Authority; July 30, 2026

Posted on July 31, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 8:9 “For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Jesus indeed had every reason to be impressed with this man’s faith, because he clearly understood the whole concept of a chain of command, and he believed that Jesus had the authority to command whatever He pleased. There are those who abuse such authority, but we need to understand the concept. There are many people who think they don’t want to be under any authority, but they fail to recognize what a terrible thing genuine anarchy is, and they also fail to recognize what Paul pointed out to the Romans: “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?” (Romans 6:15-16) The fact of the matter is that we will serve something, whether it be good or evil. It is only when we recognize and submit to our Creator that we are truly free. The centurion in today’s verse had sworn allegiance to Rome. He operated in that framework, and understood it. That’s why it was so significant that he grasped that Jesus had authority over the physical universe itself. We often fail to understand that, in practical terms rather than just theoretically. That makes our obedience hesitant, or even conditional: “If God does this for me, then I’ll obey him.” What nonsense! We don’t get to dictate to God, but He very graciously tells us to ask. (Matthew 7:7-8) The better we understand the absolute authority of God, the more incredible we understand that privilege of asking to be. The authority of God isn’t to oppress us, it just is, because He’s our Creator, and it just so happens that He loves us enough to die for us.

This is something I have known in theory for as long as I can remember, but my practical application of it continues to grow. I have experienced some miraculous things in my life, and I have seen miracles happen in the lives of others. I am grateful for such things as the laws of physics, that make the physical universe possible, and I am also grateful for the laws of morality, which are equally immutable. I have seen God in His grace seem to bypass laws in both those categories, and I know that He alone has the authority to do so. I know that it is only as I choose to recognize and submit to His authority that His authority will be exercised through me. I am personally hesitant to exercise authority, but I need to be submitted enough to Him that His authority will operate through me. This isn’t a matter of indulging in whims, but of making myself available so that His name may be acknowledged as holy and His rule and reign be established as His will is done, on this earth with the perfection that it is in heaven.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. I’m not sure where You’re taking me with this, but I offer myself to You for whatever You want to do through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Fishing; July 29, 2026

Posted on July 30, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 4:19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

This is understandably one of the most famous “callings” in the Bible, but it just struck me that all four of these men were net fishermen; they didn’t catch one at a time, they caught dozens, at least. We tend to think of evangelism in terms of one-on-one encounters. Those are certainly valid, and Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch is a Biblical example of that. (Acts 8:26-40) However, large gatherings are also valid, and everything in between. Billy Graham was certainly a master “fisherman,” as were Reinhard Bonnke and many others, but the point isn’t so much the method as the catch. I’ve seen videos of commercial fishermen with poles, lines, and hooks, but no bait on the hooks, sailing their boats into a mass of fish, dipping their hooks, and pulling out large fish one after another. I think they scatter food, called chum, to get the fish to gather, but the point is that there’s not just one way to fish. We need to be actively looking for the opportunities God gives us to “fish,” and bring in the “catch” that He desires.

I have never thought I was gifted as an evangelist, but I will confess that it really feels good to “reel one in!” I have used gifting as an excuse to stay in my comfort zone, but excuses don’t cut it with God! The perfect “fishing technique” for Japan hasn’t been found yet, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’m to quit trying. My most recent experience was one who was literally begging to be “caught!” The “chum” I’m to use is simply the love and grace of God. There are countless people who are hungry for it, but they don’t accurately identify their hunger, and try to satisfy it with other things. I’m to put it out there unconditionally. When the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to it, they will jump into the boat! There are people I’ve shared the Gospel with in various ways over the years who have never recognized their own need of salvation and the possibility of it. They think of religions as walled gardens, and they think they’re stuck in the Buddhist or Shinto one, and can’t accept that the Christian one is open to all who will repent and believe. I could go on and on about hinderances to the Gospel in Japan, but none of them are too difficult for God. I’m not to focus on the difficulties, but rather on my omnipotent Lord, who loves all these people so much He died for them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I be effective as Your agent however You want to use me, evangelizing, teaching, nurturing, discipling all You bring to me, so that Your house may be full, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Prompt Obedience; July 28, 2026

Posted on July 29, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt.

