Rolling Up Your Sleeves

It never ceases to amaze me how communications get mixed up.

I recently had some work done in several rooms that would require professionals.

It also required that everything be moved out of the rooms before work could commence.

My understanding was that I would be responsible for moving anything fragile.

It was also my understanding that everything else would be moved by the workmen.

I began packing away fragile items days before and moved them out of harm’s way.

Following that, I began boxing up all the other things that would have be moved around until all the work was completed.

Assuming work would begin in the living room, I moved these boxes out as first.

This left some furniture and my bookshelves.

On the morning scheduled there was a knock on my door.

I opened the door and there stood a workman with his tools and the other essentials he needed.

I welcomed him in.

I waited at the open door expecting at least one more person to help him move the heavier items.

I was puzzled when no one else followed.

I turned to the workman who was about half my age.

“Where is your help?”, I asked.

I was surprised when he stated he was alone and was prepared to move these items himself.

I had several options.

I could have allowed him to move these items himself.

I could also have called his employer and demanded he send over some help.

I chose a different path.

Although easily twice his age, I offered to help him move these remaining items.

At first, he refused my help.

I was persistent and together we moved these items out.

He was then able to set about his work more quickly.

By midafternoon, his work in the living room was complete.

We then moved the heavier items back.

He even offered to help with some of the boxes.

I declined because I saw just how physically demanding his work was.

As he left, he assured me that two workmen would be sent out the following day to finish work in the other rooms.

Is there a point to all this?

I have a number of things in my residence that can help identify me as a Christian.

The way I treat others can either prove or disprove that.

Hebrews 6:10 (NET) - For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 2, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, February 9, 2018

Roles

1 Peter 4:10 (NET) - Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Every church loves to have visitors.

My church is certainly no exception,

Returning visitors are a special blessing.

I was doing my very best to welcome a returning visitor.

One of his questions took me by surprise.

“What is your role in the church?”

There really is no easy answer to this question.

Just like many people who attend church, I have taken on a number of roles over the years.

God blesses each of us with different talents.

He has also gives us different passions for service.

We each utilize our particular combinations of gifts and passions to fill a number of roles.

This is how the work of the church gets done.

I wish the world outside the church would adopt a similar attitude.

Often in the secular world have I have asked for assistance.

How disappointed I am when the response I receive is: “That’s not my job.”

In most cases, people in the church are happy to help out.

If unable to help, they can usually direct you to someone who can.

None of us can do everything.

Each of us is capable of doing some things.

Working together and combining our abilities is how the work of the church gets done.

This also helps us in another way.

We strengthen our existing skills and might even learn new ones.

That is how we grow as a Christians.

God blesses us.

Motivated by love, we then serve both God and others.

Hebrews 6:10-12 (NET) - For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, August 18, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, August 25, 2017

Which Is It?

Which is the more important: faith or works?

Men have struggled with this question for centuries.

This question has even caused strife within the church.

Historically speaking, I know of at least one church that let this question result in a schism.

On one side, there were those that believed faith was the superior of the two.

They could point to verses like this to support their reasoning.

John 1:12 (NET) - But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children

The other side, not to be outdone, could point to verses like this in their defense.

James 2:17 (NET) - So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

People on each side insisted their view was the correct one.

Neither side was willing enough to see things from the other’s perspective.

Neither side wished to compromise.

A few attempted to reconcile the two.

They did this by stating that view of each was imperfect.

This, of course, did nothing to bring the two sides together.

Eventually, a schism occurred and the church fractured into two.

Each side went their own way.

Time went by and the distance between the two increased.

One of the churches eventually failed.

It made life rather difficult for the other before it did.

This concept of faith versus works still challenges some today.

For me, the concepts of faith and works are not in opposition.

Rather they complement each other.

They are like two sides of the same coin.

I believe that once a person has been genuinely justified by faith, then good works naturally follow.

The two go hand in hand.

Love is what makes this happen.

Scripture reminds us faith is important, but love is even greater.

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

Love helps us to make our faith complete.

Love for God.

Love for our fellow man.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 3, 2016.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 10, 2016