Friends; February 9, 2026

Posted on February 10, 2026 by jgarrott

Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
    but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

The writer couldn’t have imagined it, but it just struck me that this applies to social media. There are many today who live for how many followers and likes they can get, and they destroy themselves in the process. The epidemic of destructive behavior in young people is rooted in this. When we get our dopamine hits electronically, we give up part of our humanity in the process. Backing off a bit, and in line with the context when this was written, evaluating your self-worth on the basis of your social interactions is destructive even when there are no electronics involved. There have been people like that throughout history, and they are frankly pathetic, even when they are famous and wealthy. It is certainly possible to have a human friend who is closer than blood kin, but the ultimate illustration of this verse is Jesus Christ. That He expressly called His disciples friends, in John 15:15, is problematic in Japanese culture, because the concept of “friend” has a strong feeling of equality, and no one is Jesus’ equal. I have heard a Japanese Christian insist, in spite of that verse, that Jesus could have no friends. Every culture has points that are unbiblical! In spite of that man’s opinion, the best-known Christian hymn in Japan is What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Part of that familiarity is because different, secular lyrics were set to that tune and it was sung in Japanese schools for many years, but even the Christian lyrics are familiar to many. Perhaps one reason for its acceptance is that the average Japanese doesn’t necessarily accept Jesus as divine. We get the full benefit only when we recognize that Jesus is indeed divine, but He lowered Himself to our level in order to become our Savior, as is set out so beautifully in Philippians 2:5-11. As it says there, He considered us to be worth letting go of His divinity in order to be our friend indeed. Human friends are important, but when we have Jesus, He is more than enough.

I am blessed with several men I would call close friends, but none are as close as Jesus! After all, He put His Spirit in me, and I can fellowship with Him anywhere and everywhere, all the time. I am to be a friend to people, but not “pin my world” on them. I have hurt people, and people have hurt me, but Jesus has never let me down. It is when I rest in Him that His character is manifested in me, and I am able to be the friend that people around me need. In common with most men, in contrast to women, I don’t have many close friends, but I do have some, and I am grateful. Right now I am being called on to be a friend to my genetic brother, and that isn’t a position I’ve been in for many years. I need to let Jesus speak and act through me in this situation, certainly. I don’t have the wisdom to say and do the right thing at the right time, but God will guide me, and I need to be sensitive and obedient to Him. Meanwhile, I need to be an extension of Jesus, so to speak, to all the people around me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed listen and act obediently at all times, so that I may be Your servant, Your agent, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spreading Knowledge; February 8, 2026

Posted on February 9, 2026 by jgarrott

Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

To me, this ties back directly to 9:10, that I wrote on two days ago. If we have proper respect for the Lord, He will reveal things about Himself and His way to us. We are then responsible to share that knowledge with others. This fits perfectly with Acts 1:8, which famously says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Being witnesses includes sharing what God has shown us, though it isn’t limited to that. If we are wise, by the operation of the Holy Spirit within us, we will spread the knowledge of God wherever we go, by whatever means are available to us. It is interesting to me that both the Japanese and the English specifically say “spread.” We aren’t to go in a corner and just dump all that we know in one spot, but rather spread it around so that as many people as possible may receive and be blessed by it. As Paul expressly said to King Agrippa in his trial, God’s work of salvation was not done in a corner. (Acts 26:26) We are to spread the Gospel as far and wide as God makes possible, and that’s really saying something!

Of course, this is close to my heart, since I’m a missionary in Japan. I haven’t been terribly effective in spreading the Gospel right here, but God alone knows the long-term effects of what I have said and done. In recent years He has allowed me to use the Internet to spread things more broadly, but I have even less personal knowledge of how that is being received. I can say with gratitude that several people have gone out from my ministry as ministers themselves, but I only know of that in the vaguest of terms. In any case, I’m to keep pressing in for more of God and keep spreading what He says to me in return, so that more and more people may be drawn into a right relationship with Him, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There is a lot going on right now, in the world and in my family. Help me keep my mind and heart fixed on You so I won’t be anxious about anything, but will indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Parenting; February 7, 2026

Posted on February 8, 2026 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.

