Vindication

 

Isaiah 50:8 (NRSVue) - he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand in court together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.

Isaiah spoke of humiliation,

He also spoke of vindication.

Christ was familiar with both humiliation and vindication.

In John 8, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus.

They claimed to have caught her committing adultery.

To trap Jesus, they reminded Him that the law demanded she be stoned.

Jesus bent down and began writing on the ground with His finger.

Scripture does not tell us what He wrote.

But what He wrote had an impact.

Those who attempted to trap Him left.

In time, only Jesus and the woman remained.

John 8:10-11 (NRSVue) - Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”

Christ extended his grace and mercy to the woman.

Isaiah understood that God would also offer His grace and mercy.

People will let us down.

But the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the source from which goodness springs.

They see us for who we really are.

And, despite our flaws, they extend grace, mercy, and forgiveness to us.

They give us another chance even when people are unwilling to forgive.

They even give us another chance when we are unwilling to forgive ourselves.

Then we, like the woman who stood before Jesus, should make the most of that second chance.

We too should go our way and not sin again.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 16, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, February 23, 2024

The Only Real Choice

 

1 Kings 18:21 (NRSVue) - Elijah then came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word.

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal.

Of course, he knew that God would triumph over those who followed false gods.

But before the contest took place, Elijah spoke those words to the people.

He knew the people had drifted from God.

These words were a caution that you cannot serve God and false gods.

In Matthew 6, Christ taught the disciples how to pray.

He also gave them cautionary instructions.

One of these concerned serving two masters, namely God and wealth.

Matthew 6:24 (NRSVue) - “No one can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

God is, and always has been, supreme.

He expects to be first in our lives.

Moreover, He commanded this.

Exodus 20:2-4 (NRSVue) - “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.”

The simple fact is that anytime we place anyone or anything above God, we practice idolatry.

We rob God of His rightful place in our lives.

When that happens, God asks us to choose.

Choice is a part of life.

But correctly choosing Who has priority is crucial.

It requires commitment.

It requires loyalty.

People and things constantly vie for our attention and affection.

But we must choose to put God first.

Fortunately, God helps us choose wisely when we make ourselves open and available to Him.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, February 2, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, February 9, 2024

Radiance, Not Regret

 

Psalm 34:5 (NET) - Look to him and be radiant; do not let your faces be ashamed.

The word radiant means “shining or glowing brightly”.

In the words of the Psalmist, that is how we are meant to be.

But the Psalmist also advises us not to be ashamed.

We are not to show guilt or embarrassment for our past actions or associations.

Each of us, myself included, has a past.

We each have a past full of regrets.

We have endured times of suffering.

We may perhaps be enduring it now.

How, we may ask, is it possible to be radiant and unashamed?

The Psalmist gives us the answer right up front.

We are to look to Him.

But what does that really mean?

Paul sheds some light on this in his letter to the Romans.

Romans 12:12 (NET) - Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.

Suffering will pass; therefore, it must be endured.

We must look to God which means we must be persistent in prayer.

We are assured there is hope and we can rejoice in that hope.

In times of suffering, guilt and regret it is all too easy to turn away from God.

But in such times, we must do the opposite.

We must look to Him.

As we look to Him, we see His light.

We begin to live in that light.

Moreover, our faces reflect His light and our faces become radiant.

As they become radiant, they are incapable of displaying shame.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 7, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, May 14, 2021

 

Cause and Effect

 

Amos 3:6 (NET) - If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the Lord not responsible?

The prophet Amos discussed cause and effect in the beginning of the third chapter.

Amos cited numerous examples of cause and effect.

In the first half of this verse, Amos described the sound of an alarm and people’s reaction.

But it is the second half of this verse that most captured my attention.

Amos linked a city’s disaster with the Lord’s responsibility.

In other words, everything is subjected to God’s will.

The disaster which befell the city happened because God willed it so.

This is important for us to remember right now.

We celebrated the resurrection of Christ just a few days ago.

But before His resurrection, Christ was executed in the most painful way possible.

Prior to that, Christ was abandoned by His friends, tortured, and mocked.

Christ endured so very much.

His suffering was an effect.

And, following the reasoning of Amos, this effect must have had a cause.

This cause can be found in Luke’s gospel.

Luke 24:26 (NET) - Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

The reason Christ suffered and died is because it was necessary.

It was also God’s will.

God understood that man was in dire need of salvation.

He also understood that there was only one way to achieve it.

