Spiritual Warfare; May 11, 2020

Posted on May 12, 2020 by jgarrott

Jude 1:4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Just as I wrote about James back on April 27th, it is striking that these two younger brothers of Jesus, physically speaking, were so totally committed to Jesus as the divine Savior, not claiming their physical kinship but declaring their submission and obedience to Him. Most of Jude’s letter is a strong warning against false teachers, but the basis for their being false is their denial of Christ and the immorality that naturally springs from that. There are plenty of people today who “change the grace of our God into a license for immorality,” whether or not they give lip service to Jesus. The reason they are dangerous is they appeal to base impulses that we all have, and the devil and his lying spirits are certainly involved. As Jude says in verse 10, “These men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals — these are the very things that destroy them.” We are to be on our guard against such people, but they are really very pathetic and to be pitied, because they seal their own fate by their decisions and actions. We are not to be deceived by them, nor allow them to deceive others, if we can help it. The foundation for us must be our own commitment to “Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Interestingly, it was Jude’s brother James who famously said, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) There are lots of people and forces in the world that, in submission and obedience to the devil, come against us. We cannot stand against them in our own strength, but it’s no problem for God. We aren’t to ignore evil and those who serve it, but our focus is to be on our Lord, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. (Matthew 28:18)

I haven’t been “up close and personal” with many of the people Jude is talking about, but thanks to the Internet, I am very aware of a lot of them! The very fact that abortion is defended as an “essential service” during the lock-down is clear evidence that they are on the side of immorality. The number of people killed by the virus totally pales in comparison to the number of people killed by abortion, but the last thing these people want is for sexual activity to be limited to the context of marriage, as God designed and decreed it. For them, “unplanned pregnancies” are an inconvenience, a disease if you will. That is clearly service to the devil. The person of God must stand in Christ, speaking God’s truth in God’s love, even when all of society seems to be coming against you. We don’t want to share the fate of those so deceived, but rather rescue them from the lies of the devil.

Father, I have noticed that recent events have really been exposing evil attitudes and actions that had been kept secret. Thank You for knowing them all along. Help me be a voice of grace and love, but also of holiness and righteousness, so that the eyes of many may be opened and people be set free to repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Walking in the Truth; May 10, 2020

Posted on May 12, 2020 by jgarrott

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Every time I read 3 John this verse jumps out at me because it is so true in my own life, as I am sure it is for every servant of God. We all speak God’s truth as faithfully as we know how (or should), but how that truth is received is up to each individual hearer. God made it clear to Ezekiel that responsibility for reception of the truth lies with the hearer, (Ezekiel 3:16-19 and 33:7-9) but there can be a massive sense of futility if no one ever seems to listen. Even the Apostle John rejoiced to hear that his words had taken root and were bearing fruit in people’s lives. Just yesterday I was watching a video in which a Bible teacher heard someone say, “What you said really changed my life for the better,” and he rejoiced. If you want to make your pastor happy, then live out what they have taught you! Actually, that is true for God Himself. We may think we want to please God, but if we aren’t living in obedience we won’t be able to do it. God’s rules, His truth, are only for our benefit. It follows that when we follow His rules and walk in His truth, that is not only the best possible course for us, it delights Him!

After 45 years of intentional ministry, I am sharply aware of this reality. I am delighted that some whom I have raised are in active ministry, but they certainly aren’t the only ones who please me. Any time I hear that someone whom I have influenced is consistent in loving God and taking in His Word to do it, I rejoice. There are times when I feel like beating my head against a wall, and times when I feel like I’m having just about that much positive effect, but hearing about those who genuinely hear from God through me makes it all worth it. I’m especially pleased when I learn they’ve grown to hear Him consistently without my having to be in the loop! This time of social distancing because of the virus is a good check on our priorities. After all, God never distances Himself from us! I need to guide those who will hear me to draw near to God, to listen to Him and rejoice to be wrapped in His arms, not rebelling but allowing Him to heal and cleanse us, so that the schemes of the enemy may be defeated and God’s name alone be acknowledged as holy.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You indeed for those who seek You and delight to obey You. May their number increase! I pray for all my children, spiritual and physical, to recognize and walk in Your priorities, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Truth; May 9, 2020