This verse is currently considered politically incorrect, but its wisdom is evident all around us. Just yesterday I watched a video of a father talking about how he had taken a gaming machine away from his daughter, and how he had downgraded his son from a smart phone to a flip phone, and how other parents had said to him, “How can you do that? I wish I could do that!” His response to them had been, “Who’s the parent in your house?” Respect for authority is essential for a peaceful, productive life, and that starts in the home. The current popularity in the US of violent protests started in thousands upon thousands of homes, where parents didn’t care accurately for their children. Obviously, many of these people were never told, NO, when they were small. Proper discipline from parents grows good self-discipline in their children. This doesn’t excuse abuse, but the current fad of “gentle parenting” violates the truth in this verse and invites tragedy. It has long been recognized that our physical fathers have a great deal to do with our concept of God, since He is our heavenly Father. God never picks on us, but neither does He spoil us. He delights to do good things for us, but He knows what we need and what isn’t good for us. Parents need divine wisdom in raising their children, and no human parent ever gets it perfectly, but as James said, when we realize we lack wisdom, we need to ask God, and He will provide it. (James 1:5) Hebrews 12 famously applies parenting to our relationship with God, and that’s entirely appropriate. When we are appropriately strong with our children, they will later be grateful, even if they aren’t at the time. When we indulge them unreasonably, later everyone will regret it.

I don’t remember many incidents of direct punishment when I was growing up, but I certainly had boundaries. My parents encouraged me to exercise my gifts and my interests, but they very appropriately told me no, on many occasions. I tried to be that way with my own children, and their lives since haven’t been perfect, but neither have they been disastrous. I am currently in the position of spiritual father to numbers of people, and the relationships there can get really complicated. I don’t have the automatic authority that comes with physical parenting, but I do have spiritual authority, and I must constantly seek God’s wisdom and guidance in exercising it. Likewise, I need to recognize God’s absolute authority in my own life, because if I’m not genuinely submitted to Him, His authority won’t operate through me as it should. I can’t be a good parent if I’m not relating rightly to my heavenly Father.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ve made some real blunders, particularly in spiritual parenting, over the years. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You for continuing to discipline and grow me, as You know I need it. May I be a son who gives You joy, transmitting Your grace and love accurately to all, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Wisdom; February 6, 2026

Posted on February 7, 2026 by jgarrott

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

It feels strange to write on this when I preached on it last Sunday, but it is a vitally important verse. For that matter, this is an echo of what I wrote yesterday, because God’s wisdom is the absolute definition of wisdom. We admire various people as wise, but genuine human wisdom is never more than an echo, a reflection of God’s wisdom. The sad thing is, much of what the world sees as wisdom isn’t wisdom at all, and in fact, flies in the face of God’s wisdom. The thing is, genuine wisdom requires humility. It is significant that Numbers records that “Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3) That’s a parenthetical comment in the middle of the narrative in Numbers, but it is quite important. God handed Moses an unimaginably huge job when He told him to confront Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses absolutely had to recognize that he wasn’t up to the job, and he said as much at the burning bush. However, God wasn’t sending him out on his own, He was going with him, guiding and strengthening him each step of the way. It is when we think we can do the job ourselves that we fall flat! In fact, Moses’ biggest blunder was when, the second time he needed to get water from a rock, he struck it as he had the first time, instead of speaking to it as God had told him to do. In other words, he thought, “I’ve got this,” having done it once before, and that kept him from being able to enter Canaan personally. We can’t let ourselves get proud of being humble! God’s wisdom, and His alone, is sufficient for every situation we encounter.

This is extremely timely, because things just blew up with my brother’s situation in the US. After friends requested a wellness check, police and a social worker found that he had significant memory issues, and his wife was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility. He needs a legal guardian, but his older sister is in an assisted care facility herself, and his younger sister has circumstances that preclude her taking the job either. That leaves me, and I’m in Japan! And to top that off, my passport is currently sent off for renewal, and I can’t leave the country without it. I just talked with a lawyer who is close to the younger of my sisters, and she pointed out that not only does he need a guardian, in the immediate future he needs someone to go to his house with him and search for assorted paperwork that is necessary under the current circumstances. I don’t have the wisdom to deal with all of this, but God does. I need to keep my heart fixed on Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) and trust the Holy Spirit to guide me. He has already given me some ideas, but I’ll certainly need to stay sensitive and obedient to Him. As He told Paul, His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank You for this extremely timely Word. Thank You that Your grace is indeed sufficient, not just for me but for everyone involved in this situation. I pray that we would all be humbly submitted and obedient, for Your perfect plans to be worked out for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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True Wisdom; February 5, 2026

Posted on February 6, 2026 by jgarrott

Proverbs 3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
    fear the Lord and shun evil.
This will bring health to your body
    and nourishment to your bones.