Something that comes up again and again in the Biblical narrative is the matter of prompt obedience. We have a few examples of the opposite, such as Jonah, but the people God was pleased with didn’t delay in their response to Him. Joseph is a prime example, because when God told him to go ahead and marry Mary, it seems he did the legal paperwork immediately, (Matthew 1:24) and here, he doesn’t wait until morning to get out of Bethlehem with Jesus and Mary. Since God created time, He understands timing better than we do. Like the angel said to Daniel, sometimes what He shows us is for the future, (Daniel 10:14) so we need to be sensitive and not run off without getting full instructions. A friend once felt God was telling him to go to Africa as a missionary, and he dropped everything and went, generating a mountain of problems for a lot of people and ultimately having to return to the US in fairly short order, having accomplished little if anything. His attitude of obedience was commendable, but he lacked wisdom and understanding. Even so, we aren’t to let “prudence” get in the way of our obedience. We need to be fully committed to obedience, but also ask God for wisdom in how to obey. (James 1:5) Heart attitude should be our first priority, and that includes the humility to know that we don’t have all the answers.

This brings to mind one particular event in my life. The first Sunday in January, 1974, my wife and I were in church in Denver, listening to a message by a missionary who had left Vietnam because of the war, and one of us turned to the other and said, “Do you want to sell the trailer and move to Japan?” To this day, neither of us remembers which one spoke to the other, because the Holy Spirit was speaking to us simultaneously. We immediately contacted my parents, who had been offering to pay for a visit, since we had their only grandchildren, and asked whether, instead of round-trip tickets, they could pay for one-way and baggage. Naturally, they were very upset at that idea! (NOT!!!) From there, things moved with amazing speed, and we arrived in Fukuoka on March 1st, with no loose ends left behind. Had we delayed, my time with my father would have been cut short, since the Lord took him home in May. Obedience carries blessings! I haven’t always been so prompt in my obedience, certainly, and I haven’t always been so sure it was God I was following. My wife and I got  engaged 11 days after our first date, in February, and we were married in May of that same year – 57 years ago. At the time, I can’t say that I was consciously being obedient to God, but I certainly knew what I wanted to do! God has been more than mercifully gracious to me over the years, and I desire to be promptly obedient to Him for as long as He keeps me here – and for eternity after that!

Father, thank You for this reminder. My father also confessed to struggling with procrastination. Help me recognize what You have for me to do at all times, whether it seems trivial or huge, and do it with all the ability You give me, on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Salvation; July 27, 2026

Posted on July 28, 2026 by jgarrott

Joel 2:32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.

This verse is famously quoted by Peter in Acts 2:21 and Paul in Romans 10:13, but the idea of calling on the Lord for salvation is scattered elsewhere in the Old Testament as well. God calls to us, but He responds to our calling out to Him as well. That’s a good thing, because He’s the only Savior! People trust in all sorts of things to save them, but they generally have a distorted view of what salvation is in the first place. We usually think in material terms, but we aren’t just material beings. Some of the greatest tragedies happen when people treat other human beings as simply material objects, generally for their own pleasure or convenience, but they will be held accountable for such things in the end. We aren’t animals who have spirits, we are spiritual beings who inhabit bodies, and we need to understand salvation in that context. Frankly, most of us have a lot of trouble doing that. Our bodies delight or our bodies hurt, and that commands our full attention. Our bodies are strictly temporary, but we are still responsible for their maintenance, and some people fall down badly there, too. We need to remember that everything material, including our bodies, is simply on loan to us for the duration of our time on earth. God is the Quartermaster who hands it all out, and we are accountable to Him. However, our focus is to be on the spiritual, the eternal, because that is what real salvation consists of.

I’ve written recently of a man who is currently in the hospital with liver failure who is a beautiful illustration of this verse. His wife and daughter were saying yesterday that his mind isn’t always “present,” so to speak, but he knows he became a Christian week before last, and he rejoices in that. As I said again yesterday, we know that his healing is already provided, but we don’t know if it will be manifested in his current body, or when he is before the Throne in heaven. However, we do know that he is saved, for all eternity! He called on the Lord, and the Lord answered. That is what I try to facilitate, but not many recognize the necessity or take advantage of the opportunity. I can’t force anyone to do it, but I can make it available, and it is my joy and privilege to do so.

Father, thank You for Your salvation, that You make so freely available. Thank You for the rock-solid assurance I have of it, and for the privilege of offering it to others. May more and more repent and believe, receiving their salvation and in turn, offering it to others, for a mighty harvest in this land, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Human Nature; July 26, 2026

Posted on July 27, 2026 by jgarrott

Hosea 11:2 But the more they were called,
    the more they went away from me.
They sacrificed to the Baals
    and they burned incense to images.