Christ, His only Son, had to suffer and die on our behalf.

What of today?

There are still many who do not have a relationship with Christ.

Is this not a cause?

If so, does this too not require an effect?

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

Only Christ is capable of that.

Our responsibility, or effect, is introducing others to Him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 16, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, April 23, 2021

The Path to Bravery

 

Joshua 1:9 (NET) - I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”

These words were part of God’s commission to Joshua.

Moses, who led the people out of bondage and through the wilderness, was dead.

Joshua formerly assisted Moses, but now he would lead.

Before these words God told Joshua to be ready, cross the Jordan and lead the people.

Every place where they stepped would be handed over to them.

This was as God promised His servant Moses.

God then reminded Joshua to obey Him completely.

If so, God would be with Joshua and never abandon him.

God then repeated His reminder to be strong and brave,

He also reminded Joshua that He will not face future challenges alone.

This is certainly not the only time in scripture God reminds us to be brave.

Scripture reminds us time and again to “fear not”.

Paul wrote two letters to Timothy while imprisoned.

Through these letters we get an idea of the close relationship they shared.

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds him to be brave.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NET) - For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Bravery is rooted in power and obedience.

It is also rooted in love.

Rather than give in to fear, we too must be strong and brave.

Like Joshua and Timothy, we do not face challenges alone.

God is with us every step of the way.

Joshua trusted God.

He reminded the people to recommit themselves to God.

He did so by example: “But I and my family will worship the Lord.”

Like Joshua and Timothy, we should also be strong and brave.

Today’s headlines bear this out.

The path to bravery begins with a single step.

It is a journey.

The more we love God, the more courageous we become.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 2, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, April 9, 2021

 

Living in the Light

Micah 7:8 (NET) - My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

There is an expression about being “kept in the dark”.

To be “kept in the dark” means that knowledge has been deliberately withheld.

Each of us knows what this is like.

We have been kept in the dark by elected officials on both sides of the aisle.

We have been kept in the dark by those with whom we work.

Even family and friends sometimes keep us in the dark.

It certainly is worth thinking about.

In fact, it reminds me that I too have been guilty of keeping others in the dark.

That is certainly not the way we were meant to live.

We are meant to live in the light and Jesus is the light of the world.

His light penetrates even the deepest darkness.

His is the light of truth.

The prophet Micah understood this.

True, the book of Micah describes God’s judgement on His people.

Also true is the fact it prophesied Christ’s birth.

Difficult times and difficult people do not last forever.

Neither does the darkness.

So, get up and step into the light of Jesus!

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NET) - For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.

Living in the dark is no way to live.

The best way to live is to live in the light!

We must therefore allow the light of Christ to shine in us and through us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 19, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, March 26, 2021

 

Ambassadors for Christ

 

Isaiah 6:8 (NET) - I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”

Before Isaiah’s confident response, he saw the Lord seated upon a throne in His temple.

The glory of the Lord filled the temple.

The temple was also filled with smoke and shook to its foundation.

Isaiah knew that he was a sinner.

He lamented that he was a man with unclean lips who lived among others with unclean lips as well.

Moreover, he had just seen the Lord.

But rather than destroy Isaiah, God took away his sin.

The Lord then asked, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”

With his sins atoned for, Isaiah’s fear was replaced by courage.

Isaiah answered, “Here I am, send me!”

Isaiah became a great prophet for the Lord.

What about us?

Do we need to experience such a vision before we can serve the Lord?

No.

We often expect, perhaps even demand, that the Lord perform the extraordinary.

The truth is that the Lord can be extremely subtle.

Remember that the Lord revealed himself to Elijah in a whisper.

And, according to Paul, our citizenship is in heaven.

Moreover, we are already ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NET) - Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

We are His ambassadors because of what Christ did for us.

Nations send ambassadors to other nations in an official capacity to act on their behalf.

As ambassadors for Christ, we are to act on His behalf as well.

One way we accomplish this is through our words.

Another way is through our actions.

These often speak louder than our words.

Christ has already equipped us for the task.

So, plead with the world on His behalf, “Be reconciled to God!”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

A Full Pardon

 

Micah 7:18 (NET) - Who is a God like you? Who forgives sin and pardons the rebellion of those who remain among his people? Who does not stay angry forever, but delights in showing loyal love?

Man rebelled against God in the beginning.

We still do.

Adam and Eve gave into pride.

They were lured into disobedience on a false promise.

The promise that they would “be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3).

