Instruction; May 20, 2023

Posted on May 21, 2023 by jgarrott

Proverbs 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

What jumped out at me from this, comparing the English and the Japanese, is that where the NIV says “instruction,” the Japanese says, “the Word.” We need and receive instruction of many sorts in many ways, but God is the only absolutely true source. Just a cursory look at the US educational system today will show you that not all instruction is good and valid. In too many cases the line between instruction and indoctrination is being crossed, often deliberately. Those who are under that regime end up sometimes in horrible shape, scarred for life in more ways than one. At one point the Bible was the foundation of the US educational system, but some people have been systematically working to root that out over the past 100 years or so, and we are seeing the consequences all around us. To go back to this verse, where the NIV says “prospers,” the Japanese says “discovers blessings.” There are all kinds of prosperity! As is mentioned frequently throughout Proverbs, there are things far more valuable than material wealth. When we fill our hearts with the Word of God (which is the sense of the Japanese expression) we discover blessings that can be had no other way. That was the state of the writer of Psalm 119, and it is blessed indeed. However, we’ve got to trust God, and not just give Him lip service. As the expression goes, it’s “when push comes to shove” that we discover how much we are really trusting God, and not just relying on ourselves, or anything else less than God.

I’m in a situation of urgently needing instruction in a computer matter, and I don’t know how to get it. However, letting it slide has produced multiplied issues of other sorts, and I really feel boxed in. This isn’t something I can find out directly from reading the Bible! Once the issue is solved, it will quickly fade into nothing, but in the meantime it is eating into our life and our relationship. Ultimately, all problems are human! I’ve got to be quiet enough before the Lord to hear His instructions as to how to get the information I need, because it is that lack of information that has me stymied. Part of me is caught up in this issue and part of me recognizes that it makes no difference on the eternal scale, but I’m still faced with the interpersonal factors that do make a real difference, so there you have it. I am totally dependent on God, but that’s an absolute truth anyway, so I need to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him.

Father, this is a hard thing to thank You for, but I choose to do so. Thank You for showing me yet again my own insufficiency so that I may open myself up to Your all-sufficiency, for the blessing of those around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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World View; May 19, 2023

Posted on May 20, 2023 by jgarrott

Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

This verse is a very close parallel to 13:14, which I wrote on just yesterday, in that they both speak of a “fountain of life” enabling avoidance of “the snares of death.” In simply logical terms, that means that the subject of each verse is equivalent. (If A=B and C=B, then A=C.) Accordingly, “the teaching of the wise” is at the very least closely related to “the fear of the Lord.” That again came up yesterday. I’m tempted to just say, ditto to yesterday, and be done with it. However, repetition also means emphasis, so this deserves more thought. The devil does all he can to deceive people into not fearing God, from simple atheism to believing there is no hell, even if people believe in heaven. After all, why fear God if there are no eternal consequences to sin? The devil knows better than anyone that hell is real, because it was created as a punishment and prison for him. The popular concept of the devil ruling over hell is a totally unbiblical misconception, fostered by the devil himself. He himself fears hell! Revelation 12:12 says the devil is currently on earth, not in hell! That’s why a Biblical world view is so important, and why it’s tragic that so few people have a genuinely Biblical world view. Any world view that isn’t founded on the existence of a Creator and our consequent accountability to Him is a fantasy, and certainly not Biblical. If we are to have the wisdom to avoid the traps of the devil we’ve got to fear God! Loving God is indeed the “first and greatest commandment,” (Matthew 22:37-38) but that love must be founded on the deep respect and honor that the Old Testament calls fear. Only then can we have a world view that makes sense of everything.

As I comment fairly frequently, I had the immense privilege of being raised by parents with a Biblical world view, who based everything on the conviction that the Creator loved us enough to send His Son to die for us and then be raised again as proof of the eternal salvation that He offers to us. That conviction also caused them to set guidelines and exercise discipline for their children. A child who has no respect/fear toward their physical father is going to have a hard time relating properly toward their Heavenly Father. I don’t remember being whipped by my father, but I always knew it was a possibility! (That’s why the devil does all he can to degrade the whole concept of fatherhood, and he’s been sadly successful.) I am the physical father to two, but I am a spiritual father to many. I am to live, act, and speak so as to give them all a respect for and fear of God that will enable them to love Him accurately, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed foster a Biblical world view in all who know me, so that they may in turn know You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Intelligence vs. Wisdom; May 18, 2023

Posted on May 19, 2023 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning a man from the snares of death.

