God’s Plans; October 26, 2022

Posted on October 27, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 48:17-18 This is what the Lord says–
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands,
your peace would have been like a river,
your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

This is an interesting section. This is obviously spoken to those in Babylonian captivity, and it’s almost an “I told you so” moment. The Jews were obviously not in a good situation, and God is here reminding them that they got themselves into the mess they were in by ignoring Him and what He had told them. God does have to remind us of this sort of thing from time to time, because otherwise we are very prone to blame Him for things He never desired for us. God knows the future, because all of time is now for Him, so nothing we do surprises Him, but at the same time He has planned out what is best for us, and too often we stubbornly refuse to follow it. Human language ties in knots trying to express this, since we are in the flow of time and God is outside of it, yet operating in and through it. It is remarkable how much trouble we have believing what God spoke through Jeremiah, at around the same point in history. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) If we really believed that, we would be fully obedient to Him! However, we tend to run around doing our own thing, and then when that thing turns out to not be so nice, we blame God! We don’t have the mental capacity to really grasp the whole time/eternity business, but God has given us the ability to know Him, trust Him, and obey Him, if we will accept it.

This is in a way an awkward time to be thinking about this, since my wife is in a medical mess that we don’t see how she invited. We can do all sorts of “what if” speculation in terms of prior health maintenance, but that doesn’t show us much at all. The question becomes how to hear and obey God in terms of getting out of this mess. There is more we can’t see than what we can, so we are having to grow in faith and trust. We do have Jesus’ words that we will have trouble in this life, but He has provided peace for us. (John 16:33) We also have Paul’s assurance that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) I’m reminded of the image of a Persian rug being made, that from the back looks like a jumbled mass of knots without rhyme or reason, but from the front is a beautiful tapestry. We don’t enjoy all the knots, so we have to trust that the Master Artist is producing something gorgeous on the other side.

Father, this isn’t very satisfying to my human emotions. It has been four weeks today since Cathy entered the hospital, and it’s wearing on both of us. May it wear off the rough spots, to polish us as gems in Your hands! Thank You for the rehab she was able to do yesterday, but she seems to have had another all-too-eventful night. I find it difficult to stay focused on anything, with my mind running in several directions at once. Help us both release each thing to You, allowing You to show us the next step to take and taking it, so that we may move forward into all that You have planned for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Redemption; October 25, 2022

Posted on October 26, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 44:22 “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to me,
for I have redeemed you.”

This past Sunday the subject came up of people who don’t believe they are worthy of salvation. The very fact that they are worried about it shows they are ready for it! The man crucified beside Jesus is an excellent case in point. He acknowledged that he was worthy of execution, and in asking Jesus to remember him, he indicated his faith. Jesus said that was sufficient for eternal salvation! (Luke 23:40-43) Some people teach that individual sins need to be repented of before they can be forgiven, but God is bigger than that. Individual repentance is a very good thing, and is often necessary for release and liberty, but that isn’t the image God presents here. Modern technology has given us the “data cloud,” where incredible quantities of information are stored. That too is a metaphor, because the data is actually stored on physical drives in a physical, terrestrial location, but the terminology applies. God is saying the “data cloud” recording all our past sins is simply eliminated; the drives are erased, or better yet, destroyed. God’s redemption is that big, that powerful. The better we grasp that, the more eager we will be to confess our sins to Him so that they may be wiped away and we be set free. (1 John 1:9)

I have testified many times of how liberating it was when God worked 2 Peter 1:9 into me: “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” In other words, once sins are forgiven, they are forgiven, period. The devil loves to drag up past sins and remind us of them, but the more we dwell on them, the more likely we are to commit them again! To use the imagery from Isaiah, when mist clears, it’s almost hard to remember how things looked before it cleared! I am both to rejoice in God’s redemption myself and let those around me know of it as well, so that together we may walk in the liberty and purity of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I can think of various people who urgently need to grasp this truth, but though I have expressed it to them, they haven’t really accepted it yet. I ask Your grace and mercy for them, so that Your truth may indeed set them free, for their salvation and Your glory. (John 8:32) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Acknowledging God; October 24, 2022

Posted on October 25, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:5 This is what God the Lord says–
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it