Even this chapter alone would earn Proverbs a rightful place in Wisdom Literature! I quote verse 5-6 most often, as do many people, but these verses also are extremely practical and powerful. The whole point is that true wisdom is found only in God, and the minute we think it’s our personal possession, we’re in trouble. It’s not that we can’t have wisdom, because God does give it to us, (James 1:5) but that it’s not something we can conjure up, or generate on our own. Genuine wisdom is always humble. That, frankly, is the thing that concerns me most about Donald Trump. He has been used by God to do some very necessary things in America, but his braggadocio bothers me a lot. I have seen reports of his kind, humble interactions on a personal level, but his public persona gives me pause. He needs a lot of prayer! That said, the same may be said for the vast majority of those in public leadership. The thing is, as soon as we go around judging such people, we are presenting ourselves as wise, opening ourselves up to our own foolishness to be exposed.

I preached on wisdom this past Sunday, and it was truth. I know that rightly relating to my Creator is the only way to receive His wisdom. Last night I was reading some excerpts from the Epstein Files, and it was both disturbing and disgusting. The world-wide connections of that man were downright amazing, but the underlying tone of it all was that all those people thought they were too smart to have to abide by the rules that govern everyone else. That is precisely the sin of Satan, who wanted God’s glory for himself. I know a thing or two about that, having wallowed in conceit far more than I like to think about. I am to be grateful for the mind God has given me, but never think that generates wisdom on its own. Any genuine wisdom I might express will and does come from my gracious Lord, and I must never forget it. Today I will be seeing numbers of people I haven’t seen in a long time. I am to be grateful, and available to God for whatever He might want to say through me to them, and at the same time be open to whatever He might want to say to me through them. All wisdom, all truth, ultimately comes from Him, and I am to rest in that assurance.

Father, thank You for this reminder. All sorts of things press in on me, and I need to release them all to You. I am not to be lazy, or even passive, but know that I can do nothing right on my own, but You will enable me to do everything You call on me to do. (Philippians 4:13) I ask for Your guidance and anointing as we go to the Nagasaki 26 Martyrs Commemoration today, that it may be a blessing and encouragement to all participants and a witness to all who observe it, so that more and more would emulate the commitment of those 26 martyrs, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Mortality; February 4, 2026

Posted on February 5, 2026 by jgarrott

Psalm 144:3-4 Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,
    mere mortals that you think of them?
They are like a breath;
    their days are like a fleeting shadow.

This thought is expressed in various places throughout the Bible, and it is used in Latin as memento mori, which means, remember you are mortal. Our human flesh is mortal, which is why the promise of resurrection in Christ is so earth-shaking. Some people twist the idea of mortality into hedonism, saying YOLO, you only live once, and doing whatever their flesh desires. That is actually very sad, and it makes sense only if this life is all we have. However, the Bible makes it very clear that’s not the case. John 3:16 is famous for good reason! Our lives on this planet are to be enjoyed, by God’s grace, but we must remember that they are a training ground, a preparation for eternity. Knowing our Creator and learning to walk in fellowship with Him is the highest purpose and goal of every human life, but the devil does all he can to hide that truth from us. He is destined for eternity in hell, and he wants to take as many people as possible with him, precisely because he knows that we are precious to God and he wants to deprive God of us. The best way to resist the devil is to choose to submit to God and listen to Him obediently, just as James said. (James 4:7) When we do that, our brief lives on this planet take on glorious meaning, and death is an insignificant bump in the road.

Two things drive this home to me at the moment. The first is the birth of our great-granddaughter last month, and the second is the one-year memorial service that will be held later this month for a close friend of the family. One is just beginning the adventure of life, and the other closed out a long and fruitful life a year ago, and is being lovingly remembered. (He had a small, private funeral, but he had blessed a great many people, and they wanted to express their love and have closure.) I have had many excellent examples in my life, people to be emulated, starting with my own parents. I would be happy if people remember me that way, but far more important is the opinion of the God I serve, with whom I will spend eternity. I want Him to be glad of my presence, as I am glad of His even now. I also want to take as many people as possible with me, to enjoy God’s grace and glory together. That’s the mirror of the devil’s attitude, and I don’t like yielding anything or anyone to him!

