.

That is why He sent His son into the world to save us.

Christ willingly paid the price not one of us could pay.

But that does not mean we will be free from God’s correction.

A human parent corrects their child when that child goes astray.

A good parent does not administer this correction out of anger or rage.

Instead, they do so because they love the child and only want what is best for him.

God corrects us in the same way.

He corrects us because He loves us.

Yes, we are made in God’s image.

But whenever we seek to please ourselves rather than God we stray away from Him.

When that happens, we can and should expect God’s correction.

In fact, it would benefit us to pray for it.

For it is through God’s loving correction that we can walk with Him once again.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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