Belonging; February 6, 2018

Posted on February 10, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 63:16 But you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us
or Israel acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.

Everyone has a fundamental need to be acknowledged, to belong. Some would try to deny that, cherishing their vaunted “independence,” but that’s a sham, a false front put up to comfort themselves. Isaiah was here speaking as a devout believer who probably experienced a good bit of rejection, since as Jesus pointed out, prophets often run into that sort of thing. (Luke 4:23-24) However expected it might be, it’s still painful. Isaiah’s statement is pretty extreme, speaking as a Jew of being unknown to Abraham or acknowledged by Israel. That would indicate that people around him were saying things like, “What kind of a Jew are you, prophesying like that?” He found his comfort in the assurance that God hadn’t discarded him, whatever people might do. Sometimes we are in need of exactly the same assurance. Saints through the ages have experienced rejection, because they “march to the beat of a different drummer” than society around them. When my mother was a single missionary in 1936 she made friends with a young girl, Akiko, who wanted to learn English. They exchanged language lessons, and in the process Akiko came to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. When she told her parents, she was thrown out of the house, literally, and my mother took her into her own apartment, arranging for her to be able to go all the way from Tokyo, where they were, to a Christian school in Nagasaki. That forged a bond that was so strong, when my mother’s ashes were buried, Akiko was the family representative who spoke to those assembled. Akiko discovered that when God is your Father, you have a family that is far bigger and stronger than simple “blood ties.” Isaiah knew that, and we need to remember it as well.

I have experienced plenty of rejection in my life, but thankfully not from my blood kin. One of my deepest inner hurts has been knowing I will never be accepted as Japanese by the vast majority of Japanese, because they define such things in terms of genetics. It makes no difference that I was born here and have actually lived here for over 51 years. (In America I also experienced rejection, because of my very different background. During my year of high school in Tennessee, one of my nicknames was “Jack the Jap.”) Like Isaiah, I have had to be comforted by the realization that my belonging is based on God, and not on any human criterion. I need to let my experience generate genuine compassion for those around me who feel rejected, pointing them to the loving heavenly Father who accepts all who come to Him in humble repentance.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be Your child indeed, accurately reflecting Your character, so that many around me may be drawn to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Intercession; February 5, 2018

Posted on February 10, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
give yourselves no rest,
and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.

This passage is the inspiration for multiple groups that currently pray for Israel and for the Church. The NIV is interesting in that it speaks not only of the watchmen not resting, it also speaks of giving God no rest. The Japanese simply says, “Don’t be quiet” for both. The Japanese is interesting in that where the NIV says, “You who call on the Lord,” it says, “You whom the Lord remembers.” I find myself wanting to know the original text there! Since Isaiah was the one book of the Old Testament that was found intact among the Dead Seas Scrolls, that should be fairly definitive. In any case, the point is that God calls some people as intercessors for big things, like nations. Intercession is a high privilege that is available to every child of God, but it is also the specific assignment and gifting of some individuals. We are all to pray for others, which is essentially what intercession is all about, but as Paul makes very clear in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, not everybody has the same job. God equips each of us for the work He has prepared for us, but we are responsible to take what He has provided and exercise and grow it, as faithful stewards. This is what the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) is all about. An interesting thing about such things is that we all tend to expect other people to be just like us, and are surprised when things that are natural and easy for us are difficult for others. That really becomes a problem when we condemn others for not feeling the urgency we do for doing particular things. Intercession is no exception. As I have already said, not everyone is to be what might be called a “full time intercessor,” even though every believer is to intercede.

As a pastor I certainly pray for others a great deal, but intercession isn’t my main assignment. I have noticed that the devil hates intercessors, because he fears the power they wield. I can think of more than one such person who is currently not living close to the Lord at all, because the devil has deceived them into focusing on themselves and their own problems. That’s the opposite of intercession! Interestingly, I am to intercede for them, that they may be liberated from the traps of the enemy to move into what God has planned for them! That’s part of my work in “preparing God’s people for works of service.” (Ephesians 4:12) I can’t do it all myself, and to this point I have tried to do that far too much. Rather, I need to be asking God to show me who He has prepared for each job, so that I may come alongside them and train and encourage them. That’s a major part of my intercession.

