Choosing Salvation; December 22, 2021

Posted on December 24, 2021 by jgarrott

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

I can still remember clearly how, though not exactly when, my attention was first drawn to this verse. Andrae Crouch was talking in between songs on a praise and worship tape, and he quoted this verse. I was struck by it, and at first wasn’t sure it was from the Bible since I didn’t remember running into it, and by that point I had already read through the Bible a few times. It still resonates in me, however, and I think the meaning is important. The Japanese here says “springs” rather than “wells,” implying a more active provision, but in either case, what stands out to me is that you have to draw the water of salvation yourself. It’s not at all that we can save ourselves, but our will, our volition, is definitely involved. As the secular proverb says, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Salvation has been made available to all mankind through the blood of Christ on the cross, but each person must first know that they need salvation, and then choose to repent and receive it. The work of evangelism is first to let people know they are headed for destruction, and then to let them know that salvation is available. It is not to hit them over the head with a Bible until they “get saved.” As Paul pointed out so memorably to the Romans, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:12-15) Receiving salvation requires a fundamental humility that is all too often lacking. Men in particular like to feel they have “done it themselves,” when eternal salvation is the ultimate example of something you can’t do for yourself. However, once you recognize both your need and God’s supply, drawing the water of salvation is a thing of joy indeed.

Ministering in Japan, I run into various barriers to evangelism. In the first place, Buddhism has no real concept of salvation. The highest good is Mu, nothingness, an extinction of self. Only a few ascetic monks actually pursue that, but the fallout of that sort of nihilism is that very few Japanese really believe that salvation is available in any form. Materialism is king, regardless of how “spiritual” things might seem. The devil has been working for many years to bring about that state of affairs in the US, too, and he has been sadly successful. I am never to give up, but continue speaking the truth in love, living as an example of the Gospel I preach. If I don’t rejoice in the salvation I have received, why would anyone else want it? I have already shared the Gospel in three different class Christmas parties, to widely varying response. I can’t force anyone to drink! We have the Christmas Eve service coming up in two days. I have no idea who will show up, but whoever does will be demonstrating at least an inkling that they can get something good here. I am to share the Gospel as simply and as joyfully as possible, so that as many as will may choose to drink.

Father, thank You for Your salvation and for the privilege of sharing the Good News of that salvation with others. I pray that Your Spirit would work through me and around me to break down all the lying barriers and set people free to repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Righteousness and Faithfulness; December 21, 2021

Posted on December 24, 2021 by jgarrott

Isaiah 11:5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

The Japanese translators had trouble coming up with more than one word for an item of clothing you put around your waist, so they used a slightly arcane word for the second instance of waist instead. To me, the point of this verse is that righteousness deals with our relationship to God and His laws, whereas faithfulness deals with our relationship to the people around us. We are back to what Jesus said were the first and second commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) That the same imagery is used for both here is an indication that they are essentially inseparable. If we aren’t treating the people around us right, then we aren’t relating rightly to the God who made both us and them. This is something that Jesus dealt with frequently in relation to the Pharisees, and James really hammered in his letter. It is rather meaningless to claim to love and follow God if we fail to demonstrate His love to the people around us. Frankly, this can be a difficult issue. We think we love mankind, but specific individuals really get under our skin! That’s why Jesus’ words, recorded right after He taught us the Lord’s Prayer, hit so hard: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15) I don’t think that gets preached on very often! We aren’t called to be doormats, giving people permission to do anything to us, but we are called to forgive, no matter what they do to us. That is exercising both righteousness and faithfulness, and that is the example Jesus set.

By God’s grace I’ve never been one to nurse a grudge, but I will certainly confess to having room to grow, both in loving God and loving my neighbor. Sometimes I have trouble loving myself! The point is, I’m never to be satisfied with where I am, and I’m never to give up on growing to be more like Jesus. That doesn’t mean I’m to be constantly picking at myself by any means, but it does mean I am to recognize that my own righteousness and faithfulness are inadequate, and allow the righteousness and faithfulness of Christ to flow through me by His grace. And that includes loving me, because He certainly does!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for Your plans for today as well. Thank You that I can trust You to carry me through this very busy season. I do ask Your anointing on the two class Christmas parties today, that the students will not only have a good time but especially that they would receive the Gospel as I tell the story of Jesus, from conception to resurrection. May Your righteousness and faithfulness through me draw them to repentance and faith for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Power; December 20, 2021

Posted on December 23, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 147:10-11 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.

