April 5, 2017

Posted on April 8, 2017 by jgarrott

John 11:27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

It is very significant that this, the second of the two great declarations of who Jesus was and is, was made by a woman. The first was of course the one by Peter in Matthew 16:16. That passage gets quoted and preached on a lot, but this one gets relegated to funerals for the most part. It is glorious for that, but this verse is often left off. (I’ve done that myself.) Martha is often spoken of as less “spiritual” than her sister Mary, because of the incident in Luke 10:38-42 when Martha was concerned about “practical” things but Mary just wanted to listen to Jesus. However, here Martha is the one who is magnificent, with a clear-eyed faith that serves as an example for every believer even today. Her statement in verse 22 is one we all need to remember: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” That was in the face of her brother having been buried for four days already! The Bible, and Jesus specifically, honors women to a degree that is often unrecognized. Peter, the one original Apostle we know for sure was married, recognized the physical differences between the sexes, but spoke of women as “equal heirs” of God’s blessings. (1 Peter 3:7) It is true that many men disrespect women even today, (and many women disrespect men) but the “feminist” movement has done little to restore Biblical balance. The inconsistencies in it are most obvious in their support for Islam, which has institutionalized the oppression of women to a degree that is unparalleled. God created men and women to be very different, and thus function differently, but as complete equals. Feminism focuses on the matter of equality to the point that they try to ignore or deny the differences. Much of the foundation of the whole LGBT movement is jealousy, which manifests in both directions. The devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy, (John 10:10) and sex is perhaps his favorite target. We have got to remember that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

Once again I am blessed by the home in which I was raised. My grandfather, W. O. Carver, was a champion of women serving God, and my mother was appointed as a missionary before my father was, even though she arrived in Japan later. (They were married in Japan.) That made her very resentful of being “relegated” to child care when I was an infant (I’m the youngest of four) because she was “just as much a missionary” as my father. It took a long time for her to realize that she was touching people that my father couldn’t touch, and I would guess that there are as many people in heaven because of her as because of him. In my own ministry, I know full well that I could not be and do what I am without my wife, and I am frequently impressed with how she touches people much more effectively than I do. I am in the more visible position, but I’m pretty confident she is more loved! I couldn’t begin to count how many times she has saved my skin (among other things) by a timely, Godly word or action. We are very different in many ways, but after 48 years we are a lot alike now, too. She is my Mary and my Martha (to get back to the original passage), and I am deeply grateful.

Father, I didn’t expect to write on this! Thank You for Your grace to us both. May we, as one in Christ, be and do all that You desire and intend, destroying the works of the devil and setting many people free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 4, 2017

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jgarrott

John 11:16 Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

I have always loved the whole story of Lazarus’ death and resurrection. This particular verse strikes me because Thomas tends to get a bad rap as “the unbelieving one” after Jesus’ resurrection. Here, however, he shows a fierce loyalty to Jesus that is unsurpassed by any of the other disciples. Frankly, none of us knows what following Jesus is going to mean in our earthly lives. There are preachers who focus on the blessings to the exclusion of everything else, but Jesus Himself said that in this world we would have troubles. (John 16:33) He also said that we would have conflict because of Him. (Matthew 10:34) We don’t like to hear that sort of stuff! Sometimes we need to be like Thomas, with a plain, dogged commitment that hangs in there regardless of circumstances. Thomas wasn’t in it for the perks, he was in it because he believed Jesus was the Lord, and a disciple is true to his Lord. Thinking about it, Thomas showed a very Japanese attitude. Loyalty has long been one of the highest values in Japanese society, sometimes to the point of severe distortion and absurdity. The famous story of “The 47 Samurai” is a case in point. (The Japanese title translates as, “The Storehouse of Faithful Hearts.”) A minor feudal Lord is unfairly disgraced and forced to commit ritual suicide, and 47 of his retainers sacrifice their own families and their own lives to avenge his death. That sort of attitude and action seems almost incomprehensible to most Westerners, but the story was long held as something of an ultimate ideal of loyalty, inspiring the infamous “kamikaze” suicide fighters of WWII. That is certainly a distortion, but we would all benefit from more of Thomas’ attitude. We are too prone to follow Jesus for the “perks,” and fall away when things get difficult. Jesus talked about that, too, in His parable of the different kinds of soil. (Matthew 13:1-9, and more)

