Light; June 10, 2020

Posted on June 14, 2020 by jgarrott

Proverbs 4:18-19 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

Verse 18 is well known, and the Japanese translation I use has been set to music almost exactly to make a very nice little chorus, but verse 19 isn’t so well known. Since they are intended as a pair, the contrast is an important part of the message. If you’ve ever tried walking outdoors very early in the morning, you know that things are often hard to distinguish, and appearances can be deceptive. That is very much the way things are for the brand-new Christian. More mature believers are sometimes shocked at the choices of “baby” Christians. However, over time right choices become more obvious. Hebrews puts it this way: “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) It’s that “constant use” that makes our way brighter. In contrast, there is no inner illumination for someone who has consistently chosen evil. There are people in prison who literally can’t figure out how they got there. (This is not to put down those who are falsely imprisoned. That is a serious subject and I applaud such efforts as The Innocence Project.) For that matter there are many videos on the Internet for people to laugh at the stupidity of criminals. People who can’t figure out how to proceed in life need to start with an honest commitment to the One who created them. That won’t instantly solve all their difficulties, but it will at the very least open the door to the light, and they will be able to begin to distinguish good and evil, as it says in Hebrews.

In my own experience there is a corollary to this: if your back is to the light, the way ahead of you looks dark. I have had moments when I willfully turned away from God, and things indeed got pretty dark. In a way that’s part of the training mentioned in Hebrews, because doing it wrong teaches me not to do that again! It’s been about 64 years since I was baptized, and I’ve done my share of stumbling in that interval. However, God is totally faithful, and I have no reason whatsoever to complain. As a pastor I seek to help others recognize the light and turn toward it, rather than away. I’m more successful with some than with others. I am not to be discouraged, but remember that Jesus said to “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) I am not the source of the light, but by God’s grace I can reflect it to those who may see very little light at all.

Father, thank You for amazing grace. Thank You for the encounter yesterday that I was concerned about, but which turned out so well. Thank You that You indeed have perfect wisdom for every situation. Help me keep remembering that, and that such wisdom doesn’t originate in me. May I not distort Your light, nor mask or hide it. May I continue to look forward to the full day of standing before Your throne with all those You have enabled me to bring with me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Applying Wisdom; June 9, 2020

Posted on June 11, 2020 by jgarrott

Proverbs 3:1-2 My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you prosperity.

This chapter of Proverbs has so much extremely helpful stuff in it that I have loved for many years that I decided to write on the only two verses in today’s reading that are not underlined! The book starts with the assertion that these are “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,” (Proverbs 1:1) but Solomon himself doesn’t seem to have abided by some of the most important things in it, specifically verses five and six in this chapter. Likewise, he obviously didn’t transmit this wisdom effectively to his own sons, because his successor was so foolish that he promptly lost half the kingdom! All of that goes to verse one here, because Solomon himself, as well as his son, forgot these wise words and did not keep these commands in their hearts. It all comes back to what James said: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) Human beings seem to be experts at deceiving themselves by isolating truth as an intellectual concept and failing to apply it. That may be the key to the difference between “intelligence” and common sense. You can have a high IQ and still be essentially useless in society. We have all suffered the effects of the leadership of people who were “the smartest person in the room,” yet failed to honor God and apply His truth. Human decision-making always suffers from insufficient information, and both military tacticians and computer experts will tell you how dangerous that is. The only one with full information is God, so it certainly makes sense to listen to Him and do things His way. Anything less is hubris, and history is filled with sad examples of the results of such conceit.

I have long felt that James wrote the verse I quoted just for me! In line with that, I have long loved verses five and six of this chapter. I am quite a case history of the distinction between knowing something as information and having it in my heart to apply it. By the grace of God a good portion of His Word has made that migration, but there’s still a lot of room for improvement. Right now I am in the middle of a situation that intellectually, I have all the answers for. However, I have no answers for touching someone’s heart and opening it to God’s truth, evicting the buildup of the devil’s lies. It is only as I have and exercise that humility that God will be able to use me to bring about His good plan for the person in question. My need to depend on God and listen to Him certainly doesn’t stop there, but extends to every detail of my life. It is only as I receive and apply what He says to me that I will have the success that He and I desire, for His glory.

Father, thank You again for all that You are doing. Thank You for the many ways You are teaching me. Thank You for the lessons from this year’s vegetable garden. Thank You for the lessons that come through the people around me. Help me receive all that You teach me, not just as a “data bank” but as effective operational instructions, so that I may be and do all that You desire of me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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PTSD; June 8, 2020

Posted on June 10, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.

