Transformed Messengers

Judges 10:10 (NRSVue) - So the Israelites cried to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and have served the Baals.”These were the words of the people as the Ammonites oppressed them.In time, God used a man named Jephthah to deliver them.Once delivered, Jephthah served as their judge for six years.But their deliverance began with the confession of contrite hearts.Luke tells us the story of John the Baptist.When John the Baptist was born, he was not named after his father Zechariah as was the custom.Before his birth, the angel Gabriel spoke to Zechariah,He...

Thankful Hearts and Transformed Lives

Psalm 69:5 (NRSVue) - O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.Psalm 69 is a prayer for deliverance from persecution.In it, the Psalmist recognizes God’s omniscience.He understands that God knows everything.As such, God knows the sins that he has committed.God knows when we fall short as well.But God is both generous and forgiving,He has already planned for our redemption.We are redeemed through the blood of Christ.We are forgiven by grace.Paul understood this.He explained the spiritual blessing in Christ in his letter to the Ephesians.Ephesians 1:7 (NRSVue) -...

The Ultimate in Unity

Psalm 118:26 (NRSVue) - Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.Psalm 118 is a song of victory.It reminds us that those who come in the name of the Lord are blessed.As such, they become a blessing to others.The first chapter in the book of John speaks of Jesus.It refers to Jesus as “the Word Became Flesh.”It describes those who receive Him.It also indicates what they become.John 1:12 (NRSVue) - But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,Once we receive Christ, we become children of God.Thus...

The Kingdom is Like…

Psalm 22:27 (NRSVue) - All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.Psalm 22 is a plea for deliverance from suffering and hostility.In fact, Christ’s words from the cross hearken back to this Psalm.But verse 27 speaks of a time when “all the families of the nations shall worship before him.Christ also describes what this will be like.Among the many parables recorded in Matthew 13 is the parable of the yeast.Matthew 13:33 (NRSVue) - He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took...

Humiliation, or Humility?

Daniel 4:35 (NRSVue) - All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led to his humiliation.When this period of humiliation passed, Nebuchadnezzar praised God.Pride in oneself is a dangerous thing.It was pride that led to the fall of Adam and Eve.True, they disobeyed God.But it was pride that led them to disobedience.Since pride is dangerous, humility is a virtue.The Book of 1 Peter attests to this fact.1...

His Heritage

Psalm 94:14 (NRSVue) - For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;The New Revised Standard version heads Psalm 94 with “God the Avenger of the Righteous.”But it is verse 14 that grabs my attention.Vengeance aside, it reminds us that God will never forsake us.It also reminds us that we are His heritage.But what does heritage really mean?One way to define heritage is: “something that is handed down from the past.”Another is: “an inherited lot or portion.”Both are applicable.You can even see how the words “heritage” and “inheritance” share a root.That root is “heir.”We...

Christian Confidence

Exodus 19:4 (NRSVue) - You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.God spoke these words to Moses when he and the people reached Mt. Sinai.God had indeed freed His people.He also destroyed those who continued to pursue them.Now, they were in His presence.They no longer had reason to fear.In fact, they should have felt confident.Paul spoke of confidence in his letter to the Hebrews.He began his tenth chapter by reminding them of Christ’s sacrifice.He then reminded them to persevere in matters of faith.He also spoke of their persecution...

The Easy Way or the Hard Way

2 Samuel 23:3-4 (NRSVue)- The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: “One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.”These verses are from the last words of David.But David, like all human beings, was fallible,He, like us, made mistakes.But in the end, David was a man after God’s own heart.That is why God placed him on the throne.Christ also left us words of wisdom concerning His own rule.Matthew 11:29 (NRSVue) - Take my yoke upon you, and learn...

Truth and Love

Psalm 119:165 (NRSVue) - Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.For as long as man has walked the Earth, there has been conflict.God created the first human beings.But in the first generation born to these human beings, conflict arose.Time progressed.Man’s sinful nature did not.The result: almost an entire generation was wiped out in a cataclysmic flood sent by God.Only Noah and his family were spared.Even today, man’s sinful nature dominates the headlines.We have now regressed to the point in which merely disagreeing with someone causes conflict.Disagreement...

The Tasks at Hand

Philippians 4:13 (NRSVue) - I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Perhaps a good way to begin this devotional is by stating that it is good to be back. I received notice that crews were going to level my building. I had two weeks to pack all my belongings. I then spent a week living in hotels while one crew did the leveling and another replaced the flooring. I am now back home but I am still living out of boxes. The verse I opened with from Philippians came through for me once again. Living alone, all the manual labor was up to me. With each box I packed, I thanked God that...

Returning in August

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I will be unable to post for the next few weeks. I hope to return to this ministry in August. Thank you for understanding.   Blessings Always, Jim Pokorny The Other Brother Jim Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.co...

