Knowledge; December 20, 2021

Posted on January 4, 2022 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Jeremiah certainly had some unique encounters with God. Here he is a prisoner, as described in detail in the previous chapter, but God speaks to him anyway, just as Paul and many others have had intimate times with their Creator when in physically very difficult circumstances. God begins His remarks to Jeremiah by reminding him of just who He is, as recorded in verse 2. We sometimes forget with Whom we are dealing. The more science discovers about the universe, the more we should be rejoicing that the One who created all of that cares about us individually, marveling at the magnitude of His power and grace. With that established, God issues a challenge to Jeremiah, and through him, to us. Human beings tend to have a thirst for knowledge. That can get us into real trouble, as when Eve and then Adam chose to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, rather than obeying God and trusting Him to settle all such matters. Seeking to know more about the universe that God created is not at all a bad thing, but the highest knowledge is of God Himself. Proverbs nails it when it says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) As the Lord had already told Jeremiah, “Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” (Jeremiah 9:24) With all of that as background, God very graciously says that He wants to tell us things that will blow our minds. Human pride doesn’t want to admit that anything is “unsearchable” by man, but the fact remains that many things fall into that category. The things God tells Jeremiah after this, dealing with extreme destruction and then glorious restoration, were certainly beyond his imagination. The destruction was probably fairly predictable, but the restoration was absolutely miraculous. Since the Holy Spirit has been poured out, He sometimes gives believers what Paul called a “word of knowledge,” (1 Corinthians 12:8) providing information that hasn’t been logically perceived. That’s distinct from prophecy, but is closely related. It’s not something we can demand, and it is not something to be used for selfish ends, but here God is offering it for blessing, to build up believers and advance His kingdom. If we are active in seeking to serve God, we will ask Him for whatever knowledge we need to do His will.

I have experienced the gift of supernatural knowledge a few times, but my wife seems to operate in that area a bit more, looking at people and knowing things about them she couldn’t possibly know apart from God’s grace. That has freaked more than one person out, but we have both experienced it bringing people to repentance. It is never to be taken lightly or to be presumed upon, much less bragged about. I am to keep my focus on knowing God, asking Him to show me whatever I need to know to be fully useful to Him, but not demanding frivolous knowledge. I’ve already got more than enough trivia in my brain! The people saying it to Hosea weren’t sincere, but I need to “press in to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3) in truth, placing that knowledge above every other, so that I won’t be deceived by pride.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the mind You’ve given me, and for making me a “knowledge junkie.” May I indeed keep all of that in perspective, knowing that nothing can compare to knowing You. Thank You for opening Yourself up to me, far more than I could ever deserve or even imagine. May my response be as You desire, accomplishing Your will for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Leaders; December 29, 2021

Posted on January 3, 2022 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 30:21 Their leader will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me,
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?’ declares the Lord.

Leaders are important, as history shows. Things would be very different today had it not been for Churchill, Washington, Lincoln, and many, many others. Many aspire to leadership, and some have it thrust upon them. Numbers of politicians have claimed to be the sort of leader described here, a “man of the people” who is close to God, but few actually fit the description. The rhetorical question at the end of this verse is very telling. The NIV renders it as “Who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?” The Japanese is actually even stronger: “Who is he who will risk his life to draw close to me?” We don’t see many politicians risking their lives to draw close to God! The thing is, there are such people, and we need to ask God to raise them up. Actually, our own pursuit of God should be that intense, and if God chooses to use us, then so be it, for His glory. God does give some people a desire to lead, but if the desire for the position of leadership is primary, that person is actually disqualified. God has to come first! True leaders see the need for leadership and rise to the occasion, not because of wanting to be first but because of a love for God and for the people they lead. Numbers of politicians claim that motivation, but the fact that God expresses it here as a question should make us question such claims. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Jesus Himself told us clearly to evaluate people on the basis of the fruit of their lives. (Matthew 7:15-20)

I have had a very ambivalent relationship to leading. I am very aware of the extra responsibility born by leaders, and I haven’t wanted to bear that. At the same time, I have stepped in at times when I have seen a leadership vacuum, with varying results. I don’t consider myself to be a very good leader, because I’m not good at delegation. However, I must not shy away from leading because of that. After all, Moses was very poor at delegation! Thinking about leadership at 73 seems a bit ironic, because I don’t seem to have any ambition left. However, that could be my highest qualification! I am increasingly aware of my own faults and weaknesses, which is actually a good thing, because it forces me to draw closer to God. Whether He chooses to use me in leadership or not, that needs to be my clearest and greatest goal. I don’t feel I’ve been in a place of risking my life to draw close to God, but that needs to be my heart, whatever specific functions God has for me.

