First and Foremost

1 Samuel 7:3 (NET) - Samuel said to all the people of Israel, “If you are really turning to the Lord with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the Lord and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”

There was conflict between the people of Israel and the Philistines.

The people turned to the Lord for help.

Samuel reminded them that they first had to remove all foreign gods and images.

The people listened to Samuel and did so.

One day, the Philistines approached for battle.

Because the people placed the Lord first, He drove the Philistines away.

The Lord expects to be first in our lives.

In fact, He demands it.

He even made this the first of his ten commandments.

Exodus 20:3 (NET) - You shall have no other gods before me.

Jesus understood the importance of this.

He concluded His parable of the steward with a word of caution.

Luke 16:13 (NET) - No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Foreign gods and images are not the only thing that can evict God from His proper place.

Jesus reminds us that money can easily do this.

In fact, there are many things in life that tempt us to place them first.

We live in an age where we are bombarded by distractions.

The moment we place any person or thing above God, we practice idolatry,

Regardless of the circumstances we face, we must keep God first in our lives.

That is what He expects.

That is what He commands.

That is something we must remember.

We must keep God first even as we weather the storms of life.

If we do, we can count on God to impart His blessings upon us.

He did that for the people of Israel in their trials.

He will do the same for us.

When that happens, we must share those blessings with others.

This allows them to see that we have given God his proper place.

It also encourages them to do the same.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, June 11, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, June 18, 2021

Success

Genesis 39:23 (NET) - The warden did not concern himself with anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him and whatever he was doing the Lord was making successful.

Many things occurred during Joseph’s lifetime.

Some could be considered major setbacks.

Others could be considered major successes.

Through the ups and downs one thing was perfectly clear.

Joseph understood that God was at work in both.

Others more easily perceived God’s hand in the successes.

After being sold into slavery, the 39^th chapter of Genesis finds Joseph working for Potiphar.

Joseph found success in this new role and Potiphar saw that God was with him.

Potiphar put Joseph in charge of the household, and it prospered.

Potiphar’s wife then falsely accused Joseph of assault.

As a result. Joseph was sent to prison.

Although in prison, God was still with Joseph.

He found favor in the warden’s eyes.

He put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners and made him responsible for all that went on.

Joseph succeeded in this new role as well.

The warden saw that God was the source of Joseph’s success.

People do not necessarily recognize the Lord’s hand in success.

When this happens, Scripture tells us they need a reminder.

This happened in the church at Corinth.

Paul wrote to them about this.

Some claimed to follow Paul.

Others claimed to follow Apollos.

Paul reminded them that both he and Apollos were servants of the Lord.

He reminded them that their success and growth was due to God.

1 Corinthians 3:6 (NET) - I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.

God is not just a casual observer.

He is an active participant in our lives in both setbacks and successes alike.

As the threat of the pandemic subsides, we will be presented with new opportunities.

Remember, the Lord is with us.

Let us ask the Lord to make our endeavors bear fruit.

Let us ask Him to bless the church and its outreach.

Let us ask the Lord to make new ministries prosper.

After all, we are but servants.

Our success is due to the Lord.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 28, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, June 4, 2021

Follow Me

2 Samuel 22:19-20 (NET) - They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the Lord helped me. He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.

The book of 2 Samuel discusses David’s reign.

This verse is from a song David sang to the Lord.

It is a song about how God rescued him from his enemies.

God did so when David called out to Him.

Like David, we often call out to the Lord in times of trouble.

Like David, we know the Lord will see us through the tough times.

What happens when the roles are reversed?

What happens when the Lord calls out to us?

How do we respond?

In the book of Matthew, we read about how the Lord called him.

Matthew 9:9 (NET) - As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. So he got up and followed him.

Matthew was a tax collector.

He was doing his job when the Lord called out to him.

He heard the Lord say, “Follow me.”

Matthew responded to the call.

Matthew got up and followed the Lord.

This changed Matthew’s life forever.

The Lord called others to follow Him.

Like Matthew, their lives were forever changed.

The Lord still calls out to us.

He calls out to us every day.

If we listen carefully, we hear Him calling, “Follow me.”

It is comforting to know that we can call upon the Lord in times of trouble.

It can however be a little unsettling when He calls out to us.

This is especially true when that call is: “Follow me.”

Following means leaving our old lives behind,

It means our lives will never be the same again.

But following brings about something else.

In following, we are guided to a place we are meant to be.

Fortunately, we can call upon the Lord for the courage to follow.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 14, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, May 21, 2021

Who Is Truth?

One of the most profound questions in scripture can be found in John 18.

In this chapter Jesus is brought before Pilate.

In verse 38, Pilate asks this question.

John 18:38 (NET) - Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

That question is just as profound today.

Perhaps more so.

In today’s world, truth is considered a relative concept.

