True Religion; March 8, 2026

Posted on March 9, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 15:3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?”

Religion is a funny thing. It claims to be about connecting man to God, but it quickly devolves into man controlling man. Nowhere is that more clear than in Islam, which very name means, “submit,” or “submission.” The thing is, such a tendency is hardly limited to specific religions, but is common to all mankind. God puts out rules for our good, to keep us from hurting ourselves or each other, but we twist that around to control others. As the saying goes, “Rules for thee but not for me.” That is abundantly clear in politicians, who trumpet, “No one is above the law,” but then ignore the law themselves whenever it seems convenient. We are rightly disgusted at such behavior, but sadly, swallow it whole when the shoe is on the other foot. And of course, that is doubly true when it comes to religion, as in today’s passage. When Jesus was asked which rule was most important, He really stripped it down to brass tacks: “ Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” We quote that, and at the same time, ignore it. Life is about relationships, first of all with our Creator, and then with the people around us. If we get those right, everything else falls into place, just as Jesus said. If we mess those up, nothing else is right.

Of course, this applies to me as much as it does to anyone else. As a “religious professional,” it applies especially to me! I have always hated legalism, but that doesn’t mean I can ignore the things God has stated clearly. Likewise, I get into patterns/habits/ruts that can feel like they’re essential, but I’ve got to focus first on my Lord, and let everything else flow from there. Three weeks of traveling, from the 14th of next month, will play havoc with my devotional/blogging schedule, particularly with crossing the International Date Line both directions, so I’ve got to let God show me when to do what, and value the people around me in the process. There are all sorts of ramifications to the “rest, relax, rejoice” that He’s told me to do!

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for the practicum on what You have me preaching this morning! Thank You for the clear awareness that my faith, trust, and obedience aren’t perfect. Help me keep growing in all those areas, to be Your agent to all around me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Divinity of Jesus; March 7, 2026

Posted on March 8, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

You can’t really be a disciple unless you know whom you are following. Different groups label Jesus in different ways. Muslims and JWs deny the divinity of Jesus, and Mormons say He was the brother of Satan. Apart from such formal groups, many so-called Christians are very hazy about the divinity and the humanity of Jesus. It is ironic in the extreme that some people who have been to seminary and have “divinity degrees” aren’t really convinced of the divinity of Jesus! The 12 Apostles had lived with Jesus enough that they were very aware of His humanity, and this incident cemented their conviction of His divinity. I frequently explain to people that Jesus had to be fully human in order to take on the sins of mankind on the cross as our representative, but He had to be fully divine for His one death to be sufficient to atone for us all. On a day-to-day level, we need to be fully assured of His divinity in order to trust Him fully with all the details of our lives. We are all too prone to forget that nothing is too difficult for Him! (Jeremiah 32:27) It is only when we understand His humanity, that He genuinely knows and empathizes with what we’re going through, (Hebrews 4:15, 5:2) as well as His divinity, that nothing we can encounter compares with His wisdom and power, that we fully walk as His disciples. This is the basis on which He said that those who believe in Him would do greater things than He did in His earthly ministry. (John 14:12) Such people are His disciples indeed.

I know all of this in my mind; the issue is whether I live it out. I teach others about Jesus all the time. How well do I practice what I preach? I have long known that James 1:22 applies directly to me, because I am very familiar with the Bible, but I must be careful not to confuse knowledge with obedience. It doesn’t matter if I’m a walking concordance, if I’m not living out God’s truth. On the particular issue here, I need to be fully assured that Jesus not only knows how I feel, He isn’t dismissing it as unimportant, because He has allowed my circumstances to train and strengthen me. And of course, by His grace I will emerge on the other side as more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37) I am very aware of the persecution and martyrdom that is going on even at this moment, and I know that I am in no way superior to those brothers and sisters in Christ, and that eventually, we will all celebrate Christ’s victory together before the throne. That will be glorious indeed!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I got the tickets for our trip next month paid for yesterday. Thank You for Your plans for today. Help me flow with Your Spirit throughout today, allowing You to use me to do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Jewish Gospel; March 6, 2026

Posted on March 7, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,
    I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

