Knowing Where We Stand

In Genesis 18, God pronounces His judgment on Sodom.

God also shares this information with Abraham.

Abraham decides to speak to God, but he does so with the utmost respect.

Genesis 18:27 (NRSVue) - Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to my lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

In Matthew 15, a Canaanite woman pleads with Jesus concerning her daughter who has a demon.

To the untrained ear, the response from Jesus could appear insulting.

It is possible that Jesus was measuring her faith.

The woman persists, but like Abraham, she does so with respect and humility.

Matthew 15:27-28 (NRSVue) – She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.

Like Abraham and the woman, we too can ask for what we need from the Lord.

But we should do so with humility and respect.

The Lord knows what we need before we even think to ask.

But asking the Lord with the respect He deserves is how we foster a healthy relationship with Him.

Like Abraham and the woman, we need to have the courage to ask.

And we must do so knowing where we stand in this relationship.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com on Friday, October 16, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, October 23, 2026

Keep Spreading the News

Zechariah 9 foretells the coming of Jesus.

The prophet discusses the future victorious king who will be humble and rides a donkey.

The end of verse ten speaks of the coming king’s dominion.

Zechariah 9:10b (NRSVue) - his dominion shall be from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks of persecutions to come.

But Jesus talks about the good news of the kingdom.

That good news will be spread everywhere.

Matthew 24:14a (NRSVue) - And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations

The Lord’s reign spans the globe.

It also spans the ages, even into the future.

That is indeed good news.

Its message is rooted in truth.

And that truth must continue to be told in every nation.

Through that truth, people will be made aware of His power as sovereign.

At the same time, they will be made aware of His love.

News does not get any better than that!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, October 9, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, October 16, 2026

Practicing Patience

The Book of Proverbs is rich with wisdom.

One such nugget concerns controlling one’s temper.

Proverbs 16:32 (NRSVue) - One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.

Revelation 14 contains the message of the three angels.

Verse 12 touches on the endurance of the saints.

And controlling one’s temper requires endurance.

Revelation 14:12 (NRSVue) - Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.

In today’s world, people lose their tempers all too quickly.

Discussions are quickly replaced by arguments.

Road rage grows more commonplace.

News stories abound concerning lost tempers and their consequences.

Pride and impatience play their roles in our world.

That is why we need to rely on God’s strength rather than our own.

We should pray for self-control and patience.

With God’s help, our interactions with others can be rooted in love, not anger.

We should be patient with our fellow man.

After all, God is patient with us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, September 25, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, October 2, 2026

Creation Continues; Does Our Gratitude?

Isaiah 48 discusses God as the Creator and the Redeemer.

Through the prophet, God tells the people about new things they knew nothing about.

Isaiah 48:6b (NRSVue) - …From this time forward I tell you new things, hidden things that you have not known.

In Acts 17, Paul is in Athens.

He tells the people there about the Resurrection.

This was new to them.

Some found this too difficult to comprehend.

Still others wanted to know more.

Acts 17:32 (NRSVue) - When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed, but others said, “We will hear you again about this.”

In our modern and hectic world, it is altogether too easy to take things for granted.

God continues to create new wonders for us to appreciate.

Bombarded by distractions, do we really take the time to see them?

If we do, do we appreciate them?

And if we do, are we too busy to give thanks?

From a personal perspective, God creates for us a new life through Christ.

For this alone, our joy should be boundless.

And that joy should only be exceeded by our gratitude.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, September 11, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, September 18, 2026

Ready? Go!

The end times have both fascinated and frightened people for centuries.

As a boy, I listened to a televangelist’s sermon on the topic.

Frankly, his message frightened me for a long time.

In the second chapter of Joel, the prophet’s message can be alarming.

Joel 2:1b (NRSVue) - …for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near

This prophet lived well over 2,000 years ago.

In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks about the need for watchfulness.

Matthew 24:44 (NRSVue) - Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

These words were spoken some 2,000 years ago.

And yet, the world is still here.

The point being, the end times should not frighten us.

We are not meant to live in fear.

But we should be ready.

That means accepting the living Christ as your personal savior.

The end will come when God wills it.

And we should not be tempted to hurry it or postpone it.

In the meantime, we are to love God.

We are to love our neighbor.

Once we live as God intends us to live, we are ready.

And once we are ready, fear no longer has any control over us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, August 28, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, September 4, 2026

Seeing Others Through God's Eyes

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving.

In verse 3, the psalmist acknowledges that the Lord made us.

Psalm 100:3 (NRSVue) - Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

In Acts 11, Peter reports to the church in Jerusalem.

