Humility; November 19, 2025

Posted on November 20, 2025 by jgarrott

Jude 1:17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.

I am deeply impressed by Jude’s humility. He was Jesus’ half-brother, raised in the same household, but the only reference he makes to that in the whole letter is in verse one, where he mentions that he was the brother of James. Since James the son of Zebedee was the first of the apostles to be martyred, (Acts 12:2) he wasn’t of that family, but he makes no further “claim to fame.” Here he speaks of his half-brother in the most respectful, reverential terms. He probably never forgot his own attitude, up until Jesus’ resurrection. (John 7:5) Here, he explicitly does not include himself among Jesus’ apostles, though others might have done so. It was this attitude that enabled him to write, at the very end of this letter, one of the most glorious doxologies in the whole Bible, memorably set to music by Don Francisco. “To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25) We have far fewer credentials, humanly speaking, than Jude did, so we need to learn from him to glory in our low position and in the magnificence of God’s grace. Amazing Grace isn’t just a hymn, it’s a declaration of the foundation of our salvation!

I have a lot to learn from Jude. Like Paul, I have a considerable religious pedigree, being descended from generations of faithful servants of God. (Philippians 3:4-7) However, nothing of that sort could ever qualify me for heaven. As has been said, the ground is absolutely level at the foot of the cross, even though physically speaking it was on a hill. Having tasted God’s grace myself, it is my privilege and responsibility to share the news of that grace with as many as will receive it. In the kingdom of God, the way up is indeed down!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the examples of humility You have given me, particularly my father. Like him, may I glory in Christ alone, so that Christ in me may draw many to Himself, for their salvation and His glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Perspective; November 18, 2025

Posted on November 19, 2025 by jgarrott

3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Priorities are an issue every moment of our lives. John desired that Gaius be in good physical health, but he recognized that his spiritual health had priority. The world sees physical health and financial prosperity as paramount, largely ignoring the spiritual, when that has it backwards. At the end of life, another decimal place in your bank statement is going to make no difference. Even physical health, which is more intensely personal, doesn’t last forever, despite dictators discussing living to 150. Even a lifespan of 150 years is meaningless compared to eternity! We have a lot of trouble maintaining that perspective, because we are caught up in the nitty gritty of our daily lives. The interesting thing is that even secular psychologists say that our attitude toward life has far more impact on our actual happiness than the specific things that happen to us. When our perspective and priorities are straight, we can indeed “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) That is what it means for our soul to prosper.

As I have written before, I have had non-Christians bring their friends to meet me because they wanted them to meet “someone who enjoys living.” I don’t think that reputation is undeserved, but I have my moments when it doesn’t seem that way. I sometimes get into fights with computers or cellphones, and that certainly isn’t enjoyable. At the same time, the very existence of those devices was science fiction, even in my own youth. This past Sunday we decorated the church building for Christmas, and I thoroughly stressed out, as I do just about every year. I still have trouble with perspective! Today is my wife’s birthday, and I want it to be fully enjoyable for her. For that to be the case, I’ve got to maintain the right priorities and perspective about everything that goes on, delighting in making it delightful for her. If I am focused on myself, I also will miss out on the blessings God has planned for us today. I too am still growing, but that awareness is part of the perspective I need to maintain, so I’m to be at peace with that.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Thank You for all You enabled me to get done yesterday. Thank You that the lights around the building are going well, though they aren’t complete. Guide in when I do what, so that I won’t stress out and the results will be fully attractive. May I indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that I will be the agent of blessing You want me to be, to my wife and everyone else around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Truth; November 17, 2025