The Bible does not back off from the reality that not all wounds are physical. The Japanese for this verse says, “He heals those whose hearts have been hit and broken,” implying a wound rather than a disease. “Modern Medicine” was slow to recognize this, but we have come around to more understanding of PTSD. In and after WWI it was just called “shell shock,” but at least it was recognized as a “wound of war.” Many men, and in recent years, women warriors too, have come back from war profoundly changed. Military veterans are understandably sensitive on this issue, and some seek to make the term, PTSD, exclusive to themselves, but the fact remains that there are many kinds of trauma, and they can all have lingering effects long after the fact. Rape and other kinds of abuse certainly come to mind here. The thing is, God knows and cares, and in Him we can have healing. It is dangerous to ignore such wounds, but at the same time they are not to be used as an excuse for destructive behavior, which is an all-too-common situation. The devil loves to turn anything into an excuse to ignore God! Often the wounded individual needs help and support in recognizing how they are wounded, so that they can open their heart to receive the healing God offers. Just as this verse speaks of “binding up their wounds,” being wrapped in God’s love is enormously healing! Sometimes we need to be visible expressions of that love.

By God’s grace I was not sent to the actual battle during my time in the Army, but I knew many who went through a lot, and at least one childhood friend lost his physical life. I ran into some others for whom that might have been the more merciful outcome. Right now I am in contact with several who are still recovering from what they experienced, though it was many years ago. Quite removed from physical battlefields, as a pastor I deal with people with all sorts of invisible wounds. It is very dangerous for me to think I have the knowledge and wisdom to heal those wounds myself, but I do know the One who can and does heal. There is a person in this church who was in severe clinical depression, and now they are the most solid, joyful believer you could hope to meet. There are others for whom I pray the same sort of healing miracle! Again, I don’t have wisdom, so I need to be totally open to the Lord to allow His grace and love to flow through me. He can heal, I can’t. He can bind up wounds, and my attempts can leave things even worse. I am to recognize the opportunities God gives me to be His agent and make full use of them, so that the works of the devil may be defeated and people healed and delivered.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Guide me today in the contacts, the communication that needs to be done. May Your will indeed be done in each life and situation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Good Health; June 7, 2020

Posted on June 10, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:19-20 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He sent forth his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.

I have seen and heard verse 20 quoted many times, but not so often with verse 19 and rarely if ever in the context of verse 17, that talks about the sins that triggered the illness in question. We do love to cherry-pick promises from the Bible, but we don’t like to pay attention to the context. It is true that since we live in a fallen world, not all disease is the direct consequence of sin, but far more is than we like to admit. And for that matter, there are sins that have a direct impact on our health, such as gluttony, that we don’t like to admit are sins as well! The official name for the rehab center where Cathy goes to help deal with her Parkinson’s Disease is, “Tomonaga Center for the Prevention of Lifestyle Diseases.” Cathy herself started going there before her formal Parkinson’s diagnosis because she had been told she was “borderline diabetic,” and needed to lose weight. In the eight years since, she has lost over 28 kg, and would be far more of an invalid had she not done so. The healing that is mentioned in this passage is predicated on repentance, that is, a willingness to change, and a reception of the Word that God sends in relation to the situation. Far too often we want health without a healthy lifestyle, the blessings of God while ignoring His precepts. It isn’t politically correct to talk about the far higher mortality rate for COVID-19 for those who have type-2 diabetes, or just general obesity, but that doesn’t change the statistics. That said, being a “health freak” doesn’t automatically make you pleasing to God! Many people who focus on physical health totally ignore their spiritual health, refusing to acknowledge that our physical bodies are decidedly temporal. Once again we are back to Jesus’ instructions to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33) That applies in absolutely every area of our lives, and brings untold rewards.

Since my father died of heart disease at 64, I have tried to be careful to recognize risk factors and avoid them, so as to be a good steward of the body I’ve been given. I do walk regularly, and have recently started planking, which is something I hadn’t really registered as being an effective exercise until quite recently. I enjoy a very good level of health, particularly for my age, but that’s not really the big issue. I need to be focused in on obedience to God, on seeking His kingdom and His righteousness before and above everything else. I am to feed on God’s Word regularly, and not just in emergencies! And as a pastor I am to lead others to do the same. Consistent personal devotions are perhaps my highest goal for those in my care, since each one needs to learn to hear and listen and obey the soft voice of the Holy Spirit. If they will do that, they will enjoy not only good health but also more blessings in general than they can now imagine.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I always feel somewhat awkward writing about health, since Cathy has so many health issues that are not the result of disobedience to You. I do pray that Your health would be manifested in her body, on this side as well as the other side of her “graduation,” for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Benefits; June 6, 2020

Posted on June 8, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 103:2 Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.

