Again I Will Say, Rejoice

 Psalm 5 is about trusting God.

 In verse 11, the psalmist discusses how those who trust God can rejoice.

 Psalm 5:11 (NRSVue) - But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.

Acts 5, tells of the persecution of the apostles.

After healing many they were arrested.

Freed by an angel of the Lord, they went on with their teaching.

Arrested once more, they were asked about their disobedience.

They responded by saying they obeyed God rather than human authority.

The council was enraged.

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel interceded,

They were flogged and released,

They rejoiced at their persecution.

Acts 5:41-42– (NRSVue) - As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.

Rejoicing in persecution is a sign of faith.

To rejoice in the face of difficulty demonstrates to others the nature of true faith.

Such a demonstration benefits those in our families.

It benefits those whom we encounter regularly.

It especially benefits those who have yet to find a personal relationship with the Lord.

It can lead them from wonder to a genuine rejoicing of their own.

Philippians 4:4-5 (NRSVue) - Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com on Friday, June 13, 2025.

I will be back here on Friday, June 20, 2025

An Imaginary Conversation with My Father

Psalm 103:13 (NET) - As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on his faithful followers.

Sunday is Father’s Day.

I wondered what it might be like if I could but sit down with my father once more and seek his wisdom.

My father was born almost a hundred years ago.

He died several decades ago while he was still a relatively young man.

I thought about how much things have changed since he was born.

I also thought about how much things have changed since he died.

Although some of the changes were beneficial a great may were not.

I tried to imagine what advice he might give me concerning today’s problems.

I began by remembering him the way he was the last time I saw him.

I have now reached the age my father was when he died

So, that is how I pictured us; two men of identical age but from different eras.

I imagined us seated side by side as I told him of the problems of today.

I imagined him listening to every word before he would impart his fatherly wisdom.

I told him about corruption in government.

I told him about the amount of dishonesty in business.

I told him about the persecution that still goes on in the world.

I told him about the hatred some clung to rather than embracing love.

I told him about how some chose to hold onto old grudges rather than forgive.

I told him how some people preferred to live in in ignorance and confusion rather than seeking the truth.

I told him how that same truth was often repressed once it was discovered.

I told him about greed and injustice.

I told him all these things and more.

Then, I imagined myself waiting expectantly for some pearl of wisdom that would help me cope with today’s reality.

I also imagined that my father had no immediate reply.

I then added, “One more thing, Dad. The world seems to have less faith in God with every passing day.”

At that I pictured my father smiling.

I imagined him speaking to me as he did my in childhood.

I envisioned him placing his hand on my shoulder as he said, “Son, that is exactly why the world has these problems.”

Proverbs 22:6 (NET) - Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com

Break the Cycle

Persecution is alive and well.

Today's headlines bear that out.

It has existed almost since the dawn of humanity.

It began with the very first generation of humans born to Adam and Eve.

The result of that persecution was that Cain murdered his brother Abel.

Persecution, however, sprang into the world as a result of envy and hatred.

Cain envied his brother's relationship with God and then hated him for it.

God gave Cain sufficient warning.

Genesis 4:7 (NET) - “Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.”

Cain was so blinded by his hatred that he ignored God's warning.

Sin desired to dominate Cain and he failed to subdue it.

Cain then murdered his brother Abel and was punished by God.

That was just the beginning.

One only has to look at history to see the results of persecution through the ages.

Literal millions have died as the result of persecution.

Millions more have been maimed and disfigured.

And still, persecution arises out of hatred.

Why does hatred continue to have such a strangle hold on mankind?

Personally, I think much of today's hatred has its root in fear.

One group hates another because, deep down, they fear the differences between them.

Perhaps it is because they are of different races or different religions or different political ideologies.

If left unchecked, sin uses that fear to dominate mankind.

Fear crouches at the door just as God warned.

Once inside that door, it quickly festers into hatred.

Once this happens, can persecution be far behind?

As a Christian, this forces me to ask the question, “What can we do?”

We can break the cycle but first we have to be willing do what many, even the best among us, struggle to do.

We can forgive and pray for those who hate.

We must heed the warning God gave Cain and not allow sin to dominate us.

We must do what Jesus instructed us to do even if we initially find it difficult or distasteful.

Luke 6:27-28 (NET) - “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

Isn't it time to break the cycle of fear, hatred and persecution?

Remove any and all fear and hatred from your heart and allow His peace which exceeds all understanding to enter.

Pray for those that persecute.

Pray for those that know only hatred.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

http://otherbrotherjim.blogspot.com