Posted on May 11, 2020 by jgarrott

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

John’s 2nd and 3rd letters are so short that we tend not to pay them much attention, but they are surprisingly deep. To be honest, this section was not underlined in my Bible, in either language. However, it is really speaking to me now. To Japanese, who rarely say, “I love you” in any context, this is a rather shocking way to start a letter, because it renders it as, “whom I truly love.” However, John immediately goes on to make it a little less personal, including “all who know the truth” among those who love this lady. He then personifies that truth and says it “lives in us and will be with us forever.” That raises the question of just what this “truth” is, because it is obviously not simply the general category of “facts.” John isn’t specific in this letter, but verse nine gives us a strong hint: “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9) In other words, the truth in question is the truth about God revealed in Jesus Christ. It’s very sad to say that many people, and even churches, seem to have abandoned this truth, clinging instead to teaching that “tickles their ears” and makes their flesh feel good. (2 Timothy 4:3) Since Paul wrote about it, it’s obviously not a new problem! Jesus had a very famous interaction with Pilate about this truth. “’You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked.” (John 18:37-38) When Jesus said that, we had better pay attention!

As I share frequently, I was raised by a father who held absolute honesty as one of the core pillars of his life, but this is both broader and deeper than that. It is true that I am sitting in front of a computer typing, but that fact isn’t going to make a major difference in my life. It is also true that God loved me so much that Jesus came to earth to bear the penalty for my sin on the cross and rise to demonstrate His victory over death, and that fact makes every difference in the world in my life, and in the life of everyone who will accept it. It is always a joy to to meet people who know the truth as I do, and even more of a joy to introduce people to the truth and have them accept it. As Jesus said, all who are on the side of truth listen to Him. This is very much a matter of world view. A materialist is focused on physical facts, but that is a very shallow existence indeed. I have learned from personal experience that God’s truth can completely supersede such facts in ways that we consider miraculous. It is an objective fact that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory, (Romans 3:23) but it is magnificent truth that in Christ, God provided the way to salvation by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) I am not to ignore facts, but I am to proclaim God’s truth to all who will receive it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the privilege of sharing Your truth. I pray that Your Spirit would speak through me, using my words to implant Your truth in people’s minds and hearts and setting them free indeed, (John 8:32) for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Evil; May 8, 2020

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

The second half of this verse seems very negative, and almost seems to violate the sovereignty of God, but it agrees with what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:4, where he refers to the devil as “the god of this world.” The NIV renders that as “the god of this age” to try to make it dovetail with conventional theology, but the issue essentially remains. We really don’t understand where the devil fits in, but we certainly see his effects. The thing is, God can and does use even what the devil does and turns it around for good. (Romans 8:28) Right now the whole world is in an uproar over the COVID-19 virus, but in the process all sorts of evil is being uncovered, and we need to be submitted to God so that the evil will be defeated. China unleashed the virus, but as a result the whole world seems to realize that the current regime can’t be trusted, and this could turn out to be a fatal blow, not to the nation but to the regime. That has dovetailed with the political situation in the US, where the mask is being peeled back from bureaucrats and politicians and others, exposing the twisted lies by which they have been operating. That is certainly the “world under the control of the evil one!” However, God is using their overreach against them, and Jesus is Lord. Even the churches being unable to meet has caused many believers’ eyes to be opened, not only to what a privilege and blessing it is to meet, but also to the fact that the world system is not on their side! Recently media companies have been revealing their allegiances, and it isn’t pretty. Believers have got to check their own heart, to see where their priorities lie and recommit themselves to Christ alone.

Yesterday I got increasingly disturbed as several friends posted a brief documentary exposing the medical bureaucracy in the US, and in case after case it had been taken down before I could watch it. I finally was able to get to a live link and, after watching it myself, immediately posted it to my own page to further evade the cover-up. Not just that documentary, but several videos by various doctors have been suppressed, because they contradict the “party line” that is being used to try to control the world. I was disgusted to the point of almost being nauseated, but I’ve got to remember that God is still God, and Revelation is very clear that in the end, we win! I frankly don’t understand evil, but I’m certainly learning to hate it. I need to be humble and submitted to God in my own heart, remembering how blinded I have been in the past by pride. Spiritual warfare is certainly called for. I’m to hate evil, but not hate the people who have allowed themselves to be controlled by evil, and that can be very difficult at times. I am not to give any honor to the devil. It is very appropriate that in English, he is “d” evil! He is a defeated foe, however much he thrashes about. As Revelation 12:12 says, he knows his time is short! Submitted to God, I am to resist him in every way, both in my personal life and, as God enables me, in the wider society, so that Christ alone may be glorified.