It has been stated that what is truth for one, may not be truth for another.

This is impossible as truth, by its very essence, means it must be absolute rather than relative.

As I tell my students: The truth is the truth… and that is that.

Perhaps the better question to ask is: “Who is truth?”

That is the explanation Christ gave Pilate just before the question was asked.

John 18:37 (NET) - …Jesus replied, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world—to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Jesus is the source of truth.

He said it here and elsewhere.

John 14:6 (NET) - Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

That’s as absolute as it gets.

John 1:14 (NET) - Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.

Understanding that Jesus is truth and this truth is not relative is important.

What of it?

What does this achieve?

A great deal, actually,

This sets us free.

John 8:32 (NET) - and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Freedom?

From what?

Will life suddenly be trouble free?

Jesus was clear on this as well.

Matthew 16:24 (NET) - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus never promised us an easy way through this world.

But He told us He is the truth and what is required of us.

And… life is certainly better with Him than without Him.

What of those who disagree with us?

Jesus told us that we must love them.

That is also true.

We do not have to agree with everyone.

To do so makes truth relative.

We must be willing to take a stand for the truth.

But… we must do so with love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 25, 2019.

I’ll be back here on Friday, November 1, 2019

Unfriended

A young friend of mine moved away several years ago.

We still stayed in touch through social media.

Imagine my delight when my young friend posted that he found Jesus.

Later that day he posted that several people chose to sever ties with him.

As I tried to think of a way to encourage my young friend, my thoughts turned to Jesus.

Jesus was not popular in every circle.

In fact, some people absolutely hated Him.

Some looked up to Him but wanted that kept secret.

Take Nicodemus, for example.

John 3:1-2 (NET) Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Nicodemus had an idea of who Jesus was and even admired Him.

But notice that he was careful not to be seen with Jesus during the light of day.

Even those who followed Jesus abandoned Him.

Peter denied knowing Jesus not once, but three times.

John 18: 25-27 (NET) - Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?” Peter denied it: “I am not!” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the orchard with him?” Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Then, there was Judas.

He was the follower who betrayed Jesus.

Luke 22:47 (NET) - While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him.

As these thoughts ran through my mind, I knew I found a way to encourage my young friend.

I told him he was in good company.

After all, Jesus was unfriended too.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 25, 2018.

I’ll be back here on Friday, June 1, 2018

To Whom Shall We Listen?

In 2 Chronicles 18, we are told of the alliance between King Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat.

King Ahab desired to attack Ramoth Gilead,

He also wanted Jehoshaphat’s support.

Jehoshaphat said he would support Ahab but he also recommended consulting the Lord first.

King Ahab assembled 400 prophets and consulted them.

All 400 said to attack and the Lord would hand Ramoth Gilead over to him.

Jehoshaphat then asked if there was a not man of God nearby who could be consulted,

2 Chronicles 18:7-8 (NET) - The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things!” The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”

When the messenger arrived with Micaiah he tried to influence this man of God.

He informed Micaiah of the 400 consulted who guaranteed success for King Ahab.

He then ordered Micaiah to do the same.

2 Chronicles 16:13 (NET) - But Micaiah said, “As certainly as the LORD lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!”

Micaiah foretold disaster for King Ahab.

2 Chronicles 18:17 (NET) - The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?”

Micaiah was struck in the jaw.

King Ahab ordered him to be imprisoned until he returned.

2 Chronicles 18:27 (NET) - Micaiah said, “If you really do return safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Take note, all you people.”

King Ahab did not return alive.

Even though he was in disguise, he was struck by a random arrow and died as the sun was setting.

The Lord had spoken through Micaiah and not the 400 who gave King Ahab the answer he wanted to hear.

What about us?

To whom shall we listen?

Some tell us that if we follow the Lord then our prosperity is guaranteed.

Others promise that we can ask for anything in the world because it will be ours for the asking.

Do these things sound too good to be true?

That’s because they are.

Life is certainly better with Jesus than without Him.

Just remember the words of Jesus.

Make certain that you listen to Him.

Matthew 16:24-26 (NET) - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, February 24, 2017.

I’ll be back here on Friday, March 3, 2017

Turn Around

I take the same route to and from work every day.

There are some advantages to this.

One of the biggest advantages is that I have learned from experience where I need to be more careful.

There is a hill I must descend that is rather steep.

I need to monitor my speed there so I can stop safely.

There is one traffic light that changes more frequently than the others.

I need to wait an extra second or two before proceeding as someone will inevitably run the red light.

There is a left turn I must make from a busy highway.

Experience has taught me to make sure I am in the correct lane well before I get there.

Spring will be upon us soon.

Experience has taught me that I will be sharing the road with more bicyclists as the weather warms up.

There are also some disadvantages to taking the same path each and every day.