This is a dearly loved chapter, talking about the Messiah and giving many encouraging, comforting words. (I personally have always liked it because of the several references to islands, since I was born, raised, and minister in Japan.) However, here we have a reminder of just who it is talking through Isaiah here. When a genuine prophet speaks, or when we read the Bible, we need to remember just who is the authority behind the words. In the case of the Bible, many people talk about how it was hand-copied (allowing for errors) and edited, which is true enough. However, God is big enough, and interested enough, to guide the process to get the outcome He desires. In the case of a prophet, either recorded or in person, they choke on the idea of the Creator speaking through a human vessel. That’s why the Lord is here so specific that He is the Creator, the Life-giver. Science, which many people try to substitute for God, still can’t give a satisfactory explanation (that isn’t vanishingly unlikely simply from probability alone) for where life came from, and evolution as a theory has more holes than a screen door. People don’t want to admit the existence of such a Supreme Being because absolute power logically includes absolute authority, and they are rebellious and want to be their own authority. Countless people have illustrated the folly of that attitude! God is here saying Who He is as He makes very comforting and encouraging statements, because otherwise we might dismiss them as too good to be true. People are funny that way! God does desire and plan good for us, if we will just listen and obey.

Of course, I need to pay attention to this as much as anyone. I have had my struggles with the hubris that wants to see me as the pinnacle of everything, and I have my moments of ignoring what I am aware of God telling me to do or not do. I need to remember that without exception, people who have been exposed to even a fraction of who and what God is have been overwhelmed by the experience. That’s why God told Moses, “You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20) I was raised with a strong awareness of God’s love, and I loved Him in return, but my love had a lot of growing to do. As Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15) Actually, by that measure my love still has a lot of growing to do! I need to live each day with a clear awareness of Whom I follow, never taking Him casually or lightly but rejoicing that He would be so gracious as to pay attention to such an insignificant being as I am.

Father, thank You for this reminder. My wife had another rough night last night, and it’s making communication difficult. I ask not only relief for her physical pain, but also for peace for her, understanding that as much as she is loved by You, You love those around her as well, and they too have their issues. I pray that all of Your plans and purposes, not only for today but for this whole experience, may be fulfilled for Cathy’s blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Encouragement; October 23, 2022

Posted on October 24, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”

Multiple songs have been made from this chapter, including from this part. God only knows how many multiple thousands of believers down through the centuries have been encouraged by these words. The thing is, we need such words of comfort and encouragement in every generation. As Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble!” (John 16:33) We are constantly reminded that we can’t make it on our own, so we also need to be reminded that, as Paul said, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) If we are focused on ourselves, we have every reason for despair. If we are focused on God, we have every reason for optimism and joy. We may not see God’s hand in our immediate circumstances, but He is there nonetheless. As the Imperials sang years ago, “He didn’t bring us this far to leave us.” If we want God’s power to flow through us, we need to stay focused on and open to Him. When we focus on ourselves and our situation, we cut ourselves off from Him.

The thing that caught my attention about this particular part just now was the reference to feeble hands and knees that give way, because of my wife’s condition after her back surgery. Knees giving way is a major issue for her right now! The reference to “fearful hearts” (the Japanese says, “hearts in turmoil”) speaks to both of us right now. I woke up this morning around 3:30 to go to the bathroom, and before I could get back to sleep the scheduled events for the rest of the year, starting with today, crowded into my mind, and in no time my heart was indeed in turmoil. I now know why a particular song was running through my heart and mind most of the day yesterday. “I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day…. For I know Who holds the future, and I know Who holds my hand.” I just had a text from my wife indicating that she had another rough night, and they will be doing tests this morning, despite it being Sunday, to try to determine the specific source of her pain. We have every reason to keep reminding ourselves, and each other, of Paul’s words: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) The thing is, subjectively those troubles don’t seem so light and momentary when we’re in the middle of them! We are in training to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Father, thank You for how much of Your Word is indeed in my heart and mind, so that it is easy for Your Spirit to bring it up as called for. Thank You also for the songs You have given believers down through the years, and for how many of those are likewise in my heart and mind. Help me make full and appropriate use of the resources You have already provided, so that Your will may indeed be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Giving God Credit; October 22, 2022

Posted on October 24, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 26:12 Lord, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us.