We are just as guilty.

So often we want to do things our way rather than God’s way.

The result of our disobedience is all around us.

Things like injustice, division, crime, and hatred make headlines.

C. S. Lewis once wrote: “All that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

Lewis published this in 1952, and the sad tale of our pride and disobedience continues.

It might seem that man is forever lost.

It might even seem that, as individuals, we too are forever lost.

Both assumptions are incorrect.

God is more than capable of forgiveness and pardon.

In fact, He has forgiven and pardoned already.

This is not due to anything we have done.

It is due to what Christ did on our behalf.

Romans 8:32 (NET) - Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?

Those who have accepted Him are completely forgiven.

God completely forgives because of His limitless love.

But if so, why does the world continue in its present state?

For one thing, we have not learned to forgive others.

For another, we have not even learned to forgive ourselves.

If God forgives so much, should we not be willing to forgive others of so little?

If God loves us all, should we not love each other as well?

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 19, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, February 26, 2021

 

Truth and Freedom

 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NET) - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.

I write these words on the same day we inaugurate a new president.

There is all manner of pomp and circumstance.

There are flags, speeches, military bands… the works.

No doubt, many of the speeches and commentaries will include the concept of freedom.

But what does freedom mean?

According to the dictionary, one definition says it is the right to speak or act without hindrance.

Another states it is the absence of subjugation to a foreign or despotic power.

Still another says it is the state of not being incarcerated or enslaved.

But when it comes to being a Christian, we find that these definitions do not literally apply.

For example, we are not free to speak whatever happens to be on our minds.

James 1:26 (NET) - If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.

Neither does the second definition apply.

Even Christ was brought before a foreign ruler.

John 18:33 (NET) - So Pilate went back into the governor’s residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?

Christians have even been incarcerated.

Paul wrote several of his letters while in prison.

Even history reminds us that many Christians have been imprisoned for their faith.

Despite the definitions, freedom for Christians is a real and tangible thing.

John 8:31-32 (NET) - Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Freedom, real freedom, can be found in truth.

It can be found in the truth of the teachings of Christ.

Understanding truth, the truth of His teachings, is what sets us free.

Those who are imprisoned for Christ are free.

Those who are subject to foreign powers are free.

Yes, even those who bridle their tongues are free.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I will be back here on Friday, February 12, 2020

 

Epiphanies

 

Matthew 2:1-2 (NET) - After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

January 6, the twelfth day after Christmas, is known as Epiphany in the Christian calendar.

This is where we get the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas.

It was held that it took the wise men twelve days to make the journey from the East.

Nativity scenes often depict the wise men at the birth of Jesus.

They also depict three wise men.

But scripture never tells us exactly how many there were.

It is likely that there were more travelling by caravan to avoid being preyed upon by robbers.

We tend to think of three wise men because of the three gifts they brought.

The gifts included gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Each gift has a meaning.

Gold symbolizes a kingship on earth.

Frankincense, an incense, symbolizes deity.

Myrrh, an embalming oil, symbolizes death.

All three symbols apply to Jesus.

Jesus is king, He is God incarnate and He came into this world to die for us.

These wise men, regardless of number, experienced Epiphany.

They understood that Jesus was the manifestation of God on earth.

So, they travelled an exceedingly long way to find Him.

The dictionary also defines an epiphany as an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.

Some may refer to this as having an “Aha” or life changing realization.

The same day as Epiphany, people stormed the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

In total, four people were killed.

Many were injured and criminal arrests will follow.

Yet this is just another example of division in America right now.

Isn’t it past time the nation had an epiphany of its own?

An “Aha” moment or life changing realization.

An epiphany that it is time to seek Jesus once again.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I will be back here on Friday, January 22, 2020

 

The Gift of Peace

 

John 14:27 (NET) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

As I write these words, I prepare my heart for Christmas.

Although this is a celebration of the birth of Jesus, my thoughts turn to His gift of peace.

As we near the close of 2020, I realize how much the world needs to experience peace.

For human beings, peace does not come easily.

We find there is so much for us to worry about.

Many of us have lost loved ones to the pandemic.

Many of us have learned of loved ones who have contracted the virus.

Many of us have lost our jobs.

The list goes on.

Although true peace is a very real thing, many of us find it elusive.

Some even think true peace is impossible to achieve.

True peace can be found, but it can only be found in Jesus Himself.

The prophet Isaiah referred to Jesus as “The Prince of Peace” in his prophecy.

