What Makes a Church Beautiful?

 

In Haggai 2, the prophet spoke of the house of the Lord.

Both Solomon’s and Herod’s temples were attractive structures.

But it is the Lord’s presence that makes any church beautiful.

Haggai 2:9 (NRSVue) - The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.”

As if to illustrate this, Jesus entered the temple in Mark 11 and drove out the moneychangers.

They had transformed the house of God into a place to do business.

Jesus used this to teach a powerful lesson.

Mark 11:17a (NRSVue) – He was teaching and saying, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?

I consider myself blessed in that I still attend the same church I did as a boy.

I also am blessed because I can feel God’s presence there.

It is a house for prayers.

It is a house for praise.

If it were not, then it would just be a building, and I would be wasting my time.

Do you have a church that you attend?

If so, I pray that it is all these things.

If you do not attend church, I implore you to find one.

Just remember that no earthly church is perfect.

Not even mine.

That is because every earthly church is made up of imperfect people.

But despite our imperfections, if the church we attend is a house for prayers and praise, then rest assured that the Lord is there.

And it is His presence that makes it beautiful.

And as for the prosperity of which Haggai spoke, he did not mean money.

A church that truly worships the Lord prospers in faith, hope, and love.

This is especially true as love should guide our every thought and action when we are not in church.

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 faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 6, 2026.

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

The Best Advocate

Isaiah 57 begins with Israel’s idolatry.

The chapter concludes with God’s mercy and grace.

God will not stay angry, and He will not hold a grudge.

Isaiah 57:16a (NRSVue) - For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry,

In the second chapter of 1 John, we learn that we have an advocate.

1 John 2:1 (NRSVue) – My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,

As Christians, we should not intentionally sin.

As human beings, we are prone to sin even when it is unintentional.

That is why it is comforting to have an advocate.

According to Merriam-Webster, an advocate is a person who publicly supports a cause or represents another person in a legal setting.

The Apostles’ Creed tells us that Jesus “is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

It is comforting to know that when we mess up, Christ is our advocate to The Father.

This is further proof of God’s mercy and grace.

He gave us The Son to intercede on our behalf.

And it is also proof that we should forgive others.

Jesus teaches us this in the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:12 (NRSVue) - And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 2, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, October 9, 2026

 

God of Abundance

 

Jeremiah 31 discusses the return of the exiles.

This will be a joyful return.

The words are from the Lord but are spoken through the prophet.

The people will be grateful to the Lord, and His bounty will satisfy them.

Jeremiah 31:14b (NRSVue) - and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the Lord.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he acknowledges their support.

Paul also reminds them that their every need will be satisfied.

Philippians 4:19 (NRSVue) – And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God’s blessings are indeed bountiful to the faithful.

It is important to note that God satisfies every need, not every greed.

God knows what we need even before we think to ask.

When we needed salvation, God held nothing back.

He satisfied that need in the only way possible.

God satisfied that need through Jesus Christ.

Sadly, some must hit rock bottom before turning to God.

When they do, God is there for them.

When God is all one has left, one realizes that He is Whom they needed all along.

Some might still ask if God knows what each individual needs.

Jesus answers the question this way.

Matthew 10:29-31 (NRSVue) - Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, September 18, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, September 25, 2026

Deliver Us from the Evil One

 

Psalm 91 is a prayer for protection.

In fact, it goes by another name, “The Soldier’s Psalm.”

(I encourage you to research that title)

In verse 14, the psalmist seeks God’s protection.

He also acknowledges the reason for that protection.

Psalm 91:14 (NIV) - “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

In John 17, Jesus prays for his disciples.

In verse 15, Jesus prays for their protection.

John 17:15 (NRSVue) – I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.

Notice that Jesus does not ask God to take them out of the world.

He does not ask God to protect them from evil,

Jesus asks God to protect them from the source of that evil.

In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray.

Some translations end verse 13 with “deliver us from evil.”

Other translations add one word.

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) - And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

To be honest, the world is a frightening place.

Just reading the headlines is often enough to make one afraid.

But the solution is not to lock ourselves away from evil.

It is in acknowledging who is the source of all evil.

It is then trusting that God is with us and never leaves us.

Therein lies the beauty in loving God and trusting Him.

It also lies in the fact that God loves us.

The evil one will still try to attack us.

There is no getting around that as that is his nature.

