People-pleasing; November 22, 2020

Posted on November 26, 2020 by jgarrott

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

This is a powerful and very important statement. Many if not most people spend much of their lives trying to please other people, instead of trying to please God. It’s not that we are to deliberately try to upset or irritate people (though some do try to do that) but that our focus should be on God and not man. The biggest problem comes when people who claim to be servants of God focus on people instead, trying to please them and/or manipulate them in various ways. The devil tries to deceive us into thinking that’s necessary for evangelism, and indeed, Paul himself famously said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22) However, that’s very different from being a “people pleaser.” We aren’t to offend needlessly, but if fear of offending people keeps us from obeying God, we’ve got our priorities reversed. We are to focus first on God, and then as His agents, express His love and grace to the people around us. Sometimes that can mean strong warning or correction, and it has nothing to do with political correctness, but it is the only way to be a true servant of Christ.

I have certainly had my struggles with people-pleasing. Like everyone else, I have a hunger to be accepted, to be loved, even though I’m naturally rather introverted. I have had many experiences of failing to be true to myself out of a desire to be approved by others. I’m not to use that as an excuse not to change and grow, because continual growth is certainly necessary, but I must first ask what it is that God wants me to say and do in every situation. My ultimate goal in life is to hear Him say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21) As Paul says here, I will not achieve that by placing the opinions of people ahead of God and His approval. I am at times painfully aware of my need for further growth, spiritually and emotionally. (At this point, physical growth would likely be limited to my waistline, and I can do without that!) I am to strive to keep my focus on my Lord and allow Him to do in and through me anything and everything that He desires, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Today has a packed schedule, with the service, making the service CDs, decorating the building for Christmas, and then the Thanksgiving dinner tonight. Help me be so focused on You that I am indeed able to rest, relax, and rejoice in all of it, blessing those around me and not lashing out at them for any reason, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Leadership; November 21, 2020

Posted on November 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Parting remarks can be very revealing, because they can express the highlights of a person’s thoughts and feelings. One striking, and surprising, difference between the NIV and the Japanese here is that where the NIV says, “good-by,” the Japanese says, “Rejoice!” I don’t have the Greek in front of me, but that certainly seems different. (My wife checked, and the Greek says “rejoice.”) Also, where the NIV says, “Listen to my appeal,” the Japanese says, “Be comforted.” The points of agreement are perfection, unity, and peace. Those are all things the Corinthians struggled with. Frankly, we all do! Verse 14 is probably the most widely used Christian benediction, and this verse certainly leads into it. Paul has had his disagreements with the Corinthians, but this shows he genuinely desired the best for them, even when he felt he had to speak strongly to them. That should be true of every leader, whether it is or not. Some leaders seem totally wrapped up in themselves, rather than exercising their position for the sake of those led. We certainly see that in politicians all the time! The Church is in real trouble when her leaders act more like politicians than servants of Christ! (Actually, politicians can and should be servants of Christ, but that’s another matter.) Genuine leaders don’t have total control over those led, and certainly never should try for that. Rather, they should aim to be channels of the blessings of God to those they lead, because they are never more than under-shepherds, serving the Great Shepherd, the Owner of the sheep. (Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 5:4) They need to reflect His attitude and intentions toward the sheep.

I have had times of being very ambivalent about being a pastor (which means, literally, “shepherd”) but I think I’m at peace with it now. I certainly know I can’t do it right in my own strength! I love sharing the Word with people, but the day-to-day interactions can make me want to run away! I am told that at times I come across as angry and/or condemning, and I don’t like that at all. It’s an ironic part of my personality, but I get angry that I’m angry! As James said, human anger doesn’t bring God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20) I have long felt that James 1:22 was written specifically for me, but those earlier verses were too! I am not to run from the tasks God gives me, and leadership happens to be one of them. I am to recognize the tools He has given me and not complain about the ones I don’t seem to have, rather seeking to be faithful whatever my situation. I have too much experience with trusting in the tools rather than in the One who gave them to me! My goal should always be to present those I lead perfect before God, because they belong to Him in the first place.