Father, this is uncomfortable territory for me. I don’t really want to be a leader! At the same time, I certainly want to lead people closer to You, into the intimate fellowship that I know You desire with Your children. Help me keep my priorities straight, that is, to follow Your priorities for me, so that I will indeed draw closer to You as Your will is done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Sabbath; December 28, 2021

Posted on January 3, 2022 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 17:21 This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.

We have gotten so far away from the concept of a Sabbath that this seems like much to do about nothing. Of course, the technological revolution has greatly changed the concept of labor, so we need to dig down to the root principles here. Actually, it seems very illogical to modern people that the command to keep the Sabbath would be one of the 10 Commandments. Whereas even in Jesus’ day legalism had totally distorted the concept of the Sabbath, causing Him to have to declare, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sab­bath,” (Mark 2:27) that hardly means it was a meaningless commandment. The Sabbath was commanded, I think, for two reasons. The first is that, as a number of modern studies have shown, people need a regular cycle of rest to maintain health and efficiency. Getting obsessive about that is what made Jesus have to correct the Pharisees repeatedly, “breaking the Sabbath” by doing things like healing people. The other purpose of the Sabbath, in my opinion, is as a counter to greed, to remind us that God is our Source, and not just our own labor. It was actually not so long ago that most stores in America were closed on Sunday, whereas today, Chick-fil-A stands out for maintaining that practice. Companies, which is to say the owners, were motivated by greed to stay open and “catch the weekend traffic,” thus denying their employees the right to rest and/or attend worship services. It took COVID to get a number of national chains to close even on Thanksgiving Day! The Bible has a lot to say about the evils of greed, but suffice to say, it never brings true blessing.

I have long had a very complicated relationship with the Sabbath, because as even Jesus pointed out, those in ministry are often at their most busy on the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:5) In terms of rest, it is very wise for ministers to take the next day off, Monday in most cases, but that can be a difficult pattern to maintain. For most of my time in Omura I have tried not to have school classes on Mondays, expressing to the schools involved that I needed it as a Sabbath, but that’s not to say that I have genuinely rested every Monday. I do think I have mostly avoided “money grubbing” on Sundays, or really most days. Things get complicated for church members in various occupations, and I must be careful not to be legalistic. We have a member who is a caregiver in a nursing facility, and the clients there do not magically take care of themselves one day a week! For that matter, the burdens of parenting don’t go away on Sunday, either! That said, I need to teach the believers that God gave us the Sabbath as a blessing, so that we may in turn bless others.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s not something I think about very often, and that’s not good. Help me go by Your plans on every level, so that nothing will hinder Your purposes being accomplished through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Schedule; December 27, 2021

Posted on December 30, 2021 by jgarrott

Isaiah 51:2 “Look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was but one,
and I blessed him and made him many.”

It struck me just now that at the time Abraham died he only had two children, and one of those was not a child of God’s promise. (He did have more by his second wife Keturah, but those don’t figure in the Biblical narrative after Genesis 25:4, though they are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 1:32-33) Isaac in turn only had the twin boys, Jacob and Esau. The multiplication God promised Abraham happened very slowly! Again and again throughout the Bible it is very clear that God’s promises are sure, but His time frame is not the same as ours. That’s why Peter had to write so clearly, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (Peter 3:8-9) This keeps coming up in my devotions. You’d think the Lord was trying to teach me something! Psychologists are agreed that tolerance for delayed gratification is a major indicator of emotional maturity, but sometimes it seems like society is steadily becoming less emotionally mature! We are pampered by the pace of technological progress, and we want the latest and greatest NOW! Awesome things are happening, but they aren’t happening at the pace we would like. The James Webb Space Telescope just launched successfully, but it’s 10 years behind schedule and it will be almost a month before those operating it will know whether it is going to operate properly. That’s just one of many examples that could be given. We need to remember that our Creator has said, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) Unlike human plans and promises, if He said it, that settles it, whether or not we believe it. Many things seem to point to our being in the Last Days, but earnest believers in every era have felt that way, so we aren’t to try to pin God to some timetable of our making. At the same time, we aren’t to dismiss the various signs we are seeing and so fail to be personally ready, available for God to use as He desires.