Job is a perfect example of that fact.

But thanks to God’s love for us through Christ, we never face him alone.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, September 4, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, September 11, 2026

The Words and the Examples

Psalm 143 is a prayer for deliverance.

In it, the Psalmist prayed for guidance.

Psalm 143:8b (NRSVue) - Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

In John 6, Jesus speaks the words of eternal life.

Many who heard these words turned away, leaving only the twelve behind.

Jesus asked if they wished to turn away as well.

Peter’s response was profound yet simple.

John 6:68-69 (NRSVue) – Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.

Our response should echo Peter’s.

It should be just as simple.

It should be equally profound.

Scripture teaches us through its words.

Through those within, it also teaches us by example.

Thanks to Christ, we share with God our hopes and concerns.

We should also admit to Him those occasions when we fall short of the mark.

This is called confession and it is something we should do.

Personally, I have given this much thought.

When we confess our sins, we are not revealing something unknown to God.

God is omniscient, so He is aware of our sins.

In confession, we are verbally admitting these shortcomings to ourselves.

And with the same breath, we can also ask for His help.

God is aware of our successes.

He is also aware of our failures.

Frequent communication with God should be part of our daily walk.

It deepens our relationship with Him as children of God.

Through scripture, we have both words and examples to guide us.

And the best source we have for both is Jesus Christ!

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 21, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 28, 2026

... And Nothing but the Truth

 

Psalm 12 is a plea for help.

In it, the Psalmist testifies that the Lord’s promises are pure and therefore true.

Psalm 12:6 (NRSVue) - The promises of the Lord are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

In John 18, Jesus is brought before Pilate.

Here, Jesus explains truth.

John 18:37 (NRSVue) – Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

In our modern era, truth has been relativized.

Some even claim that what is true for one individual may not be true for another.

Frankly, this is one of the most dangerous lies we can espouse.

A statement or belief is either true, or it is not.

Even sincerity cannot alter truth.

Take, for example, a glass filled with an odorless, colorless, tasteless liquid.

A person might sincerely believe the liquid was water and drink it.

If it were poison, the consumer would die no matter how sincere his belief.

This is the nature of truth.

Some would prefer the comfort of a lie to the sometimes-harsh reality of truth.

In John 14, Jesus explains his role regarding truth to Thomas.

John 14:6 (NRSVue) - Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

The modern world has made our job of sharing the truth with others more difficult.

But that does not alter the responsibility we have.

Sharing the truth is essential both for the speaker and the listener.

But before we speak, we must love the listener.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 1, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 8, 2026

Faith is Not an Accident

 

Psalm 22 is a plea for deliverance.

Tucked within, the Psalmist acknowledges his birth and his lifelong faith.

Psalm 22:10b (NRSVue) - and since my mother bore me you have been my God.

When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, Paul expressed his gratitude.

Paul expressed encouragement.

Paul acknowledged Timothy’s faith.

Paul also acknowledged where he first witnessed a faith like Timothy’s.

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.

In recent offerings, I have discussed the faith of my mother.

I have also written about how her faith influenced my own.

Like Timothy, I was also blessed with Godly grandmothers.

Their love shaped the faith of my parents.

The faith of my parents then shaped my own faith.

The love of God also shapes our faith.

Thanks to Christ, we are children of God!

As such, our faith is genuine.

It was shaped throughout our lifelong walk with God.

God’s love continues to mold and shape our faith to this day.

Our faith is not accidental.

Job 23:10 (NRSVue) - But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 17, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 24, 2026

Praising God More

 

Psalm 73 is a prayer for protection.

The psalmist also acknowledges the need to praise God.

Psalm 71:23 (NRSVue) - My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued.

Luke 1 talks about the birth of John the Baptist.

It also discusses John’s father, Zechariah.

Before John was born, an angel visited Zechariah while he was performing his priestly duties.

The angel told Zechariah that his wife would bare a son and that he was to be called John.

Zechariah found this hard to believe, so he asked for a sign.

The angel said that Zechariah would be unable to speak until these events occurred.

Zechariah was immediately muted.

Eight days after his wife had given birth, it was time to name the child.

Tradition held that the child was to be named after his father,

Elizabeth, the baby’s mother, said his name was to be John.

Those in attendance tried to dissuade her.

Zechariah, still mute, acted.

Luke 1:63-64 (NRSVue) - He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.

