Individual Differences; December 21, 2026

Posted on December 22, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 1:34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

As I said yesterday, Mary’s response to Gabriel was very different from Zechariah’s. She wasn’t questioning possibility as much as she was asking about mechanics. It’s possible you could rephrase her question as, “Are you about to rape me?” After all, this announcement concerned her in the most intimate way possible. Actually, her response to Gabriel is so calm that I feel sure God had prepared her for this encounter in advance, perhaps through dreams she didn’t remember specifically. In any case, the faith and commitment she demonstrated have been an inspiration to believers ever since. I wonder how many people she had told about this encounter before Luke interviewed her while Paul was in jail in Caesarea? (Acts 24-26) I think there is no question she told Elizabeth, during the events of tomorrow’s reading. That she would be so humbly submitted to God in such life-shattering circumstances is absolutely amazing. After all, an unmarried pregnancy could be punished by stoning! At the very least, she would expect severe social consequences, and she did have some of those. However, God had prepared a protector, a husband for her named Joseph, and he too demonstrated remarkable faith and submission. The gossip couldn’t have been easy on him, either! We do have some pretty amazing examples of faith to imitate, and each year at Christmas we should meditate on them and be inspired.

I have always had the highest respect for Mary, and Joseph, for that matter. I think the Catholics go too far in relation to Mary, but the Protestant reaction to that isn’t necessarily good. At the same time, I know that everyone’s situation is different, and we are individually responsible for how we respond to God. That’s one of the complexities of life: the interaction of the general and the individual. Those who are self-centered say, “You haven’t been through what I’ve been through.” That’s literally correct, but there are also general principles that apply to all mankind. Individual experiences aren’t to be discounted, but they also aren’t excuses for rejecting God. I am to let God show me the meaning of what He brings me through, growing me in the process, and as a pastor, I am to seek to help others understand their own life experiences. It is one of the miracles of the universe that there is infinite variety, yet God’s intimate, individual concern and love in each situation. I am not to be shocked at anyone, but rather transmit God’s love, grace, and holiness to them.

Father, thank You for this Word. I’ve encountered quite a gamut of people, and no two with identical stories. Help me respond to each one as You intend, so that they may fulfill Your plans for them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Trusting God; December 20, 2025

Posted on December 21, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 1:18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

I have heard various discussions as to the difference between Zechariah’s response to Gabriel and Mary’s (which will come up in tomorrow’s reading). To me, the Japanese makes it a little clearer. In the first place, Zechariah was explicitly looking at himself and his circumstances, his abilities, if you will. That’s never the best idea. We aren’t to ignore our circumstances, but we should always remember that God is far greater and more powerful than anything we face. I wonder if he was dealing with ED? He wanted proof so that he could know that what Gabriel had said was true, rather than choosing to believe an angel of the Lord. It is to me rather deliciously ironic that in response, Gabriel gave him an inability, the inability to speak, as proof of God’s ability. We often bring all sorts of unnecessary problems on ourselves by failing to believe and trust God. Gabriel’s proof to Zechariah was gentle and temporary, all things considered, but we sometimes incur pretty big loss by our failure to believe. We run into all sorts of difficulties in this life, just as Jesus said we would, (John 16:33) but our response to them makes all the difference in the world. We’ve got to remember that God is God, the Creator who spoke the universe into being, and nothing is too difficult for Him. Our approach to problems should always be one of anticipation to see how God is going to overcome them. He will never allow anything in our lives that He can’t use for good, if we will surrender it to Him in faith. (Romans 8:28)

I couldn’t begin to count how many times I’ve experienced this. I haven’t had the Lord tell me anything nearly as dramatic as what Gabriel told Zechariah, but I have seen how God has used my mistakes, my sins, even, and turned them around for good. Only He could do that! My life has been, and continues to be, a testimony to God’s grace. I have been given gifts and abilities that I have used, and some that I have squandered. And don’t get me started on opportunities! It is remarkable to me that it’s taken me this long to recognize some of this stuff. God is absolutely good, and He is absolutely faithful to fulfill His promises. I just need to keep growing in learning to trust Him to be true to Himself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I be more and more like Mary and less and less like Zechariah, so that in active faith I may flow with Your Spirit on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Fathers; December 19, 2025