This chapter has a number of very deep statements, making it difficult to isolate one for meditation. Verse two – “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You” – has long been a favorite of mine and many other people. However, this verse stands out particularly to me right now. It is human nature to want to take credit for things done, and a sense of accomplishment is indeed very gratifying. However, we must never forget the truth of this verse. Moses very wisely said, “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” (Deuteronomy 8:17-18) We need to remember that every ability we have, indeed every good thing, originates with God. Often our cooperation is called for, but as James said, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) Whether we have good things or do good things, our attitude should be gratitude rather than pride. It would be marvelous if Isaiah’s words in this verse were inscribed on buildings and monuments across the world, but if they are, I don’t know about it. When we try to take sole credit for what we do we cut God out of the picture, and in so doing cut ourselves off from Him. When we are obviously finite, yet He is infinite, that is clearly the height of folly.

Of course this applies to me as much as it does to anyone else. I too have the tendency to conceit, and indeed it nearly ruined me at one point. At 74 I think I’ve learned gratitude far better than in my youth, but I still have room to grow! I am surrounded by God’s gracious blessings, yet I still find opportunities to complain! There are still many things I would like to accomplish, but if they get done it will be God doing them through me. I get frustrated when things don’t go by my desired schedule, but that accomplishes nothing good. I need to renew my gratitude for all that God has done for and through me to this point, and look forward to whatever God has planned for me, immediately and in the future.

Father, thank You for the mini-lesson You gave me as I was typing that, as I kept being interrupted. Getting worked up over such interruptions does nothing good for anyone. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Waiting in Hope; October 21, 2022

Posted on October 22, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say,
“Surely this is our God;
we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him;
let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Yesterday I wrote about how emotionally exhausting it can be to have prophetic visions, but hearing things like this from the Lord could certainly make it all worth it! This chapter as a whole is about the defeat of Moab, which existed as a thorn in Israel’s side down through the centuries, and this verse is expressing the result of that from the perspective of God’s people. It wasn’t current reality at the point it was delivered, but it was certainly an encouragement to do as this verse says, to trust in God. Where the NIV uses “trusted,” (not at all a bad word in this context) the Japanese uses an expression that is quite common in all Japanese translations of the Bible that translates literally as “wait in hope.” That’s something we all need to do better! In the middle of it, waiting can be quite a trial, but as Isaiah famously recorded later in his book, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) I’ve never figured out why English Bibles don’t say, “wait in hope,” but instead use just one of those two words. The KJV uses “wait,” but just waiting doesn’t seem to have much redeeming virtue. It is when waiting is done in hope and expectation that it becomes bearable. Christians have a glorious hope, as Paul expressed repeatedly, (Colossians 1:27, Titus 2:13) and the better we grasp that, the easier it is to wait for it patiently. After all, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

As I have been writing, my wife and I have been going through yet more training in this for some time. There have been some really rough spots, but it seems she had her best night’s sleep last night since her surgery almost three weeks ago, and yesterday the staff were making very encouraging remarks about her progress and the prospects of her coming home. Whether we will get a specific date for that today remains to be seen, but the prospect is exciting. The thing is, we have had such training exercises many times over the years, and they’re never much fun. That said, the hope is real and certain, quite above and beyond temporal considerations like getting out of the hospital. When our focus is on our eternal Lord, not so much on what He has prepared for us but on His presence in us even right now, then our troubles indeed can seem “light and momentary,” to use Paul’s expression. That’s the way to have the peace that Jesus wants for us: “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)

Father, thank You for this reminder. It was indeed encouraging to read Cathy’s text this morning saying she had just woken up (and not been awake all night) and that she shouldn’t be bothered because the nurses told her she was first on her doctor’s rounds this morning. That said, help us both keep our focus and hope on You, rather than on anything the doctor might say. May we indeed learn all that You want to teach us through this, to be more and more transformed into the likeness of Your Son, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Prophetic Visions; October 20, 2022

Posted on October 21, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 24:14 They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the Lord’s majesty.