Father, thank You for yet another Word on this subject. It’s certainly a recurring issue with me. Help me be fully submitted to You and Your authority, so that Your authority may be accurately expressed through me for the benefit of those I lead, (verse 10) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Strength; November 20, 2020

Posted on November 25, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

This passage, along with the last line of the next verse, “For when I am weak, then I am strong,” is justly famous, and I have quoted it many times. The reason for that is that it directly contradicts human expectation and logic. That’s actually a very good thing, because without such shocking contradictions, we tend to be totally man-centered, thinking that we are the be-all and end-all of everything. We need reminders, and sometimes strong ones, that God is ultimate and He is sovereign. In other words, it’s not about us, whether we like that fact or not. Being self-centered seems to be something of a given when it comes to human beings, but our goal is to become like Jesus Christ, and He was fully centered on His Father. This verse is very much part of that. When we are properly centered on Christ, His grace is indeed all we need, because He manifests Himself through us. God alone knows how many people have been encouraged by this passage, but that number is doubtless huge. It probably includes just about every believer who has read it! The difficulty lies in the fact that it leaves no room for pride. We like to boast of our strengths, but Paul rightly turns that around to boasting of weaknesses. That’s a very good thing, because we all have plenty of those! The thing is, as long as we think we have strength, we try to be in control, and that’s a problem. We aren’t to be passive or lazy, but the sooner, and more clearly, we learn that Jesus is indeed Lord, and all that means, the better it is all the way around. Every time we run out of our own strength, ability, resources, or whatever, we should rejoice, because that means that God can manifest His infinite strength, grace, and love through us.

This is something I have learned time and time again, which is to say, I haven’t really learned it! I have to have repeated refresher lessons, because my stupid pride keeps getting in the way. God has gifted me in many ways, so when I start comparing myself to people I easily get tripped up. I was blessed with parents who never told me anything was too difficult for me, as far as I can remember. They did stop me when a project was potentially illegal and they cautioned me when it was risky, but in general they encouraged me to discover and exercise the gifts God had placed in me. Sadly, that fed into conceit, and that’s a very bad thing. Running into walls has been a real blessing for me. I well remember one time when a very perceptive prayer partner said to me, “I most smell Christ in you when you have been having an argument with your wife.” My marital relationship is an extremely high priority in my life, so difficulties in that area drive me to God very strongly, and that’s what he was talking about. I’m not to seek arguments with my wife, but I am to recognize at all times that any real strength and ability I have is by the grace of God, and give Him praise and thanks.

Father, thank You for this reminder. My schedule from now through the end of the year is really packed, and I certainly can’t get through it without You. Help me not be anxious about any of it, but rather rest, relax, and rejoice, just as You have told me to. Keep me from allowing the various stresses to make me lash out at those around me. May I rather be a useful instrument of Your grace and love at all times, whether I am tired or rested, pleased or angry, or whatever, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Provision; November 19, 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

This passage as a whole has been misused by so many “evangelists” that it’s almost sickening to me, but discarding it would be even more tragic. “God loves a cheerful giver” was one of the first bits of Scripture I was encouraged to memorize as a small child, but we need to remember that when Paul wrote this he wasn’t seeking funds for his own ministry, but to take to Jerusalem to help the Church there. The passage as a whole was written to overcome the poverty mentality that very many people have. It is when we really trust that God can and will supply all our genuine needs that we are able to open our hearts and our hands and let His supply flow through us, instead of trying to hang onto every bit we can grab. This verse is one of many that point out the purpose of God’s provision: that we would abound in every good work. It’s like nutrition: if you keep taking in calories without expending them in exercise, you’ll just get fat. God doesn’t want us to go hungry, but if we aren’t doing what He intends with what He has provided, He’s liable to “put us on a diet,” so to speak. The problem is, when we focus on the need instead of on God who is our supply, we’re very likely to get anxious. This is exactly what Jesus taught so memorably on in Matthew 6. It is when we focus on God and His kingdom, that is, His authority and power, and His righteousness, which is to say, doing what He says is right, that we can have no anxiety whatsoever about His supply, because He is certainly going to “bankroll” what He wants done.

This is something I’ve known since childhood, but at the same time it is something I am still learning. I’ve discovered how much better my cash flow is when I tithe, for example, but I don’t exactly run around handing out money. As God provides – and He provides abundantly – I need to ask Him what He wants done with it, whether “it” is finances or anything else. Stewardship applies to absolutely everything. I didn’t speak any of it into existence; it still belongs to the One who did. I need to focus on what He wants done with what belongs to Him. If I will do that, I will never lack for resources of any kind.