My first response to this is, that’s human nature for you. This seems very much like the behavior of a 2-year-old child, with tragic consequences. We had a friend with a grandson around that age, and he loved trains. He got out of the house one day and made it to the railroad tracks, but was spotted by someone, the closest station was notified, and the train was stopped until he could be corralled. He was punished, but obviously not enough, because he did it again, this time was not spotted, and the undercarriage of the train hit his head, and after a week’s coma, he died. That to me is very much what is described here. God is the perfect parent, but we are far from perfect children. Our behavior gets us into countless messes that God doesn’t desire or intend. The devil dangles all sorts of worthless things in front of us, distracting us all too effectively from devotion and obedience to the One who created and loves us. He even uses things God created for our good and twists them into goals in themselves, replacing God in our attention and devotion. Genesis is very clear that everything God created was and is good, but when it is twisted, it can actively serve evil. Referring specifically to this verse, God gave us creativity and skill, but when those good gifts are used to create carved idols, great evil is generated. The same may be said for countless other things, including sex and ambition and on and on. We need to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to show us how we have distorted the things God has given us, and then repent and follow Him in the right application of everything He has provided. That is the path of true blessing.

I have as much experience as just about anyone in this area, I think. God has blessed me incredibly, but my application of those blessings and my attitude toward them have been all over the place. He is still teaching me to listen to Him, but my spiritual hearing certainly has room for improvement. He told me years ago to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, but I still get tied in knots over all sorts of things. At this point, I have considerable appreciation for the saying “There’s no fool like an old fool.” I need to listen to and apply everything He says to me, so that I may fulfill every purpose He has for me, for my blessing, the blessing of those around me, and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for that dream this morning that pointed out I still need Your internal “house cleaning.” May I not resist what You are doing in me, but stand firmly against every impulse of the devil, so that I may be useful to You indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faithfulness; July 25, 2026

Posted on July 26, 2026 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 35:19 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Rekab will never fail to have a descendant to serve me.’”

The Bible records many object lessons of disobedience, but this is one of faithfulness. It shows the value of good traditions. There are many who discount traditions of all sorts, particularly those that seem limiting in any way, but tea-totalling isn’t a bad tradition! At a time when many bloodlines were about to be cut off by war and starvation, the promise that the Rechabites would always have descendants was actually a pretty big deal. We get nervous about how God sees all our sins, and rightly so, but we should also take comfort in how He also sees every act of faithfulness. This isn’t at all to say that we aren’t all in vital need of God’s grace and mercy, but it is to say that good deeds don’t go unrewarded. Society is so warped that there is an ironic saying that no good deed goes unpunished, but that’s not the case with God. Society does indeed sometimes punish faithfulness to God and His precepts, but God will reward such faithfulness, and that’s far greater and longer-lasting than anything society can do. Just recently I noted the denomination that has dis-accredited two seminaries for refusing to abandon Biblical principles on sex and marriage, but God is going to bless those schools, and particularly the people responsible for their principled stand. Society will always try to pull us away from God, but everything that keeps us close to Him, even tradition, comes with an eternal reward.

I am incredibly blessed to come from a family with a strong tradition of service to God, with a father, two grandfathers, and even a great-grandfather who were ministers and/or seminary professors. Some people would say I “didn’t have a chance,” but I am the only one of my siblings in full-time ministry. Some people have made much of my having been in Omura for 45 years, and at times I have faced the accusation of simply lacking the initiative to try anything else. However, as I have told numbers of people, I intend to be here until God Himself gives me different orders, and I personally expect that to be when He graduates me to heaven. I am to welcome new things, but never to the destruction of what He has done in me. Like Paul, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12) I want to be fully faithful to my Lord, hearing and obeying Him in things big and small, so that He may be pleased with me. He certainly deserves no less.

Father, thank You for Your incredible faithfulness to me. Help me be faithful to you indeed, as an example to all who see me, drawing them to You for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Obeying God; July 24, 2026

Posted on July 25, 2026 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 1:7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.”

The calling of Jeremiah was a major event in the history of the Jewish people, but only God knew that at the time. As God famously said in verse 3, He had planned Jeremiah’s ministry before he was even conceived. Like so many people, Jeremiah tried to object to his commission. At this point he was a youth, but people don’t stay young! No objection we can make stands before the purposes of God. It is in a way comforting to us today to realize that even people like Moses and Jeremiah tried to get out of the assignments God had for them. We’re as human as they were! Like them, we need to learn to take our eyes off of ourselves and fix them on Him, knowing that He will enable us to do anything He tells us to do. Frankly, we don’t know the outcome of our obedience. In the short term, it might seem delightful or it might seem horrific, but if we are indeed obedient, the ultimate result will be glory beyond our ability to imagine it. (2 Corinthians 4:17) God’s power is far greater than any weakness we might have. Our weaknesses should only serve to teach us to depend on Him!