There, the people criticize Peter for associating with the gentiles.

Peter gives them a full account beginning with his vision.

He then tells them of how he responded to the Spirit’s leading,

He also tells them how he was to make no distinction between Jew and gentile.

Their response is remarkable.

Acts 11:18 (NRSVue) - When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

God created all of us.

He gave life to each one of us,

God knows each of us as individuals and God offers His grace to all,

If we could but learn to see others as God sees them.

God can help us do that,

Once we do, we can overcome our petty disagreements and personal prejudices,

Then, we can truly love our brothers and sisters in Christ as God desires for us.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, August 14, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 21, 2026

We Are Not Fit to Judge

In Psalm 98, the psalmist praises the judge of the world.

Psalm 98:9 (NRSVue) - for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with equity.

In John 5, Jesus explains his authority as judge.

John 5:30 (NRSVue) - As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

The right to judge is within the authority of the Lord.

It is not within our authority.

Yet daily we judge our neighbors by our own standards.

We judge based on our own set of prejudices, limited experiences and even our moods.

We even judge based on superficial things such as appearance.

We judge, not knowing what is going on in their lives.

We are warned not to judge.

Matthew 7:1 (NRSVue) - Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

Surely, this is reason enough.

But beyond this, we are not fit to judge.

Only the Lord is fit to judge.

The Lord does not see others as we see them.

The Lord sees with justice.

He also sees with dignity and mercy.

Fortunately, that is also the way the Lord sees us.

Romans 8:1-2 (NRSVue) - Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, July 24, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, August 7, 2026

Not Just for Children

People come to me with questions.

Frankly, I enjoy questions because they force me to dig deeper.

Someone who knew English is not my first language asked me about a hymn.

They asked me if I knew the lyrics to that hymn in my first language.

I said I did and they asked me to recite it back to them in that language.

The hymn in question was Jesus Loves Me.

This is a song many children learn.

Strangely enough, we tend not to sing it when we become adults.

Anna Bartlett Warner wrote the words.

William B. Bradbury composed the tune.

Jesus loves me, this I know,

for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to him belong;

they are weak, but he is strong.

The version I was taught as a child goes like this:

Má Pán Ježíš, má mě rád,

Čisto Písmo nastokrát!

Všecky děti, jak jen jsou,

srdci jeho zálibou.

This is an adequate translation, albeit inexact.

So, I translated the second version back into English literally.

The result was both pleasantly surprising and reassuring.

My Lord Jesus, He has love for me,

Pure Scripture (tells me) a hundred times over!

All children, whatever they are,

(they are) a passion close to His heart.

Although not quite, the original, I love the retranslation.

Our Lord Jesus has love for us.

Pure Scripture reminds us of this repeatedly.

All children, even those my age, are a passion close to His heart.

This is why I love questions and enjoy digging deeper.

In doing so, a simple melody intended for children is transformed.

It becomes a poetic message about Christ’s active love for us all.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, July 10, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 17, 2026

The First 900 Steps

I recently came across a quote by the late Aldous Huxley.

“If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.”

As a man of faith, I will not say that coming across this quote was coincidental.

You see, this is my 900^th offering since I responded to God’s leading in January 2010.

This was an opportunity to share my faith.

As importantly, God intended this as a means of self-reflection.

Huxley was correct in his assertion about the dangers of illusion.

Scripture also has a great deal to say about the importance of self-discovery.

Throughout this journey, I reminded myself that I am doing this as I believe God desires this of me.

Jeremiah 17:9 (NRSVue) - The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse—who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.

I also had to remind myself that God is using this to change me from the inside.

Romans 12:2 (NRSVue) - Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Before I write, I must remind myself that I am a sinner and that I need Christ.

I am not better than any other in the same need.

Matthew 7:3-5 (NRSVue) - Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

In retrospect, I am not the same man I was when I started this journey 16 years ago.

Although I have made progress, I am still very much a work in progress.

Philippians 3:12 (NRSVue) - Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of me.

I am also in a different place than I was when I began this journey.

I am frequently asked about my current profession.

I am also asked about my current ministries.

I can state that I am where God currently wants me to be.

I am also doing what He wants me to do.

I am also aware that he is using my current circumstances to prepare me for what lies ahead,

Romans 8:28 (NRSVue) - We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

If you have taken the time to read this far, I thank you.

Thank you for accompanying me on this journey.

Just remember that you have your own journey and that the Lord wants to be part of it.

 

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 26, 2026.

I will be back here on Friday, July 3, 2026

To the End of the Age

Psalm 102:26 (NRSVue) - They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away,

Psalm 102 is a prayer.