The Japanese here just cleared up something I have thought for a very long time was odd about this passage. English translations generally put this as the NIV does: “the legs of a man.” The Japanese says, “foot soldiers.” That makes worlds more sense to me, since horses were seen as mighty instruments of war. The English phraseology brings up an image of “beefcake,” bodybuilders and the like, which is rather jarring in this context. The Psalmist is actually talking about military strength, which is emblematic of human strength in general. In line with many, many other passages in the Bible, this is pointing out that God is after our hearts, not what we can do for Him. This brings to mind the famous incident of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” where God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) God has absolutely no need for our “strength,” because it is totally meaningless in comparison to His omnipotence. Rather, God desires, and delights in, those who recognize their dependence on Him and submit themselves to Him in gratitude and obedience.

I have never been particularly fixated on muscle strength, though I think I am in pretty good shape for my age at this point. However, I have tended to think of myself as “strong” in various other areas, and it has been a snare to me on various occasions. This past week, when I was called on to speak to a group of around a thousand people in a setting where I was very much under the spotlight, I felt very weak indeed, and was actively depending on God. He followed through magnificently, and an adjective I heard several times from people who were talking about the message was “powerful.” It wasn’t my power! It was amusing even to me, but in the dressing room before the program a pop Christmas song was running through my mind: “All I Want for Christmas is You.” The original is entirely about a boy-girl relationship, but I sang it, in my heart and mind, to God, because that was how I was feeling. The thing is, that’s how God feels about us, not just “for Christmas,” but desiring our hearts, our devotion, all the time. If I will indeed reciprocate, then He will delight to use me in His wisdom and power, which totally eclipse my own.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. Thank You for getting me through the day yesterday. I was certainly feeling weak emotionally for much of the day, for various reasons, but You followed through magnificently. I have various things weighing on me for today and through this week. Help me not worry about whether I can carry them, but rest in the assurance that You can more than carry them, even using me. May I be a useful instrument of Your grace, power, and love, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Trusting God; December 19, 2021

Posted on December 23, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

This particular declaration is found multiple times in Psalms, and was obviously a standard, and frequent, part of worship. Here it is used as an antiphonal chant, between a leader and either a choir or the whole congregation. I’ve heard it used both ways in modern churches, and as such it can be a very moving worship experience. As I’ve commented before, the Japanese says “grace” rather than “love,” but that difference isn’t so significant in this context. The whole point of the Psalm, and the expression in general, was to get people into the habit of thanking God. “He is good; His love endures forever” is very general, so this Psalm fleshes that out with various acts of God, both in nature and in Israel’s history, ending up with the reminder that He is the “God of heaven,” that is, the Creator over all. When we are mired in our own little difficulties, frustrated that things aren’t turning out as we would like, we would do well to remember the many ways God has demonstrated His might and power, as well as His individual concern for us His creatures. That should help us regain a bit of context and perspective. A popular song of many years ago had the line, “Don’t they know it’s the end of the world? It ended when you said goodbye.” The younger we are the more likely we are to feel that our personal “tragedy” is earth-shaking, often causing older people to smile. However, even mature adults can be consumed by their own circumstance, when others are doubtless having it even worse. We need to remember first of all that God is the Creator, the One who spoke the universe into being. As mankind has had to be reminded again and again, nothing is impossible for Him. (Luke 1:37) At the same time, He cares about each one of us. John 3:16 is of course justly famous, but Peter’s reminder is also very important: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) After all, Jesus said that He keeps track even of the hairs on our head! (Luke 12:7) When we have that bedrock assurance, nothing can shake us.

I have certainly had to grow in this truth, and I can’t say I’m there 100% even yet. I too get tied in knots over ultimately inconsequential things. It is a comfort that Paul faced the same situation! (Philippians 3:12-14) As a pastor I am constantly dealing with people in a wide variety of difficulties, with a wide variety of maturity to handle things. My difficulty is in helping them understand the reality of God’s power and love without making them feel put down, that their difficulties are unimportant. God really does care, but He’s far more concerned with our character than with our comfort. For myself and for those to whom I minister, I’ve got to remember that growth is the goal, and that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how much of this season You’ve already brought me through. Thank You for the service this morning, and the caroling this evening. May everything happen as You desire, blessing all involved, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Word; December 18, 2021

Posted on December 20, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks
for your righteous laws.

