Pride and Destruction

Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

This verse about King Uzziah is extremely cautionary.

It tells us that he disobeyed the Lord.

It also reminds us that it was his pride that destroyed him.

Azariah and the eighty other priests confronted him.

The king was warned that it was not proper for him to offer incense.

This was the responsibility of the priests - the descendants of Aaron.

They were consecrated for this duty.

2 Chronicles 26:19 (NET) - Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the LORD’s temple near the incense altar.

God’s judgment was both swift and severe.

Scripture tells us that at this the priests rushed the king away.

It also tells us that King Uzziah was in a hurry to leave as well.

This king’s pride had far reaching consequences.

2 Chronicles 26:21 (NET) - King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the LORD’s temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.

The disease did not leave the king when he departed.

It stayed with him until the day he died.

It could be said that he lost everything.

He lost his palace.

He lost his kingdom.

He even lost the right to live among other people.

Perhaps it would be a good reminder to return to that cautionary verse once more.

2 Chronicles 26:16 (NET) - But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD’s temple to offer incense on the incense altar.

King Uzziah disobeyed the Lord.

But it was his pride that destroyed him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, March 3, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, March 10, 2017

Wisdom Through Obedience

In 2 Chronicles, God told Solomon that he could ask for anything he wanted and God would give it to him.

Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge.

God was pleased that Solomon requested wisdom rather than riches, honor or other things.

God granted Solomon great wisdom.

God also granted him the other things he could have asked for.

Word of Solomon’s wisdom spread throughout the land

It eventually reached the queen of Sheba.

She felt it necessary to test Solomon’s wisdom for herself.

2 Chronicles 9:1 (NET) - When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind.

Solomon answered every one of her difficult questions.

Not a single question she posed was too difficult for him.

It was not only Solomon’s wisdom that impressed her.

2 Chronicles 9:3-4 (NET) - When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon’s extensive wisdom, the palace he had built, the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the LORD’s temple, she was amazed.

The material things God gave Solomon obviously impressed the queen as well.

In the end, she did realize that wisdom was God’s greatest gift to Solomon.

2 Chronicles 9:7-8 (NET) - Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy! May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God’s love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.

Wisdom is one of God’s greatest gifts and it comes from obedience to Him.

The Psalmist understood this.

Psalm 19:7 (NET) - The law of the LORD is perfect and preserves one’s life. The rules set down by the LORD are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.

As a result, obedience to God is far more valuable than any riches the world has to offer.

The Psalmist understood this as well.

Psalm 19:9-10 (NET) - The commands to fear the LORD are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the LORD are trustworthy and absolutely just. They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 17, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, February 24, 2017

Mercy

David ordered that his soldiers be counted.

Joab tried to persuade David not to do this as it would bring judgment from God.

David’s edict held and the soldiers were counted.

This offended God.

David confessed his transgression and asked God to remove his guilt.

When God spoke, He did not speak to David.

Rather, He spoke to the prophet Gad.

1 Chronicles 21:9-10 (NET) - The LORD told Gad, David’s prophet, “Go, tell David, ‘This is what the LORD says: “I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.”’”.

The prophet Gad then delivered God’s three options to David.

David did not choose three years of famine.

Nor did he choose three months being chased and struck by his enemies.

Instead, he chose three days of plague.

He chose this in hope that the Lord would be merciful.

So, God sent a plague through Israel and 70,000 men died.

God was merciful as David had hoped.

1 Chronicles 21:15 (NET) - God sent an angel to ravage Jerusalem. As he was doing so, the LORD watched and relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was destroying, “That’s enough! Stop now!”

This was not the only time God spoke through a prophet.

It was certainly not the only time God was merciful.

In Acts 15, the apostles and elders met concerning the Gentiles.

They listened to Peter and Barnabas as they spoke of the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles.

It was James who laid the matter to rest when he spoke of how the prophets of old agreed with this.

Acts 15:15-18 (NET) - The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,’ says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.

The words God spoke through these prophets is true.

God is firm, but He is also merciful.

Just as He showed mercy to David, He also showed mercy to the Gentiles.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 3, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, February 10, 2017

No Favorites

God does not show favoritism.

Peter made this clear in the book of Acts.

Acts 10:34-35 (NET) - Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him.

That is good news.

As people, we tend to allow our human biases to get in the way of what actually matters.

Our concept of fairness and God’s could not possibly be farther apart.

Here, Peter understood that a person who is in awe of God and does what He deems right is welcome.

It does not matter where in the world that person lives.

It does not matter how much money that person makes.

It does not matter how much power that person wields.

In the verses that follow, Peter speaks of who Jesus is and what He had done.

Acts: 10:36-38 (NET) - You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all)— you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced: with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.

Peter also spoke of His crucifixion and what happened afterward.

Acts 10:39-43 (NET) - We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

In a way, these words might seem contradictory.

How can God not show favoritism and still choose Peter and the others as witnesses?

Personally, I think part of the answer lies in how they were chosen.

Scripture tells us that those who saw Jesus after his resurrection did not recognize him right away.

When Mary went to the empty tomb, she thought Jesus was the gardener.

When John and those with him went fishing, they thought he was just a man standing on the shore.

As two of them walked on the road to Emmaus, they thought he was just another traveler.

Even Thomas doubted until he could actually see and touch His wounds.

In short, God chose them but they did not respond immediately.