Posted on December 20, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 1:17 “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Reading this produces a hunger in me for this sort of ministry to be fulfilled in our day. A large chunk of society’s ills today can be said to come from the failure of fathers to indeed be fathers, in more than just the biological sense. Countless fathers are absent from their children’s lives, either physically or emotionally. The list of problems that arise when that happens is long indeed, but at the head of the list would be rebelliousness. That’s why this verse says that when the hearts of the fathers are turned toward their children, the hearts of the children will be turned toward the righteous. No human father is perfect, but when they genuinely care about their children, those children will seek out good role models. We have just had the horrific incident in which it seems that one of the sons of a very successful actor and director has brutally murdered his parents, stabbing them and cutting their throats. That’s just one extreme example, but the list of failures in fathering is genuinely limitless. We need fathers to understand what their role is in their children’s lives, and fulfill it in humble submission to Father God. The children that will then be raised up will then go on to heal the gaping wounds in society. All of that said, none of this is possible without the power and grace of God. We are all weak and foolish, but God will lead us in His perfect plan if we are humbly submitted to Him.

I was deeply blessed by a father who was certainly far above average, but he wasn’t perfect. I was the only one of his four children still at home when he realized he had let his children slide down his scale of priorities. The trip we made from Japan to America, just the two of us, because my mother had gone ahead of us by a week or more, still has a very warm place in my memory, because he made a concerted effort to be with me, not just physically present. That to me was a good example of what this verse says. I in turn have not been a perfect father to my daughters, but it gives me great joy to see, via long-distance images, the overflowing joy of my grandson-in-law at the prospect of his first child being born any day now. I pray that his heart would indeed continue to be turned toward this child, and any succeeding children, so that those children will grow up knowing and loving their heavenly Father as well.

Father, thank You that You don’t leave us wallowing in our stupidity. I do ask Your grace and mercy on the fathers of the world, that they would wake up to the incredible privilege and responsibility that is theirs, raising up children who will be and do all that You desire and intend, for the blessing of the world and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Cleansing; December 18, 2025

Posted on December 19, 2025 by jgarrott

Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,

I am struck by the fact that it is the Lord who will do the refining. We understandably get upset when we see or encounter people who claim to be servants of God, but their lives seem entirely inappropriate for that office. For that matter, we may look at ourselves and feel that same way! However, that’s not ultimately a problem for God. He isn’t pleased with it, but He can clean  it – and them – up, like it says here. God’s ultimate “miracle cleanser” is the blood of His Son Jesus. No sin or impurity can resist it! We rightly seek to repent of and root out sin in our lives, but there is only so much we can do. We need to trust the Master Refiner and trust ourselves and those around us to Him, so that all sin and impurity may be done away with.

Just yesterday the Lord set up an appointment with a Buddhist priest whom I have known casually for several years. He is past 90, but is remarkably alert and active. I have no idea how the conversation got around to it, but very quickly we were talking about salvation, and specifically, the assurance of salvation. The Lord guided my words beautifully, and the priest was honest in his responses. I said that anyone who is honest, the longer they live, the more they will acknowledge that they are a sinner. I’m not as old as he is, but at 77 I do have room to talk! I told him I enjoy living, but I have a huge anticipation of leaving this body behind. He said that at 89 he thought that was certainly long enough to expect to live, but then he realized he really liked living, and he wanted to keep doing it as long as possible. He said frankly that he had no assurance of any sort of bliss after death, and the fact that I have that assurance impressed him deeply. He said that Christian funerals seemed to have an element of joy, but there was none such in Buddhist funerals. This went on for over 20 minutes, and God was totally in control. Another friend, not yet a Christian, was also present, and my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will take the words that were spoken and bring both of them to repentance and faith for salvation, for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your appointments! Thank You that Jesus is indeed the Refiner and Judge, and He can be trusted with my own life and with those around me. I pray that more and more would recognize their need of salvation and open their hearts to receive what You offer so freely, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Christus Victor; December 17, 2025