The biggest by far is not being familiar with alternate routes.

I recall one time in particular when traffic was diverted off the main highway onto another road because of an accident.

Suddenly, I found myself in unfamiliar territory.

I quickly discovered that I had absolutely no idea where I was.

I was simply followed the car in front of me.

He was simply following the car in front of him, and so forth.

It is likely that most of us naturally assumed that someone ahead of us knew how to get us back on track.

After several minutes I concluded that this was not the case.

If I continued to follow the pack I was only going to get farther away from where I wanted to be.

I had a decision to make.

At my next opportunity, I exited the highway and left the others.

Although I was in unfamiliar territory, I had a general sense of the direction I needed to travel.

After what seemed like a very long time, I finally spotted a landmark I was familiar with.

Using it as a guide, I made my way back to the path I knew would take me where I needed to go.

I wondered how far away the others were by then.

Life is a journey.

Sometimes we discover that we are not on the right path.

At that point we have a decision to make.

John 14:6 (NIV) - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If we are not on the right path in life, we put distance between ourselves and Jesus.

There is only one solution.

We must stop and go back.

The longer we wait to do this, the greater is the distance we will have to travel.

C. S. Lewis said, “We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Faith, Hope and Love

Faith is a wonderful thing to have.

Hope is another.

Yet there is something even greater.

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

Scripture reminds us that love is greater than either faith or hope.

I think that is something of which we need to remind ourselves from time to time.

This is especially true as we reach out to those who have not yet put their faith in Jesus as we have.

Before we attempt to do anything at all for them spiritually, we first need to love them.

Maybe they have put their faith elsewhere.

Perhaps they have no faith in anything other than themselves.

In either case, they need our love all the more.

Let's look at it this way.

What happens when a child comes into the world with badly impaired eyesight or complete blindness?

Won't that child be dependent upon the love of those around him to help him overcome his circumstances?

Won't he require their patience as well?

Can we in any way help a child with impaired vision by treating him harshly?

Will yelling the command "See!" at the top of our lungs help him?

In the same way. we cannot force our belief upon others.

Just as we were free to say, "Yes" to Jesus, they are equally free to say, "No".

As unfortunate as that might be, we cannot drag them kicking and screaming to Him.

We cannot do this no matter how much we want them to believe.

It simply does not work that way and history has proven that time and again.

We must continue to reach out to them because that is what is required of us.

But we must do so with love.

In doing that we keep hope alive.

And when we combine love with hope, we keep open the door for faith to enter.

Remember, Jesus is the one who saves.

Our task is to love them and to make the meeting possible.


Blessings,
Jim Pokorny
The Other Brother Jim
http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Preparing for Devotion

I'm often distressed at the disconnect between what God expects of me and what I deliver on an average day. "[W]hat doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?"  (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)  Christ Himself expanded on this expectation:  "[T]hou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."  (Mark 12:30-31)

That seems to be asking a lot, doesn't it?  With the multitude of our daily obligations to family and employers, with the myriad temptations and distractions today's world puts in our way, isn't an unswerving, all-consuming devotion to God pretty much unattainable for most people?  Wouldn't one have to withdraw to a mountain cave, or to a cell in a monastery, and spend the rest of one's life in constant prayer, meditation, and scripture study?

Some have felt called to such a life over the centuries, and through their writings and teachings have had an influence for good on the many who could not follow the ascetic path. But I don't think God requires such a life of most people. While we're not to be conformed to or "of" the world, we remain in it (Romans 12:2; John 15:19; John 17:13-16). Believers are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). There may be rare exceptions, but as a rule God wouldn't ask of us something we couldn't attain without abandoning our families and the work we need to do to support them, or disappearing from amongst our friends and neighbors to search for Him alone.

A life of devotion to God and fellow man can be, and is, lived every day by otherwise ordinary people, everywhere. It results from a combination of what we do and what we avoid.

One vital element is maintaining a constant, 24/7 connection with the Lord in prayer--both the kneel-down variety, when that can be done, but also the conversation with Him that you carry on in your head and heart while going about your daily business. Another element is daily reading in God's word: it needn't take hours or follow a rigorous study plan, but may consist of only a few verses--you can't hardly find any in the Bible that aren't bursting with inspiration and comfort. In addition, we must constantly and humbly repent of, and strive to avoid, sin: nothing else so thoroughly prevents a healthy, ongoing relationship with our Heavenly Father, nor so clouds our judgment with selfishness and despair. As far as possible rid you life of things (for example, unedifying television, movies, music, or literature; drugs or alcohol; other worldly infatuations)  that may tempt you to sin or distract you from God and others toward an immersion in Self. Finally, do your best to make a habit of thoughtfulness, generosity, and a readiness to help, however when or much it's needed--this will bring you closer to the model of the Good Samaritan.

