God’s Plans and Ours; July 26, 2025

Posted on July 27, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.

This of course brings to mind James saying much the same thing, with the very wise instruction, “You ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (James 4:15 Actually, James fits in perfectly in the category of Wisdom Literature, right along with Proverbs.) This is so literally true that it ought to go without saying, but we all tend to fall into presumptive thinking. That’s not to say that we aren’t to plan, but it is to say that we should hold our plans loosely, knowing that God has the ultimate say, and He’s quite likely to have a different idea. Of course, in the long run His plans are always better, but they don’t necessarily feel that way in the moment. At issue here is the fundamental humility to recognize that God is God, and we aren’t. We like to think we are in control of our lives, “the captain of our soul,” but that is a lie fostered by the devil. Free will is real, and our choices and actions do make a difference, but the outcome isn’t actually in our hands. The better we focus on God, listening to Him and walking with Him, the more His good, gracious plans will be manifested in our lives, and that is something to aim for indeed. Sometimes He gives us hints of His plans long ahead of time. I have heard that Bob Prevost had an idea that he would be Pope while he was still a boy, and God told my wife she would be a missionary when she was 12. When that happens we are to prepare, but at the same time we can’t actually make it happen. There was no way Bob Prevost could have manipulated his way into the papacy! Countless things happen over which we have no control whatsoever, so we need to fix our hearts on our Creator.

I had a sharp reminder of this at 11:17 yesterday morning, when we had a level 4 earthquake. It was naturally very startling, and a few things did fall over in the house. Thankfully, it was just a sharp jolt, and not a continuing shaking. Today we expect to go into Nagasaki City to meet up with a group from the US, taking them to the 26 Martyrs Museum and the Atomic Bomb Museum, but what will actually go on is in God’s hands. One member of the group is a Japan MK, almost my age, and I can imagine all the thoughts and expectations that are built up in her. This isn’t the same Japan she grew up in! However, none of us know what the next moment will bring, and we need to be open to God for whatever He has planned. Yesterday I spent a good bit of time preparing to teach on Motivational Gifts, which I haven’t done for many years, and my wife spent a good bit of time preparing for my photo show next month, organizing the pictures I’ve already printed. We are accountable to prepare for things, but at the same time recognize, even emotionally, that we aren’t in control, God is. That’s actually a very good place to be!

Father, thank You for this reminder. It fits in perfectly with what You’ve been telling me for years, to rest, relax, and rejoice in You. Help me indeed to that, today and every day, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Parenting; July 25, 2025

Posted on July 26, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.

This brings to mind the 5th Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) As Paul pointed out, this is the only one of the 10 that contains a promise, that of long life in the promised land. (Ephesians 6:1-3) We easily get all confused about the whole matter of parenting. Far too many parents today want to be their children’s friend. That’s a sad mistake. Friends can come and go, but parents are forever. You do need to be loving, but that doesn’t mean giving in to their every whim. Parents need to be a major, or the major, source of stability in their children’s lives. There needs to be consistency: clear, rational boundaries, with consequences for exceeding them. Threats without follow-through are a big no-no. However, the devil goes after children even if they have perfect parents. Their friends will tell them their parents are “too old to understand,” “relics of a previous age.” On some levels there can be some truth to that, but if the foundation of respect has been laid, parents can communicate timeless truth that they may have learned the hard way. God’s truth doesn’t depend on technology or social trends! Children need to remember that their parents too were once children, and so know better what is going on than their children imagine.

As a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, this feels really close to home. Sadly, the Pacific Ocean separates us geographically, but the Internet helps us stay connected. My father’s words generally felt weighty. He was both learned and wise, quite apart from his academic accomplishments. One of my most treasured memories is of talking with him in his study during the brief period we had together in Fukuoka, after I had brought my wife and children to Japan for the first time and before he and my mother left for the US, from which he came back as ashes in a box. Interestingly, I remember my mother as the disciplinarian of the two, though there was never any question that my father was head of the household. She retired and followed us to Texas, where I went to seminary, because we had her only grandchildren. The Lord took her home at 72, just a couple of years or so after my wife, children, and I had arrived in Omura. I don’t think I had much opportunity to despise her! I feel our own children have done well by us, though raising them was certainly not uneventful. God has been very gracious, and I feel I can teach parenting classes with some assurance!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be a good parent at this point in my life, and a clear channel for You to pour Your grace and truth through me to others, for the lies of the enemy to be countered and Your name glorified. Thank You. Praise God!