Posted on December 18, 2025 by jgarrott

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
    righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This of course is the verse Jesus famously fulfilled on Palm Sunday, but it has some things we need to think about. One is a little detail that some artists get right, but some ignore: the Messiah would ride, not on the adult donkey, but on the colt. That makes it all the more striking, because a colt wouldn’t be “broken,” as cowboys speak of taming a horse to consent to be ridden. There was definitely something miraculous going on in the ability and the willingness of the colt to carry Jesus. The second point that jumps out at me right now is the character of the Messiah. The ESV goes with the traditional, “righteous and having salvation,” but the Japanese and the latest version of the NIV both say “having victory,” or “victorious.” We sometimes forget that every time a person is saved by grace through faith, it is a huge victory over the power of the devil, over sin and death. We need to remember that we’re on the winning team! That said, we must not overlook the “righteous” part of that. We can’t just believe the facts about Jesus and then live however we please. If we are to have His victorious salvation, we’ve got to make Him our Lord, which means living our lives His way. We won’t get it perfectly while we’re on this earth, but that must be our desire and our commitment. When we have that commitment, we indeed walk in His victory, which is salvation. Corrie ten Boom was strong on this point, which is interesting, considering her experience of being in a concentration camp and seeing her sister killed. In theology it’s called Christus Victor, Christ the Victorious One, and some people put it down as simplistic. I’d say that opinion is shortsighted! In all that we go through in this life, we need to hang onto the assurance that in our Savior, we are more than conquerors, (Romans 8:37) just as Jesus said. (John 16:33)

I have certainly experienced Christ’s victory in my own life, even as I can only watch in trusting anticipation for that victory to be manifested in many of the things around me. Whatever happens, I need to remember that “God’s got this,” and refuse to be anxious. This morning is an interdenominational prayer meeting here, and the person who is nominally in charge is dealing with the reality that his wife is expected to die at any time. They are both very strong believers, and there is absolutely no question as to the ultimate outcome, but in the meantime there is this process they have to go through. I will be surprised but not amazed if he actually shows up, and I am to support them both in prayer, that they will have the peace that cannot be explained in purely human terms, that will carry them through to the ultimate victorious salvation God has prepared for them.

Father, thank You for what You’re taking the Shigetas through, and for the marvelous example and inspiration they are to all the believers who know them. May Your victory be manifested indeed, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Serving God; December 16, 2025

Posted on December 17, 2025 by jgarrott

Haggai 2:4 “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

To be honest, every time I read Haggai I get irritated at how often he interjects, “Declares the Lord.” It’s rather like he’s afraid the people won’t believe God is speaking through him if he doesn’t tell them that’s what’s going on. I personally believe prophets should speak out what they hear God saying, but trust Him for whatever happens after that, whether the words are received or not. We get all involved in trying to make things happen, when we need to trust God. It’s very interesting that I just wrote that, because of what I feel the Lord is saying here. Sometimes we confuse faith and presumption. Just because we believe God is going to do something, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a part in it. Here, God is saying, “I’m with you, so get up off your duff and get to work!” This applies in all sorts of areas. Sometimes we want God’s guidance, but we sit like a bump on a log expecting Him to move us. It’s awfully hard to turn the steering wheel of a car that the engine isn’t even on! In New Testament terms, Ephesians 2:8-9 are rightly loved, because they proclaim that our salvation is all God’s doing, since even faith is a gift from Him. However, too many people leave off verse 10, which says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God didn’t create us to sit on the bench! If we want to walk in the incredible abundance of fellowship with our Creator, we need to be seeking out and doing the things He has prepared for us to do! It’s not in the least that we have to earn our salvation – as if we ever could – but that we will never have the satisfaction and joy that God intends for us without doing the things He’s prepared for us to do as His agents.

I’ve just had some practical experiences in this. Sunday afternoon a group of us went to a large nursing home and did two half-hour Christmas concerts, one on each of two floors of the facility. It was work, but it felt wonderful, particularly to see the joy in so many of the residents’ faces. Then, yesterday afternoon, four of us went and did the same thing at a much smaller senior facility. It really warmed my heart to see one lady yesterday singing right along with us, as we had invited them to do, not needing the song sheet we had given her. I had known from previous visits that she’s a Catholic believer, and the joy of the Lord was very evident in her. Frankly, two days in a row like that was exhausting, particularly since I’m just getting over the cold I had all last week, but it was more than worth it. Serving God is fun, and representing Him is an enormous privilege.