It is a prayer from one in crisis and in need of help.

It is a prayer to the eternal and unchanging God.

Matthew 28 begins with the resurrection of Jesus.

It ends with the commissioning of the disciples.

Jesus concludes this commission with a reminder; a reminder that He is ever present.

Matthew 28:20 (NRSVue) - and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Our lives, indeed, our world changes.

New islands are formed.

Mountains wear away.

But it is not only the physical world that changes.

Politicians make promises without intending to honor them.

The price of necessities continues to rise.

The list goes on.

But there is something upon which we can rely.

We can rely on an unchanging, ever present, triune God.

The psalmist understood this.

Jesus reminded us of this.

That is something upon which to rely!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, February 9, 2024.

I will be back here on Friday, February 16, 2024

Time Is Relative

Psalm 39:5 (NIV) - You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.

In the verse preceding this, the psalmist asks the Lord to reveal his remaining days.

This is to remind the psalmist how fleeting his life is.

But in verse five, he acknowledges that to an eternal God, a human lifetime is very brief.

Paul, in his second letter to Corinth discusses living by faith.

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NRSVue) - So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

True, in comparison, our mortal lives are fleeting compared to the eternal.

Even so, God does more than take a casual interest in us.

God plays an active role in our lives and transforms us along the way,

My own family history reminds me of this.

My father died at a relatively youthful age, so he had some time.

My mother, by comparison, lived to her old age and had considerably more.

My brother died in infancy, years before I was born, and so had little.

My own journey continues.

My family history reminds me that not one of us knows how much time we have in this world.

But it has taught me two lessons.

The first is to make the most of the time we do have.

The second is that God is with us throughout our lives.

Our sense of time varies.

Some days seem like they will never end.

Some years seem to evaporate too quickly.

But not a single day goes by in which God does not accompany us on our journey.

This bears repeating.

God is not just a passive observer.

God is an active participant in our lives.

Remember that God spoke to Moses like a friend (Exodus 33).

Remember Abraham believed God and was called God’s friend (James 2).

Therefore God, who accompanies us day by day, is our friend as well.

How quickly or slowly those days seem to pass to us is of little consequence by comparison.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 26, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, February 2, 2024

New Year, New Love

Hosea 6:6 (NRSVue) - For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

The prophet Hosea called upon the people to repent.

But repentance was not in their hearts.

They continued to offer their sacrifices, but their hearts were not in them.

God made it clear that sacrifices and offerings were not what he wanted.

What God wanted was their love and for them to come to know Him.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, reminded them that they were to love their neighbor.

Moreover, it was love, not sacrifice, that fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:10 (NRSVue) - Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

On the surface, this seems simple enough.

But history has shown us repeatedly that humans find this difficult.

Today’s headlines reveal just how difficult we still find it.

In Matthew 22, an expert in the law tried to trick Jesus.

He asked Jesus which commandment was the most important.

Christ gave him a two-fold answer.

This response must have taken the expert by complete surprise.

Matthew 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.”

Christ understood that the commandments were about relationships.

Some are about our relationship with God.

Others are about our relationship with each other.

By keeping both these commandments, we would in effect be keeping all others.

God still wants us to love and get to know Him.

He still prefers this to any other offerings we make.

Christ came into this world to teach us.

He did so by both word and example.

He reminded us to love both God and our neighbor.

That means all people.

As we embark on a new year, let us learn once more what it means to genuinely love God and people.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, January 12, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, January 19, 2024

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 foretold the child’s birth, but Zechariah did not believe him.

As a result, Zechariah was silenced for his disbelief.

When the time came for John to be named, Zechariah still could not speak.

To the amazement of all, he wrote “His name is John.”

Zechariah was then filled with the Holy Spirit.

This time, to even greater amazement, he spoke.

Luke 1:76-77 (NRSVue) - And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.

While not completely identical, our journeys as Christians are akin to these events.

We start out rebellious.

We do things our way rather than God’s way.

We even believe that things and people are more important than God.

Then, one day, we realize the error of our ways.

We approach God with contrite hearts and confess our sins to Him.

In the process, we even admit them to ourselves.

Then, the timeless and loving God forgives us.

He listens to our sincere confession.

We place our faith in the redemptive Christ.

As a result, we return to favor in God’s sight.

We then continue the work begun by John the Baptist.

We share the Good News so that others may learn of salvation and true forgiveness.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, December 22, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, January 5, 2024

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 week, this Holy week, brought that journey to a successful conclusion.

God brought me to a good place,

That too was part of His handiwork,

Today, we acknowledge Good Friday. 