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Omniscient God; July 23, 2025

Posted on July 25, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 21:15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.

Wow! Talk about the Bible being more accurate than the newspaper! This verse is a very succinct description of what is going on in Washington, D.C. right now. Things from the past 20 years are coming out, with credible talk of criminal referrals and indictments. A lot of formerly, or even currently, powerful people are probably losing a lot of sleep at this point. The Bible talks again and again and again about how evil people think they are getting away with stuff, but God sees everything, and the only sins He forgets are the ones that are repented of and put under the blood of the Lamb. This applies on every level. It’s not just big-name politicians and bureaucrats who are in trouble, but people all the way down the line, all the way to the romantic couple recently spotted on a “kiss cam,” who were both married to other people. People have little idea what “the fear of the Lord” is all about! I’m reminded of the murderer, several years ago, who managed to escape police on foot in the Arizona desert, only to be found several days later, dead of dehydration and exposure. The marshal who wrote up the report said, “Remanded to a higher court.” No one gets away with anything! Our capacity for self-delusion is incredible. If God weren’t “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” (Exodus 34:6) we’d all be in a heap of trouble! The more accurately we see ourselves, and the more accurately we see our Creator, the more delighted and grateful we will be to serve Him with our whole heart.

I have understood for most of my life that God was truly omniscient, knowing every detail about everything, but I haven’t always acted like I cared. As I have commented many times, James 1:22 was written for me, because I have known God’s Word without putting it into practice. How incredibly foolish! I’ve come a long way, but I am still certifiably human. I’m never to think I’ve “arrived,” but stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to repentance and correction. I want to be one who rejoices in justice, not because I’m perfect but because I trust and obey my Lord. God is working everywhere I look, and the sense that Christ’s return is imminent continues to grow. I want that moment to be one of unadulterated joy, with no regrets, as God sets everything right.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all I see You doing, on the international scale all the way down to the little details of my own life. Help me be a willing, joyful agent of Your will being done, on Your schedule and in Your love, so that as many as will may repent and believe while there is time, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Having Fun; July 23, 2025

Posted on July 24, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 15:21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
    but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

Having fun can be a difficult subject. Many people have a distorted view of Christian faith, thinking it makes you “a stick in the mud.” Nothing could be further from the truth! It’s all a matter of what is fun. There are some people who think vandalism is fun. I’ve seen something that said, “They say a true friend will bail you out of jail. No, a real friend will be there in the cell with you, saying ‘That was a blast!’” That’s actually exactly what this verse is talking about. God desires joy for us, and simple enjoyment – fun – as well. However, the devil loves to distort the good things of God, and it can take wisdom to see through his lies. One of my grandfathers was a seminary professor, so my mother interacted with a lot of seminary students. She recalled hearing that one such student had taken a non-Christian girl to a party, and that girl was amazed. “I never knew you could have so much fun without alcohol!” The devil tells us that alcohol, or drugs, or sex, is the answer to our problems, but that is never the case. A dearly loved college professor of mine, Dr. Richard C. Pettigrew, said in one of his poems, “There’s such a thing as too much sense. You need a little nonsense to keep you sane.” I agree completely! However, listening to God will teach you the “nonsense” that will bless you and others. The only thing it will tear down will be lies.

I’ve always maintained that my existence is proof that God has a sense of humor! I certainly enjoy “being silly” at times, and it is well known that I am inflicted with “the pun disease.” (Or is it that I inflict puns on others?) However, I’m grateful that I’ve never been involved in “fun” that was destructive. I have always maintained that church should be enjoyable. We aren’t to take worship lightly, but we certainly aren’t to take ourselves too seriously. Genuine praise and worship is both fun and liberating, not to mention healing and inspiring. I’m grateful for the example I had growing up. My father, a university chancellor, no less, was known, when taking a group photograph, to stand on one foot and wiggle the other one around off to the side, to make people laugh. That’s both silly and having fun, and it harms no one. We had visitors this past Sunday who are faithful members of another denomination, and they were amazed at how much fun we were having! We had a meal after the service, and they felt fully welcomed and had a really good time. Repentance is essential for salvation, but you shouldn’t go on a guilt trip every time you go to church! The Gospel is indeed Good News, the best news you can tell anyone, and sharing it is genuinely delightful.