Father, thank You indeed for the privilege of serving You. I do pray that our interactions at both locations would remain in the hearts of those present, both residents and staff, encouraging the believers and drawing the others to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Diaspora; December 15, 2025

Posted on December 16, 2025 by jgarrott

Micah 5:7 The remnant of Jacob will be
    in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the Lord,
    like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
    or depend on man.

Verse 2 of this chapter gets all the attention, since it was quoted by the scribes when Herod wanted to know where the Christ would be born, (Matthew 2:4-6) but this is an amazing prophecy of the diaspora, the scattering of Jews across the world, saying that it will be a blessing, like dew or rain. I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to this verse before. God doesn’t do anything by accident, whatever it looks like! In terms of the fulfillment of this prophecy, new and rain were major blessings in the Middle East, and Jews have provided enormous blessings to mankind, even in their scattered state. Just as an example, there are a hugely disproportionate number of Jews among the Nobel laureates in every category. Jews have contributed to society in countless ways. Sadly, that has engendered in some the jealousy known as antisemitism. Also sadly, some Jews have been twisted by the devil, such as Karl Marx. He was ethnically a descendant of Abraham, but he rejected the God of Abraham, and he did huge damage that continues today. We aren’t to lay hold of the promises of God for selfish reasons, but rather in humble gratitude to the God who made them, and trust Him for their fulfillment.

It’s interesting that I have always been proud of having been born the same year as the current nation of Israel, but I have no idea when I first met a Jew. I do know that I was and am very grateful to have been adopted into the Messianic fellowship when I was in seminary. They were surprised that I knew Hava Nagila better than they did! I am not a genetic descendant of Abraham, but I am very much his descendant by faith! (Romans 9:8, Galatians 3:7) You could say I am a part of a Christian diaspora of sorts, because my parents came to Japan in 1934-35, when Christians were certainly few and far between here. They are still a sadly small percentage of the population, but their influence has been disproportionate, much as that of the Jews in the world at large. I am not to look at numbers, but remember that my God can use a “remnant” for His glory.

Father, thank You for getting us through the full day yesterday. Thank You that You will get us through today, as well. Thank You for this extreme dizziness I feel, and that I do have some medication for it. Help me recognize and follow Your leading each moment of today. May Your plans be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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In the Name of the Lord; December 14, 2025

Posted on December 15, 2025 by jgarrott

Micah 4:5 All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever.

These first five verses are virtually a direct quote from the first five verses of Isaiah 2, so the question arises, who was quoting whom? My personal impression is that Isaiah said it first, but it could have been the other way around. That, however, is of no great importance; this content is certainly worth quoting! The way Micah says this verse might at the first glance seem to be conceit, except that it’s true! The gods of the nations are indeed constructs and deceptions, whereas Yahweh is the Creator of the universe. That said, those of other persuasions would certainly argue that point. What no other religion posits, however, is a Creator who loves us so much He sent His Son to die for our sins. Even Jews hang up on that, though they do know of Yahweh. The devil would have people believe it makes no difference which god you follow, precisely because worshiping anything other than the Creator is effectively worshiping the devil! The expression here, though, isn’t worshiping, but walking in the name of God. What does that mean? We glibly pray, “In Jesus’ name,” without thinking what that implies. Doing something in the name of another means doing it with their authority, in accordance with their intent and will. This passage in Micah means living out our lives in harmony with our Creator, doing His will on His schedule for His glory. None of us do that perfectly on this earth, but such perfection is certainly something to look forward to in heaven!

I’ve encountered this whole business of acting in the name of an individual or an organization bigger than yourself both personally and in my family. My parents sometimes acted in the name of the mission board they served, and my father often acted in the name of the university he served. For that matter, I spent two years in the US Army, and it was made very clear that I would be acting at times in the name of the Army, and even in the name of the United States of America. All of that was good training for the far weightier matter of acting in the name of the Creator of the universe! Now, as a missionary pastor, people project that onto me automatically. Sometimes I fulfill it, and sometimes I don’t. I want to fulfill that role more and more faithfully, but I can do that only by the grace of God and the power of His Spirit within me. That means I need to operate constantly on a more-of-him-less-of me basis, because I certainly can’t do it right on my own. However, He is omnipotent, which means He can use even me to get the job done, and I’m deeply grateful.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that my cold seems to be so nearly completely gone. I do ask your anointing for the service this morning and the time at the nursing home this afternoon, that indeed, Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faith; December 13, 2025

Posted on December 14, 2025 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 33:14  “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.'”