This actually is a good guideline for judging wisdom: does it bring life? It also points up the distinction between wisdom and intelligence: there have been and are plenty of intelligent evil people. Of course the ultimate example of wisdom is Jesus. As He Himself said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) The devil is more intelligent than any merely human being, but as Jesus said in that same verse, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” That’s the scary thing about Artificial Intelligence. There’s a lot of debate right now over whether it is, or ever could be, sentient, but in a sense that is beside the point. The thing is, it can never be wise in the sense of reflecting the heart of the Creator. The best it can do is reflect the hearts of the human programmers who develop it. AI has the potential to transform society in a number of ways, both good and bad, but we must never forget that distinction between wisdom and the merely intelligent. For true wisdom we must always seek the Creator of life. The Bible says repeatedly, with minor variations, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) That is the path to life, just as it says here.

I’ve always been a techie, into science fiction and all that, so the idea of machine intelligence isn’t at all new to me, but now that it is upon us I realize that this distinction between intelligence and wisdom is of the utmost importance. As I have seen quoted recently, a line from Jurassic Park is very pertinent: “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.” On a very personal scale, I was blessed with a high IQ, but that doesn’t mean all of my pronouncements or actions have been wise. I desire that my teaching would be a fountain of life, but that will happen only to the degree that I am submitted and obedient to the One who is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) I have learned the hard way that I have no wisdom inherent in myself, but I have also learned that the Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth. (John 16:13) I desire that my words be useful to the Holy Spirit in turning people from death, just as this verse says.

Father, thank You for the intelligence You have given me, and for enabling me to realize that intelligence by itself is never enough. Help me always seek, fear, and love You, so that Your wisdom may be reflected through me for the salvation of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Personal Evangelism; May 17, 2023

Posted on May 18, 2023 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.

I have heard this verse used many times to encourage personal evangelism. It may well be the origin of the phrase, “soul winner.” However, the Japanese flips the order of the second half of this verse, making it, “The person who has wisdom wins the hearts of men.” (There is no gender expressed there.) That’s not at all to say that personal evangelism is a bad idea, but rather that wisdom will attract the hearts of the people around you. Actually, “winning souls” is a very humanistic way of looking at things, as though it were a contest that we win by our efforts. We are indeed to be witnesses, and that is a major reason the Holy Spirit has been given to us, (Acts 1:8) but we can’t save anyone at all by our own efforts. What is required of us is availability, the willingness to be on the spot or embarrassed or whatever. Sadly, many if not most Christians are not that way. This is quite apart from the gift of Evangelist. Most classes in evangelism to which I’ve been exposed have been taught by people who had that gift, and the major result was a guilt trip for the students. It’s not at all bad to be trained in how to give a logical presentation of the Gospel. That’s in line with what Peter famously said: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) However, that’s not the same thing as “talking to a florist about the Rose of Sharon, or a waitress about the Bread of Life,” which are both examples I have heard repeatedly in evangelism classes, and they are the kind of thing an Evangelist might do. Being a witness is being an authentic disciple, living out in obedience the hope we have in Christ. People will want to know more if we do that. If we are available, God will give us opportunities to share Christ, and we are to make the most of them. (Colossians 4:5)

Just two days ago I was having physical therapy for the wrist I broke back in January, and without it being intentional on my part, the conversation developed into a full-throated presentation of salvation by grace through faith. My therapist and a nurse were directly part of the conversation, but probably others overheard as well. I actually felt hesitation when I could tell the conversation was headed in that direction, but I made the choice to go ahead, and it ended up feeling wonderful. Lest there be any misunderstanding, I do NOT have the gift of Evangelist! I am a Teacher, and statistically such are not common as missionaries. However, I serve in the land where I was born, and I seek to be available for however God wants to use me. I don’t have many more therapy sessions left, since my physical progress is good, so I want to be sensitive to any opportunities the Lord might give me to cement His words in the hearts of those people. I can’t save them, but I would be thrilled if He chooses to use me toward that end.