Father, thank You for this reminder, particularly as both Cathy and I and the church have had major expenses, either just past or coming up. Thank You that the water heater work is completed, and that the tree pruning is scheduled. I pray that the repairs to the church automatic door would likewise be scheduled soon, so that we will be properly welcoming for the Advent season. May we indeed focus on what You want us to do, rather than on what we think we have, so that You will be free to do through us all that You want to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Giving; November 18, 2020

Posted on November 21, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

When you think about it, there is no greater possible wealth than being part of the Godhead, having created and possessing all things. However, Jesus indeed set all of that aside to come down to our level and be born as a human baby. He did that precisely to supply eternal life to us, making us heirs of the universe with Him. (Romans 8:16-17) We know that Mary and Joseph weren’t well-off, because after Jesus was born their sacrifice of purification was the one prescribed for poor people. (Luke 2:24, Leviticus 12:8) Paul wrote memorably about Jesus’ sacrifice in Philippians 2:5-11. When we really grasp that, any giving we might do fades to total insignificance. That’s not at all to say that our giving is unimportant. We are commanded to give a tenth of our income as a reminder to us of where it all comes from in the first place, and we have the privilege of participating in God’s “supply chain,” so to speak, to others, both to the Church and to individuals. That’s what giving is all about. Sadly, some teachers have descended to the level of hucksters, bilking well-meaning people for their own material wealth. They fall into the category of people Paul talked about in 1 Timothy 6:3-5, and will receive fitting punishment when they stand before the Lord. We need to steer clear of that and rejoice to give in all purity, knowing that our Source of supply will never run out.

To be honest, I’ve never been very much of a giver. I have given a tithe faithfully for many years, but not so much beyond that. My inbox is bombarded constantly with requests for money, some of them from very good and reputable organizations, but I tune virtually all of them out instantly. It is sad to become calloused, and I do pray about what the Lord would have me do. I do contribute regularly to a rather unknown orphanage in Cambodia that is run by a Japanese friend, but the amount is not significant. God has been more than gracious to me, and I don’t know what the barrier is to my giving more. I think the answer is indeed, meditating on what God has done for me and asking Him what He would have me do.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You’ve recently enabled me to set up a contribution system on my blog, but that is for people giving to me and this ministry. Help me understand where and how You want me to give, so that You may be glorified as Your plans are fulfilled. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Miracle of Grace; November 17, 2020

Posted on November 21, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

This is a very interesting, and potentially very tragic, entreaty. It assumes a reality that far too many people don’t want to admit is possible: that God’s grace can do us no good. Jesus indeed died for the sins of all mankind, but if we don’t believe that and respond to it in repentance, it does us no good. The devil frequently tells people that “A loving God wouldn’t send people to hell,” ignoring the reality that we are headed for hell in the first place, and God’s grace is an unearned intervention. Some people go through the motions of accepting Jesus as Lord, but then turn around and act as though they deserved salvation in the first place, so it’s no big deal. That is actually denying the reality of the cross. There literally could be no bigger deal than the Son of God taking your sins on Himself and dying in your place. Grasping that should shift our focus from the material to the spiritual, from the temporal to the eternal, just as yesterday’s reading said. When we fail to make that shift we miss out on so much, even if our faith itself might be sufficient for salvation. We are not to think we are judges of who is saved and who isn’t, but we are to avoid what my grandfather called “easy believism.” By that he meant the common practice of someone going through the motions of saying pious words and getting wet, without any real repentance and heart change. He also called that “into bliss and out of blister,” referring to the whole “ticket to heaven” mentality. Far too many people are “like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.” (Hebrews 12:16) We tend to value the things and pleasures of this world far too much, putting ourselves in danger of missing out on what is far more valuable.