Isaiah 9:6 (NET) - For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called Wonderful Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Achieving peace simply requires us to look for it.

But we must look in the right place to find it.

We must look to Jesus to find true and lasting peace.

Having faith does not mean the adverse circumstances in our lives will vanish overnight.

Having faith better enables us to deal with them.

My Christmas prayer is that we can find true and lasting peace.

Find it where it can only be found - in Jesus

Once found, we must in turn share it with others.

What a remarkable gift to give at Christmas!

Christmas Blessings!

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

I’ll be back here on Friday, January 8, 2020

 

Doing It All

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Philippians 4:13 (NET) - I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Despite the pandemic, December finds me extremely busy.

The Sunday School class I teach is gearing back up.

Work has me very busy, or as my father would say: “snowed under”.

More and more people are counting on my support.

We are now well into the season of Advent and Christmas will be here very soon.

That is why I love this verse from Philippians.

I’ve often referred to it as my “go to” verse.

No matter how many things pile up on my plate, this verse is a great reminder.

It reminds me not to count on my own strength, but to rely on His.

This is what helps me cope when things start to pile up.

Sometimes, we think we just don’t have room on our plates for one more thing.

That is when God does the unexpected.

He doesn’t remove things from our plate.

Instead, He just gives us a bigger plate.

Which, if you think about it, is not completely surprising.

God frequently does the unexpected.

He did that 2,000 years ago when He sent us His Son.

He came not as a general of political ruler in the presence of the powerful.

Christ came to us as an infant; born to obedient parents and announced to humble shepherds.

Christ reminded us we could not serve two masters.

If we did, we would love one and hate the other.

That is why we should do everything as as we would for God,

When we keep God first, He helps us prioritize "all things" that we do.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 18, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, December 25, 2020

Risky Business

The dictionary defines “risky” as “full of the possibility of danger, failure or loss.”

How true that is!

Type the word “risky” into a search engine and you will find pages devoted to the pandemic.

This is a good barometer as to the level of fear currently in the world.

Others, however, enjoy risk.

Some race motorcycles, some dive off cliffs and some climb huge rocks.

When asked why they do so, many of them admit to being “adrenaline junkies”.

They enjoy living on the edge where most of us would dare not tread.

But you do not have to partake in these activities or face a pandemic to be a risk taker.

Many take the biggest risk of all without realizing it.

They are the people who do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

They are the biggest risk takers of all.

Many of them assume that this life is all that there is,

In their way of thinking, you are born, you live, you die… end of story.

But it is far from the end of the story.

Jesus had some cautionary words for those who live for this world only.

Mark 8:36 (NET) - For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life?

Many put off seeking this relationship.

They rationalize this by thinking they have plenty of time in which to seek Him.

But unlike a timed sporting event, not one of us knows exactly how much time remains.

Unlike football, there is no two-minute warning.

The current pandemic bears that out.

Having a personal relationship with Jesus means knowing that it is not about us.

It is about Him.

This is a radical change in perspective.

Lives are changed and very important lessons are learned.

We learn the amount of time we have left is less important than what we choose to do with it.

We learn that we have nothing to fear; not even from the pandemic.

2 Timothy 1:7 (NET) - For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

But be forewarned.

A relationship with Christ does not guarantee a life of safety.

Many have paid with their lives simply by following Christ.

It will not always be easy.

Like Peter, you just might have to step out of the boat.

Matthew 14:37 (NET) - So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

A relationship with Jesus brings its own kinds of risk, but the rewards are worth it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 7, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 14, 2020

Promises, Promises

There are many passages of scripture which remind us that God keeps his promises.

Although true, it is important that we keep our promises as well.

We must keep our promises to God.

Matthew 5:33 (NET) - “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’

We must also keep our word when we make promises to others.

Numbers 20:2 (NET) - If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.

Probably the easiest promises to break begin with the words: “If there is anything that I can do…”

Such promises are easily made because we do not expect the other person to take us up on it.

If this is the case, it is better that we do not make the promise at all.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, friends I knew well began a new ministry,

I was in contact with one individual by email when it began.

I responded: “If there is anything that I can do…”

As communications continued, there was no mention of my offer to help.

Time went by as did the emails.

In time, I forgot about my offer.

Recently, I was contacted by another friend associated with this new ministry.

Early into our telephone conversation he expressed their need for assistance.

My words to my other friend echoed back to me: “If there is anything that I can do…”

The fact that the promise I made was to a different friend made no difference.