Father, thank You for this, and for Your timing in speaking it to me after I got so stirred up last night. Help me not focus on evil but not be deceived by it either. Help me rest in Your peace, allowing Your strength to be manifested in my weakness, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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Speaking the Truth in Love; May 7, 2020

Posted on May 10, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

It is of extreme importance that John, the Apostle of Love, is so blunt right here. Love does not mean pampering! Paul famously tells us to “speak the truth in love,” (Ephesians 4:15) but if we aren’t speaking the truth, we aren’t loving accurately. Society demands that we tell “while lies” to get along, but that is indeed a very slippery slope. We don’t have to say everything we know, particularly when our words would be hurtful, but we must never flip the truth just to please our hearers. People are very quick to say, “A loving God would never (fill in the blank).” However, that just shows that they’re defining God, and love, as “pleasing to them.” God is far bigger than that, and His love is far stronger! There are indeed many shades of gray in the world, but the big issues are binary. Many people are offended by this statement of John, just as they are offended by Jesus’ parallel statement that John recorded: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) It would generally be counterproductive in terms of evangelism to lead with the negative, but we must never back down from this fundamental truth. If we let go of the absolute claims of Christ, we have let go of life itself.

This is a huge issue in my life. If I weren’t convinced of the truth of John’s statement, and Jesus’ statement, I wouldn’t be pouring my life into telling people about Jesus. Sadly, I have relatives who don’t understand or agree with my motivation, and I pray God’s mercy on them. There are people who have been in this church, seemingly strong believers, who have abandoned the exclusive claims of Christ because they have swallowed the devil’s lies. When someone chooses to follow my blog I try to assess where they are spiritually by reading some of their posts, and frankly, some of them seem pretty off the wall. I’ve got to be at peace with the reality that I’m not God, and that’s an extremely good thing. I am to keep speaking and writing the truth in love, whether my hearers and readers interpret it as love or not. Lies are never love, however much we might think they are.

Father, thank You for my physical father and his life-principle of absolute honesty. I have been blessed immeasurably by that. Help me express Your love accurately, in all honesty, so that many will have their eyes opened to the lies that have bound them, and so repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Fear; May 6, 2020

Posted on May 8, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

This would seem to be a very timely verse, when so many people are afraid of COVID-19. However, I don’t think this verse is very well understood. We really have trouble associating love and fear and punishment. (Incidentally, the Japanese agrees that “punishment” is a better translation here than the more traditional “judgment.”) We may not articulate it, even in our minds, but we tend to think that God is “out to get us,” primarily because we have a nagging feeling that we deserve it! Frankly, apart from the grace of God in Christ, every one of us deserves to spend eternity in hell. However, as John 3:16 says so famously, God’s love provided a way out of that. The more we understand the magnitude and depth of God’s love, the less fear we will have of anything at all. That’s not to say that we are to be presumptuous and/or stupid, stepping out into traffic and things like that, but it is to say that we should have an assurance that God will not allow anything into our lives that He cannot and will not turn around for our blessing, if we will release it to Him. (Romans 8:28) We fear death, forgetting that for believers, leaving this life means going to be with Jesus for eternity, and that is glorious beyond words. We fear suffering, forgetting that, as Peter pointed out, “He who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” (1 Peter 4:1) The more we grasp the love of God, the less we will fear or complain about anything at all. We are all imperfect humans, so there is no reason to accuse ourselves when we feel fear, but we do need to understand that fear is an indication that we have room to grow, and ask God to enable us to do so. As David learned, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” (Psalm 56:3) In this time of COVID-19, we need to choose to trust, and so rejoice in our Lord.

I have very little concern for myself personally over this virus, but I would hate to be a vector of infection for others, so I try to be careful. I am very aware that masks are to protect the people around us far more than they are to protect us. Right now we have no reported cases in Omura, with a population of about 100,000, so all the extreme measures being taken seem quite overblown. My precautions at this point are somewhat along the lines of Paul’s not eating meat when he was around those who thought it was participating in idolatry to do so. That said, I know that gradual asphyxiation is a miserable death, as I have observed in someone with COPD, and I want no part in inflicting that on someone else. Also, various other very bad effects of the virus have been observed, including stroke in younger, otherwise healthy people. Again, I have no fears for myself, but I don’t want to inflict any of that on anyone else. Yesterday I distributed a mask and a tract to many of the homes in the area, and I was actually surprised at how grateful several of the people seemed to be. As I rejoice in God’s love myself, I need to be active in transmitting that love to others, so that they too may repent and believe for their salvation.