I first told my parents that I wanted to be a missionary when I was 10, but I promptly forgot that, and planned to be an archaeologist. My parents didn’t forget, and so were not surprised when I chose to move my young family to Japan in 1974. The road did not go as any of us expected it to, but after two years in Japan at that point and then going to seminary in the US, and assorted things that felt like roadblocks and detours, we arrived here in Omura in 1981, and have essentially been here ever since. Many things have happened in these 45 years, some of which we rejoiced in and some of which we endured. Every one of them shaped us, often in ways we did not realize at the time. Right now, when we are officially in what the Japanese government classifies as “the latter part of old age,” God is doing beautiful things through us at a remarkable rate, and I’m deeply grateful. Yesterday I was reminded that I had completely forgotten a major responsibility I have, but that was just another reminder of my total dependence on God. I can’t even remember things without His help! This evening we will be having an evangelistic concert here, and I’ll be going to the airport in a couple of hours to pick up the couple who will be performing. I have no idea how many people will show up for the concert, and I certainly can’t force anyone to come, so I’ve got to leave it in His hands. I have hopes of what He might do in the concert, but again, I can’t make it happen. I’ve just got to be obedient and flow with His Spirit. God’s plans are perfect, and He might even use me in the process!

Father, thank You for Your grace, Your power, Your plans. I am certainly not a Jeremiah, but I want to fulfill every part You intend for me, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and authority be established as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Responding to God; July 23, 2026

Posted on July 24, 2026 by jgarrott

Isaiah 65:12 “I will destine you for the sword,
    and all of you will fall in the slaughter;
for I called but you did not answer,
    I spoke but you did not listen.
You did evil in my sight
    and chose what displeases me.”

Here we have an expression of the consequences of failing to respond properly when God calls. There are indeed some people who actively rebel against God, but far more simply ignore Him, choosing their own way and failing to listen and consider what God is saying to them. God doesn’t pick on such people, but He may abandon them to what they have chosen. The consequences are indeed tragic, as God expresses here. God desires to do good to every human being, drawing them into His loving arms to live with Him forever, but free will is real, and far too many people will choose not to respond to God’s invitation. That bothered God so much that He sent His only Son to die for us, taking on Himself the penalty for our rebellion, our indifference, but His salvation still depends on our repentance and faith. We have the way opened for us, but we have to choose to walk in it. Evangelism is letting people know there is a way to eternal salvation, but it carries no guarantee that people will accept it. As always, the problem is pride. One of the most tragic popular songs ever is Frank Sinatra’s My Way. It is a perennial favorite, but it puts words to the attitude that God says guarantees our destruction. How sad is that?

As I am often reminded, pride has been an issue for me all my life, just as it is, really, for every human being. Most people aren’t as stupidly conceited as I was, but they still fail to acknowledge their Creator and choose to listen to Him. I am currently on the side of those seeking to share the Gospel, and it is a continuing sorrow that so few actually accept it. I am currently thinking of two men with the same last name, one of whom has been a neighbor for nearly 30 years, and one whom I just met. They both are in their 80s, and have serious medical issues. My neighbor was just taken to the hospital by ambulance, unconscious, and I have no idea of his condition. His wife seemed very glad that I was standing there when the EMTs carried him out of the house and put him in the ambulance, but though they have been very kind and friendly over the years, neither of them has come to services or otherwise indicated that they welcomed the Savior I sought to introduce to them. The other man, in contrast, wept in joy when I entered his hospital room, quickly expressed his desire to be a Christian, and when I laid out the Gospel to him, proclaimed, “I believe!” I baptized him on the spot, and in the few days since, his doctor says his condition is improving, though he had been “on the brink,” as the saying goes. Whether he gets out of the hospital or not, I know what his eternal destiny is! I was instrumental in his commitment, but he came to it through the witness of his daughter, so I just harvested the fruit of her labors. I cannot control how people will respond to the Gospel, but I can continue to share it by every means the Lord opens up to me, so that as many as will may receive His free gift of salvation.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being a harvest worker. May I be faithful in scattering the seed and watering, knowing that only You can bring the harvest, so that many may make the right choice for eternity. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Church; July 22, 2026

Posted on July 23, 2026 by jgarrott

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet,
till her vindication shines out like the dawn,
    her salvation like a blazing torch.