When I first read through today’s passage I wondered where the reference was to thanks, so then I read it again more carefully and I recognized this was in it. Too often we fail to allow the Word of God to soak into us, either glossing over it because it’s “too complicated,” or in my case, letting familiarity breed contempt, taking the words lightly because they’ve been read so many times before. Whatever the reason, failing to let God’s Word penetrate into our heart and mind is not just a waste, it is actually dangerous. Though translations can at times be suspect, the problem is not with the Bible. God’s Spirit is more than capable of straightening out twisted translations, if we will allow Him to do so. I know of people who have been gloriously born again from reading the deliberately twisted New World Translation used by the Jehovah’s Witnesses! Despite their denial of the divinity of Jesus, they couldn’t hide that glorious reality completely. Especially for long-term Christians, our attitude needs to be that of the writer of Psalm 119, completely dedicated to God and His Word, allowing that Word to soak into and percolate through us. It is more than worthy of such devotion. My seminary professor grandfather had a question he would often ask his students: “How big is your Bible?” He didn’t ask it in class, but in private conversations, and the answer was generally along the lines of, “Well, Dr. Carver, I think it’s about the same size as yours. Maybe a little bigger.” My grandfather’s response was, “I’m not talking about printed matter, I’m talking about what’s in your heart.” “Hiding God’s Word in our heart,” as this same writer wrote in verse 11 of this Psalm, isn’t a matter of memorization, though it might include it, but of letting the meaning permeate us, get into and under things, like the phobias and preconceptions that shape us. It is when that happens that we receive the healing, the transformation, that we need and we become the faithful children of God that He desires.

When I went back and re-read the passage so that I noticed this verse, my immediate reaction was, “He was like Cathy!” My wife, with a considerable litany of physical issues, sometimes has difficulty sleeping, and when that happens she will get up, as quietly as possible, and go into another room to pray and read the Bible. This morning she wasn’t in pain, but her mind was flooded with thoughts and she felt her restlessness was disturbing me (though I wasn’t aware of it that I remember) and she got up. Sometimes I worry about her getting enough rest! I don’t often get out of bed in such cases, but when I wake up in the night my thoughts are often of God and His Word, and I am deeply grateful. God never sleeps, and neither does His Word. Our physical bodies certainly need sleep, but I want His Word to keep working in me by His Spirit whether I am awake or asleep, to do His will in and through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You also for the wife You have given me, who is my partner in faith as in everything else. I pray that today and every day I would be the husband to her that she needs and You intend, so that together we would be an effective testimony of Your love and grace, drawing many to repentance and faith for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Stones; December 17, 2021

Posted on December 19, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 118:22-23 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is of course a passage that Jesus quoted about Himself. (Mat­thew 21:42) At the same time, it applies much more broadly. God’s judgments and evaluations are not the same as man’s, and we should never forget it. Even Paul essentially wrote Mark off after he left the group on Paul’s first missionary journey, so strongly that when Barnabas wanted to give Mark another chance, it led to a split between Paul and Barnabas, and Paul took Silas with him instead. (Acts 15:37-40) As it turned out, God used that to multiply the work, but Mark was restored to the point that he was the one who transcribed Peter’s memories of Jesus, writing the book that bears his name, and in Paul’s last letter he explicitly says, “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11) Even Paul had to admit that he had rejected a “valuable stone.” All that is not to say that we are to be soft on each other; failures of various sorts aren’t simply to be excused. However, forgiveness isn’t the same thing as excusing, as I tell people all the time. We are to submit our evaluations of people to God, allowing Him to show us whom to trust with what, when and how. He’s likely to surprise us! Like with Paul and Mark, we may find that we have erred badly. Virtually every character in the Bible did things that on the human level would have been disqualifying, but those that repented, God used anyway. We don’t want to reject “stones” for which God has a special use.

I apply this to myself, because I was rejected by the mission board of my choice, but God sent me out anyway. I have been tempted to reject myself as a failure more than once, but God has continued to shape and use me. I was enormously uptight about my speaking engagement yesterday, but God followed through marvelously. I’ve got to remember that none of it was to my personal credit, despite what various people said afterward. It was just proof that God can use a pebble on the ground in remarkable ways, if it’s in the right place at the right time. I’ve also got to remember this in relating to others. There are people I would have great trouble trusting in ministry because of what they have done in the past. My wife is much more of a “Barnabas” in that area than I am! I am not to write anyone off, but continue to speak the truth in love and allow God to decide whom He will use when, where, and how.

