God’s Love; November 22, 2018

Posted on November 25, 2018 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

I forget how many years ago it was that someone pointed out to me that this verse records the direct answer to a prayer that Paul recorded in his previous letter to these people: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12) It is certainly encouraging to be able to record answers to prayer like that! A second thing to note is that the prayer and its answer are a highly desirable goal for any group of believers. Particularly in America we tend to be very individualistic, wrapped up in our own little worlds, when God is interested both in each individual and in the group as a whole. Many parts of God’s plan are achieved only as we interact with one another, (John 13:34-35) and Jesus specified our interactions with one another in what He called the Second Commandment as well. (Mark 12:31) It’s easy to feel pious about loving God, but loving the person in front of us can be a different matter. Frankly, it’s something we have to work at, right along with working on our obedience to God to demonstrate our love for Him. (John 14:15) Paul demonstrates that it’s entirely appropriate to pray for an increase of love, and that God delights to answer such prayers. I think we need to start first with praying for genuine love among believers, and then branch out to include others as well. Actually, agape love is only manifested in a faith context, so this is intimately connected with evangelism. If we want people to be more loving, we need to introduce them to Jesus!

We had a practicum in this very recently, when someone with whom we’ve had a contentious relationship showed up on their own, and we had a good time of prayer together. Everyone is in need of prayer, and everyone has room to grow in the areas of faith and love. Prayers like 1 Thessalonians 3:12 are pretty safe territory! As a pastor I am constantly admonishing people to love God more and love their neighbor more, but I must never forget myself in that prayer, never think that I have “arrived” in either of those areas. Agape isn’t something I can generate on my own, but I’ve got to be active in receiving it from God and allowing it to flow through me, both back to Him and to those around me. Faith is exactly the same way. It is a gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8-9) but I am to exercise it so that it will grow. If I will do that, God’s love in me will grow right along with it, and God Himself will be manifested more and more in and through me, because He is love. (1 John 4:8)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You are bringing us through to grow both our faith and our love. Thank You for the door You seem to be opening for me to hold marriage seminars, because of the love people see in Cathy and me for each other. I pray that I would be fully useful in encouraging faith and love in all those around me, so that many may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Faithfulness of God; November 21, 2018

Posted on November 24, 2018 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

I really love this benediction, particularly because it’s been set to music delightfully in Japanese. (I have translated it into English so we can sing it bilingually here.) The famous brief instructions in the previous several verses are so absolute that the average believer might despair of ever living up to them. However, these two verses remind us that it is God who does the “heavy lifting.” Especially verse 24 here puts the focus where it should be, on God Himself. It’s not that we are perfectly faithful, or even that we have to strive to be for fear of being totally rejected, but that He is faithful, and He’s got it all in hand. There’s a beautiful little chorus that says, “God’s got it all in control.” Here Paul is saying exactly that, and that we aren’t to be anxious about any of it. A common reaction to the Bible is, “I could never live up to that, so why try?” Paul is pointing out that whatever God asks of us, He enables us to do; all He asks of us is the decision, the commitment. That’s a truth I tell people frequently, but they have trouble accepting it. That’s why God had Paul write it down in a letter that would become part of the Bible!

As often as I tell other people about this principle, I’ve got to remember and walk in it myself. It does me no good if I fail to practice what I preach! I also need to remember this passage when I get anxious about those under my ministry. Some have seemed to stray, but I can’t force them onto the “straight and narrow,” no matter how hard I try. The only result that is guaranteed is resentment! I’m not to hold back from speaking the truth in love to them, but what they do with that truth is their responsibility, so I am to pray for them, before and after I speak, that they would accept God’s truth and allow it to set them free. (John 8:32) As I do that, I need to remember that my prayers don’t force God to do anything, but He often uses my prayers to accomplish His perfect will, often in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The better I remember the faithfulness of God, the less stress I will have!

Father, thank You for this reminder, particularly when stress is quite a topic of conversation and concern. I frequently remember that You told me to rest, relax, and rejoice, but I’m still learning to do it! Thank You indeed for Your faithfulness. Help me truly believe and trust that faithfulness, to the degree that I indeed give thanks in all circumstances, like it says in verse 18. Thank You. Praise God!