Father, thank You for this Word. I’m still not good at delegation, but I think I’m growing. Help me indeed do what You have planned for me, (Ephesians 2:10) so that believers may be birthed and trained and matured, to be a mighty army for Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Restoration; February 4, 2018

Posted on February 9, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 61:4-5 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

It’s interesting that these two verses were the only part of the whole chapter that I hadn’t underlined previously, but they are what the Lord spoke to me just now. We often forget how thoroughly God is in the business of restoration. Maybe you could call it His hobby! He often does some of His most magnificent work with lives that have previously been devastated and written off by others. Restoration is an opportunity for Him to demonstrate that He is far greater than any circumstances we might face. This chapter as a whole is significant for several reasons. Jesus Himself read the first verse and the first line of the second in the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:14-30) at the beginning of His public ministry, claiming it as His commission. From verse four through verse nine, it seems to be finding fulfillment in the nation of Israel today. That’s not to say that the Jews are God’s people apart from the Church, or that the Church is God’s people apart from the Jews, but rather that God’s plans aren’t complete yet for any of His children, and His plans are magnificent indeed. After the Holocaust, who would have dreamed Israel would be as it is today? Israel became a nation again 70 years ago this year, and today it is a shining example of a whole litany of good things, despite fierce opposition from many quarters. As the saying goes, one plus God is a majority!

The reason this jumped out at me just now is that the Lord spoke to Cathy a few days ago that we are to touch base with people we have known over the 36 years we have been in Omura, because He is going to use them not simply to restore this church but to bring in the harvest for which we have prayed so long. She was in the process of making up a list of those we should go visit when Friday a young woman showed up asking for help with an overseas communication problem, and it turned out she had come to an English class here at the church as an elementary school student. Yesterday we went out visiting people on Cathy’s list, and though none of them were at home, we made good contacts with other people in the process. In reference to verse five, at a pastors meeting this past week we were struck by the fact that there were more non-Japanese than Japanese present, with missionaries from Korea and Hong Kong as well as Cathy and myself. Spiritually speaking Japan has certainly been a “place long devastated,” but that is no problem for the Lord. He has given us the vision of Omura again being the foremost Christian city in the nation, as it was 450 years ago. However impossible that looks to man, nothing is impossible for God!

Father, thank You for this Word of encouragement. Thank You for all that You are doing, which is far more than I could even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20-21) May all of Your plans, for us and for this nation and for the world, be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Giving; February 3, 2018

Posted on February 9, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

When we think about God’s provision it often doesn’t occur to us that He wants us to be channels of that provision to others. As the following verses make clear, the rewards for doing so are great! Some of us have more contact with physical need than others, but everyone has opportunity in this area. Some would protest that “Charities are scams,” but there are certainly some, like Samaritan’s Purse, that are fully trustworthy. We are bombarded with pleas for money, so it does call for discernment, but if we are genuinely desiring to please God, this is an area that must not be overlooked. God desires not only to meet needs but to transform the hearts of His children in the process.

I am very much preaching to myself here. I am convicted of being very stingy with financial gifts, other than to this church. We do give 15% of our income, but this is a different matter. We do give food and clothing directly as the opportunities arise, but as often as I have recommended Samaritan’s Purse, I’ve never sent them anything. I don’t think that pleases God. By the standards of the “developed nations” my income isn’t great – I haven’t had to pay income tax most years – but by the standards of the world as a whole, I live a life of luxury. I am to remember that God is my supply, and keep everything in my hands – and bank account – available to Him. There are many things that tempt me, but I have precious few needs that aren’t met, and abundantly at that. I am to seek God’s will at every turn, not rejecting His blessings to me but not hanging on to them either.

Father, thank You for this Word of correction. I confess to allowing myself to be numbed by all the pleas for money, when that isn’t the response You desire. Help me be the steward You want me to be of everything You provide, for the sake of Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Excluding Ourselves; February 2, 2018

Posted on February 5, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 56:3 Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the Lord say,
“The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let not any eunuch complain,
“I am only a dry tree.”

