Unrecognized

Although Easter Sunday was several days ago, we are still in the Easter season.

Before COVID-19, the Sundays following Easter would remind us of this.

Sermons, hymns and prayers would help remind us of the importance of the Resurrection,

As such, I find my thoughts returning to one fact about the immediate aftermath of the Resurrection.

People, including those closest to Jesus, did not recognize Him at first,

This started when Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty.

She then told the disciples who came to see for themselves.

After she was left alone, she encountered the risen Jesus.

Initially, she mistook Him for someone else.

John 20:14 (NET) -  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Soon afterward, Jesus appeared before two others on the road to Emmaus.

They did not recognize Him at first either.

Luke 24:15-16 (NET) - While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).

Then there was the time the disciples were fishing and did not realize it was Jesus on the shore.

John 21:4 (NET) - When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

I find it more than interesting that those who knew Jesus best did not recognize Him at first.

Scripture does make it plain that they were kept from recognizing Him as in the verse from Luke.

I will not dispute that.

But those He encountered were also caught up in other things at the time.

Mary was caught up in her grief.

Those on the road to Emmaus were caught up in their conversation about current events.

The disciples were caught up in their fishing.

It is easy for us to question how those closest to Him could fail to recognize Jesus.

Do we really fare any better?

Jesus reveals Himself today in many ways including Scripture.

Can we honestly say that we always recognize Him?

Or, are we perhaps too caught up in our own thoughts and actions to notice?

One final thought…

Since COVID-19 has impacted our lives, churches have had to find new and creative ways to worship.

We have also had to find new and creative ways in which to serve.

I hope these trends continue well after the threat of this pandemic has subsided.

I pray churches continue to find even newer and more creative ways in which to worship and serve.

If we do, perhaps people just might not recognize the church at first either.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 24, 2020.

I’ll be back here on Friday, May 1, 2020

A Universal Symbol

Symbols are everywhere.

They tell us what we need to know at a glance.

Corporations utilize symbols to promote their products and services.

When utilized in this way a symbol is called a logo.

We identify their product or service with their logo.

This is an important concept because logos are international.

Coca-Cola is an example of this.

If I were to travel to a foreign country where I did not speak the language, it is safe to assume I would be able to purchase a Coca-Cola by recognizing one or more of their logos.

There are symbols in Christianity as well.

The cross is likely the most recognized symbol in the world.

For those who believe this symbol represents the ultimate in service.

God is the perfectly Holy creator.

Isaiah 6:3 (NET) – They called to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!”

Man is the fallen creation.

No amount of sacrifice on the part of man can put him right with God.

Jesus had both a divine nature and a human nature.

Although He had a human nature, He never once committed a sin.

This made Jesus the perfect sacrifice and the pain and humiliation He suffered on the cross is the means by which a fallen man can have a relationship with a perfectly Holy God.

Hebrews 9:14 (NET) – how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

The symbol of the cross is an international reminder of that most remarkable of services.

No matter where in the world you are the symbol of the cross is understood.

In some cases it is even detested.

The one thing it should never be is ignored.

Some churches have made a conscious decision not to display the cross.

Whatever their reasoning may be I find this unfortunate.

Everyone, even Christians who attend services regularly, need this symbol.

We need this visible reminder to help us understand why we need Jesus so very much.

Acts 2:23 (NET) – this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 25, 2015.

I’ll be back here on Friday, October 2, 2015

Teamwork

The last two weeks have been among the most challenging I have ever experienced.

The circumstances that led up to these two weeks were completely outside my realm of control.

As the situation grew steadily worse it became obvious that something had to be done.

I was brought in as one member of a team of five people tasked with solving the problem.

Although there were some similarities in our backgrounds we were unique individuals.

We each brought to the table a unique set of strengths.

Together, as a team, we looked at the situation objectively.

We then weighed the options available to us.

Finally, as we neared the end of the first week, we determined the best course of action.

This course of action would bring with it a unique set of potential problems.

It would also be extremely unpopular with a few people who were not part of the team.

We presented our plan and defended it as best we could.

We then put that plan into action.

During the process we encountered a few problems we anticipated and we dealt with them.

We also encountered a few that could not be anticipated.

Working together as a team, we were able to resolve these as well.

Finally, we regained control of the situation and circumstances have returned to normal.

The members of this team have returned to their normal routines.

It is very unlikely we will ever get the chance to come together as team ever again.

I am sure that I will fondly remember each of these individuals and how we came together and succeeded as a team.

There are also some personal lessons I took with me as well.

First, there was a sixth member of this team as God was with us from start to finish.

Second, as challenging as this was it pales in comparison to the realities that some people face day in and day out and so we have no reason to complain.

Third, we are each the stronger for having faced up to the challenge together.

Fourth, we will each be able to utilize what we learned from this situation as we face other challenges in the future.

There will always be times when we are faced with challenges that seem overwhelming.