Following this path keeps one's mind and heart clear, clean, and undistracted; keeps us ready, willing, and able to help others; and keeps us open to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. By this means we're able to grow and thrive in faith, and in devotion to God and those around us, just as He commands--one day at a time.

Tom Fleming
Songs of Praises

Being There

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

One of the most consoling and strengthening aspects of faith in God is the knowledge that He lives and reigns all the time and everywhere--that He is always there for us, no matter where we are or what may happen to us, and no matter how confused, lonely, or despairing we may feel. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and is aware of our every thought, word, and deed, good or bad. He wants to share and magnify our happiness, and He most certainly feels and seeks to assuage our pain, consistently with His divine will.

Nowhere is this precious truth more fully and beautifully expressed than in Psalm 139:

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:1-12)

But oh, how we flee from Him!  Instead of giving thanks and praise to our generous Lord when times are good, we too often grow smugly self-confident, feeling that we need no God, and indulge in worshiping the idols of wealth, ease, and entertainment. Habits of prayer, repentance, and study of the Word are forgotten. Having taken our eyes off the Heavenly Light, we become blind to the grave moral dangers all around us on earth. Of course, that's just what Satan wants--to separate us ever further from our loving Father, until we are entirely in the Devil's clutches. Then, when times are bad, we'll despair of any help or forgiveness from above, and resign ourselves to destruction.

Don't let that happen to you!  Get in the habit of experiencing and acknowledging God's presence every day, all day. Begin and end each day connecting with Him in prayer, seeking forgiveness and guidance, and giving joyful thanks and praise. Do it at mid-day, too!  Set aside some time during the day, even if it's only for 15 minutes, to read and ponder His Word in whatever translation best speaks to you. Get outdoors and take a walk amidst God's creation and His people, and reflect how they manifest His goodness. When something good happens, give thanks right away and give God the glory. Make sure you reach out and do something good for someone else every day, and feel His love flow through you to others. And when things around you get very dark, pray for courage and deeper faith--grasp His hand all the tighter, and NEVER let go!  Hold fast to your faith in His always Being There.

Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises

Follow the Leader

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." ~ Matthew 6:9-10

One of the hardest things for a person--even the typical believer--to do is lay aside his or her own will and let the Lord lead.  Growing up we're encouraged to become self-reliant, and if we're fortunate enough to live in a land of freedom and opportunity, we learn to choose own goals and chart our own path to their accomplishment. We make our own decisions day-to-day, according to our own judgment of what will best advance our own purposes.

Did you notice the theme--"our own"?  This may seem like a liberating way of life, especially for people who live in countries or cultures where people's basic decisions are made for them by state or other authorities. But there can be a misleading quality to this freedom: where the primacy of God in daily life is spurned or forgotten, we're essentially "on our own," seeing but "through a glass, darkly" (1 Corinthians 13:12), left (by our own choice), groping about in the murk of earthly life without the light and confidence that come from God's leadership. We're limited to our own ill-informed and fallible judgment about what's right and best for us, and we struggle to identify and manage the resources we think we'll need to realize our dimly-perceived objectives. We can't begin to see all the pitfalls and the opportunities that our Father in Heaven can see. As a result, we make innumerable mistakes and fly down blind alleys over and over again; we get frustrated and discouraged, or turn our own and other people's lives upside down pursuing vain goals with a single-minded vengeance. Too often, this leads to the ruin of families and lives.

The answer is to maintain an attitude of submissiveness and readiness to serve our Heavenly Father, and to seek Him constantly in prayer ("Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17). In all things, we must first strive to discern His will for us, and then do our best to follow it. When deciding on goals, long-term or shorter, we should ask the Lord in prayer what He wants for us, and whether particular goals we may have proposed for ourselves are consistent with His will for us. As we go along day-to-day, continue asking for His guidance and inspiration to see opportunities and hazards, and to receive those often-quiet promptings of the Spirit that, if faithfully heeded, enable us to make our way safely and productively along His chosen path. By doing this we'll always know that we're doing the best thing, in the best way, for ourselves and our families.

This was the lesson taught in one of my favorite hymns, Lead, Kindly Light, written in 1833 by John Henry Newman (1801–1890).  The hymn relates the experience of one who once was determined to pursue his own goals in his own way, who "loved to choose and see my path," who "loved the garish day," and whose will was ruled by pride. Now, the writer prays God to "Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me."

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
which I Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

So, before you do make your next decision, big or small, go the the Lord in prayer and ask Him what HIS will is for your life. Accept His leadership in place of your own, and don't be afraid to follow it, even though you may not see in advance or understand every step along the path. Walk in faith with Him, trusting in His guidance, every day. Keep going, even through times of hardship and doubt. With the Lord of the Universe showing the way, you can't go wrong!

Tom Fleming

Songs of Praises