Father, thank You for Your overwhelming grace toward us. Help us recognize, welcome, and rejoice in that grace at all times, so that those around us may see and believe that You love them as well, so that they too may be saved, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Advice; July 22, 2025

Posted on July 23, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 12:15 The way of fools seems right to them,
    but the wise listen to advice.

I almost didn’t keep reading, after hitting this first verse in today’s passage. Not all advice is wise, or righteous, or honest, but a refusal to listen is certainly foolish. At the same time, always seeking more advice and failing to decide on a course and act on it is if anything even more foolish. Everyone is given a certain degree of intellect, along with a free will, and God expects us to use those faithfully. However, we never have all the information about anything, and indecision can be a terrible trap. This verse isn’t telling us to be pushovers, doing only what others tell us, but it is advocating for humility. Of course, the wisest thing is to listen to God and do whatever He says, but He does speak through the people around us a lot of the time. It’s not good to always be agonizing over whether you’re right, but it’s also not good to always assume you’re right. We are to be good stewards of the intellect and understanding God has given us, but always remember that God knows best, and be willing to listen to Him however and through whomever He speaks to us.

This verse hit me so hard because I have often displayed the sort of foolishness it talks about! However, I have grown, and for many years now my days have consistently begun with actively listening to God in a time of reading the Bible and praying. Particularly since learning this SOAP system (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) I have had assurance that God does indeed speak to me, which has made it easier to listen to Him about all sorts of specific directions as well. The older I get, the more I realize I don’t know, which is very good for humility! I do need discernment in choosing my advisors, because some certainly aren’t worth my time or attention. However, God has at times spoken to me through some surprising vessels, and I’m not to discount anyone. These days it is very popular to ask questions of AI chatbots, but that strikes me as very dangerous. They can be sources of information, but that information has been shown to not always be accurate. At the very least, all they can really do is regurgitate what others have said, with no spark of divine wisdom. I am to seek God, first and foremost, and be sensitive and obedient to whatever He tells me, however He does it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how You do guide me, even – or particularly – when Your guidance is surprising. Help me seek out wise advisors and recognize them when You show them to me, so that Your will may be done by us all, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Pride vs. Wisdom; July 21, 2025

Posted on July 22, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom.

Pride is a funny thing. It creates false expectations in the one who has it, like inflating a balloon, and when that balloon is popped, it seems disastrous. The humble person, in contrast, is grateful when they are able to do things. Dennis Prager has said many times that he tries to have no expectations, of himself or others, and that way he’s never disappointed. However, at the moment he’s recovering from a broken neck, which sometimes requires breathing assistance via a tracheostomy. That naturally makes him unable to speak, and he has been a public speaker all his life, since his early 20s. That is putting an entirely new picture on the question of expectations! True wisdom carries the awareness that we wouldn’t even exist apart from the grace of God, and so generates gratitude for God providing so much, enabling us to do so much. One of the “features” of aging is the gradual loss of abilities that were once possessed. Properly understood, that brings humility, which contributes to the storied “wisdom of the aged.” That too is part of God’s gracious plan, but we often rebel against it. There’s another old expression: “There’s no fool like an old fool.” Age doesn’t guarantee wisdom! Genuine wisdom starts with humility, recognizing that we are finite, created beings, but our Creator loves us anyway, and so focuses on hearing and obeying Him.

I feel like I could write a book on pride, since I was so mired in it for part of my life. I wasn’t a “bad” person, but somehow I thought I deserved all the good stuff God had given me. Big mistake! I was devastated when God tapped me on the shoulder and, when I turned, showed me a mirror to see the state of my own soul, just for a moment. Had it been any longer, I couldn’t have endured it. I have always had a high IQ, but I had to learn the hard way that doesn’t equal wisdom. At this point, inability sometimes equals frustration, but that’s not the same as shame. Yesterday the Lord enabled me to do many things, and it was in general a very good day, but I forgot to do something important for someone, and I will have to make up that mistake. I’m still learning! My point is to stay focused on my Lord, listening to Him and doing what He says, in gratitude for His truly amazing grace.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You indeed for all that yesterday held. Help me recognize and follow Your guidance each moment of today, so that Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Way; July 20, 2025

Posted on July 21, 2025 by jgarrott

Proverbs 10:29 The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
    but it is the ruin of those who do evil.