The moment Zechariah was able to speak; he began praising God.

We also should praise God regularly.

We often fail to live up to that obligation.

Yet God is loving and merciful.

Even in times of weakness, we can turn to God.

With His help, we can give God the praise He deserves.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 3, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 10, 2026

Darkness into Light

 

Within Isaiah 42 is a hymn of praise.

The hymn refers to the blind and how God will turn their darkness into light.

Isaiah 42:16 (NRSVue) I will lead the blind by a road they do not know; by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.

In John 8, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world.

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.”

As I read these verses, they reminded me of my prayers.

While my prayers are not repetitive, there are two things that are common to most.

I ask God to light my path.

I ask God to guide my steps.

Even at my age, I know how easy it would be for me to stumble spiritually.

And I know that God’s presence can keep me upright if I rely on Him.

In my part of the world, it is Autumn.

As the days grow shorter, the slight chill in the air is a reminder that Winter is not far away.

That is why we find the light and warmth of the sun comforting.

Similarly, in our daily walk, we welcome God’s presence as He guides our steps.

We welcome the light of Jesus on the path upon which we travel.

We also reflect that light to those still living in darkness.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

His Love and His Blessing

 

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestles with God until dawn.

As dawn approached, Jacob insisted on a blessing.

Genesis 32:26 (NRSVue) Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.”

In Matthew 19, people bring their children to Jesus.

This did not please the disciples.

Matthew says they spoke sternly to the people.

Jesus, however, was far more kind.

He was more than willing to bless the children.

Matthew 19:14 (NRSVue) - but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

What about us?

Like a willful child, we often struggle with God,

Yet God is forgiving and blesses us despite our willfulness.

And when we need to feel loved and need blessing, we can approach the Lord.

Like those small children, He welcomes us into His presence and blesses us.

The Lord comforts us.

The Lord sustains us.

No matter where we are in our earthly journey, He is always there for us.

He is there for us when we are young.

He is even there for us when we are not so young.

So, where we are on our journey does not matter.

We can always count on His love and His blessing.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, November 7, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, November 14, 2025

Humility and Contentment

 

In Job 42, Job expresses both humility and contentment.

Job 42:2 (NRSVue) - I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

The first chapter of Luke foretells the coming of Jesus into the world.

It also gives us a good reason for being humble.

Luke 1:37 (NRSVue) - For nothing will be impossible with God.

Both humility and contentment are qualities to be found in a Godly person.

Of humility, C.S. Lewis wrote:

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”

To put it another way, true humility is putting God and others before us.

As for contentment, the world teaches us not to be satisfied.

Madison Avenue tells us what we should buy to be happy.

Many authors, counselors, and motivational speakers tell us we should not be content, but to continually strive for more.

This is not true in a Christian sense.

To the godly person, contentment is telling God we are satisfied.

It is being grateful for who we are.

It is being thankful for where we are going in life.

It is being satisfied with what we have.

And as we walk with God in this world, we should express both humility and contentment.

James 1:17 (NRSVue) - Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 17, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, October 24, 2025

Those Led by the Spirit

Psalm 143 is a psalm of deliverance.

In verse 10, the psalmist asks God to lead him.

Psalm 143:10 (NRSVue) - Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes about life in the Spirit.

He also writes about those who are led by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 (NRSVue) - For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

This is quite a profound statement.

If the Spirit of God leads you. then you are a child of God.

And to be led by the Spirit means being obedient to that same Spirit.

The world in which we live is complex.

Yet our lives do not have to be complicated.

That is because the Spirit who leads us sets us on right paths and grants us peace.

Psalm 23:2-3 (NRSVue) - He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

And as we walk this path, may we also see others who are led by the Spirit of God.

May we see all those who are God’s children.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 3, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, October 10, 2025

Offering Praise

 

Psalm 109 is a prayer for vindication.

In verse 30, the psalmist discusses praise.

Psalm 109:30 (NRSVue) - With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.

In Luke 13, Jesus heals a disabled woman.

Her response was immediate.

Luke 13:13 (NRSVue) - When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

When most people think of praise in the Christian sense, they typically think about worship services.

This is certainly a time and place devoted to praise.

And in this environment, people praise God in diverse ways.

Some sing at the tops of their lungs (whether they are on key or not).

Some quietly speak the words in a more subdued fashion.