It is debatable whether this is the Lord speaking through Isaiah, or Isaiah speaking for himself. For a prophet of Isaiah’s stature, that becomes something of a moot point! What communicates is passion for the city of God, which Revelation makes clear is the Church. How passionate are we for the Church?  Individual churches come and go, and there is danger in focusing on physical buildings, however beautiful and/or useful they might be. Even so, local congregations are precious in God’s sight, and are parts of the over-all Body of Christ. That said, it is that total Body that we have trouble grasping. It is perhaps an unfortunate twist of language that catholic, which used to mean universal, is now applied almost exclusively to the part of the Church that answers to Rome. The study of Church history can be inspiring, but it can also be heartbreaking, as human organizations took over what God created as a living organism. Human beings are prone to all sorts of problems, including jealousy and a thirst for power, as well as spiritual blindness. Jesus ran into that full force in the Pharisees. There were wonderful Pharisees, such as Nicodemus, but as a whole, they saw Him as a threat to their power and authority, and they crucified Him. Frankly, that is happening in some church organizations today. One such organization just dis-accredited two seminaries, because those seminaries insisted on a Biblical standard of marriage and sexuality! There is much to be done to protect and defend the Church, but we must remember that our enemy is the devil, and not actually the people who are deceived by him. It is, frankly, beyond our ability to keep it all straight, but God can do it in and through us, if we will be submitted and obedient to Him.

Church History was my most painful subject in seminary, because of all the things that have been done in the name of Christ that were absolutely counter to His character and Spirit. It was a denominational seminary, and I have pastored denominational churches, but I felt, and continue to feel, that this church is not to carry the name of any denomination. In the 43 years we have been operating as a local church, multiple groups have invited us to join their organizations, but I have always declined. I get along well with those organizations, but I am firmly anchored in the position that anyone who acknowledges Jesus as the only divine Savior, who became a human being so that He could die for our sins and rise in triumph over death, is my brother of sister. There are people in this church now from denominational backgrounds, and they aren’t always comfortable with how we do things. I seek to learn from them, but my passion is for the Church as a whole, and not for any sub-group of it.

Father, thank You for Your grace that covers all our sins, including the pride that makes us think we’re always right! Help me walk in full humility, listening accurately and obediently to You. Thank You for the beautiful things You’ve been doing here recently. May I continue to be available for whatever You want to do through me, to build up the Body of Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Commission; July 21, 2026

Posted on July 22, 2026 by jgarrott

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners.

This is such a long, compounded description of the commission of the Messiah that the English and the Japanese divide sentences in different places in the first three verses of this chapter. Each decision can be justified, but it becomes awkward when working with both languages at once. Jesus Himself divided it in what is the middle of a sentence in both English and Japanese, when He famously quoted this at the beginning of His public ministry. (Luke 4:18-19) All such considerations aside, this is indeed the commission of the Messiah, and by extension, of all those who serve as His agents, His representatives, in the world today. We need to ask ourselves how well we are doing all these things. It goes without saying that none of us are doing it perfectly. However, this should give clarity and focus to our lives, knowing that whatever our occupation, as the world sees it, we are to be doing these things by the power of God’s Spirit. Many people draw back from that, feeling themselves unworthy and inadequate. Actually, they are right; we are unworthy and inadequate, but that’s the whole point: it’s not us doing it, it’s God’s Spirit doing it in and through us. As came out in the message this past Sunday, we sometimes feel our weaknesses and failures are more powerful than God, but that’s an impossibility. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-30) In other words, it’s not about us, it’s about Him, and He is manifestly able to do anything at all.

There can be a delicate line here, and I’ve come down on the wrong side of it more times than I like to think about. I have been presumptive, sure that God could use me – which He could have, but had He done so, my pride would have been further inflated. I have always liked a line from a song by Don Francisco: “So if the Lord starts using you, don’t you pay it any mind. He could have used the dog next door, if He’d been so inclined.” The song is talking about Balaam, and the fact that God used a donkey to talk to him should teach us both that God can use anything, and that the quality of the vessel doesn’t dictate the quality of the contents. As Paul said, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) I’m to take care of this “clay jar” and keep it as clean as I can, but I must remember that it’s the contents that matter. Going back to Isaiah, I must remember that it’s the anointing that makes the difference, and seek to be as available and obedient to my Lord as possible, so that He may do all these things through me, for the benefit of many and for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that we were able to celebrate Communion with the family in the hospital yesterday. Thank You that You are bringing to reality the ladies’ prayer group today. Thank You for how You are growing and maturing this congregation. All of that is Your doing, and You have chosen to involve us in it. Thank You. May I be yielded and obedient to You all day every day, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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