Jesus had to be revealed to them.

Day after day, the real Jesus is revealed to more and more people.

Some we ourselves would choose.

Some we might not.

Sometimes we look at those chosen and think to ourselves, “That doesn’t seem fair.”

Fortunately, God’s concept of fairness and ours are not the same.

God sacrificed His Only Son for us.

That same Son willingly laid down His life for us.

Let’s be honest.

Would we honestly consider that fair?

As Jesus is revealed to others, let us not question.

Instead, let us rejoice.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 20, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, January 27, 2017

Praise and Courage

Psalm 145:4 (NET) - One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts!

This Psalm of praise is a reminder.

First, it is a reminder that we should praise God.

Second, it is a reminder that each generation shares its praise with the next.

As we continue our journey through Advent we are also reminded of God’s greatest deed and mightiest act.

God was merciful to a fallen and disobedient world.

It is remarkable that His mightiest act came about through the innocence of one special child.

A child born to humble and obedient parents in an obscure village.

A child whose earthly journey began in a manger and ended on a cross.

While He lived among us He did remarkable things.

He also gave those closest to Him the power to do some remarkable things as well.

The book of Acts reminds us how a new generation was shown the way.

Acts 5:13-14 (NET) - None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women.

Those who witnessed these acts became believers.

They also held the apostles in high esteem.

Even so, scripture reminds us that they did not dare join them.

Although many generations have passed, we are not that much different.

We believe.

We may even have a great deal of respect for the apostles and those who followed in their footsteps.

But do we have the courage to join them?

Perhaps the Psalmist did more than praise God.

Perhaps he gave us some insight on how we can find that courage.

Psalm 145:5-7 (NET) - I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds! They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts! I will declare your great deeds! They will talk about the fame of your great kindness, and sing about your justice.

I wish you a blessed Christmas and, together, let us pray for peace in the coming year

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 6, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, January 13, 2017

Say It Like You Mean It

I went to the post office to buy some stamps.

There were several people ahead of me in line each with packages to ship.

With each transaction, a receipt was printed.

Each time the clerk pointed to a spot on the receipt and said to the customer, “Here is your tracking number.”

When my turn came, I requested my stamps and paid for them.

A receipt was printed for me as well.

The clerk paused before handing it to me.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“I don’t see your tracking number,” she stated.

As my transaction was a purchase, there was no tracking number.

Knowing how busy she is this time of year I thought she could use a laugh.

“That’s okay,” I replied, “I’ll try to remember where I put them.”

We shared the laugh and I departed.

As humorous as this event was, it did force me to think about how much of the season becomes routine.

Routines are things we do automatically.

They require little thought.

They are comfortable.

Even wishing someone “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Christmas” can become automatic.

As we continue our journey through Advent, perhaps we should turn the autopilot off.

We should consider just why it is that Christmas makes us merry and happy.

Christmas celebrates the birth of a baby born to humble parents in an obscure village.

A baby who was born in a stable instead of a palace.

Even the first to hear the news were but simple shepherds, not the rich and powerful.

This is how He came into the world.

This was His first step in His journey among us.

It was a journey that began in a stable and ended at a cross.

How could this possibly make us merry or happy?

There is no simple, easy cookie cutter answer.

The fact that He took this journey willingly for our benefit is part of it.

The fact that this was the only way to make us right with God is another.

The fact that this is a reminder that He is coming again is the best reason of all.

We celebrate Christmas because it was the defining moment when God reached down to a fallen world.

And He did so in the most remarkable way.

Luke 2:10-11 (NET) - But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

Go ahead and say “Merry Christmas!”

Just make certain that you mean it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 16, 2016.

I will be back here on Friday, December 23, 2016

With Gratitude

Reflection is always a good thing.

There is perhaps no better time than Thanksgiving for it.

It would be easy for me from a writing standpoint to simply list all for which I am thankful.

There are two reasons I will not.

First, it would not make for very interesting reading.

Second, reflection is much more than a simple cataloging process.

What I am most grateful for is summed up by John 3:16.

John 3:16 (NET) - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

In all my years, one thing still amazes me.

Some people still refuse to accept God’s precious gift.

Some think this is just too easy.

Experience has taught me that life as Christian is often anything but easy.

Being a Christian means putting the needs of others before your own desires.

In some parts of the world being a Christian even means risking life and limb.

Some think that we should have to do something to earn God’s gift.

Truthfully speaking, there is nothing we can either say or do that can make us worthy of this gift.

Perhaps saddest of all, some think God’s way is just too exclusive.

They simply refuse to believe that God would provide only one way to salvation.

Why not two, or ten, or one hundred?

Why would an omnipotent God provide only one means of salvation?

I have studied a great deal of history through the years.

I have considered the evils that man has committed throughout the centuries.

Heartless regimes, genocide, torture and greed merely begin to list what man is capable of.

Considering this, isn’t it remarkable that God chose to provide us with even one way let alone more?

Besides, how can a way available to everyone possibly be thought of as exclusive?

So, after careful reflection, it is God’s gift for which I am most grateful.

God provided for our salvation.

He did so in the one and only way possible.

I guess what really makes this hard for some to believe is that God considers this a gift.

It is a gift we did not earn.

It is a gift we certainly did not deserve.

It is a gift born of divine love and one that should be accepted with gratitude.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, December 2, 2016.

I will be back here on Friday, December 9, 2016