As for me, I do not sing as I am the audio/visual coordinator, and this would interfere with my duties.

That said, I listen closely to the words and focus on their meaning.

I also arrive before anyone else to make sure all the equipment is in good order.

Upon arrival, I pray thanking God that he will guide me in making good decisions.

These often must be made on the spot as I cannot anticipate every potentiality.

I also pray that God will accept my actions as my form of praise and worship.

My point is this.

Always remember to praise God in song, prayer, and service.

Also remember that praise is not limited to a house of worship.

We should look for every opportunity to praise God.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, September 19, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, September 26, 2025

Faith, Righteousness, and Connection

 

Genesis 15:6 (NET) - Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord credited it as righteousness to him.

Abram and Sarai had no children.

Despite their ages, God instructed Abram to gaze upon the multitude of stars in the sky.

As Abram did this, God compared his future descendants to the number of stars.

Abram believed God.

And because he believed, God acknowledged this as righteousness.

Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, admonished them.

Although they had been told of Christ and His crucifixion, they still gave credence to the law.

Paul reminded them that salvation could not be achieved through personal effort.

It was only obtained through belief.

Paul then reminded them of Abraham’s belief and how God credited his belief for righteousness.

He then explained that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.

Galatians 2:6-7 (NET) - Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.

It is certainly true that we currently live under the New Covenant.

But we should neither discard the Old testament, nor should we take it lightly.

Many prophecies made in the Old Testament came to fruition in the New Testament.

These prophecies include the birth, life, and even the crucifixion of Christ.

All this reminds me of a song our children occasionally sing called Father Abraham.

Although it is a simple song, it tells us that Father Abraham had many children.

It also reminds us that we are children of Abraham.

God promised Abraham would have many descendants; as many as the stars in the sky.

Abraham believed God and God accepted his belief as righteous.

Moreover, God was as good as His word.

And, in the words of Paul, we who believe are the sons (and daughters) of Abraham.

And it is through our belief that we connect with God.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

Commandment, Comprehension, Commission

 

Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.

These words are taken from the Ten Commandments.

In fact, this is the first commandment of the ten and its language is unmistakable.

There must be no confusion,

This is not a suggestion. 

This is a command directly from God.

God makes it truly clear that He demands to be first in our lives.

And the moment we put any person, thing or even idea above God, we practice idolatry.

Recently, we observed Trinity Sunday.

This celebrates the triune God.

But does this celebration violate God’s first commandment?

The simple answer is no.

For God exists in three persons.

God, the Father, has always existed and has created all things.

We are redeemed by Jesus who is God, the Son.

John 10:30 (NET) - The Father and I are one.

Working together, they sent us the one who makes us holy… God, the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 (NET) - But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

Many heard the teaching of Jesus.

But some found His teaching difficult and walked away.

He then turned to the disciples who remained.

Jesus asked, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

John 6:68-69 (NET) - Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!”

Peter spoke for the disciples.

I like to think that he spoke for us as well.

Jesus is the word of life.

And it is the triune God that created, redeemed, and now continues to work within us daily.

And thus, we are equipped to fulfill our role in the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NET) - Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

God’s Will and New Life

 

I am posting this a bit early as I have one final class to teach on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian who refused to take the oath to Hitler.

He also refused to support the state’s takeover of the church.

Initially, he and a few likeminded pastors created a new and independent church.

He was even asked to teach at one of its seminaries.

In time, this illegal church was shut down by authorities.

Through his brother-in-law, he learned of the atrocities being committed,

After much prayer and consideration, Bonhoeffer chose to become active.

He joined this resistance group.

This was not an easy decision to come to.

But Bonhoeffer did more than ask tough questions, he asked the right question.

“What is God’s will?”

He understood that the will of God might lie hidden within layers of possibilities.

Still, the will of God must be sought regardless of the complexity of the task.

Eventually, Bonhoeffer and his fellow conspirators were arrested.

When their roles became clear, the regime sentenced them to death.

Convicted of high treason, Bonhoeffer was executed on April 9, 1945.

Prior to that, he delivered a sermon to his fellow prisoners based on two verses of scripture.

Isaiah 53:5 (NET) - He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. He did this because He knew we could not accomplish this on our own.

1 Peter 1:3 (NET) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

On the day of his execution, Bonhoeffer prayed.

He faced death calmly.