I can hardly say I’ve never been there, when I think about this issue. I think of myself as an instrument of God’s grace, seeking to share the Gospel with all who will receive it, but I too am tempted by all sorts of things that have no eternal value. I must not be someone who fails to live by what I teach! My message will be effective only if I am putting it into practice myself. I desire indeed to be a “fellow-worker with God,” to whatever degree He allows His power to operate through me, but for that to happen I’ve got to realize, on the deepest level, that I couldn’t begin to deserve that. I need to live in continuous awareness of the miracle that is God’s grace, in the full obedience that comes from gratitude.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are doing in, around, and through me. Help me stay submitted and available at all times, useful and pleasing to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Seen and Unseen; November 16, 2020

Posted on November 17, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I would imagine a lot of people are trying to comfort themselves with this Scripture at this point. Frankly, things are not looking good in America, with an increasing probability that people are going to get away with an illegal, unfair election. However, The legal challenges aren’t over, and God is still God. There were numbers of prophecies, by prophets with highly respectable track records, of a second pro-life, pro-religious freedom administration, and nothing is impossible for God. It is quite possible that those very prophecies caused some people to relax their spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness. Be that as it may, God is still God and His Word is still true. The point is for believers to keep believing, not in politicians but in Jesus Christ the Lord. People are saying, “The conflict is about to get very personal,” but it should have been personal all along. Each genuine Christian should have been active in prayer and witness, submitting to God and resisting the devil, (James 4:7) all along, but many, if not most, have not been. Conservatives bemoan the love the Left has for Big Government, but then turn around and seek to avoid their own personal responsibility. Each must personally give account to God for their stewardship of the resources and opportunities that have been placed at their disposal. (Romans 14:12) We tend to think of stewardship in terms of money, but it applies to far more than that. Yesterday I spoke from Romans 12:1 about how everything in our life should be an expression of worship to God, and this connects perfectly with that. When we are indeed looking at the unseen, eternal things, then our stewardship of everything else will be far closer to what it should be.

I am of course speaking to myself here, just as I was preaching to myself yesterday. I quote verse 17 fairly frequently, and verse 16 certainly applies to me, particularly at my age. With that understanding, I should be applying this verse intentionally more and more. In some ways that is ironic, since as a photographer I am quite focused on what I see, but even my photography is focused on capturing the ephemeral, the scenes that a moment later do not exist. I need to apply that more broadly, aligning my value structure with the unseen spiritual world, rather than being mired in the physical. That’s not to say that I’m to neglect my stewardship of the physical as well, but it is to say that I’m not to hang onto it, either in possessions or in circumstances. That is the way of genuine peace and overcoming.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for the deep conversations I’m able to have with my daughter who is visiting. I pray that throughout her time here, the three of us would see and receive the invisible blessings You have for us, growing and shaping us more and more into the likeness of Your Son, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Plans; November 15, 2020

Posted on November 17, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 1:17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”?

Changes of plans are always awkward. This can be particularly awkward when the one announcing the plans is seen as a leader, a man of God. It is in a way comforting that even Paul was confronted with this problem. Those who were disappointed, emotionally hurt by the change, accused him of being flighty and unreliable, and that stung. It’s also comforting to know that even Paul wasn’t impervious to such criticism! In other places he fully acknowledges his weakness and imperfection, but here he shifts the focus to God, essentially pointing out that it doesn’t matter how we change, or even fail, because God is totally faithful. We are indeed to plan, and do so carefully and prayerfully, but we must always be open to changes in those plans. Sometimes it is the planning process itself that God wants of us, along with the willingness to let Him be Lord and change those plans. However, we must never use that as an excuse for changing plans casually. We do need to recognize that our plans never affect only us; other people are involved. It is often in our interactions with those other people that God works most deeply, and we need to be aware of that.

I don’t have a very good track record in the area of planning. I tend to take things as they come, and my failure to plan has been a real weakness. However, I do seek God’s will in the plans I make, whether others recognize that or not. A major problem has been in failing to include others in the planning process, so that those involved fail to own the plan and participate. A major example was in our plans just a few years ago to build a senior care center on the land next to the church building. Bureaucratic red tape was the biggest specific obstacle, but God could have worked His miracles there, I think, if I had talked more with the church members from the beginning and brought them along with me. God did show Himself mighty in all of that, providing a line of credit that I certainly hadn’t anticipated, but the church members weren’t brought along so that they would have the faith to believe that the whole project was possible. It was painful to me and painful to them, and people left the church as a result. I must not let the experience keep me from planning big things, but rather teach me to bring others along with me in the process. In the final analysis, the people are more important than the plans.