This Psalm is a glorious recitation of the “benefits” mentioned in this verse, and as such is one of David’s finest, and most important, Psalms. The first two verses and the last three are commands/exhortations to praise God, and the whole rest of the Psalm tells us why. It is not specific to any particular time or circumstances, and so is appropriate for anyone at any time. We have a sad tendency to forget all that God has done and continues to do for us, just as this verse warns against. We take things for granted, and like spoiled children, say to God, “What have You done for me lately.” For starters, He hasn’t wiped us out of existence in total disgust! We need to remember that, when we’re feeling like whining. As Jesus said, God does “cause his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) In other words, there is general grace, and it is possible to live a fairly “normal” life without a relationship with your Creator. However, when you do have that relationship, how marvelous it is! Again, though, the risk is that we can let that relationship go stale, taking it for granted instead of pressing in for more of our Lord. That’s why the advice in this verse is so important.

I’ve certainly done my share of taking God and His benefits for granted! I’ve had the stupidity of thinking I deserved them, and that I owed Him nothing in return. I am very grateful to have learned, as the little chorus says, “All that I have, all that I am, all I will ever be cannot repay this love-debt I owe. I surrender to Thee.” The moment I am disappointed or upset about anything I need to stop and remember all that has not gone wrong, all the mountain of blessings God has provided for me. I would do well to recite this Psalm daily, as a reminder to my forgetful soul. The world is fallen, and as long as I’m in it I will encounter things that are not pleasing, but if my focus is on my marvelous, gracious, absolutely perfect Lord, I will be able to rejoice regardless of what is going on. (John 16:33)

Father, thank You for this reminder. The news is full of negative things, but that’s nothing new. Thank You for the truth of this Psalm, that is far more valid and accurate than anything on TV or the Internet. Help me walk in the gratitude and obedience that are the only appropriate response to who You are and all You do, so that those who see me may be drawn to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Focus; June 5, 2020

Posted on June 8, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 73:1-3 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The author of this Psalm, Asaph, was obviously one of the “good guys,” but he had a revelation from God that in a sense, his very goodness had led him into a trap. Seeing the “bad guys” and how good they seemed to have it in life, he envied them, and that is a trap indeed. Thankfully, God enabled him to gain an eternal perspective, so that he realized how fleeting temporal riches are, and how blessed it is to have eternal security. (verse 26) Verses 25-26 have been set to music, making a chorus I have loved for a long time. This whole Psalm seems very timely, with the envy and greed being displayed in the riots and looting, and people ransacking stores and walking off with various material goods, often torching what they can’t steal. Everything about it is sad, from the destruction and loss for those who see their life’s investment going up in flames, to the very people who are trading character and integrity for material goods. On top of that we have the wealthy “glitterati” who, rather than helping those who are suffering real loss, are bailing out the looters. The temptation to absolute disgust and despair is very real. We need to have the same revelation Asaph received, and understand that the things of God are all that matter in the end.

I will confess to being burned out on negative news. Not getting American TV, the Internet is my major news source, but yesterday I found I wanted anything but reports of what was going on and people talking about it. It was refreshing to find a video report of another Space-X success, with the main booster from a satellite launch being successfully landed on a drone ship for the fifth time, marking the first time a rocket has been reused that much. I wanted good news! Thinking about it, however, I realize that there is never any lack of bad news, because the devil and those serving him don’t rest. It’s just a matter of where I choose to place my focus. I am not to ignore the evil in the world, because that would mean failing to stand against it, and conversely to open myself to being deceived and destroyed by it. However, my focus is to be on God, who is indeed “the strength of my heart and my portion forever,” as Asaph says in verse 26.

Father, thank You indeed for this very timely Word. I do pray for Your will to be done, not only in the US but also in Japan, and Nigeria, and Pakistan, and even North Korea. Thank You for telling me so clearly over 20 years ago that there are indeed many things that are not as You want them to be, implying that everything will be worked out in the end. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in that assurance, submitting to You and resisting the devil, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, even in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Consequences; June 4, 2020

Posted on June 7, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.