Father, thank You for being God. The devil is certainly using this virus in many ways, but You have Your reasons for allowing it. I pray that all of Your purposes, and none of those of the enemy, may be fulfilled, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Love; May 5, 2020

Posted on May 7, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 4:11-12 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

The first letter of John blows me out of the water every time I read it. There is so much vital, deep truth in it that it speaks to me afresh again and again and again. Here, John has been talking about God’s incredible love for us, but then he turns around and applies that to our own love for each other. It is demonstrably true that being aware that we are loved makes it easier for us to love others. That’s why in a sense, a husband and wife can “feed off of” each other’s love in a beautiful recursive cycle. Sadly, with differing “love languages” that all too often doesn’t happen, because the love doesn’t transmit. That said, here we’re talking about a much bigger issue. The better we grasp God’s love for us, the more readily we will love each other. Then John says something that immediately brings to mind what Jesus said to Philip in the Upper Room: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9) God is invisible, and at this point Jesus isn’t visible to our physical eyes, but if we love each other as God loves us, then Jesus is manifested in and through us for the world to see. It’s again as Jesus said: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Sadly, some churches are known for quarrels and backbiting. Jesus isn’t very visible there! One of the major themes of the Bible is that those who know God are to represent Him to those who don’t yet know Him. That can only happen when we allow His love to flow through us to those around us.

I have a number of very personal illustrations of this truth, but one I frequently mention in counseling couples about parenting involves my two grandsons. They are less than two years apart, so when I first met the older one (they live in the US, and we in Japan) he was 14 months old, and his brother was already on the way. He was a supremely happy child, and about the third day of our stay I found the reason why. He did something for which he had been disciplined previously, and when his mother noticed it she called him down firmly and asked her mother (my wife) to slap his hand. He proceeded to extend his own left hand and slap it with his right! He was such a happy child because, with appropriate boundaries set by discipline, he had full assurance that he was loved. Often a first child will be very resentful of the second, but when his brother arrived, no one was more delighted. Secure in his parents’ love, it seemed totally natural to him that his brother would be loved as well. He will shortly be a teenager, but he is still a very well-adjusted, loving person. Even closer to home, I think my wife’s and my relationship is one of the most powerful testimonies we have. People are regularly in awe of it, and we have actually had women who were not so loving to their husbands leave the church because they couldn’t stand the contrast, and were self-condemned. The Church, though made up of imperfect people, is still to be a reflection of a perfect God. We certainly can’t do it on our own, but God is able to do it in and through us.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the training You give us regularly with “unlovable” people! Help us open up more and more to Your love to allow it to flow through us unhindered. May indeed Your name be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Failures; May 4, 2020

Posted on May 7, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 3:19-20 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

I’m glad John stuck this into his letter. He has been expressing so many things that, on reflection, we don’t seem to measure up to, and so our own hearts condemn us (with plenty of encouragement from the devil). John is reminding us that God knows us better than we know ourselves, and He loves us anyway. He knows what we have done, and He knows what we are going to do. His love is not conditional on that. All that is required is our faith, our commitment. Even there we tend to condemn ourselves, saying that our faith is deficient and our commitment intermittent. God knows that better than we do! It can help to realize how many times Jesus chided His disciples for their small faith, but He loved and trusted them anyway, knowing that the Holy Spirit would iron it all out. For the child of God, active submission is perhaps the most important thing. We need to rest in the assurance that God indeed knows everything, and He’s big enough to handle it all.

I once had someone withdraw from the church because I was talking about “commitment” so much. They wanted to hear more of “the Gospel” in my messages. Not long after that they moved to another part of Japan, and I trust they have grown since then. We are indeed saved by grace through faith, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but we are also created to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10) We can’t earn salvation, but we are to respond to salvation with gratitude and obedience. That said, none of us gets it perfectly right, as I know only too well. That’s why this passage is so important. I am to rest in my knowledge of God’s grace, and I am to communicate that grace to all who will receive it. As John said in the verse just before this, I need to do so with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18) I deal with people who have failed so many times that I am tempted to give up on them, and/or never trust them again, but then God reminds me of my own track record, and I repent. God knows about all failures before they happen, and He loves us anyway. He doesn’t want us to fail, and if we will be humble and honest before Him He will cleanse and strengthen us so we will be less likely to fail in the future, but even if we do, that’s not the end of the story. As a recipient of God’s grace, I am to be an agent of God’s grace.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the various things I see going on in the people all around me. Thank You for what’s going on in me! May I continue to grow, and be Your agent in helping others to grow, so that we may all become mature in Christ, children fully pleasing to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Sin; May 3, 2020