Posted on November 18, 2025 by jgarrott

2 John 1:1-2 To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

This whole letter seems to be focused on love and truth. That’s very timely for our day and age, because both of those fundamental concepts have been under a lot of attack. People excuse all sorts of perversions under the mantra, “love is love,” when they’re really talking about lust. Likewise, truth has been trivialized and made subjective, as in “my truth” and “your truth.” Both of those trends carry the stench of hell. All of that will certainly be straightened out in the Last Judgment! Until then, we have to stand firm in God’s truth, in the definition of love and in everything else. Jesus said plainly that the devil is “a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) The same John who recorded those words is the one who wrote this letter, so it’s no surprise that he’s focused on truth! We sometimes run into the semantic problem of facts versus truth. Facts are totally objective and provable, but truth runs deeper than that. We can’t “prove” that God is love, for example, but that doesn’t change the reality that it is ultimately and eternally true. People in rebellion against God search the Bible for things that might violate facts, and everything they see as suspicious they hold up as “proof” against the truth that is proclaimed throughout the Bible. That’s not only logically absurd, it shows up their abject moral and spiritual poverty. The irony is that modern archaeology continues to validate the historicity of the Bible, and of course, it is far more than just a history book. Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate definition of truth, as He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) If you genuinely love Jesus, you will love God’s truth in its entirety, and that is glorious.

I was raised by a father who held absolute honesty as one of his guiding principles, and I am very grateful. That has given me a sensitivity toward truth, which has blended with a deep love for Jesus. I was just five years old when I proclaimed to my mother, “Mommy, I really, really love you, but I don’t love you nearly as much as I love Jesus.” (That was recorded in my parents’ Christmas newsletter that year.) I wish I could say that I’ve lived in perfect alignment with that love all these years since, but that would be a violation of both facts and truth! However, that love has grown over the years, and it now motivates me to desire that the knowledge of Christ extend as far as possible and as deep as possible, especially in this nation of Japan but also across the world. It makes the Lord’s Prayer the cry of my heart, because God’s will, His kingdom, is totally infused with His truth, so praying that prayer is to pray that all falsehood be totally vanquished. I am to be an agent of God’s truth and love in every area of my life. I don’t do it perfectly, but that is my goal.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for getting us through the day yesterday. The stresses of decorating the church building for Christmas really brought out some of my immaturities! I pray that there wouldn’t be lasting scars in any of the people with whom I interacted, but that we would all continue to grow as You intend, drawing many more into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Light; November 16, 2025

Posted on November 17, 2025 by jgarrott

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Every word of this chapter rings with deep truth. You could spend a lifetime learning to live it all out, and we literally should do exactly that. The reference to walking in the light brings to mind what Jesus said in John 3:19-21 about light and people’s response to it, and since John was the one who recorded that, it doubtless influenced what he wrote here. There are beautiful things about the night, and the glory of the stars and galaxies is invisible to us when they are overpowered by the sun, but in general, light is preferable. Those who prefer the dark generally have dark hearts and motives to make them that way. Many towns have “red light districts” that look fancy and exciting at night, but simply tawdry in the light of day. Anyone who has committed themselves to Jesus, who is the Light, (John 1:4-5) is far happier and more comfortable walking in the light, just as it says here. I could go on and on about light, because the Bible mentions it a great deal, but I will stop with pointing out that there are all kinds of artificial light, in the spiritual sense as well as the physical. We need to be careful that we aren’t deceived by any of the counterfeits. After all, “Lucifer” means “light bearer!” We need to ask and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into the light of Christ, and not be deceived by anything else.

Light has always been a major interest of mine, since I’ve been taking pictures since I was a small child. I like the John Denver song, Sunshine on my Shoulder, and sometimes sing it to myself when I am out on my morning walks, taking pictures of the sunrise and the reflections of light on the river I walk beside. I have also done a lot of electrical work, and get real satisfaction in ensuring that areas are properly illuminated. However, physical light certainly pales in comparison to the light of Christ. My focus must be on walking in the light of Christ, just as John says here, so that His light may shine through me and draw many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and God’s glory. (Matthew 5:14, 16)

Father, thank You for this reminder. At this time of year I get up while it is still quite dark outside, so it’s easy to grasp! Help me be an honest light bearer, not like the devil but with Your pure light alone, destroying the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and drawing people to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Persecution; November 15, 2025

