Sharing the Complete Truth

Psalm 44 has been described as a prayer and a lament.

Beginning in verse 1, the psalmist acknowledges the awe and wonder of God.

Psalm 44:1 (NRSVue) - We have heard with our ears, O God; our ancestors have told us what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, gave him sound instruction on how to teach.

But he also left him with a warning.

2 Timothy 4:3 (NRSVue) - For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires

And Paul’s warning is a good reminder for our modern world.

Some teachers and even some ministers are selective about what to discuss and how to discuss it.

God should always fill us with awe.

His deeds should still amaze us.

And the Bible stands the test of time and is the source of truth.

It should still strike a chord within us.

And that same chord should resonate among believers.

It should also resonate within the hearts and minds of those who teach and preach the Word of God.

We should always share the complete truth of God’s deeds with others.

Just like those who preceded us shared it with us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, August 8, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, August 15, 2025

Pleasing God by Keeping His Word

Leviticus 22 discusses acceptable offerings.

It also reminds us that we are to do what God commands and why.

Leviticus 22:31 (NRSVue) - Thus you shall keep my commandments and observe them: I am the Lord.

In John 14, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples.

Jesus also gives a similar reminder.

John 14:23 (NRSVue) - Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

But how does one keep the word?

How does one keep the commandments?

Jesus explains this in Mark 22.

Mark 22:37-40 (NRSVue) - He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

If we could fully obey these two commandments, we would be fully keeping them all.

And, in doing so we would be living like Enoch.

Genesis 5:22a (NRSVue) - Enoch walked with God.

Hebrews 11:5 (NRSVue) - By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death, and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.”

Keep God’s word.

Love God and love your neighbor.

In this way, we walk with and please God.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Dependence Day

The Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day.

It is a day set aside to celebrate freedom.

This celebration will include parades, barbecues, and end with fireworks.

But what does true independence mean?

Scripture leads us to a rather surprising answer to that question.

Psalm 73 is a prayer for relief from oppression.

In verse 26, the psalmist acknowledges his physical and spiritual anxiety.

But even in such a crisis, he knows to whom he can turn.

Psalm 73:26 (NRSVue) - My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Revelation 3 contains messages to the various churches,

One of these is the church in Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:7 (NRSVue) - And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens:

Some put it this way: “When God closes one door, He opens another.”

Speaking from personal experience, this is true.

Many doors have closed in my lifetime.

But just as true, many have opened as well.

This includes a door I stepped through almost three years ago.

It was not a door I anticipated or planned.

It was a door that God led me to and opened for me.

God knows us not only as a people but as individual people.

And His mercies are tailor made for each individual.

There are times when God closes doors, and we have a tough time dealing with that.

And although difficult for us to see, God also opens doors for us appropriate for us in His service.

So, are we independent?

The answer depends on how dependent we are on God.

Those truly dependent on God follow His leading.

They are among the most liberated of all.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, July 11, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, July 18, 2025