Posted on May 5, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

For once I have an almost violent reaction against the Japanese translation of this verse, and indeed of here through verse nine. However, since the Japanese agrees with how a lot of English translations render this passage, it’s important that I deal with the issue. It’s all a matter of Greek grammar, but the misunderstanding has caused a lot of damage in a lot of sensitive people down through the centuries. Greek has more tenses than either English or Japanese, and for once, the NIV renders it accurately, because what John used is the “continuing present” tense. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible, and in this particular case, it’s even the same book of the Bible. John himself wrote, from 1 John 1:8- 2:2, about how we all sin. Those who believe in Jesus have been saved from the penalty of sin and they are being saved from the power of sin, but one of the most attractive things about the hope of heaven is the prospect of being saved from the very presence of sin. Until we get there, we continue to trip up at times, so repentance must be an ongoing thing. If we don’t believe that forgiveness is real then we can have genuine difficulty letting go of what are called “besetting” sins, from older translations of Hebrews 12:1. Peter addressed that in 2 Peter 1:9. Back to this particular verse, it is true that while we are actively abiding in Christ we don’t sin, but unfortunately, on this earth we don’t do that 100%. That’s not an excuse; we should hate sin, and repent the moment we become aware that we have committed it. Paul dealt with that in Romans 6:1-2. A lifestyle of sin is certainly incompatible with salvation. However, some people have despaired of salvation because of the mis-translation of this passage in 1 John, and that is tragic.

I have had a distaste for legalism for as long as I can remember, and I don’t think that’s just from being rebellious! I am deeply aware of, and grateful for, God’s grace, and I desire that everyone believe and receive that grace. However, that is in no way to say I abandon righteousness and holiness. I am absolutely convinced that we can never clean ourselves up on our own sufficiently to be acceptable to God, since He is absolutely pure and holy, but the whole point of the Gospel is that Jesus died for such hopeless beings as we are, covering over our sins with His blood so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Our holiness is a response to and reflection of what He has done for us. The more we are conscious of His love and grace, the more we will reflect Him in our attitudes, words, and actions. I am still very much a work in progress, and as such I am to extend God’s grace to those around me, but never without speaking the truth in love. I am not to allow grace to be mistaken for approval, and that can be difficult at times. I don’t have sufficient wisdom for the task, so I’ve got to stay humble before my Lord and allow Him to speak and act through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for what You did yesterday. I can’t change people, but you can! I pray that all of Your purposes for today may be fulfilled, in this church and in each of the churches of Omura. I don’t think any are meeting in person, but at least two are holding online services, including us. May Your Spirit have free rein in each service, each heart and life, so that the Body of Christ may be built up, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Desires; May 2, 2020

Posted on May 4, 2020 by jgarrott

1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

The Bible is so full of rich truth! It is like a deliciously rich dessert that is also nutritionally balanced and good for you. However, describing it in those terms is highly ironic in light of this verse. We have trouble with both parts of the first half of this verse. We don’t like to think of the world being destroyed, but natural disasters and war give us some sort of image of what that might be like, However, we can’t even think of the world’s desires passing away, because our desires seem to define us as human beings. We tend to feel that if we have no desire, what’s the reason for existence? However, we need to realize that this is talking about the world’s desires. When we want more of God, when we desire greater obedience to and intimacy with Him, that is holy and pure and is as eternal as He is. The nice thing is, there is no limit to it because He is infinite! Because we exist in the flow of time and the material universe, these things are hard to grasp. However, it fits in perfectly with one of Jesus’ most famous sayings: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) When our desires are in line with God, they are met abundantly! A major part of growing as a Christian is getting our desires in line with those of our Lord. It’s recently come up that He wants us to be holy, (1 Peter 1:13-16) and Paul states clearly that He wants everyone to be saved. (1 Timothy 2:4) It is when we allow God to replace our desires with His that we discover the barriers to fellowship with Him have gone down and we experience the deep peace and joy for which we were created.

This is something into which I am continuing to grow. I’m not there 100% yet, and that’s OK. While we are on this earth, it’s OK to enjoy life, but I’ve got to be very careful were my love lies. As verse 15 makes very clear, my love is not to be for material things or the world’s system, but for my Lord and His children. The straighter my priorities are, the more I enjoy life! As a pastor, I deal with some miserably unhappy people. In my experience, the majority of their unhappiness comes precisely from this point of their desires and priorities. It’s like James said: “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:2-3) That’s a pretty good description of the effects of selfishness. One of my most common statements in counseling is that selfishness never leads to happiness; at best it leads to momentary pleasure. When I say that to others so often, I’d better remember it myself! It’s like David said, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4) When the Lord is my desire, He meets that desire abundantly!

Father, thank You for Your appointments for yesterday. One was something that’s been nagging at me, but the second was completely unexpected. Thank You for giving me a kick in the seat to get me going on the first, which put me in line for the second. Help me indeed be fully in tune with You, operating on the basis of Your desires, so that Your will may be done for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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