I find myself challenged by all of this. I think my loyalty is fairly secure, but I can’t presume. I’ve had rough patches in life, but God has been more than gracious to me. As a pastor I deal with people and their problems all the time, and sometimes get accused of insensitivity when I tell people that Jesus is greater than, and worth more than, all their problems. I am not to sugar-coat the Gospel; it is more than marvelous all on its own. I am to teach both John 16:33 and 2 Corinthians 4:17, never promising easy street but insisting that it is all more than worth it. Like Thomas, I am to follow my Lord regardless of the immediate consequences to myself, knowing that His plans for me are good, (Jeremiah 29:11) and He is to be trusted.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the idea of preaching on “Jesus’ Japanese Disciple.” May I not only be loyal to You, but also effective in drawing others into loyal commitment, so that together we may tear down the gates of hell that have bound the Japanese people for so long. (Matthew 16:18) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 3, 2017

Posted on April 6, 2017 by jgarrott

Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

I have preached on this verse many times, but it still hits me every time I read it. Sometimes we think we want to follow Jesus, but when push comes to shove, we follow our own comfort or convenience or whatever. We can’t wait for a crisis to learn to follow Jesus, it needs to be ingrained in us through our daily choices. We hear of martyrs who choose death rather than denying Jesus and either wonder how they could do it, or else think, “I could do that,” without any track record to back it up. I often remember James and John, the sons of Zebedee who were among the original 12 apostles. When, in their desire for glory, they brashly said that they could drink the same cup Jesus was going to drink (not knowing He was talking about crucifixion), Jesus said they would indeed do that. (Matthew 20:22) James was the first of the 12 to be martyred, but tradition tells us that John was the only one of the 12 to die a “natural” death. The thing is, both of them gave their lives for Christ; James just did it all at once, while John did it one day at a time. I think James had the easier course! Our problem is that we look at everything from a physical, temporal perspective, when we were created for eternity with God. The better we remember that, the better we can get through whatever trials we experience here (John 16:33) and the more joy we have in the process.

I am once again reminded of the story line in Silence, the book by Shusaku Endo that came out as a movie this past year. The saddest thing about it was how the priests (reflecting Endo’s own faith, or lack of it) discarded Christianity in order to save people from physical torture and death. Had that been the attitude of the early believers, Christianity would never have made it into the 2nd Century! It was believers who lived by this verse who amazed the Romans, who grudgingly said, “These people really know how to love each other, and they really know how to die.” That’s how I want to live! I doubt that I will be called to martyrdom the way James was, but I must accept martyrdom the way John did, one day at a time. It can be much harder to die to myself than to have someone else do the job for me! I am not to draw back, however long or narrow the road might seem, but remember that the glory that awaits me far outweighs anything I could experience here. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Father, I’ve certainly had my moments of complaining, but I feel You have been so gentle and gracious toward me. Thank You. Thank You for the assurance that You will get me through anything You will bring me to. Help me live in consistent obedience, always available for however You want to use me, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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April 2, 2017

Posted on April 4, 2017 by jgarrott

Galatians 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

We have little grasp of the absurdity, on the face of it, of speaking of “boasting” in the cross, but Paul’s immediate readers understood it very well. Movies give us a picture of crucifixion but it is a sanitized one at best, because the Romans generally didn’t waste any clothing on someone they were crucifying. Such a horribly cruel execution was the furthest thing possible from something to “boast” of. However, the cross of Christ was the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us. What Paul was boasting of was how much God loved him, and each of us. What he continues to say is also vitally important. It is actually a restatement of something he said earlier in the same letter: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) The cross is really our only hope of living truly holy lives, because death is the ultimate answer to temptation. Through His cross Jesus took the penalty for our sin, so we are freed from it. It is as we allow that cross to be operative in our lives that we are freed from the power of sin, even in this life. It is as we graduate from this life to the next that we are freed from the presence of sin. That’s what Paul was talking about with “the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.”

I am as much in this process as anyone. None of us has anything to boast of except God’s overwhelming, amazing, grace and love. If I forget that even for a moment I fall into pride and hypocrisy. Those who look at me and think they could never be like me don’t know that I am just like them, apart from the grace of God. My calling is to be a witness of Christ, by His Spirit. (Acts 1:8) If I try to do that on my own, my flesh gets in the way and I make a horrible mess of it all. If I rest, relax, and rejoice in God’s grace and love toward me, then that joy becomes a powerful magnet to draw others to Christ. I need God’s wisdom and guidance each moment, because He’s smart and I’m not, but if I will trust Him obediently, that wisdom and guidance are fully available. The biggest risk is of my thinking I’m doing it, instead of Him doing it through me. I’ve had more than enough of trying to do it myself!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I have no words to thank You enough for Your grace and love. As David said, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14) Thank You. Praise God!