But, we do not have to face them alone.

We can put together an unbeatable team and overcome them.

Just make certain that God the first person you ask to join your team.

Psalm 138:3 (NET) – When I cried out for help, You answered me. You made me bold and energized me.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

The Right Tool

Scripture reminds us time and again that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things,

God used Moses to deliver His chosen people from bondage,

Even Moses was reluctant to heed that call at first.

Exodus 4:10 (NET) - Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and  slow of tongue."

Nevertheless, God used Moses to fulfill His purpose.

When the giant Goliath filled Saul’s army with fear, God provided someone to defeat him.

God did not send in a seasoned veteran of many campaigns.

God used David, a young shepherd, though Saul protested at first.

1 Samuel 17:33 (NET) - But Saul replied to David, "You aren’t able to go against the Philistine and fight him! You're just a boy! He has been a warrior since his youth!"

Nevertheless, God used David to slay Goliath.

God chose these men and provided them with skills to accomplish His purpose.

He also provided them with the tools with which to prevail.

These tools, to casual observers, must have seemed poor at best.

Yet when blessed by God and in the hands of God’s  chosen they brought about complete and total victory.

In David’s case the tool was a simple shepherd’s sling.

Saul provided David with a helmet and armor.

David was not able to use them.

David used the tools God gave him and even Goliath fatally underestimated David’s skill in using them.


David obtained victory because he knew he did not fight Goliath on his own.

He prevailed because he knew God was with him.

1 Samuel 17: 50 (NET) - David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and a stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand.

In the case of Moses, the tool God provided him was a simple staff.

Moses used this staff to part the waters to provide the people a means of escaping Pharaoh’s pursuing army.

Exodus 14:16 (NET) - "And as for you, lift up your staff and extend your hand toward the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the middle of the sea on dry ground."

After the people made good their escape, God had Moses use that same staff to defeat Pharaoh’s army once and for all.

Exodus 14:27 (NET) - So Moses extended his hand toward the sea and the sea returned to its normal state when the sun began to rise. Now the Egyptians were fleeing before it, but the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea.

God indeed uses ordinary people with ordinary tools to accomplish His purpose.

Even today He uses similar combinations to bring Him glory.

What ordinary tool has He given you.

Is it a pen or a keyboard?

Perhaps it is a paintbrush and canvas?

Could it be a chisel and a block of stone or a simple lump of clay?

Is it a musical instrument?

Perhaps it is your voice raised in song or spoken word?

Whatever tool you have, God can use both it and you to bring Him glory.


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

Lessons from the Park

I’ve never considered myself to be "the creative type" and will probably not receive much in the way of argument.

Yet, one of the things I’ve learned since I started writing devotionals is that God provides not only inspiration but also reminders of His Word and actual glimpses into His divine nature by means of His creation.

The latest inspiration He provided me came in the form of a gathering of ducks and geese.

Allow me to explain.

In my country, Monday was a holiday.

I recently purchased a new camera in order to take photographs for my church and my church family.

I decided to take my camera to the local park and experiment with its different settings and features in order to familiarize myself with them.

As I drove through the park I notice a large gathering of ducks and geese either sleeping or simply relaxing in the shade of the trees growing by the lake.

This was an opportunity I could not pass by.

I parked very nearby and approached slowly, camera in hand, and began taking photographs.

Even though they heard the sound of my car door closing and my approaching footsteps, my presence did not appear to bother them in the least.

While photographing them I could not help but notice the lake.

That brought Psalm 23 to mind.

Psalm 23:2 (KJV) - He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

I then wanted to get some close up photographs of these beautiful sleeping  birds.

As I moved about them their routine remained unchanged.

Those that were awake were not the least bit frightened by my intrusion.

Those that slept did not awaken.

Again, another reminder.

Proverbs 3:24 (KJV) - When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

After taking many photographs at this location, I walked away from them and concentrated on other photographs.

I took photographs of the trees, the lake and the small island within it.

I had wandered a good distance from my starting point when I saw an older couple with their grandchild walking toward the group of birds I had recently left.

As they neared them, the setting that only moments before had been quiet and serene suddenly erupted into a collection of quacks and honks that could rival the noise of city traffic.

I wondered what caused them to suddenly become so excited.

I looked on as the grandmother gave the grandchild a bag from which he began to feed this collection of birds.

Obviously, this was a routine event.

These fortunate birds had become familiar with this kind group of people and, by conditioning, knew what they could expect from them.

Again, another reminder.

Matthew 6:26 (KJV) - Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they.

Through His creation, God both reminds us that He created all things and declared each good.

Yet some still deny His existence.

Paul explains this and also adds a stern warning. 

Romans 1:20 (NET) - For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

God uses His creation to reveal Himself to us.

God also uses His creation to remind us that His word is true.

God also gives us glimpses of His divine nature.

He also inspires creativity in us so that we can glorify Him.

Take it from someone who is not "the creative type".


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