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I live today and each day in this awareness, so that I will be continuously available to You, for You to do whatever You like through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Being Led by God; February 3, 2026

Posted on February 4, 2026 by jgarrott

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

One of David’s best points was that he was constantly asking God to teach and guide him. We are prone to shift into a humanistic “autopilot mode,” doing things as usual, doing whatever seems right to us, just as it says at the end of the book of Judges. (Judges 21:25) The results of that are “suboptimal,” to say the least! None of us grasps the full picture, even of our own life, not to mention the world around us. We need constant guidance and encouragement, or we will wander off into a dead end. Even knowing that, David famously blew it in a big way, but his repentance was real. David and Peter should be good encouragements to us, because they were both deeply flawed, yet God used them magnificently. We need to be aware of our weaknesses, but not dragged down by them. We need to keep believing that God can and does use flawed vessels, and seek His face always. God never rejects us for how we are, but He also never leaves us as we are; He keeps growing us. Like David, we need to ask Him to teach and lead us, and trust that He is doing exactly that.

It is often interesting to me how exactly the passage for the day will match my circumstances. I draw up the Scripture reading list each month, and I have no idea what the month will hold, but God does, and He uses me. Starting to read this Psalm this morning, I was almost shocked at how exactly it expressed what I was feeling. Frankly, I get tired of continuing to deal with people, when every one of them has different expectations and demands of me. At the same time, I know that we are created for community, and isolation is one of the worst things that can happen. I need to find my identity and my peace in my Lord, knowing that I am a child of God, and that He loves the people around me just as much as He loves me, and the degree of that love is beyond words to express it. I recognize that God still has plans for me, and flowing with those plans by His Spirit is far and away the best course for me, objectively and subjectively. In Sunday’s message I spoke strongly about how I have no native wisdom, but God supplies wisdom for those who ask Him. (James 1:5) I need to remember what God has said through me! Like Paul, I’m not to place weight on how others judge me, but leave my judgment up to God. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4) My focus is to be on being faithful to my Lord. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I really needed it. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that all of Your plans for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Morning Devotions; February 2, 2026

Posted on February 3, 2026 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I have put my hope in your word.

There are many Bible passages, particularly in the Psalms, that speak of seeking God early in the morning. It’s a simple fact of human physiology that most people focus better in the morning. I honestly think that’s one reason the devil presents so many distractions and entertainments late at night, to keep us from being able to get up early to seek God. There are still many uncertainties about our need for sleep, and some people indeed seem to get by fine on just four hours or so, but they are few and far between. The vast majority of us need 7-8 hours, but many who need it don’t get it, to the detriment of their physical and emotional health. Of equal or greater importance is that when we’re short on sleep, getting up to have time to read the Bible and pray before getting about the tasks of the day becomes an impossible task. It boils down to priorities, and the devil is all too skillful at masking those. Late-night TV programs used to be the biggest culprit, but lately, computers and cell phones have taken over, and society in general seems to think that going to bed before 11 is shockingly early. For anyone who seeks to be healthy spiritually, this is something that must be stood against. As God told Isaiah, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6) He is always available, but we are best able to recognize Him first thing in the morning.

As I have written many times, I knew from my parents’ example that morning devotions were desirable, but I was a married father in my 20s before I actually started developing such a habit. Thankfully, that habit has become more and more firmly ingrained, but I am still subject to distractions. These days I watch no TV, but I spend too much time on the computer, and Microsoft, Google, etc. do their best to be as distracting and addictive as possible. I do this writing on a computer, and just a few seconds ago my cursor drifted to an area of the screen that popped something up that was wholesome and amusing, but not at all what I’m writing on right now! Some people think that a 77-year-old pastor would have everything under control, but I’m as much or more of a target of the enemy as anyone else. I too need to make the clear choice to prioritize the Lord in my time. After all, I’ve committed my life to Him, and our lives are measured in time. I need to keep Him in focus and be faithfully obedient to everything He shows and tells me, so that He may be pleased with me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that at least I feel great frustration when I can’t have this time with You, first thing in the morning. Help me walk in harmony and fellowship with You throughout the day, each day, so that I may be instantly available to You at all times, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Reading the Bible; February 1, 2026

Posted on February 2, 2026 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.