His final recorded words were: “This is the end – for me, the beginning of life.”

Like Bonhoeffer, we too must seek God’s will, even when the search proves difficult.

And we must share his view of eternity.

For death is not the end, rather, it is a new beginning.

A new beginning paid in full by Jesus Christ.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 17, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, June 24, 2022

Between God and Humanity

 

1 Chronicles 29:11 (NET) - O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You, Lord, have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.

Here, David praised the Lord and recognized His sovereignty.

Although David wished to build the Lord’s Temple, God chose Solomon for the task.

The people gave generously for this purpose.

But David continued by acknowledging that all wealth belongs to God.

As such, God is deserving of both thanks and praise.

1 Chronicles 29:12-13 (NET) - You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!

Like those of long ago, we too should give God our thanks and praise.

And our thanks should be deeper and our praise even greater.

That is because God has given us something even more valuable than wealth.

Despite our flaws and our sin, God gave us His Son.

A Son who does for us that which we cannot do for ourselves.

Christ makes us right with God.

Paul discusses this in his first letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NET) - For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at his appointed time.

Christ came to dwell among us. 

He also paid the ultimate price for us, and it is that sacrifice that makes us right with God.

Moreover, Christ continues to intercede for us, 

We should be grateful and praise God for creating us and the world in which we live.

But in His infinite wisdom, God also gave us His Son to make us right with Him.

He did this because He knew we could not accomplish this on our own.

He did this because He loves us.

We, in turn, should share this love with others.

They, like us, are creations of God.

And Christ intercedes for them as well.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 3, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, June 10, 2022

Answering the Call

 

I am in the process of preparing a weeklong study for an adult class.

Its focus will be the life and faith of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and theologian when the Nazi regime rose to power.

He found himself opposed both to the regime and its leader.

He took this position as a Christian and made some exceedingly difficult moral decisions along the way.

Living abroad in safety, he chose to return to Germany.

Upon learning of the regime’s atrocities, he willingly took on a more active role to oppose it.

Eventually, he and his fellow conspirators were imprisoned.

Although in prison, he continued to share his faith with others.

This included his guards as well as fellow prisoners.

Writing to his family from prison, he shared his reading of scripture.

“I am reading the Bible straight through from cover to cover and I have just got as far as Job, which I am particularly fond of. I read the Psalms every day as I have for years. I know them and love them more than any other book.”

Bonhoeffer, like Job, faced adversity.

And, like Job, he struggled to find answers to morally tough questions.

Bonhoeffer would eventually be executed by the regime he opposed.

This happened mere weeks before the war’s end.

In the end, Bonhoeffer faced his execution in peace.

Facing the gallows of Flossenburg prison he said, “This is the end. For me the beginning of life.”

The book of Hebrews reminds us that God equips us to do his will.

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NET) - Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

Through his faith, Bonhoeffer lived his life in accordance with the will of God.

He approached the end of his earthly journey with serenity.

Bonhoeffer understood that death was not the end, but rather a new beginning.

A new beginning made possible by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

In this life, we too will face adversity and challenging questions.

Through it all, God equips us to do His will on our journeys of faith.

These journeys begin with putting the needs of others before our own desires.

In short, this means loving and serving them.

And it is Christ within us that makes this possible.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 20, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, May 27, 2022

The Living Water

 

The Psalmist prays in chapter 143.

He begins by asking the Lord to hear his prayer.

He admits that no one is innocent before the Lord.

He laments that his enemies pursue him.

He confesses that his strength is depleted.

Through it all, he remembers what the Lord has done.

So, he seeks the Lord in a remarkable way.

Psalm 143:6 (NET) - I spread my hands out to you in prayer; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.

In life, we too will find our souls thirsting for the Lord.

Fortunately for us, Christ is the Living Water.

And we may partake of the Living Water at no cost.

Scripture assures us of this.

Revelation 22:17b (NET) - And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.

Christ is the Living Water, and He makes Himself available to all.

And once our parched souls are refreshed, we find ourselves equipped.

We are equipped to extend His love into the world around us.

Once watered, our souls experience growth.

They rediscover the importance of community.

They serve the missions on which they are sent.

Someone wiser than me once said that God does not call the equipped, He equips those He calls.

So, first partake freely of the Living Water.

Then, carry this wisdom into a thirsty world.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 6, 2022.

I will be back here on Friday, May 13, 2022

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