By this point, I would imagine that even Jeremiah was tired of hearing wonderful promises from God, when all he saw in the natural was devastation. God had to remind him, and assure him that it was all just a matter of time. It’s very interesting that verse 16 here repeats what God had told Jeremiah previously, as recorded in 23:6, that Jerusalem would be called, “The Lord our Righteousness.” I’m reminded also of chapter 32, where in verse 17 Jeremiah says to God, “Nothing is too hard for You,” and then in verse 27, God comes back at him and says, “Is anything too hard for me?” We may hear God and have trouble believing Him, because of our limited perspective and our small faith. Jesus repeatedly chided His disciples for their small faith. Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed would accomplish great things. (Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6) The thing is, a seed is small, but it has the potential for growth. We aren’t to be satisfied with whatever level of faith we have, but keep watering and tending it so it will grow. Another way to look at it is that faith is like a muscle. Given nutrition and exercise, it will get stronger and stronger. That image isn’t original with her, but I heard Erika Kirk use it in an interview just yesterday. We are to be good stewards of the faith we have been given, confident that if we will do so, that faith will be big and strong enough, whatever it looks like to us.

As I have commented before, I feel I have been given an extra level of faith, particularly compared to many people around me, but I must never be satisfied – and particularly not self-satisfied. I am to be exercising what I have been given and expect it to grow. Right now we have friends who are in a crisis. The wife has lung cancer, and has already outlived her doctors’ predictions of lifespan by a wide margin, but yesterday they were told that it would probably be a matter of days. Their faith is certainly being tested! However, knowing them, I’m sure they will be triumphant. My wife and I face a similar test, since she has Parkinson’s Disease, and things are slowly becoming more difficult for her. We are in no way to despair, but rest in the assurance that God’s grace is and will be sufficient for us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) In the meantime, God has incredible blessings prepared for us, and we are to anticipate them daily. Faith is a gift. We are to receive it, rejoice in it, and exercise it as God intends, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your incredible faithfulness. You are more than worthy of our total faith! May we operate in that without exception, so that we may fulfill all of Your purposes for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Hope; December 12, 2025

Posted on December 13, 2025 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 31:13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
    I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

I learned this verse, set to music, over 50 years ago, and it has stayed with me. It’s interesting that this Japanese translation fits the music better than the latest versions of the NIV or ESV. The point of the verse is essentially, things might be rough now, but they’re going to be MUCH better. We can endure a great deal, but only if we have hope that things will get better. You could even say that our expectations are more important than our current circumstances. Actually, that message is found throughout the Bible, and of course, the ultimate example is the promise of heaven for believers. Paul went so far as to say, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:19) In line with that, Peter said, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) After all, Jesus Himself said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) In the secular vernacular, stuff happens. However, if we know what’s coming ultimately, we can endure it. Of course, this requires faith, because we can’t see what’s ahead with our physical eyes. The good news is that God does provide faith to those who will accept and exercise it, and that is a secure hope.

I have come to the conclusion that I am particularly gifted in the faith department. It’s an amazing blessing! I certainly have my times of feeling down, for any of a number of reasons, but they don’t last long, because I have a rock-solid assurance that God’s already got it all worked out. I certainly don’t enjoy physical issues, such as the cold that’s finally petering out, and at times I’m ready to shout imprecations at Microsoft for computer issues, but I know, on the deepest level, that those things are all temporal, and as such aren’t worth much emotional energy. I don’t know what the days will hold between now and my eventual graduation to heaven, but I know my Lord, and that is sufficient. He has promised inexpressible good to me, and I trust Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this past week of physical misery. Thank You for enabling me to do everything I needed to do, even in the middle of all that. I ask Your anointing for the marriage counseling I’ll be doing today, as well as the wedding itself tomorrow, and the preaching and then singing at the nursing home on Sunday. I pray that the remnants of this cold wouldn’t interfere with any of that, and that all of Your purposes would be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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