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Holiness; November 20, 2018

Posted on November 24, 2018 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

In some circles today this would be considered the height of conceit. What does Paul mean, saying his instructions come from God! That’s the group that denies there is such a thing as absolute truth; everything depends on situational ethics. That is actually the height of stupidity, because it makes man the arbiter of right and wrong. That’s exactly how the devil tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, and we’re still suckers for it. God is certainly the God of love and grace and mercy, but all of that would be meaningless if there weren’t absolute standards. Today, even in the church it’s very rare for the bride and groom to both be virgins until after the ceremony. And actually, that’s exactly what Paul is talking about in this passage. We need to seek and obey God’s plans for us, even – and particularly – when our flesh isn’t happy about it. We have trouble believing what John said in his first letter: “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:3-4) All too often we choose to lose to the world, because that seems more “fun.” We have no grasp of how empty and destructive such “fun” is.

I’ve struggled with this just like everyone else. Now I’m in the position of guiding and encouraging others in their battles. I am never to draw back from stating God’s truth clearly, but I must always do so in love. I have no “high horse” from which to talk down to anyone, but I must make it very clear that forgiveness is not the same as excusing. Even Paul had to deal with people twisting his words and saying that if our sins become occasions for God’s grace, then we should sin all the more! (Romans 6:1-2) Sins damage everyone involved, and it is supremely stupid to choose to sin.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know who needs to hear this at this point far better than I do. I shy away from legalism, but keep me from shying away from proclaiming Your truth. May this church be characterized by holiness, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Fruit of Ministry; November 19, 2018

Posted on November 23, 2018 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Once again Paul is displaying the fact that he is a true minister of the Gospel. The best payback a minister can receive is when those to whom they minister receive the Word and act on it, growing and standing firm in their faith. The NIV says, “Now we really live,” but Japanese has an expression that is very fitting here that translates as, “have a reason to live,” or, “have satisfaction in living.” It seems, from this sentence, that Greek must have something similar. I think perhaps a major reason for ministerial burnout is the mistaken feeling that we have to generate such spiritual growth in our flock ourselves. Ministers are to encourage spiritual growth, consistently speaking the truth in love, but they can’t make it happen in their own strength. The flip side of that is that when those under someone’s ministry do grow, sometimes the minister takes personal pride in that growth and feels they did it, when it is all God’s grace. Paul had some real disappointments in those he worked with. One we know by name is Demas, who seemed quite promising and was mentioned as a “fellow worker” in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24, but toward the end of Paul’s life Paul said that he “loved this world and has deserted me.” (2 Timothy 4:10) That had to hurt! However, Paul had Timothy and many others who indeed stood firm in their faith and continued to grow, just as he is commending the Thessalonians for doing here. It has rightly been said that all we can take with us to heaven are souls. That is the reward for which true ministers labor.

This certainly applies to me as a missionary pastor, but at the same time it is a somewhat painful subject, because of the uniquely low “rate of return on investment” in Japan. As I was sharing this past Friday at a meeting of alumni of Seinan University, where my father ministered, he prostrated himself on the floor on one occasion and cried out to God, “God, if I am what is standing in the way of revival in Japan, then take me out of the way!” I have had quite a few converts but few true disciples of Jesus Christ develop from my ministry. The Lord reminds me from time to time that I don’t know the results down the line, and some who seem to have fallen away may indeed return to the Lord and bear much fruit that I don’t know about, and I have to trust Him with that. I am to rejoice in the true disciples, but not think that I generated them personally. Rather, I am to keep tabs on my own discipleship! Various things seem to be stirring in the situation here at this point, and I am to look forward with joy to whatever the Lord brings about. At 70 the temptation is to take stock and think of endings, but the Lord assures me He’s not through with me yet, and I am to take comfort and joy in that.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for those who are true disciples, even though they haven’t remained in this physical location. I pray that all under my ministry may develop into good, “hundred-fold” soil (Matthew 13:3-8) for the salvation of many, even if they seem rocky or weedy at this point, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Parenting; November 18, 2018

Posted on November 23, 2018 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Every genuine minister of God wants his flock to receive the Word of God for what it is, as it talks about in verse 13, but these verses describe what is necessary for that to happen. We see lots of examples of Paul doing exactly this throughout his letters. I think one reason God gave him the gift of singleness was so that he wouldn’t have biological children to distract him from his spiritual children. It’s not at all that biological fathers can’t be good spiritual fathers. Actually, raising biological children can teach you a lot about raising spiritual children, and actually, vice versa. However, Paul was a special case in that regard. Far too many church leaders don’t act like good fathers, and instead expect those under them to serve them in many different ways. Actually, far too many biological fathers do the same with their children. We need to consider what good parenting really looks like, and practice that with our children of any sort. As has been said, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. A good father will pour his life into his children, just as Father God poured Himself out through His Son Jesus, so that we might be saved.