Matthew was a Jew, writing primarily for a Jewish audience. We only have Greek manuscripts, (though very ancient) but modern computerized linguistic analysis indicates that he probably wrote in Aramaic, which would have been fairly exclusively for the Jews of the 1st Century. Of course, the good news of Jesus is for people of every linguistic background, so what he wrote was very quickly translated into Greek, which was the 1st Century equivalent of English today, used by people of many different nations and cultures. I have seen testimonies, through organizations like One for Israel and Jews for Jesus, in which Jewish people expressed their shock at reading Matthew, saying, “This is a Jewish book!” As a Jew, Matthew was very aware that Jesus wasn’t simply the Savior, He was the promised Messiah that Jews had been looking for ever since Moses prophesied His arrival. (Deuteronomy 8:15) Intellectually honest Jews today acknowledge that the statistical probability of one person fulfilling so many Old Testament prophecies if He weren’t the Messiah is vanishingly small. Jesus is the real deal, and Matthew wanted everyone to know it! Each of the four Gospels has its unique features, but all point to the same historical Person, and to His Father, who loved us enough to send His Son to save us from our sins.

I love all the Gospels, and indeed, the whole Bible, but I will confess to a personal fondness for John. That said, I deeply appreciate Matthew, and not just for the record of the Magi in chapter 2 and the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5 and following. The Visual Bible never made it past Matthew and Acts, that I’m aware of, but their enactment of Matthew, using only the NIV for their script, blessed me immensely. The actor who played Jesus, a committed Christian, said that he prayed earnestly for how to portray Jesus, and his guiding principle was that Jesus was delighted to be doing what the Father had sent Him to do. When He healed someone, He was as happy as the person who was healed! And the love that permeates the rendering of chapter 23, which is a vigorous takedown of the Pharisees, is astounding. Matthew never got over his amazement and gratitude that Jesus chose him, a tax collector and traitor to his people, to be one of His close disciples, designated by Jesus as an apostle. That gratitude shines through every word of what he wrote, and the world has been immeasurably blessed as a result. I need to let my own gratitude and obedience shine, so that people will be blessed by me as well.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for giving me Sunday’s message yesterday, so clearly and simply. I pray that just as Matthew shared what he heard You say, that I would be accurate in sharing what You say to me, so that people will be drawn to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Choice to Listen; March 5, 2026

Posted on March 6, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 13:16 “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.”

It is important to note that the seeing and hearing here are not a matter of innate ability, but of choice, just as Isaiah prophesied. God doesn’t exclude people, but they exclude themselves. That is an absolute tragedy, because as the Lord said through Isaiah, anyone who chooses to listen and see and so turns to God is healed. (verse 15) That healing isn’t just physical, but extends all the way to eternity. I’m reminded of the thief on the cross beside Jesus, who chose to see Jesus as the innocent Son of God, and so asked to be remembered in His kingdom. That choice brought him eternal life! Our theme is Training Disciples, and that too involves personal choice. God chooses us, but we have to choose to respond, and we have to choose to grow. The more stubborn we are, the more painful it is! It ultimately comes down to faith. We have to believe that God loves us and has the very best plan for us, and accordingly, listen carefully to everything He says to us, choosing to obey promptly and fully. It is incredible how we balk at that, but that’s how we are. Every parent has experienced times when their children would refuse to listen at all, or perhaps, appear to listen but then go off and ignore everything they were told. Conversely, there are times when those same children will be like sponges, absorbing everything their parents say to them. Those are a lot happier for everyone involved! That said, on the human scale, we are imperfect parents, and we all too often impart things we wish our children didn’t pick up! However, God is the perfect Father, so He doesn’t have that problem. Everything we get from Him is for our good.

I wish I could say that I’ve always listened attentively and obediently, but that would hardly be accurate. My own experience should give me patience with people under my care who don’t seem to listen very consistently! Being a pastor is a hard job for precisely that reason. I’ve got to keep listening and growing, because I’m far from perfect, and my job is to shepherd God’s people in the path of growth. I have to tell people about the spankings I’ve received so they can avoid them! I need to have discernment to know when God is using one of the multitude of voices that clamor at me, and which voices are just noise, or even active attacks from the devil. I’m tempted to say, “That’s beyond my pay grade,” but it’s actually one of the fundamental tasks of every human being. I need to be humble enough to know that I can’t keep it straight on my own, and trusting enough to know that God’s got it all in control, if I will relinquish that control to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’m in a little bit of a panic moment about the arrangements for our trip next month, but that’s not an issue for You. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, knowing that You are going to guide perfectly, if I will just listen. Thank You. Praise God!