A Trick Question

Deuteronomy 5:32 (NRSVue) - You must therefore be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn to the right or to the left.Moses delivered God’s commandments to the people.Moses was to be the intermediary between God and the people.God would instruct Moses.Moses would, in turn, instruct the people.And it was important that God’s word be obeyed.Today we live in a New Covenant.We have a new intermediary in Christ.But there were those who continued to live under the Old Covenant.They continued to live under the law.The Pharisees gathered and tried to trick Jesus.They...

A Package Deal

Haggai 2:8 (NRSVue) - The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.The book of Haggai is brief.But the prophet’s message is powerful.Speaking on behalf of the Lord, Haggai states that all the silver and gold belong to the Lord.In Acts 4, we read of Peter and John.They were brought before the council, and after their release, they returned to their people.After relating what happened, they prayed.Their prayer recognized God’s sovereignty.Their prayer resonated with the people.Acts 4:32 (NRSVue) - Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one...

Still Waiting?

Daniel 2:44 (NRSVue) - And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,In Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that Daniel, with God’s help, interprets.Part of that interpretation includes a special kingdom.This kingdom is God’s kingdom.And, unlike human kingdoms, this kingdom of God will last forever.Chapter 22 of Luke speaks of a great many things.It speaks of the plot to kill Jesus.It tells of the preparation...

What Are You Waiting For?

Psalm 130:6 (NRSVue) - my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning… Psalm 130 is one of the Song of Ascents. These songs attest to God’s qualities. Psalm 130 is a reminder of God’s power of redemption. During the dark of night, many wait for dawn. This song reminds us that we should wait for the Lord instead. The book of Jude is the next to last book in scripture. It is a short letter that warns of false teachers. But Jude finishes the letter with reminders. Jude reminds us to continue loving God. He also reminds us to wait on the mercy and redemptive power of...

Resistance Is Futile

Job 9:4 (NRSVue) - He is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and succeeded?One of my favorite recurring lines in television is: “Resistance is futile.”While entertaining on television, there is truth in the statement where God is concerned.Job understood this.Even as Job suffered, he understood the sovereign nature of the Lord.He understood that to resist the Lord is futile.Paul understood this as well.In his letter to the Romans, he discusses God’s wrath and God’s mercy.To resist God is futile.Romans 9:20 (NRSVue) - But who indeed are you, a human, to argue with God? Will...

Good Friday and a Good Place

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NRSVue) - For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:As Good Friday approached, this verse occupied my thoughts.Events beyond my control sent my own personal journey down a long and difficult road.This personal journey began over two years ago.I had no idea how long it would last, but I was certain of one important thing,This journey was part of God’s plan for my life.I did not know how long the journey would be.I could not see the destination.I hand to remind myself that God’s hand was at work,I reminded myself that I did not journey alone.This...

Promises, Promises

Isaiah 55:3 (GNT) - “Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life! I will make a lasting covenant with you and give you the blessings I promised to David. Here, Isaiah relates God’s promises.All are invited. For those who thirst, their thirst will be remedied.For those who hunger, their hunger will be satisfied. Even those in need of mercy will be shown mercy.For God is a keeper of promises. His word can be trusted.Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, tells of his own change in plans. He planned to visit the believers twice.Paul reminded them that Christ...

The Spectrum of Faith

Daniel 2:47 (NKJV) - The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him.He even lost sleep over it.None of the King’s inner circle was able to interpret the dream.Daniel went before the king and explained that it is God who grants insight and wisdom.Daniel then prayed to God.With God’s help, Daniel succeeded in interpreting the dream.So impressed was the king, that he acknowledged God’s omniscience.He also made Daniel the ruler of an entire province.Sometimes...

Mentors Are Very Special Blessings

Proverbs 27:17 (GNT) - People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron. Anyone who obtains a mentor in life should consider themselves blessed. Anyone who obtains two in their lifetime is truly blessed. The first of my mentors taught me to be a professional. He also taught me not to overcomplicate things. No one doubted his ability to solve a complex problem. He also had the ability to explain the problem and the solution to non-professionals clearly. Even though I no longer work in that industry, his lessons serve me well. My other mentor was a spiritual mentor. Although well...

The Source of Stability

Revelation 1:4 (GNT) - From John to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace be yours from God, who is, who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits in front of his throne, I know people who are uncomfortable with the book of Revelation. Granted, it is the final book of the Bible and is apocalyptic in nature. Its language is symbolic. As human beings, we tend to dislike the unknown and it can elicit an uncomfortable response. But, as I remind my students, there is no need to fear either the book or the unknown. In fact, John opens the book with a greeting to...

How Much Is Required

Philippians 4:13 (NIV) -  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.As a rule, people dislike change.There are times when we have a say in matters.But there are also times we do not.Having to start all over falls into the second category.That is the situation in which I unexpectedly found myself.I quickly reminded myself of several key facts.The first was that God does not owe me anything.The second was that I was not the first to find myself in this situation, nor would I be the last.The third was that others were facing even greater challenges.I also reminded myself that God...