Every time I run into a passage like this in the Bible I am challenged, because I know full well I haven’t been a perfect father either to my biological children or to my spiritual children. Now that my biological children are adults, and parents themselves, my relationship with them is even more similar to my relationship with church members, because I am not in the position of commanding much of anything. I know that God speaks His Word through me and I earnestly desire that it be received for what it is, and it sometimes breaks my heart when that doesn’t happen. I see a great deal of unnecessary suffering in my children because of their failing to receive and apply the Word of God for what it is. One of the hardest things I have had to learn is releasing my children into God’s hands. Even if I fulfill this passage perfectly, their response is their responsibility. I am never to stop praying for them, doing spiritual warfare on their behalf, but it’s up to them to follow through.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the wisdom and guidance You’ve given me recently in dealing with some of my spiritual children. I need more of that! It’s hard to wait for Your timing, in their lives as well as mine. I pray that all of us would indeed respond fully to Your invitation into Your kingdom and glory, just as this passage says. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faith, Love, and Hope; November 17, 2018

Posted on November 19, 2018 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m sure I’ve written on this every time this verse has come up in our daily readings, because it is so striking and meaningful. It expresses the practical reality of Christian living in a way that allows us to evaluate our own lives, as well as appreciate the lives of others. In the first place, it settles the argument between faith and works, which both Paul (Ephesians 2:8-10 and the whole letter to the Galatians) and James (James 2:14-26) dealt with. Simply put, faith works. If you believe God and His Word, you are going to work for Him and with Him. That’s what James was stressing. However, some people try to substitute work for faith. That’s what Galatians deals with and it is what Martin Luther reacted so strongly against that he called James a “book of straw,” meaning, worthless. Here Paul goes a step beyond that to the point of labor, meaning really putting your sweat into it. We don’t do that without some sort of compulsion, but love is the best compulsion, (2 Corinthians 5:14) Jesus made it very clear that genuine love for Him will produce obedience to Him, (John 14:15) and love for our neighbor will cause us to go all-out in service to them. (Matthew 22:39) The third thing Paul mentions here is patient endurance. That’s something we could all use more of! We aren’t going to endure hardship very well without hope of something better on the other side. As the hymn, The Solid Rock, says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” We don’t know the details of heaven, much less Jesus’ return to earth as King, but if our hope is anchored in Him, we can wait patiently for those things to be revealed in His time. As Jesus said so famously, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

This verse is as much a challenge to me as it is to anyone else. I too need to keep check on my faith, love, and hope. Putting it that way, I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 13:13! When I look at my own life, I regularly feel I come up short, inadequate in all three of those areas. I need to remember that only God is perfect, and welcome His working in me to move me in that direction. I am never to be satisfied with where I am, but at the same time I am not to be picking at myself, taking on the role of satan, which means, “accuser.” The devil does quite enough of that, without my helping him out! I am certainly not to resist when the Holy Spirit prompts me to repent of specific things, but I am never to accept blanket condemnation of any kind. Likewise, I am never to deliver blanket condemnation! I am to admonish and encourage, not put down and condemn.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You also for all You did yesterday, answering my prayers about speaking to the nurses and to the “movers and shakers.” I pray that my words and actions would consistently inspire others to faith, love, and hope, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Evangelism; November 16, 2018