Very often we exclude ourselves from God’s purposes, His blessings, when He intends to include us. It all comes back to our focusing on ourselves instead of on God. When our focus is on Him, literally nothing is impossible, but we can’t wrap our minds around that. We aren’t to dream things up on our own, either positively or negatively, but rather listen carefully to God. God is under no obligation to fulfill our pipe dreams! However, if God has said it, that settles it, whatever things look like to our natural mind. God has quite a track record of using “inappropriate” people to accomplish His purposes. Moses had no administrative skills, yet God used him to lead the whole nation of Israel out of Egypt. Saul was a violent enemy of the Church, but God used him to take the Gospel to Europe and to write half of the New Testament. Paul himself was very aware of this dynamic, speaking of it repeatedly in his letters. He reminded the Corinthian believers of it in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, and he told Timothy he himself was the chief among sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) At the same time, he gave God the credit for all he accomplished. (Colossians 1:29) Whether the world would view us as qualified or not, we need to keep ourselves available for however God wants to use us.

As a pastor I run into this issue all the time. Japanese society frowns strongly on bragging, to the point that people often won’t take credit for things they have done. Of course the best response is to say “God did it,” but people don’t like to acknowledge that they were the instrument. In consequence, it can be very hard to get people to volunteer for anything. Japanese have a strong tendency to leave things to the “experts,” when often the “expert” just happens to have read the manual. I was greatly blessed to be raised by parents who never once told me something was too difficult for me, but encouraged me to try. As a result, I have a wide range of abilities that are intimidating to some. In the church, I’m often considered the “expert” who should be allowed to do everything! I can’t overcome that by my own wisdom and strength, but God can by His Spirit. I am never to give up, but trust that God can do whatever is necessary, and maybe even use me in the process.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be effective in encouraging the believers to recognize what You have already placed in them and to trust You to use them, so that Your kingdom may come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Satisfaction; February 1, 2018

Posted on February 4, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

This whole chapter has had many songs made from it, and I can’t read it without them running through my mind. That’s not a bad thing! The one based on these first two verses isn’t so widely known, and I honestly have no idea who the composer is, but I like it just the same. The words here bring to mind several other Scriptures, in particular John 4, where Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman about the living water He would give her. It also brings to mind Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6) We tend to think of passages like this in relation to poor people, but to me this seems especially appropriate for today’s affluent, materialistic society. We seek and labor for all sorts of things, only to discover that they are ultimately unsatisfying. Only a right relationship with our Creator brings the kind of satisfaction we really seek. The devil does all he can to hide that truth from us, and sadly, he is all too successful much of the time. Jesus had the ultimate answer for this issue: “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33) We need all sorts of things in our lives, material and otherwise, but if our focus is on God and His kingdom, He will take care of everything we need.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more a very few Scriptures stand out to me: Matthew 6:9-10, Matthew 6:33, and John 16:33. I love the whole Bible and read it daily, because it is incredibly rich, but those verses form a bedrock for me. I have learned that God is indeed totally satisfying, and He alone is totally satisfying. Everything else is temporal and thus temporary, and is not worth pegging my heart on. That’s not to say that I’m not to enjoy and be grateful for the abundance that God pours out on me, especially things like family and friends, but it is to say that everything must come after God in my heart, or I will be deceived. When He is indeed first, I can see things through His eyes and relate to them as He intends, which is without question the path of greatest blessing, for me and for everyone else.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You have truly been incredibly gracious toward me. Help me indeed not cling to anything but Christ, holding everything else with open hands so that You may use it as You intend, not only for my blessing and the blessing of those around me, but for Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Dry Ground; January 31, 2018

Posted on February 4, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.