It must be emotionally exhausting to have prophetic visions. From the beginning of this chapter the picture is very bleak. To use the title of a category of fiction, it is “post-apocalyptic,” but then Isaiah abruptly goes into this flash of glory, of joy, before crashing again in verse 16. Human existence is a collection of contrasts and we aren’t really equipped to experience it all at once, the way Isaiah seems to have done here. God sees it all at once, and when we are close to Him we can get glimpses of it, but daily faithfulness, though seemingly tedious, is much easier for us to deal with than what Isaiah and other prophets went through. We may think we really want to see what’s coming next, and some people spend enormous time and energy pouring over Revelation and Daniel and Ezekiel, wanting to see what is coming, but Jesus said very clearly that it is the person devoted to daily faithfulness that is rewarded. (Luke 12:42-44) As David said, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4) If the Lord gives us visions, we are to seek Him as to what to do with/about them, but our goal is to be obedience to Him, whatever that means or doesn’t mean.

I have experienced the Lord in numbers of ways, but prophetic visions haven’t been included in that. I’m actually relieved! Isaiah is my favorite book in the Old Testament (though Psalms gives it plenty of competition) but I’m thankful not to have been called to the same ministry as Isaiah. I’m sure that he was at times considered to be insane, and tradition tells us that he was eventually martyred by being sawed apart. That’s hardly an easy life! There are some who have lauded me for my faithfulness, but I hardly think I’ve got bragging rights compared to people like Isaiah! I haven’t been shown the future, and I’m satisfied with that – I think! There are moments when I would like to know, but I have learned that understanding the next step I am to take is sufficient. The big question isn’t what happens a year from now, but whether I am obedient right now. The reward I seek is the simple statement, “’Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21)

Father, thank You for this reminder. You’ve been saying similar things to me a good bit recently! I don’t know what it all means, but help me be at peace with whatever You show me, and most importantly, help me respond as You desire, so that Your will many be done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Salvation; October 19, 2022

Posted on October 20, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 12:3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.

This brief chapter is one of my favorite in the whole Bible, and this verse has resonated in my heart ever since I heard Andrae Crouch quote it in the process of a worship tape I heard years ago. The chapter as a whole is a reminder that however bad things might look at the moment, a time of glorious praise and joy is going to come. In verse one and verse four it says, “In that day you will say.” How marvelous to look forward to! In the middle of all that comes this verse, and it’s worthy of meditation. It says, “draw water from the well/spring of salvation.” The NIV uses well and the Japanese uses spring, but there is the combined term of wellspring, meaning a point of origin, and that certainly seems appropriate. What strikes me is that the water of salvation is available, as Jesus famously told the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s Well, (John 4) but drawing water requires an act of volition on our part. The cross of Christ provided salvation for all mankind, but only those who choose to repent and believe are saved. Salvation isn’t something we can accomplish, but at the same time it is not passive: it requires choice and action. Paul put it in terms of belief and confession. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) A vague idea that Jesus is the Savior isn’t sufficient in and of itself; salvation requires crying out to Him to save us. I have often told people it’s like being told someone has created a massive bank account in your name. That might sound really good, but until you believe enough to actually go to the bank and claim the account, you can’t access any of the money. Jesus died in our place to give us eternal life, but until you believe it enough to confess your need of salvation and ask Him for it, it won’t do you any good. We have to “draw water from the wellspring of salvation.”

This is as true for me as it is for anyone. I was practically born loving Jesus, but I still had to choose to commit myself to Him, which I clearly remember doing at the age of seven. However, salvation isn’t static, and I wasn’t at all consistent in drinking the water I had drawn. I descended into the fallacy of, “I’ve got the water, and I’m fine.” It wasn’t until I was 24 that I realized I needed to keep drinking, and even today I sometimes need reminders that I need to “keep hydrated” with God’s salvation. Today I seek to be a “water carrier” to those around me, but they ultimately need to choose to drink, and to draw water for themselves.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Show me how I’m to put it into practice today. I ask for Your appointments with those who are thirsty so that I may show them how to draw Your living water, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Shadow of Death; October 18, 2022

Posted on October 19, 2022 by jgarrott

Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.