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Family; March 4, 2026

Posted on March 5, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 12:49-50 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

This is an absolutely magnificent statement that Jesus claims all who are obedient to God as His family, and at the same time, it presents some real challenges to our usual ways of thinking. It is not teaching us that we are to write off our biological families. As Paul said, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8) After all, honoring our parents is in the 10 Commandments! However, connections of faith can often be stronger than connections of genetics. It is my conviction that any healthy church is going to have a very family atmosphere, as in the Gaither song, The Family of God. This passage also throws a further curve in the Catholic practice of referring to Mary as “the Mother of God.” In the first place, she was certainly the mother of Jesus’ physical body, but no created being could ever be the parent of a member of the Trinity. This extends that further, pointing out that relationships are by faith, and here, obedience. We can indeed sing with joy, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God.”

This is very timely for me, since we are making plans to visit biological family in the US, for the first time in seven years. The three drivers for that are the hospitalization of my brother, visiting the grave of my wife’s brother, and meeting our new great-granddaughter. Those things are important, but at the same time, we have our family of faith here in Omura, and actually, around the world. I’m thrilled to say that keeps growing. I have “close kin” who will be returning from Hong Kong at the end of this month, and a sister who will be getting back from Canada this week. It’s a big family! I’m particularly excited about a man I’ll be seeing this morning who seems on the verge of committing to Jesus as Lord, which will make him also my brother. God’s family keeps growing! I’m thankful for my personal heritage, that is deeply rooted in this reality. When my mother’s younger sister was baptized, she said, “Now I’m Daddy’s little sister!” She understood Kingdom dynamics from the outset. I have the privilege of being God’s agent in growing and strengthening His family, and I am to give my all to that end. That is indeed doing His will, just as Jesus said.

Father, thank You indeed for being our Father. Help me relate rightly to all my siblings, both genetic and otherwise, so that You may be pleased as Your will is done, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Training; March 3, 2026

Posted on March 4, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

Here’s an important detail about Jesus’ ministry that we might overlook. In the previous chapter it talks about how Jesus sent His disciples out, giving them authority to do what He had been doing and teaching them in some detail about the level of commitment they needed to have and how they were to deal with the reception they would or wouldn’t get. Then, we have this verse that tells us what Jesus did in the meantime. He didn’t just go to a spa! Rather, He got back to work doing what He had been doing all along, essentially the same thing He had sent His disciples to do. In delegating work to His disciples, Jesus was multiplying His own impact. The time would come when He would leave and they would continue, but this wasn’t it. A wise leader will do this, giving people responsibility but not dropping them off a cliff. Not every ministry is going to look the same. The Grahams come to mind. Billy was all about large meetings, and multitudes were indeed saved, but Franklin, though he does do some big meetings, is much better known for the work of Samaritan’s Purse, sharing the Gospel through meeting physical needs. It will be interesting to see how the ministry continues when Franklin joins his father in heaven – if the Lord hasn’t returned by then! We are to prepare our successors, but not demand or expect them to be our carbon copies.

This is a very timely Word. It’s still over a month away, but my wife and I will be away for three weeks, and the believers are somewhat uptight about it. I am to prepare them, helping them understand all the things that are done each week so that they will know what to do and what not to worry about. A number of things are question marks at this point, so this is good training in listening to the Lord. One real issue is music, because my wife generally chooses it and plays the piano. We have people who can choose music, but they aren’t as familiar with the considerable library we have available. Also, I have been creating the Power Point for projecting the music each week, and I don’t know that anyone in the church would be up to that. We have had other pianists in the past, but not at the moment, so any accompaniment will need to be guitar. This will very much be a learning experience for everyone, but I’m trusting the Lord to make it a good one. That said, I need to lay the foundation carefully, so that people will feel encouraged and not abandoned. They need to understand that I will be ministering in various ways on this trip, and not just having a vacation! In a number of ways, it would be far easier on me not to go, but I feel assured that this is indeed God’s plan, for my wife and me, for the people we will see in the US, and specifically for this church.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Thank You that I’ll be communicating our definitive itinerary to the travel agent today. I pray that they will be able to get the tickets we need at the best routing and best price, and that everyone involved will be at peace with the result, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Peace; March 2, 2026