My promise was to that ministry.

That promise I will keep.

Matthew 5:37 (NET) - Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 17, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, July 24, 2020

The Seduction of Pride

I was recently asked to be one of several speakers at an upcoming event.

I agreed for two reasons.

First, I am familiar with the topic that interests the group.

Second, I was recommended to them by a close friend.

As the event was still weeks away, I turned my attention back to more pressing matters.

A few days later, the group requested my “bio” for the event.

Frankly, I never like submitting these.

Although organizers need them, I dislike them for two reasons.

In the first place, I do not like talking about myself.

In the second, it is easy to allow pride to take over.

Once pride takes over, we can easily overstate our importance.

Before I began, I thought about the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Jesus relates this parable in Luke 18.

He told it to some people who were convinced they were more righteous than others.

Luke 18:10-12 (NET) - “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’

I was very glad I recalled this parable before I wrote my “bio” as it reminded me how not go about it.

The second part of this parable also proved very helpful.

Luke 18:13 (NET) - The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’

Keeping these verses in mind, I wrote my “bio”, keeping it to just a few simple lines and submitted it to the organizers.

I am glad that I took this approach.

Luke 18:14 (NET) - I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Pride, especially in one’s self, is extremely seductive.

It is easy to see why the ancients considered it one of the deadly sins.

It is so seductive that it can easily lead us to sin in other ways.

Most importantly, pride shifts our focus.

We shift our focus onto ourselves and away from God who rightfully deserves it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 2, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, August 9, 2019

Opportunities

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

These words from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians are among my favorite in all of scripture.

I think every Christian would agree that faith is a wonderful thing.

And, who among us does not like to have hope.

But Paul reminds us love is even greater than faith or hope.

All three of these things involve relationships.

The first two, faith and hope, mainly involve our relationship with God.

Love, on the other hand, is not so limited.

While it is an integral part of our relationship with God it is also important to our relationship with others.

Jesus reminded us of this.

John 15:12 (NET) - My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved you.

The words we speak can demonstrate our love for God and others.

More importantly, our actions also demonstrate our love.

That’s where opportunities come in.

The dictionary defines opportunity as: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.

One kind of opportunity is the kind we create ourselves.

The other is the kind that presents itself to us.

These can be difficult for us to recognize with all the distractions the world offers us.

That is why it is important that we remain open and receptive to God’s leading,

When we do, something remarkable happens.

Our response to these opportunities is a great way to demonstrate our love for God and others as well.

We demonstrate our love for God and others at the same time.

Paul understood this and pointed this out in his letter to the Galatians.

Galatians 6:10 (NET) - So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

As Easter draws ever nearer, let us remember how God demonstrated his love for us through Christ.

Let us remember that Jesus willingly laid down his life for us because He loves us.

John 15:13 (NET) - No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends.

Opportunities still arise.

Let us be open to them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 5, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, April 12, 2019

Which Do You Save?

I really enjoy those moments when the material we study opens up dialog in the classroom.

That is especially true when my students’ discussion turns to how the material applies to today.

A recent discussion we were having made me recall a philosophical question I once encountered.

I altered the premise somewhat to better suit today’s circumstances and offered a hypothetical situation.

It goes as follows:

You are walking down the street one evening.

As you do, you near a museum that has on display a very famous work of art on loan to it.

Without warning, the museum erupts into flame.

You rush in and see this work of art along with an unconscious terrorist who started the blaze.

In a split second, you realize that you only have time to rescue one.

Which of the two do you save?

Do you save the priceless work of art on loan?

Or, do you save the terrorist who not only started the fire but likely hates both you and your beliefs?

One school of thought dictates that you save the work of art.

Its reasoning is that the work is priceless and worth more than the one who wanted it destroyed.

From a Christian perspective, there really is no choice.

You must save the individual regardless of how he feels about you or the things you value.

The work of art, although valuable, is an object.

The other is a human being.

Like yourself, he is made in the image of God and has the potential for change.

Whether that change comes about is between him and God.

But, for as long as we draw breath, there remains hope.

We are each capable of saving someone physically.

Only the Lord is capable of saving someone spiritually.

Our task is to love others, not judge them.

Romans 12:18-19 (NET) - If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

If the change does happen, the ensuing testimony will be powerful.

We may not be able to change hearts, but God certainly can.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NET) - I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 1, 2019.