I am very amused at how the Lord used my mistake to get this passage into the reading sequence. When I was preparing the February list I realized that 44 was a typo for 55, which will be the reading for tomorrow. (The January list gives 44:1-13 as following 53:1-12, and verse 13 is an odd place to stop reading in chapter 44.) However, I believe God wanted to be sure we read the first eight verses of chapter 44, so here we are. This particular verse of course calls to mind the passage from Joel that Peter quoted on the day of Pentecost: “And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29 – Peter went all the way to verse 32 in his quote.) The point is, when we are pursuing the theme of God’s Provision, we must not forget that He provides His Spirit, who is far more important than all the physical provisions we usually focus on. The imagery in this verse is especially appropriate for Japan, because spiritually this has seemed like dry ground indeed. Japan is unique in the world in the poor rate of return for effort and resources put into evangelism. Protestant missionaries arrived over 150 years ago, and Catholics over 450 years ago, but the current percentage of church members, let alone active believers, is around 2% by government statistics, and that includes groups that are marginally Christian at best. However, nothing is impossible for God! John the Baptist said that God gives the Spirit without limit, (John 3:34) so it doesn’t matter how dry the land is! Eventually the time will come when the “spiritual water table” will rise to the point of verdant farm land, and God will receive the harvest that He desires from this nation.

Following my parents, we have been committed to missions in Japan since 1934. My parents didn’t see the full harvest with their natural eyes, and so far I haven’t either. However, we haven’t been entirely fruitless, and that gives me hope. Yesterday I was at a meeting where missionaries from Korea and Hong Kong outnumbered the Japanese pastors, and my wife and I were the only Westerners. God’s plans are both different and much better than ours, and we must not try to limit Him in our thinking. (Isaiah 55:9-11 – part of tomorrow’s reading!) I am to focus on expectant faithfulness, and leave the results up to Him.

Father, thank You for yesterday’s meeting, and for the Korean couple who wanted to come see our church afterward. Thank You that Your plans are greater than we could imagine. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) so that we won’t be discouraged, or even give up, but rather fulfill all of Your purposes for us, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Sin and Salvation; January 30, 2018

Posted on February 3, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

This chapter as a whole is an incredibly rich prophecy of the Messiah. I first memorized this verse as a child as a Royal Ambassador (a Baptist boys’ group that I participated in during the annual mission meetings). Whereas it is true that familiarity breeds contempt, I keep coming back to the deep truth that is here. For one thing, it contains what is perhaps the simplest, most fundamental definition of sin: going our own way. Most of the time that seems innocent enough, and independence is an essential part of the maturation process, but it is when our “own way” ignores God that it becomes sin. That was the fundamental point in the Garden of Eden: the devil tempted Eve to go a way other than what God had said. What we don’t realize is that an activity might be completely innocent in itself, but if God has said to do something different, then that activity becomes sin. We don’t like to recognize that! Two people might do exactly the same thing, and for one person it would be fine but for the other person it would be sin, if God had told them to do something else. That’s why we are all so totally dependent on the grace of God. None of us hears God perfectly, and we certainly don’t obey Him perfectly. However, the good news is that Jesus bore our iniquity, our sins, on the cross, so in Him we can draw near to God and know Him as our heavenly Father.

Japanese in general have a lot of trouble with the whole concept of sin. One reason is that the word itself, in Japanese, can mean “crime,” and the average person certainly doesn’t want to describe themselves as a criminal. This verse is the answer to that, but it takes a revelation of the Holy Spirit for it to sink in. Japanese society is described sociologically as a “shame culture,” as opposed to the “sin culture” that is prevalent in Western nations. That means that bad activity is discouraged because it is “shameful,” rather than because it is “wrong.” That makes communicating the Gospel all the more difficult. Japanese has an excellent word for repentance, that breaks down into “regret and re-do.” However, if the regret is just because you are embarrassed, that isn’t Biblical repentance! I need to get back to the definition of sin in this verse in helping Japanese understand what salvation is all about, or I will end up with people who have gotten wet because they have agreed to some propositions, rather than people who have genuinely been born again. I have certainly had some of both types, and over time, the difference is stark. It’s obvious I can’t force people to repent, but the Bible says that conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit anyway, (John 16:8-11) so my job is to pray and to speak the truth in love.