Posted on November 19, 2018 by jgarrott

Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Paul didn’t say he was writing this letter from prison, but by this point the danger of violent opposition was very real. It wasn’t long after this that believers developed the “secret sign” of the fish, from the initials to Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, so they could identify each other with a minimum of risk. Even so, the evangelistic imperative was still there, as it is for us; they couldn’t be quiet about their faith. America is just starting to experience an essentially very mild form of persecution of Christians (though that might see an increase over the next two years). With “political correctness” at such a fever pitch, anything you say can get you into trouble! Like Paul says, we need to be wise in how we interact with those who are not walking in faith, whether or not they carry the label of Christian. That said, God will give us opportunities to proclaim Christ in various ways, and we are to recognize them and make the most of them. I keep being affirmed in my conviction that in the 1st Century non-believers seldom if ever attended meetings of believers; evangelism was always on a personal basis, away from the group. We have turned that on its head, counting “inviting someone to church” as evangelism! People do get saved in church services, and we aren’t to turn anyone away, but we aren’t to leave evangelism to the “professionals,” either. Paul goes on to say how we are to do that, graciously without being bland. This of course brings to mind Jesus’ statement that we are “the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13) It also agrees perfectly with what Peter had to say on the subject. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16) When we live our daily lives in Christ, people are going to want to know how we do it, and that will be our opportunity to lead them to Him.

This has been my conviction for many years now, but in Japanese society, matters of faith and religion are simply never discussed. Actually, that applies to almost anything that might be considered personal. You might work at a company for years and never know if the person at the desk next to you was even married, for example. As a non-Japanese I can get away with saying things and asking things that might be considered rude in a Japanese, but the flip side of that is that people don’t think my faith applies to them because I’m not like them. Catch 22! For all the challenges of ministry in Japan, I am never to give up, remembering that nothing is too difficult for God. (Jeremiah 32:27)

Father, thank You for this reminder, particularly as I’ll be speaking to a classroom full of nursing students this morning and to a hotel ballroom full of “movers and shakers” this evening. I pray that my words would be both gracious and salty, “whetting the appetite” of each person who hears, so that many may enter into life in Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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In Jesus’ Name; November 15, 2018

Posted on November 18, 2018 by jgarrott

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The “practical living” sections of Paul’s letters are so rich and deep and to the point! If every genuine believer, let alone every church member, would live their lives as Paul has laid out in this chapter, the whole world would be a far better place. In a sense this verse condenses it all into one sentence. We have very little emotional understanding of what it meant in the 1st Century to do things “in someone’s name.” We very glibly rattle off, “In Jesus’ name, amen” at the end of our prayers, but seldom do so with the full weight of glory involved in Jesus giving us permission to do so. Speaking and acting in someone’s name was to do so with the full authority of that individual, and it also meant doing so in line with that individual’s desires and intentions. In many ways it was like a Power of Attorney is today. What Paul is saying here is like the ultimate, “What would Jesus do?” Every detail of our lives is to be in line with who Jesus is, so that we live as His representatives. To the degree that we do that, everything that He has and is is poured out on us. That’s certainly something to be thankful for! The reason Paul includes that as a separate admonition here is that we don’t operate in Jesus’ name perfectly yet, plus the fact that just as Jesus encountered opposition, all the way to being crucified, we will encounter opposition as we act as His agents. We need to be thankful for the privilege! We must never forget Jesus’ admonition in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble. But rejoice! I have overcome the world.”

This has been a recurring theme in my life for quite a few years now. Based on 2 Corinthians 5:20, at one point I even posted a sign at the church door: “The Kubara Embassy of the Kingdom of God.” I eventually took that down out of concern for confusion with Jehovah’s Witnesses, because they call their meeting places “Kingdom Halls,” but the principle is certainly valid. (That’s why the devil stole it.) Often when I am to be “on stage” – conducting weddings, teaching classes, or whatever – I explicitly pray that I would be Christ’s agent of blessing to those who see and hear me. I am certainly no more perfect in my implementation of this than Paul was, (Philippians 3:12-14) but I strive to make it the theme of my life. There is certainly much to be thankful for!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Tomorrow I will be speaking to a group of “movers and shakers,” but that isn’t necessarily more important than anything I might do today. Help me indeed live every moment of my life in perfect harmony with Christ in me, by the power of Your Spirit, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Appetites; November 14, 2018

Posted on November 18, 2018 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