This day commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.

But Jesus knew what awaited Him.

He knew in advance the events that were to unfold.

Jesus tried to explain this to His followers.

Luke 18:31 (NRSVue) - Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.

Christ endured so very much on our behalf.

But He knew that this was all part of God’s plan for His life.

He also knew that, ultimately, God would lead Him to a far better place,

And we, sinners though we are, are the beneficiaries of God’s plan.

We are also reminded that God is an active participant in our lives.

God is not merely a casual observer.

We experience different seasons throughout our lives.

Some we can see coming.

Some take us by surprise.

Some are easy.

Some are extraordinarily difficult.

Some are short.

Some seem unbearably long.

Some have expected destinations.

Some lead us to unexpected places.

Yet each season we experience is part of God’s plan for us.

May Good Friday remind us that we do not experience these seasons alone.

Christ accompanies us on the way.

He is there to strengthen our faith and our will when we trust His guidance.

Our journey is not an accident.

It will lead us to a good place prepared in advance for us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, April 14, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, April 21, 2023

Opening Up

1 Samuel 3:9 (NET) - So Eli said to Samuel, “Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.

Samuel heard several calls.

Each time he thought it was his master, Eli.

Finally, Eli understood that it was the Lord who was calling Samuel.

Samuel took Eli’s advice.

When he did, he began to develop a personal relationship with the Lord.

Hearing is one thing.

Listening, really listening, is another.

Once Samuel listened, his heart was opened.

He was then able to respond to what the Lord was saying.

Something similar happened to a woman named Lydia.

In Acts, we read of Paul’s travels to Philippi.

On the Sabbath, he journeyed outside the city to pray.

A group of women gathered, and Paul spoke with them.

Acts 16:14 (NET) - A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying.

The Lord used Paul’s words to open Lydia’s heart.

She and her family were then baptized.

Does the Lord still call?

I believe that He does.

But are we too distracted to respond?

He may be using others to reach us.

Or are we too busy to take notice?

Or perhaps He is trying to reach others through us.

Or have we become too indifferent to care?

When these things happen, we can call upon the Lord.

He can help us remove the distractions.

He can help us to refocus our efforts.

He can rekindle the love in our hearts and open them.

We can then open our hearts to God and to those around us once more.

God can even open the hearts of others through us if we let Him.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 26, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, December 3, 2021

Into the Light

Isaiah 60:19-20 (NET) - The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you; the Lord will be your permanent source of light—the splendor of your God will shine upon you. Your sun will no longer set; your moon will not disappear; the Lord will be your permanent source of light; your time of sorrow will be over.

After the summer solstice, the days began to get shorter.

At first the change was imperceptible.

After all, the decrease was just over two minutes a day.

By now, the cumulative change has become more pronounced.

And, with the upcoming time change, the onset of evening will arrive even earlier.

Isaiah spoke of a much different light.

This light would never dim, nor would it depend upon either the time of day or year.

This light would forever shine upon man.

This light would be the light of the Lord.

Jesus is that light.

In fact, He told us this.

John 12:46 (NET) - I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.

Christ wants us to live in the light – His light.

Because of His sacrifice, we no longer need to live in darkness.

We can live in the light.

Jesus can light our path and lead us out of whatever darkness surrounds us.

We can bask in the light and warmth of His love.

But what then?

We must then reflect His light toward others.

Others who continue to dwell in darkness and suffering.

With His help, we can invite them to step out of the shadows and the cold.

Then, they too can bask in the light and warmth of His love.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, November 12, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, November 19, 2021

Does God Still Call?

1 Samuel 3:4 (NET) - The Lord called to Samuel, and he replied, “Here I am!”

The Lord called to Samuel several times before Samuel responded to God.

Initially, Samuel thought these calls came from Eli.

It was Eli that first understood that the Lord was calling Samuel.

He instructed Samuel to return and listen for the call once more and respond accordingly.

The Lord called Samuel again.

1 Samuel 3:10 (NET) - Then the Lord came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening!”

Something similar happened to Paul when he visited Corinth.

Paul was busy proclaiming Jesus to the Jews who lived there.

They rejected Paul’s teachings, so he turned his attention to the Gentiles.

Many of them heard Paul.

They believed and were baptized.

The Lord then spoke to Paul in a vision.

Acts 18:9-10a (NET) - One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you

Paul continued his outreach to the Gentiles.

His letters make up a good portion of the Bible we have today.

Paul’s response to God’s call would eventually cost him his life.

And, when God called Samuel, He told him that He was going to judge Eli.