Posted on November 16, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

I preached on verses 10-11 just this past Sunday, and the temptation is there to do it again! However, this verse is sadly relevant to too many people today, even in the US. Laws are changing, but there are still many on the books that we cannot follow, on the basis of our Biblical faith. Just this past week the Supreme Court declined to hear a case brought by a county registrar who had actually been found guilty for refusing to put her name on a same-sex marriage license. And of course, photographers and cake-makers have famously been prosecuted for refusing to celebrate such perversion of God’s clear plan. The world system does not like Christians! And in places like Nigeria and India and many other countries, proclaiming that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord can get you physically assaulted and even killed. Suffering for being a Christian is no joke. We tend to think of persecution as something in the past, but it is all too much present reality. Peter’s words here, therefore, are very pertinent. We are most likely to encounter social pressure, to be politically correct with pronouns and the like, and people will try to shame us for standing firm. That’s nothing to be ashamed of! Rather, we are to rejoice that our commitment is being tested, because no one will be attracted to a faith that means little to the person claiming it. Faith will always be “counter-cultural” to the world’s system, but that’s never a reason to abandon it.

I feel that I have encountered very little pressure against my faith, and I’m grateful, but at times I wonder if I’m being bold enough in expressing it. I’m not to offend needlessly, but I’m never to let fear of a person’s reaction keep me from speaking God’s truth to them. After all, if they don’t know God’s truth, how can they be set free? (John 8:32) I am to be a demonstration of what it means to live as a believer, a child and servant of God, whatever the consequences. I am to rejoice that I don’t belong to this world’s systems, whatever they do to try to pressure me to join them. Sometimes that’s a frontal assault, but more often it’s subtle, and I need to be on my guard. I will never be perfect in this life, but by the grace and strength of God I can keep growing to demonstrate Christ more and more accurately and fully, and that should be my goal. Considering all that God has done for me, it’s the least I can do!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for never giving up on me, but always continuing to prod and encourage me to keep growing. May I fulfill each of the tasks You set for me, even as I rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You told me to do, for Your glory Thank You. Praise God!

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Faith; November 14, 2025

Posted on November 15, 2025 by jgarrott

1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

I have no idea how many times I’ve preached, let alone written, on this passage. It is absolutely glorious! This describes the condition of every genuine believer today. Some perhaps have seen Jesus in visions or near-death experiences, but that’s not the same as seeing Him with our physical eyes. However, we can see Him by faith, and as Hebrews 12:2 says, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Him! This leads us into His salvation, which produces a genuinely inexpressible joy that can be had no other way. I think every believer has moments of doubting their salvation, but those very moments can deepen our faith in the long run, and accordingly, deepen our joy. Those who are “realists,” who “can’t believe anything they can’t see,” aren’t actually being honest with themselves. We don’t see the wind, but we can feel it and see its effects. Except for the occasional spark, we don’t see electricity, but we believe that when we flip the switch the light will come on. Faith is ultimately a choice, and it is literally the difference between life and death, on the eternal scale. God makes faith available to us all, but we have to choose to accept it. (Ephesians 2:8-9) I think that’s one of the factors in Jesus saying that we have to become like little children. (Matthew 18:3) A child that feels loved will not refuse something that is offered. We need first of all to believe that God loves us, for us to believe that He has provided salvation for us. We sometimes struggle with that, because we think that what we have done makes us totally unlovable. Jesus said we who feel that way are precisely who He came to save! (Luke 5:32) God’s salvation defies human logic, so it has to be accepted by faith, but when we have done so, it is more certain than the entire physical universe.

I have a clear recollection of a time when I asked my mother how I could be sure Jesus was alive, and she quoted the song, He Lives, to me: “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.” I was totally satisfied. I have not always been faithful to what I have believed, but the faith has been there for many, many years now. It’s been 70 years since I was baptized – which is a staggering thought – and that faith and assurance have only grown. At this point, my greatest joy is in sharing that faith with all who will listen, and particularly, with all who will receive it for themselves. I have never thought of myself as an evangelist, but how can I keep such a wonderful thing to myself? I want everyone to have the joy and peace I have received, regardless of their circumstances. I can’t force anyone to accept it, but I can make it available, and that is a marvelous privilege.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how You have been opening my eyes to the joy of sharing faith. May I be ever more effective, by the power of Your Spirit, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Humility; November 13, 2025