Father, thank You for using me, often enough in spite of myself. Help me recognize and make full use of every opportunity You give me, so that as many as possible may be brought from death to life, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Good Advice; May 16, 2023

Posted on May 17, 2023 by jgarrott

Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

These two verses were not underlined in my Bible, but the following 10 verses are some of the best, most concentrated advice in the Old Testament, right up there with some of the richer passages in the New Testament. Verses 5-8, and particularly five and six, have long been personal favorites, with “Proverbs 3:5-6” being one of the relatively few references I recognize instantly, and could give you chapter and verse in addition to knowing the content. However, as I know all too well, familiarity with Scripture doesn’t guarantee that we live it out. As it says here, it needs to be in our heart. “Forgetting” here isn’t an abstract, intellectual thing, but rather taking casually or lightly. It’s interesting that the NIV says “prosperity,” while the Japanese says “peace.” I don’t have the Hebrew here, but the word must be shalom, which is closely analogous to the Hawaiian aloha. It carries many meanings, but all of them are good! It isn’t just a lack of external conflict, but inner peace and indeed, prosperity, as the NIV has it. All in all, very desirable! If these were indeed written by Solomon, as 1:1 proclaims, there is great wisdom here, but it is all the more tragic that Solomon himself didn’t follow his own good advice. He certainly gained prosperity, but he ended up trusting his own judgment instead of fearing and seeking the Lord, and he went astray into idolatry for apparently political reasons, to please his foreign wives. He ended up deceiving himself, and it was tragic for him and for the nation. (James 1:22)

This is something I’ve got to take to heart personally. As I said, I’ve long loved 5-8, but that’s precisely because I have tended to be wise in my own eyes, (verse 7) and that is blinding. I have made more stupid mistakes than I could count, precisely because have “leaned on my own understanding” instead of seeking and obeying God. “Yes, but” is no way to answer God! When I read through the Bible by the time I was 10, I have never had any excuses for all the ways I have disobeyed God. That has made verses 11-12 especially pertinent to me. I am actually more familiar with them as they are quoted in Hebrews 12:5-6, but every Christian needs to remember them: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” (Proverbs 3:11-12) God is continually giving me good advice, and I’ve got to apply it!

Father, thank You for saying this to me yet again. That You need to say it so often is proof of how thick my skull is! Help me indeed trust You with all my heart, fearing and loving You as I should, so that all that I do and say may be fully aligned with You, accomplishing Your purposes for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Gratitude; May 15, 2023

Posted on May 16, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 146:5-6 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea,
and everything in them–
the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

The English and Japanese divide the verses differently here, but the point is clear: God is worthy of our faith, our hope, our trust. When we rely on Him we are blessed indeed. In a sense, you could say that the way to receive blessing is to recognize that you are already blessed. I’m reminded of a scene in The Last Battle, the last book in the Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. A group of dwarves have made it into heaven, but they are sitting around in a circle with their eyes closed, grumbling instead of exploring and rejoicing in their new eternal home. When we recognize and appreciate all that God has already done for us in Christ, the negatives of life recede greatly in importance and we can more easily recognize the blessings He continues to pour out on us each day. This Psalm goes on to chronicle various things God does for people, stressing the point that God is more than worthy of total faith and obedience. We are all too prone to say, even if not out loud, “But what has He done for me lately?” If we didn’t feel so entitled, we’d recognize an abundance of grace and mercy. Many studies have shown that gratitude is the key to happiness. It is when we start trying to dictate how God is to bless us, and get ticked when He doesn’t follow our scenario, that we become miserable in spite of the blessings we have been given. As Paul said, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) That is part of an extended section on the pitfalls of loving money, which is antithetical to the attitude commended by the Psalmist.