Where English translations generally say “unfolding,” the Japanese here says, “the door opens.” Either way, it’s an image of discovery. However, I like the Japanese, because in my experience, the more I get into the Word, the more doors present themselves, and each one opens to treasures. God’s Word is indeed a treasure house! Reading the Bible casually isn’t necessarily a waste, but it certainly has that potential. We need to have the expectation of doors opening, of understanding flooding in where things seemed murky before. The image of light here is important. This kind of light is applicable even to the physically blind! When things are dark, we tend to run into obstacles and even hurt ourselves, but God’s truth illuminates things and we understand where and how we are to go. That’s the same image as one of the most famous verses in this longest Psalm, 105: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light on my path.” Any time we read or hear the Bible, we need to consider how it applies to our situation, our circumstances. Only then will we receive the light that God has provided for us, and walk in His blessings.

As I have written many times, I have a very high level of familiarity with the Bible, but that doesn’t keep me from having fresh discoveries at a fairly high rate. That’s why I read it every morning! God can and does use even very familiar passages to speak to me in specific situations. His light is essential to me, and I must never forget it. The more of His Word I have in me, the easier it is for the Holy Spirit to bring it to mind at just the right moment. I’ve experienced that more times than I could count! I am to share the Word with those around me, but always in humility and love. I am not to look down on anyone because they aren’t as familiar with the Bible as I am. As has been said, sharing God’s truth is like one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. I am gifted and called as a teacher, and I must exercise that with all gratitude and faithfulness.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for opening Your Word to me morning by morning. May I indeed take Your Word in and make it part of me, applying it fully under the guidance of Your Spirit, so that it may be fulfilled in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Hearing God; January 31, 2026

Posted on February 1, 2026 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:125 I am your servant; give me discernment
    that I may understand your statutes.

Human beings being what they are, we need God’s help before we can even know what He’s saying to us. You can pour your heart out to your pet, and at the most, they will understand that you’re upset. Some pets are amazingly empathetic, but that doesn’t mean that they actually understand what you’re saying. Some dogs can acquire a vocabulary (heard, not spoken) of a few hundred words, but that is exceptional. The difference between us and God is far greater than that! Once again the Japanese here uses satori, enlightenment. In Buddhism, that’s seen as the end point, the goal, but in Biblical faith, it’s the start line! One very important point in this verse is that it starts with a commitment to obedience. We are God’s children, but we are also His servants, and the moment we forget that, we open ourselves up to all sorts of temptations. We need to have the commitment that however we feel, we’re going to obey God. We’re back to Jesus’ parable of the two men, one building his house on bedrock and the other building his house on sand, told in Matthew 7 and Luke 6. It’s just as James said: failing to follow through with what we hear from God is just deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22) When you think about it, it’s actually amazing that the infinite Creator of the universe would enable His creatures to hear and understand Him at all, but that’s just how God is. He is infinitely gracious and loving, but He does require response, commitment, from us. If we indeed commit ourselves to serve Him in all humility and gratitude, then He will enlighten our hearts to hear and understand Him more and more, and the end result will be glorious indeed.

This is something the Lord has been repeating to me ever since we got on this theme of Training Disciples. I indeed want to be Jesus’ disciple, so I’ve got to be committed to total obedience. It has come out repeatedly that I sometimes come across as angry, and that can, and does, hurt people deeply, driving them away from me and from this church. As my wife pointed out to me this morning, my increasing hearing issues contribute to that, when I fail to understand what’s being said to me. God’s not the only one I need to listen to accurately! I purchased some hearing aids, but have had some real issues getting used to them. I’ve got to try them again, not giving up but working with them so that I will be able to fit into society as an accurate representative of my loving Lord, and not just a grumpy old man.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. I ask for patience and skill in figuring out how to make the best use of those hearing aids. There are many issues, but none outweigh the need to relate to people as Your agent, without giving them a distorted picture of who You are and what You’re like. I have long said that hearing You was most important, but it’s important that I hear and respond accurately to the people around me as well. Thank You. Praise God!

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