Father, I’m all too familiar with choosing my own way myself. Thank You for Your grace! Thank You that You do work in me to cause me to desire to do Your will, so that I may follow You in truth. (Philippians 2:13) Help me extend to others the grace You have poured out on me, so that together we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18) for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Disciples; January 29, 2018

Posted on February 3, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 50:4 The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

We are remarkably stubborn much of the time, but God doesn’t give up on us. He does provide all that we need to be as He intends for us to be, if we will just accept it. It is significant to me that the Japanese translates this verse a little differently, saying “a disciple’s tongue” in the first line and “listening like a disciple” in the last line. We tend to have a very fuzzy image of just what a disciple is, and in consequence we fail both in making disciples for Christ and in living as disciples ourselves. It can be helpful to realize that in Japanese the word for disciple is the same as that for apprentice. An apprentice is to do everything their master tells them, but most especially to watch their master and learn to be like them, doing the same things, eventually with the same skill. That image leads us to one of Jesus’ most mind-blowing statements: “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12) That is the picture of a disciple. It doesn’t take much meditation on that to realize how far we have to go in our spiritual growth! Paul gives us two words of encouragement in this area. “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) We shouldn’t be anxious about it, but we need to keep pressing in to take hold of all that God intends for us, again just as Paul said. (Philippians 3:12)

My honest first reaction in reading this verse was that it described me, but then I immediately recoiled and thought, “How conceited is that?” However, God has indeed worked in me over the years, and today I waken early every morning, with my first thought being to have this time of fellowship with my Lord like I’m having now. I am deeply grateful. I am far from perfect, but I think to some degree I could be described as a disciple, and I have indeed made a few disciples for my Lord. Yesterday in the service I was deeply encouraged when one believer testified how recently the Word seems to jump off the page into her heart. That’s the kind of disciple I want to raise up! Likewise, a younger believer who had been wandering for a while is showing clear signs of returning firmly to the path. That too is very encouraging. I am to trust that God will and indeed does use me to draw people into a right relationship with Him, and give Him all the praise and glory.

Father, thank You for this Word this morning. Thank You for pointing out to me recently that You didn’t send us out to make church members, but to make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20) Help me be more and more faithful as Your disciple myself, making disciples as You desire, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Peace; January 28, 2018

Posted on January 30, 2018 by jgarrott

Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

This brief verse says a great deal about the state of the world today. The Japanese makes it clear that this is talking about inner peace, rather than simply the lack of war. We have very little control over that sort of thing, and a reflexive pacifism can actually be counterproductive. We tend to focus on God’s positive promises, but His negative ones are very instructive as well. There is ultimately no substitute for a heart that is right with God. Society today is full of “anti-anxiety” drugs that tend to have suicidal feelings as a “side effect,” (What’s anti-anxiety about that?) not to mention the opioid epidemic in the US. Many people are focused on physical and emotional pleasure, and a right relationship with their Creator is given no consideration at all. The biggest problem with all of that is that ignoring God can cause us to mess up the lives of those around us as well, since no one lives in total isolation. Just ask a family member of someone with an addiction! We ultimately can’t control others, so our focus must be on being right with God ourselves so that we can be effective conduits of God’s grace, mercy, and love to those around us. Sometimes that has to be tough love indeed, but if we aren’t right with God, then it’s likely to be anger dressed up as tough love. That can be a hard call! The point is not to let someone else’ actions rob us of our peace, but rather to grow in faith and trust that God can handle it all. Of course the counterpoint to this verse is found earlier in Isaiah: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

I’ve had my run-ins with lack of peace, for sure. Recently, even! When I am in turmoil, I need to stop and take inventory. What is robbing me of peace? How have I contributed to it? Is God able to take care of the situation? The answer to that last question is determined before I ask it, but I’ve got to remind myself of it, just as God did with Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 32:27) When such an inventory shows me something I’ve done, my response must be repentance, asking God for His forgiveness of whatever it is. That most often comes down to lack of faithful obedience. It’s usually not that I don’t know what is right, it’s just that I don’t do what is right. When that happens, I’m throwing away my own inner peace. God never keeps peace from me for any reason; I simply refuse the peace that is available to me through submitted, trusting obedience.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. There’s been a lot that has gone on, but I know that in Christ I have everything I need, and specifically peace. (Philippians 4:7) Help me be a carrier of Your peace to those around me, drawing them closer to You by my words and actions, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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