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April 1, 2017

Posted on April 3, 2017 by jgarrott

(From now through the 21st the readings are on The Cross, but then go back to being on God’s Provision. The cross is God’s ultimate provision for our salvation!)

1 Corinthians 1:18, 25 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

The Gospel is absurd on the face of it. Why would omnipotent God come to earth as a frail human being in the first place? Why then would He die in shameful agony in our place? It simply doesn’t make sense to human intellect, and must be received by faith. This passage is of great importance to anyone who is confronted by those who ridicule the Gospel – which is to say, most of us. Far too many Americans are cultural Christians, accepting the Bible as mythology rather than as objective truth. That doesn’t do them any good at all. I have come to the conclusion that a major reason God designed salvation the way He did was precisely so that no human being could take personal credit for their own salvation. Paul brings that out again and again, not just here but in Ephesians 2:8-10 and elsewhere. Pride is one of the greatest hindrances to salvation. To be saved, we have to accept that there is no reason other than love that God would have sent Jesus to the cross, because the cross was really our penalty, not His. That really annihilates pride. Understanding this is so important that long ago the Church decided to expand the commemoration of the cross from Passion Week to Lent. Whether a formal structure is the best way to do that is open to debate, but it is undeniable that without the cross we have nothing, because we would be totally unqualified and unable to approach God, much less become His children. Too many Christians, and even preachers, “tone down” the message of the cross so as not to offend, not realizing that they are abandoning the foundation of everything. The message of personal sin, accountability to God, and God’s grace is offensive to those who will not humble themselves before God. We cannot change that, and so must not fear giving offense by proclaiming the Gospel.

I have to confess that I have let fear of offending keep me quiet more times than I could count, and really more times than I am aware of. There are some evangelists who seem to delight in offending. Some are “shocked into faith” by that, but more are turned off needlessly. I am not to seek to offend, but I must not fear offending more than I fear God, or fear the person I am talking to going to hell. That can be a hard call at times. Japanese society values interpersonal harmony very much, so the risk of offending by proclaiming the Gospel is very high. However, people have watched us, watched this church, for years, and see that we are motivated by the love of God. That is the best counter to offense. It was God’s love that caused Him to send Jesus in the first place, and it must be His love that motivates us to share the Gospel, whether people are offended or not.

Father, I ask for wisdom and anointing for sharing the Gospel, especially in this neighborhood, where the people are so warm to us. I don’t want them just to like us, I want them to love You, repenting of their unbelief and receiving Your salvation. I pray that in the months ahead Your Spirit would both prepare hearts and speak through us so that many may be drawn into Your kingdom, Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 31, 2017

Posted on April 2, 2017 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 4:39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

This is the definitive statement of monotheism. Many cultures balk at this. India is famous for its multiple gods, and Japan describes itself as “The Land of 8 Million Gods.” In human history, atheism as an organized thought system hardly reared its head before the end of the 19th Century, but over the next century it became the darling of the “intelligentsia.” The interesting thing is, numbers of really intelligent people, like Einstein, insisted that the universe couldn’t exist without a Creator. Just recently I watched a video of Michio Kaku, an astrophysicist who is very influential in the area of physics known as String Theory, and he was saying that the orderliness of the universe demands a Creator; chance couldn’t possibly explain its existence. However, both Einstein and Kaku had/have trouble with the idea of a personal God who cares about and is involved in the affairs of human beings. The problem is, that is at the very core of the Gospel. Actually, that is the shocking, scandalous foundation of the Bible, and thus Judaeo Christian society. From beginning to end, the Bible tells us that there is one God who created us, and He is both Holiness and Love. We have such trouble getting that through our heads! The attraction of atheism is that if there is no God, then there are no moral restraints, but as many people are pointing out, no one would really want to live in a world with no moral restraints, because they don’t want other people doing bad things to them, whatever they might want to do to other people. There is a severe logical inconsistency there. The only real solution to it all is a Creator who not only set up physical laws for the universe, He set up moral laws as well. It only stands to reason that the way to success comes from following the Creator’s Instruction Manual.

I had the enormous blessing of growing up in a home that was both intellectually/academically rigorous and totally dedicated to God who loves us enough to die for us. That formed the foundation of my world view, and I have benefited ever since. My frustration is that very few of the people I deal with have that same world view. Very few people think deeply enough about why the universe exists as it does, much less why they exist as they do. We are creatures of appetite and emotion, which isn’t bad in itself, but we need to go beyond that. My task as a witness to Christ, (Acts 1:8) not to mention being a pastor, is to speak the truth in love so that people’s eyes may be opened to God who loves them, so that they may repent of their imagined independence and believe the Good News of Christ, for their eternal salvation.