This is a truth I have observed over the years, and it can be very ironic. For those who are committed to God, His ways are indeed a stronghold, providing inner peace and security whatever the world is doing. However, to those who are committed to doing their own thing, ignoring God and His rules, His ways mess with all their plans. If the rebellious person repents and turns to God, then his plans are still destroyed, but in their place he receives God’s good plans, which are far better than whatever he had imagined. We see that around us all the time. Those who are opposed to God kick and scream at every effort to turn society toward genuine righteousness, correctly seeing that such change would foil their personal plans. For those who seek God, it can be downright incredible at times. “How can they oppose this?” Such conflict is at times simply a matter of opinion, but it is more and more obviously a matter of the spiritual forces behind each side. That said, those on the side of righteousness must remember that their real enemy is never the people they see with their eyes, and so pray for repentance and restoration, even for those who are actively persecuting them. (Matthew 5:44)

This is something I’ve become increasingly aware of over the years. Some would say I’m becoming “intolerant,” but God’s truth is indeed absolute. I must be humble, knowing above all that I don’t know everything, but I must not descend into moral relativism. As I was driving round blessing the churches of Omura this morning I was thinking about how strongly I disagree with some of them on some points of theology, for example, but they are still my brothers and sisters in Christ. That said, there’s a world of difference between someone who’s theologically misguided or confused and someone who maintains a façade of religion to hide their rebellion against God. I’m to pray for them all, that God’s Spirit of Truth would convict and correct as called for – and that He would do so for me as well. I have always agreed completely with C. S. Lewis’ observation that when we get to heaven, we’ll all discover we were wrong somewhere. As James said, I’m to submit myself fully to God and resist the devil, (James 4:7) for God’s glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Yesterday I was reminded several times of my own foolishness, and I wasn’t in a very good mood by the time I went to bed. Help me release everything to You and flow with Your Spirit throughout today, so that I may be Your instrument of blessing to all around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Violence; July 19, 2025

Posted on July 20, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 149:6-7 May the praise of God be in their mouths
    and a double-edged sword in their hands,
to inflict vengeance on the nations
    and punishment on the peoples.

Not exactly a pacifistic picture! We like to think of things like Jesus welcoming the children, (Matthew 19:14) but the Bible has lots of scenes of violence of all sorts, all the way through Revelation. Jesus was clear that we aren’t to seek violence, famously saying in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) However, we aren’t to shrink back from it when it confronts us. I find the motto, “Peace through strength,” remarkably Biblical! There’s no telling how much destruction was prevented by America’s recent surgical strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, and it was done at a time of night so as to inflict an absolute minimum of human casualties. Some people complain that the Bible is contradictory, and on some levels it seems that way, but life itself is contradictory, because we never see the whole picture. Only God sees everything, and we have to be at peace with that. Just yesterday I read a story of violence being done against a man – to keep him from conducting an “honor killing” of his own daughter! We are called to be children of God, not doormats. However, we must remember what James said: “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20) We are to be both strong and gentle, acting as God’s agents and not just acting on our own impulses. Jesus indeed made a whip and cleansed the temple, (John 2) but that was hardly a frequent occurrence. God is to be our judge and our guide, on all levels.

My father was a conscientious objector in WWII, to the point that the FBI thought him suspicious, after he was returned to the US on a prisoner exchange ship, but he also agreed to my buying an air rifle as a teenager, and didn’t express objections when I was drafted as an adult. I certainly didn’t enjoy basic training in the Army, and even wrote and performed a poem that almost got me court martialed, because of my reaction to the total focus on killing “the enemy.” I am grateful never to have been in combat, but I know what I am capable of, given the right tools. I am not to be a “knee-jerk” anything, but rather seek and allow the Holy Spirit to guide my words and my actions, so that God’s will may be done for His glory.

Father, this is a rather surprising morning meditation! Help me be continuously focused on You, first and foremost, so that I may be Your agent for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Truth; July 18, 2025

Posted on July 19, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 145:17-18 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.

