Category Archives: Uncategorized

Called to Freedom; August 6, 2026

Posted on August 7, 2026 by jgarrott

Luke 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Now this is a genuinely blessed calling! We generally think of a calling as being commissioned to do something, … Continue reading →

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Commitment; August 5, 2026

Posted on August 6, 2026 by jgarrott

Mark 8:34-35 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but … Continue reading →

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Titles; August 4, 2026

Posted on August 5, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 23:12 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” This whole passage is in contradiction to our fallen human nature. On top of that, it is in violation of cultural norms … Continue reading →

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Ambition; August 3, 2026

Posted on August 4, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 20:26-27 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” Ambition is a strange thing. With none of it, we seldom progress, and … Continue reading →

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Children; August 2, 2026

Posted on August 4, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 18:3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” It’s interesting, and a little awkward, that I quoted this verse just two days ago, not realizing … Continue reading →

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God’s Calling; August 1, 2026

Posted on August 2, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 15:32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse … Continue reading →

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Being Childlike; July 31, 2026

Posted on August 1, 2026 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” This is a very famous verse, but there’s a difference in nuance between the English and the Japanese that … Continue reading →

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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.” … Continue reading →

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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 … Continue reading →

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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 … Continue reading →

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