This passage as a whole is extremely familiar, being widely referenced particularly around Christmas and being sung in The Messiah. However, familiarity indeed often brings contempt, or at least a failure to really hear what is being said. This verse lays out the foundation for the whole Gospel message, that it is indeed Good News for those who are in desperate need of it. We need light to thrive. We are entering the time of year when many people suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, simply from the days being short, and it’s no joke. What we sometimes fail to recognize is that people suffer even more from spiritual darkness. It’s described here as “the shadow of death,” and indeed, the vast majority of people fear death. A major element of the Gospel is that death is no longer something to be feared, because Jesus has conquered it, demonstrating that fact conclusively by being resurrected from the “double death,” you might say, of blood loss and asphyxiation and then having his heart run through with a spear. (John 19:34) It’s no wonder His disciples were incredulous when He showed up after that, fully and gloriously alive! Those who know that light have the privilege and responsibility of sharing it with those around them. I’m reminded of an invention that was made in a very poor country a few years ago, when someone realized they could fill a plastic drink bottle with clear water and imbed it in the roof of a shack that had no electricity, and then in daylight, at least, the sunlight falling on the part of the bottle that was above the roof would be transmitted through the water and illuminate the area below the roof. We don’t originate the light any more than those bottles do, but we can allow the light of Christ to shine through us to those who so desperately need it. (Matthew 5:16)

The whole matter of “the shadow of death” is close to home these days. I have two friends with potentially fatal cancers, and my wife has recently repeatedly gone under general anesthesia, which is a kind of “mini-death.” Just yesterday they “put her under” to do a lavage (washing) of her surgical site because of an infection that had gotten in, and they certainly wanted to avoid sepsis, which can be fatal. Full recovery from such anesthesia can take a full day or more, before the mind makes all the appropriate connections. This has been something of a “dry run” for when one of us leaves this life, since it’s not at all likely to be simultaneous for the two of us. Frankly, it’s not much fun. I have no fears for either of us in the long run, being fully assured of eternal salvation, but temporal separation after 53 years of marriage can hardly be described as enjoyable. We both need to be focused on Christ all the more in this time, to receive His peace that exceeds human understanding (Philippians 4:7) and look forward to the joy that will erase all our wounds and scars. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this experience You’re allowing Cathy and me to have. May we indeed receive from it the blessings that You intend, as an encouragement to those around us and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Enjoying Life; October 17, 2022

Posted on October 18, 2022 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 11:8 However many years a man may live,
let him enjoy them all.
But let him remember the days of darkness,
for they will be many.
Everything to come is meaningless.

I find myself very relieved that this is our last reading in Ecclesiastes. Solomon’s cynicism is exhausting! However, there is wisdom mixed in with the nihilism. Even though he says that “everything that happens is meaningless,” as the Japanese puts it, the advice to “live a long time and enjoy it,” as again the Japanese expresses it, is good. There are sadly many people who don’t seem to enjoy living much at all. Focusing on the negatives, they live a pretty miserable existence. In his later years Solomon seems to have been one of those! The attitude isn’t exactly admirable, but the awareness that the time after our death will be far longer than our time on earth is actually a very good thing. It helps put things into perspective. Rather than letting it make us cynical, however, we need to let it motivate us to make the most of the time we have, seeking God for His purposes, His plans for our existence. I say it frequently, but we need to remember that He is not mean; He does want us to have a good time while we’re here. However, “having a good time” isn’t the purpose of it all. If we think it is, then indeed “everything is meaningless,” as Solomon said. If our focus is on God, on drawing close to Him and doing what He desires of us, then we will have a better time in the process than those who focus on trying to have a good time.

I had never thought I was particularly unusual in this area until a man I knew, though not well, brought one of his friends to meet me because he said he wanted his friend to “meet someone who enjoys living.” Likewise, I have had a psychologist who teaches at one of the schools where I teach say repeatedly that I am “a happy person.” I don’t deny either of those descriptions, but it is certainly by the grace of God. Starting every day with the Bible and prayer sets the tone, and letting songs of praise, gratitude, and commitment to God run through my mind and heart during the day makes a huge difference. I do get frustrated and upset at times, and I get tired of things I feel obligated to do, but as the Psalmist said, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” (Psalm 84:10) I don’t yet spend all my time “in His courts,” but I continue to grow, and know that is my eternal destiny. That’s certainly something to look forward to, and it makes it much easier to deal with all the “bumps and potholes” in my current road.

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace toward me. I can’t claim to have earned any of it. Thank You for the good care Cathy is receiving at the hospital. I pray that today’s procedure would go smoothly and contribute to Cathy’s full and prompt healing, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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