The thing that struck me hardest about this verse was quite personal. My parents came to Japan as missionaries in 1934 and 35, respectively, and labored faithfully. On at least one occasion my father prostrated himself on the floor and cried out, “God, if I am standing in the way of revival in Japan, then take me out of the way!” As a new missionary in Japan he had visited the famous Shantung Revival in China, and he knew what revival looked like. At the time he didn’t know that God was preparing the Chinese Church to endure the decades of Communist oppression that are still continuing, but God sees the end from the beginning. My parents were good examples of what Hebrews talks about: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:39-40) Not long after my wife and I came to Omura 40 years ago the Lord gave us the vision of Omura again being the foremost Christian city in Japan. That hasn’t happened yet! However, just as Abraham didn’t see his multitudes of descendants in the flesh, but only by faith, I too am not to give up in any way, but trust that God will bring about His harvest in His way on His schedule, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for the various things You are doing even now in this church. Help me indeed keep my eyes on Jesus and trust You to fulfill all Your promises, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Guidance; December 26, 2021

Posted on December 29, 2021 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

This whole story is so extremely familiar that it’s hard to read it with any degree of freshness. I preached on verse 10 last week! However, this verse is a reminder that God does guide us, if we are sensitive to hear Him. The Magi were obviously pretty tuned to such things, because they had come all the way from Persia to find the baby Christ. Their avoiding Herod in this way brings to mind the story from the Old Testament, where God clued Elisha on what was going on with the Aramaeans. (2 Kings 6:11-12) God indeed knows everything that is going on, all the time, and if we will be submitted to Him He will let us know as much as we need to know. It’s not wise to get greedy, demanding to know more, but if our hearts are quiet before Him He will enable us to avoid all sorts of traps of the devil. Another thing we learn from this story is that there are always those who will try to interfere with God’s plans because they are more in tune with the devil than with God. As Peter said, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) God can tell us where the “lion” is waiting to attack us, just as He did in this story. Reading on, we learn that Joseph also was informed of the situation in a dream, and he too took action. (verses 13-15) Both the Magi and Joseph are illustrations of the simple reality that we have to follow the guidance God gives us, but if we do, things will turn out much better than otherwise.

I’ve never been one to receive dreams from the Lord, but I couldn’t begin to count how many times and in how many ways God has guided me. I am not to take pride in that, but rather be grateful for God’s mercy and grace and seek to be ever more sensitive to hear Him. I am still very prone to say and do things without His guidance, as I demonstrated just yesterday, striking out from self-centered ignorance and hurting people I care deeply about. I too need to choose to listen all the time, hearing God and hearing the people around me, so that my words and actions may flow with His Spirit and nothing else, for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your patience with me. I ask for wisdom in how to help heal the hurts I caused yesterday, and I ask for more restraint, greater sensitivity, so that my words won’t wound needlessly. I realize that my words have weight, and that can be a heavy responsibility at times. May the words from my mouth accomplish Your will and no other, for good and not evil, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Transformative Events; December 25, 2021

Posted on December 29, 2021 by jgarrott

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

This is obviously a very familiar verse, and a catchy little chorus has been made of just the first half of it. I’ve always liked it, for two reasons. The first is the mental image of the shepherds, walking along singing, probably punctuated with intermittent exclamations of things like “Glory!” “Praise God!” “Hallelujah!” In all that they probably tried to replicate the song the angels had sung to them. That is a very joyous and glorious scene to me. The second thing is very simply that they returned, they went back to what they had been doing when the angel appeared to them. Life didn’t stop, and it doesn’t stop for any event, no matter how dramatic, triumphant, or even tragic. At the same time, the shepherds themselves were forever changed by their experience. From that point they never doubted the existence of God, angels, or the supernatural in general. We all have experiences that mark turning points in our lives. Some of those are good and pleasant, some may be tragic or even horrific. The question is never whether we will have such experiences, since we are hardly ever in control of them, but how we will respond to them when they occur. Jesus famously cautioned us about the negative side of that. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) God never allows anything in our lives that He can’t use for good. (Romans 8:28) However, if we respond wrongly, turning away from God instead of toward Him, the results are indeed tragic. Abuse is a good case in point. Particularly when the abuser is a “religious” figure, the abused person runs a high risk of rejecting God, but Jesus said that the fate of such abusers is more than horrible. (Luke 17:1-2) However, some abused people manage to come through their experience gloriously strengthened, knowing that by the grace of God they can get through anything. Conversely, some people are ruined by dramatic events that, on the face of it, would seem good, like winning the lottery or otherwise coming suddenly into a great deal of money, and some people make good use of it and are genuinely blessed, as well as blessing others. It’s all a matter of focus and internal values and priorities.

I haven’t had hugely tragic or triumphant events in my life, but I have certainly had experiences that have been transforming. Meeting, courting, and marrying my wife was certainly dramatic, and I am deeply grateful. Having God speak to me so clearly that it might as well have been audible is something I’ll never forget. Having Him show me a mirror so that I got a glimpse of the blackness of my soul absolutely devastated me at the time, but it was a moment of the deepest mercy and love, and it certainly changed me. At this point in my life I realize that all the events of my life are no more than bumps and wiggles in my “lifeline,” so to speak. The “big event” is when I stand before my Lord, set free from all that has held me back, so that I may have complete fellowship with Him. I am deeply grateful for all He has brought me through, and I’m sure he has more blessings planned, but my anticipation of that climactic day continues to grow. As the song says, “What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.” Those I leave behind will mourn, but I will rejoice beyond words to express.