I had an excellent example here, being raised by parents who loved God above all else and rejoiced in the privilege of serving Him. As a missionary family we were certainly never rich, but our needs were met, we were blessed indeed, and we knew it. I could say the same about my own life as an adult. I can testify that recognizing God’s grace is the fastest, surest path to happiness, contentment, and yes, joy. The devil tries to steal any or all of that from me any way he can, so I’m to submit to God and resist the devil. (James 4:7) As my wife and I were talking about just last night, every day brings a new attack of some sort, but God is faithful, just as the Psalmist says here. I am not to allow myself to be tied in knots by computers and computer companies (easier said than done) or anything else, for that matter. Whether our email works doesn’t govern whether God loves and cares for me!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your faithfulness to give me such reminders, because I seem to need them frequently! I do ask for wisdom and peace as I continue to track down the solution to the current email issue, with the awareness that this is totally inconsequential on the eternal scale. May I not be like those dwarves in The Last Battle, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Practical Trust; May 14, 2023

Posted on May 15, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.

This is a very important element of faith. There are times for all of us when we feel emotionally and spiritually exhausted. David was certainly familiar with those, having been hunted by King Saul. The attribution for this Psalm says, “When he was in the cave.” We might not be in a physical cave, but we might well be in a situation that seems like a dark dead end, much like a cave. Remember, they didn’t have electric lights back then. In a situation like that, it is a huge comfort to know that somebody knows the way out, and that’s exactly the terminology David uses here. We don’t always have to know what that way is ahead of time, but we do need the assurance that God knows, so we don’t need to be anxious. That is often far easier to say than to practice! However, God is as faithful to us as He was to David. As God assured Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) When we have that assurance, we can face anything.

On a small scale I have experiences like this fairly often. Yesterday was one of those. I did a wedding in the morning and we went to the wake of a long-time friend in the evening. In the interval, a refurbished laptop I had ordered arrived, with a new, unfamiliar operating system, and then our email went out because of a configuration issue with our Internet hosting provider. On top of that, it rained all day! With all the other stresses, the computer issues really had me strung out, particularly because I’m used to being “the computer guru.” One more necessary blow to my pride! However, I am always to remember that God knows the way I am to go, even if it is totally dark to me. As He has told me, I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, trusting Him and not my own understanding, (Proverbs 3:5-6) for my peace and His glory.

Father, Thank You for causing me to read the wrong Psalm this morning, because it had the message I needed! May I indeed walk in full trust, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Repeated Truth; May 13, 2023

Posted on May 14, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 135:18 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

This is essentially identical to Psalm 115:8, that was part of the reading for May 5, and I mentioned it then. It’s an important truth, and it bears repeating! We sometimes get tied in knots over who first expressed a particular truth, when in the final analysis it doesn’t much matter. I ran into one in a newsletter yesterday, and the author was careful to say not to quote him as the author, because it had been expressed by multiple people before. That particular truth was, “The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret.” In other words, it’s far better to learn to resist temptation now than to look back and mourn the wreck you’ve made of things. There are many truths that bear repeating. That’s why we need to read the Bible daily! It is an easily observable fact that hearing or reading something once is very seldom sufficient to make a genuine change in someone. The image isn’t very delicate, but we need to have truth pounded into us! God will often repeat truth to us until we either get it or we completely rebel against Him. I don’t have to say which is the better outcome. Several years ago there was a song that dealt with this issue. I don’t remember the title, tune, or really very much of the song, but one phrase stuck with me: “Take another lap around Mt. Sinai.” It was talking about all the Israelites had to do before they could enter the Promised Land, because they were so slow to learn the things of God. We are certainly no better! When God repeats things to us we need to recognize the repeat and ask ourselves why it happened. Almost invariably it’s because we didn’t apply what He said the first time. We’re back to one of my favorite verses: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) If we’re tired of hearing something, we need to get with the program!

My wife and I have realized that certain issues have come up repeatedly in our life, particularly in dealing with other people. God is going to keep repeating the lesson until we get a passing score! As a matter of fact, what I’ve been writing about here is precisely one of the truths of which I have to be reminded. As someone with Teacher gifting I have an emotional expectation that simply expressing truth should be sufficient, when it hardly ever is. For the past few years I’ve been studying Coaching, which takes the opposite tack, coming alongside people until they realize things for themselves, rather than having them dictated to them from above, so to speak. I’m very good at dictating from above! God is breaking me of that, but it’s a very persistent habit! However, here too God is incredibly faithful and patient. I would have given up on me a long time ago! As it is, He has told me to rest, relax, and rejoice, because He’s got it all in hand. That’s enough for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. As with almost everything else, this isn’t the first time You’ve said this to me. Help me indeed assimilate and apply all that You say to me however You say it, so that You won’t have to repeat Yourself so much. Thank You. Praise God!