He then instructed Samuel to tell Eli.

This must have been extremely difficult for Samuel.

What about us?

Does God still call?

Does He call us?

I believe He does.

Perhaps, like Samuel, we do not recognize His call.

Or perhaps we are too busy or distracted.

Maybe we choose not to listen.

We might even be afraid.

We find the silence around us comforting.

We even find it safe.

For silence asks nothing from us.

But God’s call can be frightening.

It is certainly uncomfortable.

The evils of the world still exist.

Is God calling us to speak out against things like hatred, racism, and injustice?

We do not need to be afraid when God calls us to speak out.

As God told Paul, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you.”

Is God telling us the same?

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 22, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, November 5, 2021

We Can Learn

Psalm 119:67 (NET) - Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, but now I keep your instructions.

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.

Its 176 verses speak of the character of God.

But this time it was verse sixty-seven that captured my attention.

The Psalmist is saying that he used to stray until he was made to suffer.

This paints a clear picture of God as the Father.

Even human fathers discipline their children when it becomes necessary.

A human father disciplines his children when he must, not because he wants to.

Similarly, God disciplines us only when He must.

Such discipline is for our benefit.

Paul understood this.

He described the results of discipline in his second letter to Corinth.

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NET) - For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.

As human beings, we sometimes stray away from God.

God, being the loving Father, disciplines us when we stray too far.

He does not do this out of anger, spite, or vengeance.

He does this because He loves us and wants us to return to Him.

When we return, He proves this.

He forgives us.

God remains faithful even when we choose to rebel.

He wants us to keep His instructions and those of Jesus.

Should we not then share that same love with others?

Should we not also forgive just as we have been forgiven?

Forgiveness can be difficult even for Christians.

But with God’s love, help, and discipline… even we can learn to love… and forgive.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, October 8, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, October 15, 2021

No Fear

Isaiah 54:14 (NET) - You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. You will not experience oppression; indeed, you will not be afraid. You will not be terrified, for nothing frightening will come near you.

Isaiah’s words promise the people security.

He speaks of reestablishment and freedom from oppression.

But these words of promise also include commands.

“You will not be afraid.”

“You will not be terrified.”

Isaiah wrote these words centuries before the birth of Christ.

But today’s world is confusing.

In fact, it can even appear frightening.

The world reminds us that we live in a pandemic.

It reminds us that there is corruption.

It reminds us that there is injustice.

In fact, a list of the world’s negative reminders can be overwhelming.

Considering these, how are we not to be afraid?

How are we not to be terrified?

For the answer, we must turn to the words of Christ.

John 14:27 (NET) - “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.

Jesus gives us peace, His peace.

His gift of peace is far different from what the world offers us.

He gives us commands as well.

But His commands are gentler.

We should not feel distressed.

We should not lack courage.

Our circumstances can overwhelm us if we let them.

But God in His infinite love sent His Son to us.

A Son who promises a peace that exceeds all understanding.

A Son who embodies the very meaning of love. 

He gives His peace and love to us.

He wants us to share that same peace and love with others.

As the world offers fear, may we instead offer hope through Jesus.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 24, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, October 1, 2021

Children of the Light

Isaiah 29:15 (NET) - Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast, “Who sees us? Who knows what we’re doing?”

As human beings we often fail to do what we know to be right.

In fact, we sometimes intentionally do what we know to be wrong.

Perhaps that is because we find it easy to justify our actions.

In doing so we deceive ourselves.

Most importantly, we attempt to deceive God.

Fooling ourselves is easy.

Fooling God is impossible.

Isaiah’s warning is clear.

Those who try to hide their plans from the Lord are as good as dead.

It is God who sees us.

It is God who knows what we are doing.

Paul understood this as well.

He explains this in his letter to the Ephesians.

He states that God’s anger falls on the disobedient.

He reminds us that we no longer reside in darkness.

He then reminds us that we are children of the Light.

Rather than deceit, we should pursue goodness, righteousness, and truth.

We should do what pleases the Lord.

That is because nothing is hidden when exposed by the Light.

Ephesians 5:13 (NET) - But all things being exposed by the light are made visible.

Christ is the Light of the world.

He declared this in the Gospel of John.

John 8:12 (NET) - Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

His Light is unlike any other.

It fills even the darkest corners of our lives.

He calls everyone into His Light.

That Light dispels all darkness and deception.

It also allows us to clearly see His love for everyone.

There are no shadows in which to hide.

Therefore, let us live obediently in the Light!

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com/ on Friday, September 10, 2021.

I will be back here on Friday, September 17, 2021