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace and faithfulness. I don’t know what the repercussions of yesterday will be, but I leave that in Your hands. May indeed Your kingdom come and Your will be done, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Church Music; December 16, 2021

Posted on December 19, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

For once there is no variance whatsoever between the English and the Japanese, at least in the translations I have in front of me. Checking online, I find that the latest version of the NIV changes that to “my strength and my defense.” That ruins the whole thing for me! The Bible, and specifically Psalms, speaks many times of God being our strength, and it speaks even more about singing to God. It is perfectly logical that the Psalmist would say this here. As David says in Psalm 40:3, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” Singing is a natural response to the awareness of God and His goodness. Countless believers over the years have discovered that when they sing to God, His strength wells up within them, whatever their circumstances. Every era in Church history has had its songs, its music. In the current era, with the technological ease of both making music and disseminating it via the Internet, there has been an explosion of new music, some anointed and some not. The point is not to make music because it’s fun – though it is – or because it’s new, but because it’s an expression of our heart to God. It has been rightly said that you can tell the theology of a church by what they sing. We do well to think about what we sing and why, so that our hearts would be rightly focused on our Savior and Lord in every way.

As I have written before, I am hugely blessed to have been raised in a very musical family that was also a family of faith. Some of my best memories are of being gathered around the piano singing hymns, in 4-part harmony. Musical skill, though a blessing, isn’t the most important thing, however. I think that singing had a lot to do with grounding me in faith, even though my adherence to that faith wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t until I was introduced to the Charismatic Movement in the early ‘70s that the whole world of “new music” burst on me, and I reveled in it. Today I love both old songs and new. I will confess to having some preferences in style, but the important point is the heart, the Spirit, behind each song. I have been aware of God’s anointing on a wide variety of music! I am to be a good steward of my musical gifts, but most importantly, I am to so live, act, and sing so that others may be drawn to sing to God as well, in humble adoration, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I won’t be singing for the audience today, but I will be singing in each of the three class Christmas parties that are coming up. May I not show off, but rather let Your strength be manifested through my songs, drawing my hearers to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Spiritual Warfare; December 15, 2021

Posted on December 17, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 116:7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.

People have made fun of it, but David actually had a pretty good idea when he talked to himself in his Psalms. Sometimes we would do well to give ourselves a good talking to as well! The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy, (John 10:10) and he loves nothing better than to steal our joy and destroy our peace. However, the only tools he has to do that are lies, so we need to remind ourselves of God’s truth in defense. We have been given the armor we need, (Ephesians 6:10-18) but we have to put it on and use it. The Word of God is “sharper than any two-edged sword,” (Hebrews 4:12) but we have to be fully familiar with it to use it effectively. A good swordsman with steel swords will practice countless hours to build up “muscle memory,” so that his body will act without his having to think about it. The same may be said of “spiritual swordsmanship.” The better we allow the Word of God to soak into our heart and mind, the more readily we will be able to apply it in all the situations of life. However, we aren’t going to be very effective at that when we’re all stirred up over something. Sometimes we need to say to ourselves very sternly, as David did, “Return to your rest!” Just about every believer has experienced moments of complete rest and peace, and in times of stress we need to get back to that. It’s not like we don’t know what it is! It is when we are at rest in the Lord that we can respond accurately and effectively to every situation, every attack.

This is an extremely timely Word to me right now, because just last night I really snapped at my wife because of the stress I’ve been under, and continue to face. Today and tomorrow are the climax of the stressful events on the schedule, but it doesn’t stop with tomorrow by any means. I need to keep quoting this verse to myself throughout this season, because the Lord has indeed been good to me. The lies of the devil are exactly that, lies, and I am to give them no place in my heart. As I tell others so often, I am to take my eyes, my focus, off of myself and place them firmly on my Lord, “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) He’s already done everything, so my job is to abide in Him and let His Spirit guide me and carry me along.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed apply and live out Your Word to me, and not just give it lip service. (James 1:22) I’ll be speaking here at the interdenominational prayer meeting in just over an hour. Help me be fully present and focused, and not distracted by all that is to follow. Help me spend this time in joyful anticipation of what You are going to do in and through me, so that I will give the devil no room at all, but be fully submitted to You. (James 4:7) Thank You. Praise God!

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The Grace of God; December 14, 2021

Posted on December 17, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:43 Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.