Father, thank You for this somewhat painful reminder. Help me keep growing as You desire and intend, so that Your plans, for me, for this church, for this city and nation, may be fulfilled on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Comfort; November 14, 2020

Posted on November 15, 2020 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

This is is a central part of God’s economy that I mention to others often. God’s provision is abundant, but it is rarely if ever just for the immediate recipient. It’s not that the immediate recipient isn’t blessed. Far from it. However, those blessings are to be passed on to others, like the ever-expanding ring of ripples when a stone is dropped into still water. In the physical world, entropy and gravity soon still the ripples, but in God’s economy, sometimes later ripples seem even bigger than the first! That’s because the true source isn’t the triggering event, but rather God Himself, and He can “add energy,” so to speak, at any point along the line. As an excellent example, by Paul writing the letters that are included in the New Testament, the things that God did for him have been multiplied in countless believers down through the centuries. We need to recognize God’s grace toward us with full gratitude, and at the same time be open to however He might want to express that grace through us to others. The specific example Paul mentions here is comfort. This isn’t as in “being comfortable,” physically or otherwise, as our modern, luxurious society would have us think. Rather, it is in recovering from all the junk the world and the devil throw at us. As Jesus told us explicitly, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) When we’ve been hit with some of that stuff, we need to be comforted. However, God’s supply of comfort is unlimited, and He often uses people to spread it around. We need to recognize that and volunteer to be a “spreader,” and not just a receiver.

This is something I think I recognized very early on. As someone with Teacher gifting I’m rather prone to give lectures, but those are rarely comforting! I need to keep learning how to come alongside those who are hurting and simply be there for them, expressing God’s love and grace through simple presence far more than words. Just as God has encouraged me many times through many people, I need to let Him do the same through me, even though that isn’t my primary gifting. He has gifted me with words, so I need to be faithful to use words not just to convey information but, more importantly, to convey God’s gracious love and comfort to all who need it – and that includes everyone! Frankly, my words aren’t always comforting. There are times when love needs to be firm, but quite apart from that, at times my words are needlessly hurtful, causing a need for comfort rather than supplying comfort. I need to keep growing, allowing the Holy Spirit to mold me into the image of Christ my Lord, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. It seems my words, or my expression of them, were hurtful a few times even just yesterday. Help me gain Your sensitivity, recognizing what is needed when, and allowing You to supply it through me, for the blessing of all around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Amazing Grace; November 13, 2020

Posted on November 15, 2020 by jgarrott

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

What a marvelous explanation of grace! I think that to the day he was martyred Paul was sharply aware that he had been a persecutor of the Church, as he brings up in the verse before this. He knew full well that he didn’t deserve to be called, sent, and used by God, but at the same time he couldn’t deny that had happened. It’s not surprising that the book of Acts deals so much with the activities of Paul. Not only was Luke evidently won to the Lord through Paul, Paul was perhaps the most widely active of all the Church leaders of the day, just as he says here. However, he takes no personal credit for that, stating flatly that it was all God’s grace. What a marvelous example! We are so prone either not to do what God is saying to do, or else trying to take credit for what God has done through us. Paul did neither of those things, and half of the New Testament is part of the result!

I have fallen in both those areas, both failing to be obedient and trying to take credit for what has gotten done. By God’s grace I think I do better now, but at times I’m a slow learner! At 72, the world says I’m supposed to be retired, but I don’t think that’s in my contract. At any rate, I hope I never stop serving God! I really don’t know what all God has planned for me, but I’m still praying and working toward the vision God has given us of Omura again being the foremost Christian city in Japan. That is still quite obviously a humanly impossible thing, but nothing is impossible for God, and I want to stay available to Him. In the mean time there are lots of shorter-term tasks and goals and I don’t want to miss any of them. The end of the year is always a frantic time, to the point that I essentially dread Christmas, and that attitude is hardly good. I need to remember that it is indeed God’s grace that has brought me safe thus far, and that same grace will get me through everything ahead, just as John Newton so famously wrote.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s such a basic issue that at times I overlook it. Keep me from procrastinating on the things that I know are to be done. Rather, help me recognize which tasks are on Your schedule for me and do them promptly, and recognize which things are simply distractions, to decline them. Thank You that Ann is arriving today. May the three weeks she will be here be truly blessed in every way that You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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