Obedience

We are in the process of being perfected.

This is a process that continues throughout our lives.

Philippians 3:12 (NET) - Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

So, we are not yet perfect.

Can we at least say that we are good?

Not according to scripture.

Psalm 53:2-3 (NET) - God looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God. Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!

Jesus said as much to a rich man.

Mark 10:19 (NET) - Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

I will fall short as a human being even on my best days.

Perhaps I will say or do the wrong thing.

More likely, I will probably fail to do the right thing.

I might not even be aware of it.

That is one reason why obedience is so important.

It might be impossible for us to be good, but it is always possible to obey.

Peter and his brother Andrew were fishing one day when Jesus called them.

Matthew 4:19-20 (NET) - He said to them, “Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.” They left their nets immediately and followed him.

James and John were called to obey while assisting their father.

Matthew 4:21-22 (NET) - Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Not only did these men leave their lives as they had known them, they did so “immediately”.

That is obedience.

The rich man heard the call and ignored it.

Mark 10:21-22 (NET) - As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, “You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Others hear the call and try to place conditions on their obedience.

Luke 9 61-62 (NET) - Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Complete goodness may be impossible for us in our present state.

Obedience is possible.

Obedience is a matter of choice.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 5, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, May 12, 2017

Just Look

People often expect God to do one thing only to find that He does something else.

Sometimes whet He does just does not make any sense to us.

We read in the book of Numbers of God’s people and their encounter with serpents.

Moses led the people in a direction that would take them around the land of Edom.

The people became impatient along the way and spoke out.

Numbers 21:5 (NET) - And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food.”

In response, God sent poisonous snakes among the people.

Many people were bitten.

Many died.

It did not take very long for the people regret their rebellion.

Numbers 21:7 (NET) - Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The people expected God to simply make the snakes go away.

God had something completely different in mind.

Numbers 21:8 (NET) - The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.”

Moses did as God instructed him and God was true to His word.

Numbers 21:9 (NET) - So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.

The people expected one thing and got another.

They expected God to remove the snakes.

God gave them something to do instead.

God’s response probably made little sense to them at first.

How was simply looking at a bronze snake hanging on a pole going to save their lives?

It probably did not take the people very long to see that God was true to His word.

They likely remembered its exact location at all times just in case they were bitten.

People often expect God to do one thing only to find that He does something else.

Today we look around and see all the problems there are in the world.

We would prefer that God would just simply make these problems go away.

God gives us something to do instead.

God gives us places to look as well.

He gives us a cross that no longer has an occupant.

He gives us a tomb that now lies empty.

I wish you a Blessed Easter.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 21, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, April 28, 2017

A Good Question

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, one question bears considering,

“Who is Jesus?”

It is one thing to examine how this question was addressed by those who followed Jesus.

Examining how this question was addressed by others is another.

This is particularly true of individuals who were involved in one way or another with His crucifixion.

Pilate is but one example.

Chapter 19 of the book of John reminds us that Pilate initially tried to free Jesus.

Failing in this attempt, he had a sign affixed to the cross.

John 19:19 (NET) - Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: “Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.”

The was written in several languages.

As soon as the chief priests read these words they appealed to Pilate to change them.

Pilate refused.

John 19:22 (NET) - Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

In Luke’s account of the crucifixion we are told of the mocking of Jesus.

One of those crucified with Jesus also mocked him.

The other crucified with him had a much better understanding.

Luke 23:40-41 (NET) - But the other rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then there was the centurion who witnessed the crucifixion in Mark’s gospel.

The death of Jesus brought a deep and profound understanding to the centurion.

Mark 15:39 (NET) - Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Neither Pilate, nor the criminal nor the centurion were followers of Jesus.

Yet through His crucifixion they understood who Jesus was.

What about us?

How do we answer the question: “Who is Jesus?”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 7, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, April 14, 2017

Plans You Can Count On

In the fifth chapter of the book of Ezra, we read that Zerubbabel began to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem.

The prophets of God were also there supporting this work.

The regional governor and his colleagues did not approve.

They came to them and asked. “Who gave you authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?”

They also wanted a list of names of all who were involved.

This was clearly an intimidation tactic.

Yet God was with them.

Ezra 5:4 (NET) - But God was watching over the elders of Judah, and they were not stopped until a report could be dispatched to Darius and a letter could be sent back concerning this.

The regional governor and his colleagues composed a lengthy letter and sent it to Darius the king.

Upon reading the letter Darius issued orders that all the archives in Babylon were to be searched.

A scroll was found in the province of Media concerning this.

It contained the order given by Cyrus the king stating that the temple was to be rebuilt.

That order also specified the dimensions and materials that were to be used.

Darius sent a reply to the regional governor and his colleagues that must have come as quite a shock.

Ezra 6:6-7 (NET) - Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of Trans-Euphrates—all of you stay far away from there! Leave the work on this temple of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.

The regional governor and his colleagues were in for an even bigger surprise.

Darius the king also ordered that tax money from the royal treasury be given to the men so that their work would not be interrupted.

Darius had yet another surprise.

Ezra 6:9-10 (NET) - Whatever is needed—whether oxen or rams or lambs for burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by the priests who are in Jerusalem—must be given to them daily without any neglect, so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.

He also told them of the unpleasant consequences that would come to those who interfered with these orders.

Throughout history, people have foolishly tried to interfere with God’s plans.

Unlike human plans, God’s plans always prevail.

They are the plans you can count on.

The Psalmist understood this.

Psalm 33:10-11 (NET) - The LORD frustrates the decisions of the nations; He nullifies the plans of the peoples. The LORD’s decisions stand forever; His plans abide throughout the ages.

As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, may we be reminded of His plan for our salvation.

A plan made possible through Jesus.

A plan in place from the very beginning.

John 1:1-4 (NET) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

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

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

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