When I started reading this Psalm I thought that David was patting himself on the back here, but then as I kept reading, I thought there was a real possibility he was speaking blessing on someone who had been kind to him in his own illness. Either or both seems quite possible. The thing is, David realized that actions have consequences. Most of the time it’s not a one-to-one relationship, both because God is far more gracious to us than we deserve and because we live in a fallen world. (John 16:33) However, we still have something of a spiritual corollary to one of Newton’s laws of physics: “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” We have a deep need to learn this to the core of our being, which is why parenting is so important. Children need to know that when they act badly, punishment comes, and when they act well, they are rewarded. The lack of that is a major cause of the rioting and looting we are seeing right now in the US, and of all sorts of evil across the world. This can be an awkward subject for a Christian, because we are so aware that “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) We can never be “good enough” to rate eternal life with God. However it is also true that “Each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12) We are accountable, and actions and attitudes have consequences. Doing the right thing might not be the easiest course at the moment, but it always pays off in the end. To be honest, that payoff may not come in this life, but it is certain. We are disturbed by obviously evil people who seem to be riding high, but their lives aren’t nearly as good as they make them out to be, and they too will have to answer to God. The only person who has always done everything right is Jesus, and that is why salvation comes through Him alone. When we accept that He died for us, taking the penalty for our sins, we then receive the blessings that are due to Him for His perfect purity. However, we must never take that lightly, but repent immediately when the Holy Spirit shows us that we have sinned yet again, so that we may abide in Christ. If we will do that our lives will reflect Him, and there will be no end to the blessings.

This naturally applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I was raised with an awareness of this truth, but I certainly haven’t always lived like I knew it. God has been incredibly gracious to me, protecting me in ways I certainly didn’t deserve. I have been protected from physical disaster and spiritual disaster both, and I am deeply grateful. As I seek to serve Him in this life I am surrounded by people who don’t yet have that sort of relationship with Him, and it troubles me a lot. I can’t force anyone to receive and act on God’s truth, but I am certainly required to speak that truth to them in love, giving them the opportunity to receive it. God’s words to Ezekiel, repeated in Ezekiel 3 and 33, certainly apply to me: “When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 3:18-19) When I know such a marvelous Gospel, I have no excuse not to share it with others.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. I have been getting indications that You want me to speak on Tithing this Sunday, but that’s a sensitive subject in any church, and I know of those who will hear the message who don’t have control over their own finances. Holding back is fearing man, rather than fearing You! Help me speak boldly, with full authority but with complete love, so that Your Spirit may take my words and demolish the lies of the enemy, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Dependence on God; June 3, 2020

Posted on June 7, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 38:15 I wait for you, O Lord;
you will answer, O Lord my God.

Sometimes I think David had a spiritual advantage in not having the things we depend on, like modern medicine, so he was forced to depend on God. Not long before we came to Omura I heard a sermon that was very timely and very true. It was talking about how, when we hear testimonies about “All I could do was depend on God,” we think that person is to be pitied, when actually that’s a wonderful place to be! I frequently talk about how we can’t take even a single breath apart from the grace of God, and how Christ is the “cosmic glue” that astrophysicists speculate about that holds the universe together. (Colossians 1:17) However, saying such things doesn’t mean I’m always faithfully consistent in living out that truth! Human free will is one of the greatest miracles/mysteries of the universe, because our choices are real, yet God knows what we will do before we do it, and nothing can happen without His permission. If we had no free will, there would be no accountability, and thus no sin, because everything would be predetermined. There are some who take God’s foreknowledge that way, but they are sadly mistaken.

I delight in human accomplishments, and got a real thrill at the successful Space-X manned launch, but I’ve got to remember all the time that apart from Christ we can literally do nothing. (John 15:5) God has given me many abilities and He gives me many opportunities to use them, but I’ve got to do so with an awareness of Him, as a good steward, for His glory. God allows various failures of things I depend on to remind me of that fact. I had finished this morning’s devotions when my computer completely scrambled the file and I had to reclaim a backup copy, naturally missing what I had written this morning, so this is my second attempt. I’d say God wants to be sure I remember this! He has told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, and I need to be obedient to do so, even when things I had depended on fall through. He alone is completely dependable!