Father, thank You for all You bring us through. Help me indeed respond to everything as You desire and intend, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Name of Jesus; December 24, 2021

Posted on December 28, 2021 by jgarrott

Matthew 1:21 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

I doubt that many people think much about the name, Jesus, or more properly, Yeshua. The majority of English speakers don’t even know the English spelling and pronunciation are something of a fluke. The bilingual NIV/Shinkaiyaku Bible in front of me at least has the footnote, “Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.” In many societies names are deeply meaningful, but that is largely lost from American society today. Continuing family names is still common, or even naming babies for famous people, but we see people making names up out of thin air as well, thinking only about whether they sound nice or are unique. That makes us overlook the meaning of names in the Bible, even this “name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) This is totally tied in with John 3:16, because the Son came to earth to be our Savior. That makes it all the more ironic and sad when people use His name as an expletive. For that matter, relatively few English speakers know that Christ is the Anglicized form of the Greek word for Messiah, or that both of those words mean Savior. (The Japanese term for Savior is more explicitly, Saving Lord.) All the facts about who Jesus is, even apart from what He has done and is doing, are worthy of a great deal of thought and meditation. The better we know Him, who and what He is, the more secure we will be against all that this world throws at us, either trials or temptations.

My name is deeply family related, and I am very pleased with it, even if “Jackson Maxfield Garrott” does get a bit cumbersome at times. When I was still a baby someone asked my mother what my name was, and when she told them, they said, “That’s a mighty big name for such a small baby.” My mother replied, “He’ll grow.” Whether I have grown to be worthy of the name I was given is for others to decide. Of far greater importance is my relationship to the name of Jesus, and how accurate it is that I am called a Christian. I want others to know that the Lord saves because of me. I often perform weddings at a “wedding chapel” for largely non-Christian groups, and I always talk about God’s love. Many Japanese are aware that the Bible says, “God is love,” (1 John 4:8) so I bring that up and then contrast God’s love with human love, talking about Jesus as the ultimate expression of God’s love. In that, I tell them that Jesus means, God is salvation. Simply telling them that doesn’t accomplish their salvation, but it gives them the opportunity to repent and believe for their salvation, and that is my prayer for them.

Father, it seems like every year at Christmas I get totally stressed out because of all the things to be done, and I fail to marvel at the magnificence of what You did in sending Jesus. Forgive me. Thank You for the service we’ll be having tonight. There are still things to be completed before then. Help us receive Your wisdom and strength for each task, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, so that Your salvation may be manifested in and through us as a witness to many, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Hiding from God; December 23, 2021

Posted on December 28, 2021 by jgarrott

John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

John 3:16 is rightly the most famous verse in the Bible, but people really need to keep reading past that. God doesn’t vindictively dump people into hell, but they choose it for themselves. They mostly don’t realize it’s hell they’re choosing, but they choose their evil deeds over God’s light. Privacy is indeed an issue in society, but often the ones who are most prying into other people’s affairs have the most reason to hide their own. Almost 50 years ago the Supreme Court invented a “right” to abortion out of the right to privacy, based on the 6th Amendment in the Bill of Rights, which protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures.” Thankfully that looks about to be exposed for the insanity it is, but the whole issue is an excellent example of the reality behind this passage. People want to cover up the evil of their immorality through the evil of murder. However, that’s just one example. Politicians are an excellent case in point, because they feel their “exalted status” allows them to do things “common people” aren’t allowed to get away with. They forget that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) Accountability doesn’t seem to be in their vocabulary! Seeing things in the dark isn’t the half of it, because God sees even into the depths of our heart. That is a joyous truth for those who love God and seek to follow Him, but it is a fearsome reality for those who try to turn their backs on Him.

I’m a strange one in this area, because I have known and understood from a young age that God could see everything, and yet at times I chose to do things that I knew weren’t pleasing to Him. At this point in my life I want Him to point out to me things that still aren’t pleasing to Him, but sometimes I can be pretty dense. Looking around me I see people all the time who are trying to hide this, that, or the other, but it doesn’t work very well even in relation to the people around them for very long. Sometimes the results are immediately tragic, like the neighbor where we used to live deliberately driving her car off a cliff, when none of us knew she was in such emotional turmoil. Sometimes God gives me words of knowledge about people, and it can be very shocking to them when I indicate I know things about them that they thought were hidden. I am to act on such knowledge as God intends, starting first with prayer, and not let myself get puffed up over it. I’ve got to remember at all times that I too am totally dependent on the grace and mercy of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in the knowledge of Your omniscience, living in such obedience to You that I’m not worried about hiding anything at all, so that I may be transparent enough for those around me to see You through me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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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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