Posted on November 14, 2025 by jgarrott

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

These 10 verses have some very famous lines in them. At the same time, we don’t like verse nine in particular, and we don’t much like verse four, either. The thing is, many things about God’s economy, that is, the way things work in His kingdom, are extremely different from the way things work in society around us. That’s why this verse, along with verse six, is so important. When we insist that things be as we think they ought to be, we are miserable! We need to have the humility to say that we can’t figure it out, but God is right, all the time. After all, humility is an internal thing, an attitude of the mind and heart. It’s not at all that we aren’t to use the minds God has given us, but it is to say that we must remember that we don’t have the mental horsepower to figure it all out on our own. Logical thinking was what led Solomon to marry so many foreign women, as a means of diplomacy instead of fighting, but that led to his idolatry, and that messed everything up. Solomon knew how to exalt himself in the eyes of the world, and it destroyed his standing before God. The world today thinks much like Solomon, and look at the mess it’s in. This is all part of verse seven, the one I quote most often out of this whole passage: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When we think we know better than God, we certainly aren’t submitted to Him, and therefore are unable to resist the devil effectively.

As I have written many times, pride has been a snare to me all my life.  When God showed me my own soul, just for an instant, the blackness of the pride that was there just about destroyed me. I can’t say I’ve totally conquered it, but at least I’m aware of the danger. Humility before God is always the best course! God has given me many abilities, and sometimes He has to let me run into walls to teach me I don’t have all the answers. Just this morning I was talking with my wife about someone who fixates on a scenario and can’t seem to grasp anything that conflicts with that. I do the same thing! I’ve got to let God be God, holding onto the truths He’s revealed to me but always remembering that I only have a small fraction of the total picture. I don’t know other people’s circumstances, much less their hearts, so I’m to be active in yielding them to God. I am a part of the Body of Christ, but a very small part indeed, and that’s just fine. I’m to be faithful with all that God places in my hands, anｄ know that it’s all grace.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all that You are doing, in me and in the people around me. I don’t even know how to be properly humble! Help me follow You step by step, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Trials; November 12. 2025

Posted on November 13, 2025 by jgarrott

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

It’s interesting that James, the half-brother of Jesus who ministered almost exclusively to Jews, wrote something so very similar to what Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, wrote in Romans 5:3-5. This all fits in with the chorus, repeated throughout the New Testament, of being grateful and joyful regardless of our circumstances. That flies in the face of our flesh, which would rather not suffer in any way! The Bible isn’t teaching masochism by any means; we aren’t to seek out suffering. However, when we are totally convinced we were created by a loving Heavenly Father, we can have assurance that He won’t allow anything in our lives that He can’t use for our good, however it might feel in the moment. (Romans 8:28) That’s the message from James, and from Paul, for that matter. This completely eliminates victim mentality, if we genuinely trust God. It doesn’t take much insight to see that a victim mentality leads to misery, not happiness in any way. As Paul famously said in Romans 8:37, in all suffering and persecution we are more than conquerors, in Christ Jesus our Lord. After all, He went to the cross for us, and the result was eternal salvation for all who would receive it in repentance and faith. Whatever our suffering, it doesn’t equal what He went through.

I had never thought of it this way before, but knowing this truth in the depths of my heart probably has a lot to do with my high tolerance for pain. I’m also not intimidated by medical procedures of any kind, though I don’t necessarily enjoy them. That’s not at all to say I don’t get irritated, or even angry, at some things, but it does go a long way toward making life enjoyable. In dealing with others, I have to be careful that I don’t come across as trivializing their pain, or suffering of any kind. It’s real to them, however transient I might know it to be. I am to be grateful for God’s grace to me and express that grace to those with whom I interact, so that they too may open their hearts in faith to receive the abundant blessings God has planned for them.

Father, thank You for Your truly amazing love, mercy, and grace. Help me trust You more and more fully and lead others to do likewise, regardless of circumstances, not only so that we won’t miss any of the blessings You have prepared for us, but so that You may be glorified. Thank You. Praise God!