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s been a bit stressful and time consuming, but I think I have responded better than I would have in the past. Help me delight in my dependence on You, so that Your will may be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Trouble; June 2, 2020

Posted on June 4, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 30:4-5 Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning.

The last two lines of this passage are very famous, and have comforted and encouraged many down through the centuries. It is much like Jesus’ statement to His disciples just before His cross: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) David was indeed a poet, as well as a prophet, and the imagery here is very poetic. The Japanese has it as, “In the evening tears may come to spend the night, but in the morning there is a shout of joy.” Life on this fallen world is hardly an uninterrupted picnic, but by the grace of God it isn’t an uninterrupted slog, either. When it feels like an uninterrupted slog, we need to lift our eyes to the Lord!

Several friends of mine are dealing with the death of their spouse, and more than one are being very open about their journey as they write on Facebook. Others who have been through the same journey respond, and the interplay is very educational and edifying. I don’t like thinking about facing such a scenario myself, but I know it’s a real possibility. I have long considered Jesus’ words in John 16:33 to be something of a touchstone in my life, so that I am not surprised by the trouble I encounter. However, there are moments of joy in it all that overshadow all the trouble, and I am deeply grateful. In balance, I enjoy life indeed, and people take notice. I think that is the sort of thing Peter was talking about when he said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) I need to be careful that people understand that I am eternally optimistic not because “I have a good personality,” but because I have a hope that lets me see in faith beyond the current trouble, whatever that is. Right now the whole world is suffering because of the pandemic, and then on top of that the US is having riots that take advantage of protests over a horrific killing that was caught on camera. That is trouble indeed, and the racial animus behind the killing is very hard to erase. I am not to despair, but rather trust my God and look forward to the “shout of joy” that David wrote about. That may not come until Christ’s return, but it will most certainly come then!

Father, I do pray Your grace and mercy, not just for the US but for all mankind. We act out in ignorance, unbelief, and mistaken belief, and the result is a mess indeed. I pray that Your children would be bold and consistent in speaking out, and acting out, Your truth in love, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, as perfectly here as it is in heaven, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Health; June 1, 2020

Posted on June 4, 2020 by jgarrott

Psalm 6:8-9 Away from me, all you who do evil,
for the Lord has heard my weeping.
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;
the Lord accepts my prayer.

The first thing that strikes me here, comparing the Japanese and English, is that where the NIV uses the very generic “evil,” the Japanese is very specific with “lawless.” For David, the Law was the Torah, so in a sense that really puts a point on it. We don’t know at what point David wrote this, but if it was after he became king, he himself was the one who made the secular law! The impression is that is definitely not what he is talking about. We don’t know what David’s physical ailment was here, but he obviously turned a corner and had assurance that he would recover. We are so used to modern medicine that we have trouble grasping David’s situation. There are many medical problems we think very little of today that back then could be debilitating or even fatal. I was struck by that in the reading a few days ago when King Hezekiah had a potentially fatal boil, and Isaiah’s prescription was a poultice of figs. (1 Kings 20:1-7) In the first place, no one dies of a boil today, but long before antibiotics of any sort, sepsis (which can be fatal even today) could come from any break in the skin. Today, we might not even think to pray about a boil! We should be grateful for advances in medicine, but we must never forget that all healing comes from God, however He delivers it. We need to be just as focused on God as our Deliverer as David was, instead of thinking the doctor himself or herself is the source of the healing we need.

The whole question of medicine and doctors is very personal for me, not because of my own health but because of Cathy’s. She has had quite a litany of problems over the years, and today her Parkinson’s specialist is amazed at the slowness of progression in her case. She does continue to have one thing or another almost daily, and a lesser person might have given up a long time ago. I am very grateful she hasn’t done so! I need to be fully earnest in my own prayers for her, but that feels almost selfish, because as Paul said, loving her is like loving my own body. (Ephesians 5:28) I’m not to let that confuse my prayers, but stand firmly in submission to God against all the attacks of the devil. (James 4:7) The devil has treated Cathy’s body like a punching bag, and I’m not to let that go unanswered. At the same time, I am to be a good steward of my own body so that I will be in good health, not only to take care of her but to do all that the Lord has for me to do.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank you for the specific instructions I ran across yesterday on how to do planking. Reading that seems like it would be a very appropriate exercise for me, and potentially for her as well. Help me follow through myself first, and then give us wisdom as to whether it is something Cathy should attempt. Guide us in receiving the health, and everything else, that You have for us, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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