Posted on March 3, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

This is a verse many people wish wasn’t in the Bible. It is in direct contrast to the idea of “Go along to get along.” As Paul said, we aren’t to spark conflict needlessly, (Romans 12:18) but we aren’t to compromise our faith for the sake of external harmony. Jesus did say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” (Matthew 5:9) but that is never to be in violation of God’s principles. Being quiet in the face of injustice isn’t being a peacemaker. Failing to warn someone they are headed for hell isn’t being kind to them, even if they react violently against being told that. There are many seeming contradictions in Scripture, but only if we look at them from a strictly human perspective. Our definitions of “peace” and “sword” don’t necessarily agree with God’s! Right now there are various places on earth that are in active conflicts, notably including Iran. We might be upset at various aspects of what is going on, but the question is always, what is God’s aim in this? We are not to be knee-jerk “peaceniks,” but rather “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) allowing Him to show us His plans and our part in them. Ultimately, the only peace that really counts is peace with Him.

Having been born in Japan shortly after the end of WWII, spending the first day of the first grade in bomb shelter drills because of the Korean War, and being drafted during the Vietnam War, I am all too familiar with active conflict. At the same time, my personality tries to avoid conflict. I have endured more of it than I would like, but I am well aware that it is part of life on this earth. I keep coming back to the fact that Jesus never promised us things would be easy here. However, He offers us inner peace in the middle of all the conflict. (John 16:33) I am not to pick arguments, but I am to speak the truth in love, regardless of the response. I should aim for peace, just as Paul said, but remember that peace on this earth isn’t the ultimate good. After all, Revelation is pretty violent! I am not to let my soul, my spirit, be agitated by conflict, but rather stand firm and secure in Christ Jesus my Lord. That is peace worth dying for!

Father, thank You for this Word. I run into all sorts of definitions of peace and expectations of peace. May I be a carrier of Your peace, and at the same time be uncompromising in Your truth, so that Your truth may indeed set people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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To Be Like Jesus; March 1, 2026

Posted on March 2, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:24-25 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.”

This is a powerful truth. Humanly speaking, sometimes we try to violate it, but the “above” is only in achievement, not in net worth. Jesus Himself said that those who believe in Him would do greater things than He did on this earth. (John 14:12) However, we have no claim to an easier life than He had, and He was scourged and crucified! This was the specific area Jesus was referring to here. As He said very clearly in the Upper Room Discourse, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In places like Japan and the US, we tend to expect things to be easy, and indeed, we live in what would have been unimaginable luxury not so many years ago. However, we need to recognize that is strictly by God’s grace, and not something we are due, because of how wonderful we are. Gratitude is definitely the name of the game when it comes to successful living. In terms of Jesus’ immediate audience when He said this, the only one of the 12 apostles to die a natural death was John, and he had it much rougher than his brother James, who was the first to be martyred. (Acts 12:2) In places like mainland China, a commitment to follow Christ includes an expectation of persecution. We tend to express “accepting Jesus” as all sweetness and light, but that is a disservice to those to whom we minister. If they expect “easy street,” they are likely to fall away as soon as things get difficult. This again is part of Jesus’ famous parable of the seed and the soil. (Matthew 13:3-23) Paul likewise compared it to an athlete, who commits everything in order to win the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:25 and more) In our case, however, the prize is more than worth anything we could go through in this life. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I have always liked the little chorus, To Be Like Jesus. However, I need to remember all that means. I can never be the Savior, but I can reflect His character and express His truth, whatever is going on in and around me. Jesus talked about that in the Upper Room Discourse, too. As a pastor, it is my desire to instill that desire, that expectation, in each of the believers under my care. They see my imperfections, certainly. I desire that they understand that when God can use me in spite of my imperfections, He can use them in spite of theirs, too – and maybe, far more than He uses me. I do proclaim the truth God speaks to me, but I don’t want the believers dependent on me. I want each one connected directly to the Source, hearing what He is saying to them, regularly and consistently, through the Bible and otherwise, so that together we may all rise up as a mighty army in His hands, destroying the works of the devil and setting people free, (1 John 3:8) for His glory alone.

Father, thank You for this powerful reminder. Thank You for how things are falling into place for our trip to the US. I ask for Your continued guidance in that, and particularly in the preparations that need to be made right here, for this congregation, so that our 3-week absence will be a growing time for everyone, moving us further along in Your plans, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Evangelism; February 28, 2026

Posted on March 1, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:14 “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.”