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Belonging; November 11, 2025

Posted on November 12, 2025 by jgarrott

Hebrews 13:13-14 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Verse 15 was referenced very often when I was first introduced to the Charismatic Movement, but I don’t remember any messages on these two verses! We all like to be part of the “in crowd,” accepted and affirmed by those around us. Within the Church body that should be happening, for the most part at least, but in society, not so much. This can be a real obstacle for some people, because the desire to be accepted is natural and strong. However, everyone in the New Testament, from Jesus on, tells us that’s not something we can count on at all. As Paul put it, “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:29) That meshes perfectly with what is written here. We indeed need to belong, to be part of a larger group, but we need to be very careful what group to consider. A twisted example of this is gangs. Young people without strong families are tempted by gangs precisely because they aren’t anchored, with a father and mother who set appropriate boundaries for them. The same thing may be said of young people in affluent societies who go off to college and are seduced by teachers and ideas that violate Biblical principles. The family is our first group. No family is perfect, but some hardly qualify for the name of family. The salvation for that is the family of God. None of us comes from a perfect family, and certainly none of us live in a perfect society, but a healthy church is a marvelous remedy for all that. It is when we really discover God as Father that we discover our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the issue of belonging is solved. No local church is perfect either, for that matter, but it certainly can and should be far better than any of the alternatives!

Belonging has always been an issue for me, as I think it is for most people. Growing up as a Caucasian in Japan I was automatically excluded from many groups, and as a Missionary Kid in a U. S. Air Force dependents school, I didn’t exactly fit in there, either. My real healing in this area started with my wife really accepting me, and I have grown increasingly secure ever since. My experiences with local churches have been varied, but I am very grateful for the family I currently have in this church. At the same time, I indeed look forward to the City that is to come, as this passage says, where and when all these issues will be forgotten.

Father, thank You for accepting me and making me part of the Body of Christ. May I fulfill all of Your purposes for me in this role, so that others too may belong to You fully, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Goals; November 10, 2025

Posted on November 11, 2025 by jgarrott

Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

This particular verse is really being put to the test right now, with all the political divisions that are so evident. With all the violent rhetoric and actions coming from one side in particular, peace can seem like a distant goal! However, it remains a vital goal, no matter how distant it might seem. And on top of that, we have the goal of holiness. Peace, as expressed here, involves two parties, and so isn’t necessarily up to us, but holiness is between us and God, and He certainly isn’t going to let His end down. One problem with holiness is that we often have a distorted idea of what it is. It certainly isn’t walking around with a long face all the time! Holiness means accurately reflecting the character of God. That isn’t our natural state, so He has to “polish us up” to better reflect Him. That holiness doesn’t originate in us, but in Him; we can’t generate it on our own. Accordingly, seeking to be holy means seeking more of Him. Jesus was the only person to ever embody the Father fully (Colossians 2;9), but we are being transformed into the likeness of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:18) That’s what holiness is all about.

We had a bit of intensive training in that this morning, when our doorbell rang incessantly at 3 am. It was a lady to whom we have been ministering, bringing us a dish of pork stew she had made for us, along with a few cents of offering. My first reaction, on waking and seeing the time, was, “I’m NOT going to the door.” However, she kept ringing the bell, and I relented and went down to the door. We have known from our first interactions with her that she has some bad connections in her brain, particularly in relation to time and days of the week, (as well as some other things) but this was the most extreme example of that so far. I did tell her firmly that it was a major problem for her to come at that time of night, but the Lord kept me from completely exploding at her. This verse is very appropriate for us this morning! This is a reminder that these are goals, not achievements, just as Paul acknowledged. (Philippians 3:12-14) I am to keep pressing in for more of my Lord, so that I may represent Him more and more accurately.

Father, thank You for this lesson, even though I didn’t feel very grateful at 3 am! Thank You for the praying I was able to do after I went back to bed. I do continue to pray for the brother who is having surgery today, as well as for his wife, and I pray for the woman who came to the door this morning. We all need Your grace and mercy! May Your will indeed be done and the works of the devil be destroyed, (1 John 3:8) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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