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Security; May 12, 2023

Posted on May 13, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 125:1-2 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore.

Security is one of the basic human drives, stronger in some people than in others but present in all of us. It starts in the womb, which is probably the most physically secure time of our lives. (That’s one of many reasons why abortion is so horrific.) That’s why a healthy new­born infant will generally flail around: they are searching for those secure walls that used to enclose them. That’s precisely the image here, with the mountains around Jerusalem. The thing is, infants get born, and no longer have the womb. Providing emotional security, and an appropriate degree of physical security, is a huge part of good parenting. The thing is, the world is a dangerous place. Rather than a guarantee of security, we have rather the opposite. Even so, this passage is true, because of the one phrase, “trust in the Lord.” That’s why, when Jesus was cautioning the disciples just before His crucifixion He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) When we understand who and what and where we are in Christ, we have the security of an infant in the womb. However rough we might have it here, the time will come when we will be “born” into God’s presence in heaven, and as Paul said, “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) Disease, deprivation, even martyrdom, will be as nothing when we experience the glory of our Lord. That is security!

This is something I am more and more convinced of, even if I do need occasional reminders. The two New Testament verses I’ve quoted have long been favorites of mine, and I quote them frequently in messages. That awareness certainly makes things much easier to endure! On the physical level I’ve experienced disease and injury, on the emotional level I’ve experienced rejection and betrayal, and on the economic level I’ve been out of work and had a car repossessed, but none of those will have any weight whatsoever when I stand before my Lord. That is security, and I am deeply grateful. God has been incredibly gracious to me, and as He told Paul, His grace is indeed sufficient; I need nothing else. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can walk through life in complete security, and that is glorious!

Father, thank You for this reminder. This needs to be a message to the congregation, but the one I’ve already prepared is indeed what You want for this coming Sunday. Show me when and how to share this, so that it may reach the heart of each person who needs to receive it, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Power of the Word; May 11, 2023

Posted on May 12, 2023 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.

When we fail to recognize sin for what it is, it can get its roots into us to the point that we are controlled by it. It doesn’t take much perception to see that many, many people are exactly that way. An expression taken from the King James translation of Hebrews 12:1 is “besetting sin.” That means a sin that we just can’t seem to shake off. That’s exactly what the Psalmist is talking about here. The answer to such issues is always the Word of God, which is why the devil has always done everything he could to discredit the Bible. The devil’s power is lies, and lies can’t stand in the face of God’s truth. That’s why Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) However, we have to accept the truth for what it is in order to receive its benefits. That’s why people who are truly ruled by their sins deny the Bible, either that it is valid or that it applies to them. An incident came up just recently where a school faculty member was caught hiding the Bibles that were in the faculty lounge, because she didn’t want the other faculty members to be reading them. That showed that she knew full well she was in violation of the truth contained in the Bible! In Japan there is no such public awareness of the Bible as the Word of God, but that doesn’t change what it is. We need to let the Bible “dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16) for it to set us free from all the lies of the enemy.

I’ve been very familiar with the Bible from childhood, but that doesn’t mean I’ve always lived by it. As I preached this past Sunday, I’ve got to apply it, live it out, for it to be effective. However, I have found that God is incredibly faithful. I find I have more and more empathy with whoever wrote Psalm 119, because I have yet to experience anything the Bible didn’t speak to, and I’m sure I never will. I have had my struggles with “besetting sin,” and it was the Bible that set me free. 2 Peter 1:9 broke through and gave me the revelation that God’s forgiveness is absolute: when I am cleansed, I am cleansed. The name, “Satan,” means “the accuser,” and I realized that because of the power of the cross, his accusations about already-con­fessed sins were meaningless. That broke the power of the sin in question, and it could no longer rule over me. I was then free to walk as the Lord directed me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Yesterday I thought I knew what I was speaking on this coming Sunday, but now I think it’s this, since this is a pressing issue for many. Help me be faithful to share Your Word exactly as You intend, under the power of Your Spirit, so that all of Your purposes for it may be fulfilled indeed, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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