I’m not sure that I’ve ever heard this verse preached on! This too is respecting human free will. We are responsible to share the good news of God’s grace, love, and mercy, but if people won’t receive it, it’s on their heads. Frankly, that’s not a very comfortable truth. However, this teaching is what enabled Paul, and others, to spread the Gospel so quickly, as recorded in Acts. This was under the specific circumstances of an itinerant ministry, but not everyone is called to that. We do need to ask the Lord for the right techniques to share the Gospel in whatever situation He places us, but we should remember that we can’t force anyone to accept it. Doing it by force is how Islam was spread, and that’s certainly not an example to follow! The thing is, we might not be able to get through to someone, but another person who does receive the Gospel might be the perfect messenger to win over that first person we couldn’t reach effectively. We must never forget that it’s not our message, it’s God’s, and we have the privilege of sharing it. Those who receive it are blessed with eternal life, but that is between them and God. We are to rejoice indeed when it happens, but not “take scalps,” so to speak. What God asks of us is faithfulness.

Of course, as a missionary in Japan, this applies very strongly to me. I haven’t been given an itinerant ministry, but rather have been planted in one place for now going on 45 years. I have had people receive the Gospel with joy, a very few react with hostility, and the vast majority with polite indifference. There’s a reason Japan is known as a graveyard of missionaries! My parents ministered faithfully for many years, and are buried here. Though they didn’t see the numbers they desired, they did bear lasting fruit, and I am honored to follow in their footsteps. To me, the most heartbreaking thing is when someone seems to delight in Christ for a while, and then seems to fade away. However, Paul encountered that, and Jesus spoke to it directly in the parable of the seed and the soil. (Matthew 13:3-23) I need to apply myself not only to planting, but also to preparing the soil and dealing with weeds, so that the seed will have the best opportunity for fruitfulness.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I have had many people leave this church, some to go and minister elsewhere, and some, seemingly to leave the faith. I cannot evaluate them accurately, but I entrust them to You. May I present Your words as accurately as possible, in Your love, and allow Your Spirit to work them into the hearts and lives of my hearers, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Harvest Workers; February 27, 2026

Posted on February 28, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 9:37-38 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

God is supreme over all, but He uses people to accomplish His purposes. God could speak a word and instantly cause everyone to repent and believe, but that would violate human free will, and in God’s economy, that’s the most valuable thing of all. Apart from free will, we would bear no responsibility for our sins, and Jesus would not have had to come to die for us. However, we aren’t robots, we are headstrong children, and that brings all sorts of complications. Accordingly, each individual has to choose to repent, to stop ignoring and/or running away from God and trust Him with all they are and have. For that to happen, someone has to tell them the good news of God’s love, grace, and mercy, and then nurture them in the knowledge of God after they have committed themselves to Him. Those are the “harvest workers” Jesus is talking about here. No individual, not even Billy Graham, has ever been called to do the job alone; we are to work together. The scale of the task is essentially beyond our imagination, because God loves every human individual, personally and not just in the aggregate. That calls for personal contacts. Broadcast evangelism certainly has its place, but each individual, at the very least, needs someone to guide and disciple them. When we pray for harvest workers, we are really praying for God’s children to wake up to the task that is all around them, to express their love for Jesus by obediently telling others about His love and grace and mercy. We aren’t all gifted as evangelists, as in Ephesians 4:11, but we can all allow God to love people through us. Any time we pray we need to offer ourselves as instruments of that prayer being answered, so praying that God would send forth harvest workers is also volunteering to be one of those workers yourself. The work isn’t necessarily easy, but it can have enormous rewards, and the retirement plan is out of this world!

I have been delighted, and frankly, amazed, at how many people God seems to be calling from Hong Kong and Taiwan to minister in Japan. We keep hearing about, or actually meeting, more, and I rejoice. There are language and cultural barriers, but at least such missionaries don’t look so different from the Japanese! I am to shepherd and mentor such workers, not limiting them to what I have done and experienced but allowing them to avoid some of the mistakes I have made. I desire that God pour out a spirit of repentance and faith on this nation, but I have to be willing to play whatever part God has for me in that, not thinking I’m more important than I am, but allowing God to use me however He chooses. Frankly, training new workers can be a lot of work in itself, but as Paul said, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) I just need to keep praying that God’s will be done, whatever it means for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There is so much going on, on so many levels, and I certainly can’t keep it all straight. Help me be quiet enough before You to hear what You’re saying to me, and obedient enough to follow through fully. Thank You for what You did yesterday, both in the work that got done on the garden and what is happening in the heart of the man who helped me. The latter of those is far more important! Help me be faithful at each task You set for me, today and every day, so that Your will may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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