Every once in a while the Japanese translation I use makes a lot more sense than the NIV, and this is one of those times. Put into English, it comes out as, “These things all deal with stuff that perishes with use, and are based on human commands and teachings.” It may seem like a very small difference, but it gave me an “Aha!” moment. It all comes back to what is temporal and what is eternal. For example, food is by definition consumable; that’s its whole purpose. You don’t put a “perfect apple pie” in a museum, even if it is a work of art. Paul goes on in the next chapter to talk about specifics of how we should live, but here he is putting some perspective on it all. We are called to be good stewards of everything at our disposal, particularly including our bodies, which means we need to be aware of what is healthy and what is not. However, obsession with food in any way is a distraction from the important things of life. Likewise, we need to be very careful we aren’t being trapped by “human commands and teachings,” as opposed to what God says. There are various religious groups that follow all sorts of rules that have no basis in Scripture, and those rules can ultimately be very destructive. A good case in point is the prohibition of marriage for Catholic clergy. We are hearing a good bit about some of the tragic fallout from that even recently. As a person with the gift of singleness, Paul did think that had advantages, talking about it in 1 Corinthians 7, but few people are so gifted. To Timothy, he lists “forbidding marriage” (1 Timothy 4:1-3) as something taught by demons! God knows how He made us, and all of our appetites are originally good, so we need to be careful that they are channeled and used as God intends, for blessing rather than for destruction.

I have certainly experienced this myself, as I’m sure we all have. God had me get married at 20 because He knew what danger I’d be in if I didn’t, and that relationship has been a great blessing in the 50 years since. Likewise, He has given me a great appreciation for all kinds of food, but has guided and guarded me in my intake so that I’m not the size of a small car. Actually, as good a cook as my wife is, that’s downright miraculous! With Thanksgiving (we have a 25 lb. turkey for the church dinner) and Christmas coming up I will need to be careful, but that’s not a matter of eternal consequence. As a pastor I caution people in dealing with their appetites, but I steer away from “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch.” I don’t want things like that clouding the really important issues of loving God and loving our neighbors.

Father, thank You for how down-to-earth the Bible is. Thank You that it doesn’t dress anyone up, but presents people in all their human weaknesses. Help me respond to my own humanity, and that of those to whom I minister, as You desire, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled in Your holiness for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Good Advice; November 13, 2018

Posted on November 14, 2018 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

What marvelous advice! The world being as it is, we all need encouragement in our faith. Paul’s instructions are both simple and practical, reminding us first of all of the Lordship of Christ. After all, if Jesus isn’t our Lord, then we don’t belong to Him and can’t claim the salvation that comes through Him alone. However, just because Jesus is our Lord, that doesn’t mean we’re always obedient to Him, so Paul goes on to say that we are to continue to live in Him. That isn’t just to keep breathing but rather “live” as in “lifestyle.” That’s why the Greek says “walk,” because it is active. Sometimes we try to do that on our own, and fail miserably. We need to choose to be rooted and built up in Christ. These words of Paul bring to mind Jesus’ famous parable of the seeds and the soil. (Matthew 13:18-23) In that, Jesus said that without roots, we fall away quickly when difficulties come. We don’t want to be that way! Paul goes on to remind us that it is all by faith, and then he closes with the key to joy in it all; thankfulness. If we are constantly complaining about and resenting all the stuff we have to go through, we won’t be able to enjoy the abundant blessings God has for us in it all. When we are able to overflow with thankfulness, we see God’s smiling face even in the middle of the darkest circumstances, and that is blessing indeed.

This applies as much to me as it does to anyone. I too need to remember at all times who is Lord, never trying to “grab the wheel” myself, but trusting Him in every detail. I need to keep putting my roots deeper and deeper into Him and His Word, because there is no limit to the richness of what He has provided. My faith too endures attack, as the devil does all he can to discourage me, but I can stand up to it all in Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) And I certainly can and need to be thankful. God has poured out such an abundance of blessings on me that I can’t possible contain them all; I need to let them flow through me to those around me. If I’m not grateful, I will block the flow of those blessings and everyone will be poorer for it. As I preach to others, I need to receive the Word myself and act on it, for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for Your unending grace to me. Thank You for the totally unexpected blessing of the pilgrimage group coming by here yesterday. There were so many interconnections and confirmations in that, and we needed it. I say it frequently, but Your blessings are indeed unexpected, even unimagined. (Ephesians 3:20) Help me be more expectant of whatever You have around the corner, not letting the devil’s tricks pull me down but resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in You, just as You have told me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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