Here we have the reason for this Psalm to be written: to make people think, and grasp the character of the Lord. Here, as in many places in the Old Testament, where the English says “love,” the Japanese says “grace.” Part of that is because love is not such a freely-used term in Japanese culture. Couples, even husband and wife, seldom use the term to or in relation to each other, instead saying “like.” That makes the New Testament’s extensive use of the word all the more shocking to Japanese. However here, I think there are advantages to the term being “grace.” In none of the examples cited in the Psalm is God obligated to be good to those in distress, but He does it because of who He is. At the same time, ignoring Him and turning against Him has disastrous consequences. The last line of this verse has far more punch in Japanese than in English: “Let that wise person hide these things in their heart, and be enlightened.” That “be enlightened” is a command! It is a deep understanding, so deep that the Buddhists use it in talking about a “higher plane of consciousness,” which in noun form is “satori.” Using a different literary style, this verse could be expressed as, “Hey buddy! You think you’re smart? You’d better grasp the grace of God!”

I’ve run into all sorts of mental gymnastics that people do to try to justify themselves and their actions. I’ve done a few myself! The devil loves to train us in such gymnastics, and it’s important to recognize and reject them. We need to be both honest and humble before God, allowing Him to be the arbiter of right and wrong, and not applying the world’s standards – or our own excuses – to such things. That’s a major reason “political correctness” is such an abomination: it replaces God’s standards with human (actually demonic) ones that sound nice but spit in God’s face. I am not to offend needlessly, but I am never to let the world dictate what is right or wrong, but rather cling to God and His Word. It sets my teeth on edge to hear well-meaning people talk about “your truth,” as though there were no absolutes. That is a major push the devil has been making over the past century or so, and it reeks of the Pit. I am not to be proud, but I am not to be a pushover! I am to be a purveyor of grace, but grace is meaningless if there are no absolute standards by which to measure it. I am to seek to grasp what God reveals to me, knowing that He will never speak into my heart something that is in violation of His Word. I am to share what He reveals to me, speaking the truth in love, so that as many as will receive it may be set free from the lying traps of the devil (John 8:32)

Father, thank You for this reminder. I have several formal opportunities to share the Gospel over the next several days. Help me make full use of each one in all humility, so that Your Word through me may accomplish that for which You send it, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Perspective; December 13, 2021

Posted on December 15, 2021 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.

Continuing from yesterday, the two groups of people in today’s reading are a sharp contrast. Those described here are what we would consider a classic example of people who earned their troubles, but the other group, of sea-going merchants, seems innocent of wrong. They potentially succumbed to greed, but the flip side of that is that commerce benefits many people, and indeed, society as a whole. The problems we experience are often self-inflicted, as in this verse, but sometimes they are just a consequence of living in a fallen world. I am tempted just to repeat what I wrote yesterday, but this is a very important lesson that deserves careful consideration. Just the other day I took part in a Facebook discussion that started from someone who was convinced that God never allows anything in our lives that can’t be for our good, and they were promptly attacked by a deeply wounded person who insisted that either God was not omnipotent or He was not fundamentally good, because of the hurts they had experienced. The problem there is that the second person was, understandably enough, very self-centered on this issue. Like most of us, they were defining “the goodness of God” by their own standards. It’s like a little child, convinced that “Mommy is mean” because she won’t let them have the candy they want. Just yesterday I learned of a woman who buried four husbands before she was 50. None of the circumstances of her various husbands’ deaths were in any way attributable to bad actions on the part of her or her husbands. I can’t imagine that degree of loss! At the same time, she doesn’t blame God, and has a reservoir of experience to draw on in comforting others. Any time we encounter “rough stuff,” we need first to ask God if we had a part in bringing it on, and if so, repent of it immediately. However, if He doesn’t show us a need to repent, we need to submit it to Him and ask Him to use it to better equip us to minister to others in similar circumstances, as His agent of comfort and blessing. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) God won’t waste anything that is given to Him.

I have had some rough spots in life, but the longer I live and the more I experience, the less consequential each one seems. I am totally convinced that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) I’ll confess that in the moment, I can be distracted from that truth! However, it’s all a matter of perspective. In the moment, all sorts of things can seem “unbearable.” However, as God so clearly told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) I am never to make light of another person’s difficulties, much less suffering, but I am to speak grace and hope to them, seeking to give them perspective and simply to come alongside them and assure them that I care, and God cares even more.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I think the thing that I dread most is the loss of my wife, but at the same time, I know that’s reciprocal, and she would have more difficulty in navigating the aftermath than I would. As I said, I can’t imagine what it was like for the woman who buried four husbands. Thank You for Your grace, and the assurance that it is indeed sufficient. Help me be an effective instrument of that grace to those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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