I will be back here on Friday, March 8, 2019

What We Worship

The more of N. T. Wright I read, the more I understand why he has been referred to as a contemporary C. S. Lewis.

According to Wright: “You become like what you worship. When you gaze in awe, admiration, and wonder at something or someone, you begin to take on something of the character of the object of your worship.”

When I came across this, I was immediately struck by Wright’s honesty.

It goes without saying that God expects us to worship Him.

When we choose to place anything or anyone above God, we immediately become guilty of idolatry.

But that is not all.

Something else occurs when we place things or people above God.

We dehumanize people who, like us, are created in the image of God.

For those who place power above God, people become just another commodity to exploit.

Dictators and despots throughout history have done exactly that.

Genocide, starvation and poverty on a mass scale begin the list of atrocities of those obsessed with power.

History bears this out.

Placing wealth above God can also cause us to dehumanize people.

Those who do look upon others as merely creditors, debtors, credit scores, bad risks and so on.

This dehumanizes people.

The worship of power and wealth merely begin a long list of ways of ignoring God and disregarding His image. 

That is why it is imperative we worship God exclusively.

When we do, He helps us keep everything else in check.

For believers whom God has entrusted with power, God helps them use it to better the conditions of people.

For believers whom God has entrusted with wealth, God helps them be charitable.

Honesty is another thing God expects from believers in whatever career to which He has led them.

Work, after all, is a task ordained by God in Genesis.

Adam’s job was to tend the garden God created.

Genesis 2:15 (NET) - The Lord God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.

Regardless of our role in life, we must make certain that we worship God exclusively.

In doing so, He will help us succeed in our journey through His world,

Proverbs 3:6 (NET) - Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

Finally, we must remember that those with whom we engage either directly or indirectly are human beings.

Each and every one of them is made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:27 (NET) - God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 15, 2019.

I will be back here on Friday, February 22, 2019

Healing Division

Well, the midterm elections are over.

I plan not to turn this into a one-sided political piece.

But there are some things worth considering.

There are some things that definitely concern me right now.

To say that the nation is extremely divided is an understatement.

Elections have ceased to be about objectively selecting the candidates we feel are best qualified.

Elections have degraded into another component of the “us versus them” mentality that we currently find ourselves in.

The media is not helping matters in that they categorize candidates, regions and even voters as either red or blue,

One of the other things that bothers me are the vast amounts of money that pour into the process.

One candidate amassed several million dollars to finance his campaign.

Despite his huge financing, his campaign failed to get him into office.

I try not to think of the millions of dollars more spent by others and the better uses society has for then.

So, now the elections are over and what exactly will we have?

We will have a blue House (a Democratic majority).

We will have a red Senate (a Republican majority).

How much in the way of actual progress can possibly emerge from this?

I still think about a divided nation in which each side is willing to demonize the other simply because they disagree.

Most importantly, I think about how Christ told us to love each other.

Yes, even those with whom we disagree politically.

It is okay if we disagree.

It is not okay for us to become disagreeable people in the process.

In two more years, we will find ourselves mired down in yet another election cycle.

In the meantime, there are some things we need to remember.

First, we must place our faith in the Lord; not politicians.

Second, the Lord is the source of real hope; not political parties.

Finally, we must find a way to love one another no matter how we decide to cast our votes.

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

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 16, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, November 23, 2018

Priorities in a Hectic World

Matthew 6:33 (NET) - But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Now that Fall has arrived where I live more than the weather has changed.

My drive home often takes place at dusk.

It seems that drivers want to go faster and take more risks once the sun has gone down.

Part of it must be psychological.

Perhaps the oncoming darkness reminds drivers that there are few hours left in the day.

As a result, they rush about in an attempt to get things done.

Yet when it comes to spiritual matters, broadly speaking, I think many of us lack a similar sense of urgency.

To be honest, not one of us knows how much time we have remaining to us.

Some of us may have years or even decades.

Others have mere days or perhaps hours.

Yet we seem to rush about placing more emphasis on the here and the now rather than the eternal.

We stay busy but accomplish little.

We are bombarded with information, but do we really learn?

Scripture reminds us to seek the Kingdom of God first.

We tend to lose sight of this in a world that gets more hectic with each passing day

So, pause.

Take a breath.

Reassess your priorities.

God not only wants to be first in our lives, he expects this.

When we place God first, a wonderful thing happens,

He helps us prioritize everything else!

Luke 12:34 (NET) - For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 5, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, October 12, 2018