We have no indication at which point in David’s life he wrote this, but it is in a sense a very generic hymn of praise. Even so, that doesn’t make it any less true. Platitudes become that way because they essentially go without saying. However, sometimes we forget truth if we fail to say it. That’s the complicated thing about liturgy. It is rote, unchanging from time to time to time, but it was originally drawn up because it is true. The devil is constantly lying to us, and we need reminders of the truth to stand against that. Of course, the ultimate Truth is Jesus Christ Himself, as He told us in the Upper Room Discourse. (John 14:6) Knowing Him is what sets us free. (John 8:32) That is why it is so dangerous that the devil has promulgated the idea of “my truth” and “your truth.” God’s truth is not subjective! I think it was Karl Barth who, when asked what was the deepest truth he had found in all his study of Theology, replied, “Jesus loves me. This I know for the Bible tells me so.” The most important truths are often the most simply expressed.

I was raised by a father who held Absolute Honesty as one of his core principles, and I benefited greatly. That said, I have learned that there is a distinction between facts and truth. Scientists pursue facts, but they might miss the truth in the process. Interestingly, sometimes fiction can convey deep truth! I am a man of words, and I need to be very careful that my words are not only accurate, but true. I don’t always succeed! The whole question of facts vs. truth applies to every area of life. We have a friend who has lung cancer. That is a fact, and on the basis of the medical facts, the doctors told her she had six months to live – a year and a half ago! The truth is that she is a dedicated child of God, and her life is in His hands. At this point she is needing an increasing level of oxygen supplement, but she has no pain to speak of, and her digestion is working well. I feel sure she is a great blessing to the staff of the hospice ward of the hospital where she is. The stress on her husband is very real, but I’m sure he is grateful for each minute he gets to spend with her. The facts of their circumstances don’t change the truth of God’s love for them and His presence in them.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I need such from time to time! In all the facts of my life, help me stay firmly grounded in the truth of Your love, grace, and power, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Priests; July 17, 2025

Posted on July 18, 2025 by jgarrott

Psalm 132:16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,
    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

Reading the Bible in different languages gets really interesting at times. This is a passage I’m quite familiar with, because verses 14-16 have been put to music in a little chorus I learned years ago. However, there are two differences in the Japanese that catch my attention. The first is that where the KJV and the ESV say “shout,” the Japanese says “sing,” and the second is that where the KJV and ESV say “saints,” the Japanese says “devoted ones.” I then checked the NIV, as printed above, and discovered it agrees with the Japanese! It is very dangerous to get dogmatic about Bible terminology, because we don’t have the emotional or linguistic or social context of when it was written. That said, all the translations agree that the priests will be clothed, or wrapped, in salvation. This is in direct contrast to verse 18, that says Zion’s enemies will be clothed with shame. As I have written before, salvation can have many different meanings to different people, and even to the same person at different times. After all, it’s the noun form of “safe,” which can be as casual as making it on base without being tagged or thrown out, in baseball. At the other extreme, of course, it means eternity with God, rather than being separated from Him forever in hell. In context, the usage here is much more on the lines of eternity in heaven. When the priests, those charged with being intermediaries between God and man, are properly “wrapped in” salvation, people who earnestly seek God have every reason to sing for joy! Sadly, there are people in religious office who don’t know God themselves, so at best they merely parrot words, rather than impart life. Everyone who is charged with shepherding God’s flock needs to examine himself or herself to see if their own relationship with God is worthy of emulation. We can’t generate that on our own, but we can choose to receive what God offers us, in all humility and gratitude.

I was ordained by human hands as a minister of the Gospel on April 1st, 1979. I’ve always said it was appropriate that it was done on April Fool’s Day! What is more important, though, is that God chose me and commissioned me, and I chose to respond. When we were in conflict with what was then called the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission board, my wife very wisely said, “We’d rather be Lord sent than Board sent.” As it turned out, He indeed sent us out, without any human organizational backing. However, I’m never to rest on past experiences, but keep pressing in for more of my Lord. I don’t want my “salvation robes” to get dirty or tattered! Peter makes it clear that every believer is a priest before God, (1 Peter 2:9) but God has installed me as a gift to the Body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12) and I must never back down from that.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do need to be reminded of my commission from time to time! Help me indeed fulfill all of Your purposes for me, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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