Father, You know me better than I know myself. You know that I love you, but that I am inconsistent in my obedience. You love me anyway, with Your amazing grace, and You continue to draw me closer to You. Thank You. You know how much I want to draw others into Your family, but that I can’t do it in my own strength and wisdom. I ask You to cleanse and fill me more and more so that nothing may interfere with Your Spirit drawing people to Yourself through me, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 30, 2017

Posted on April 2, 2017 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Several times Moses stresses that the Israelites aren’t to forget what they have experienced, but are to pass that information on to succeeding generations. We tend to forget that at that point they had no Bible, and most of the people were likely illiterate anyway. The only way to communicate over time was through repeated oral tradition. Granted, that was far more developed back then, out of sheer necessity, than it is today, but that still didn’t make it easy. America today is a good example of what happens in just a few dozen years if the process of teaching young people gets neglected or skewed. Man-on-the-street interviews expose almost unbelievable ignorance of the most basic facts of American history, and far too many schools teach hatred of America. That’s tragic enough, but ignorance of God is even worse. Frankly, that too has greatly increased in the US. The point is, those who do know God must be active in communicating that knowledge to others, or it simply dies out. God can and does reveal Himself supernaturally at times, but His fundamental plan is for His children to reproduce spiritually. Biological reproduction is all well and good, but spiritual reproduction is even more important, because physical life without eternal life is a “passing breeze,” as the Psalmist said. (Psalm 78:39) Many people wonder what their life means, why they exist, and those who know God are responsible to share their own knowledge of God so that others may know as well. We are not enjoined to teach philosophy; Moses is clear about teaching personal experience. That’s all the more reason to seek to experience God more so that we will have more to teach!

This certainly applies to me, since as a pastor my whole life is dedicated to teaching others about God. The thing is, if it remains their knowledge of my experience, it won’t do them that much good. My goal must be for them to experience Him themselves, and so choose to feed on His Word and grow in Him. I do need to share my own experiences so that what I teach will be far more than abstract. As a Teacher I tend to feel that just dumping truth on people should be sufficient, but it seldom is. I need to come alongside them and teach them how to get into the Word themselves, and I haven’t been very good at that. Of course, we are all dependent on the Holy Spirit, because as Paul said, spiritual truths are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12) My teaching must be preceded, supported, and followed up with prayer. I have plenty of room to grow there! God desires a big family, and I need to be totally committed and obedient to Him for that purpose.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the upcoming new fiscal year. Japanese churches, and Japanese society in general, make much more of that than I would on my own, but it is a good opportunity to reexamine the how and the why of doing things. Thank You for the theme You’ve given me for Sunday’s message. I pray that both my preparation and my delivery would be fully guided and empowered by Your Spirit, so that Your truth would indeed communicate to each one and produce rich fruit, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 29, 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 2:9 Then the Lord said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as a possession.”

When we think about God’s provision it’s important to remember that He gives things to other people too. God’s promises to the descendants of Abraham didn’t negate His promises to the descendants of Lot. It’s no accident that “Do not covet” is one of the 10 Commandments. (Exodus 20:17) We have a bad tendency to be dissatisfied with what we have been given and want what someone else has. Wanting better for ourselves isn’t necessarily bad, but wanting to take it from someone else is. This is a major issue in the world today. Too many people are so envious of what others have that they want to take it by force, or else destroy it so that the other person can’t have it either. That description should make it very clear where all of this comes from. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10) The “thief” that Jesus was talking about is of course the devil. Ambition, in the sense of wanting better than the present situation, is a powerful force for progress in the world, and always has been. However, when that ambition is twisted to wanting to put others down, to be lower than you, it is a tool of the devil. Class warfare is very much a work of the devil. Someone like Ben Carson can leap over class barriers by hard work and faithful stewardship of the gifts and abilities they’ve been given, but complaining that your own situation is someone else’ fault and everything is supposed to be handed to you is straight from the pit of hell. The first thing each of us needs to do is take grateful inventory. People in advanced countries, and America in particular, have an incredible level of convenience and luxury, compared not only to people in less developed countries but also to anyone at all just a few generations ago. We need to recognize the blessings we have without being resentful of someone who seems to have more. “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” is all too true, and it is indeed an illusion.

Some people look at me and say I have no standing to talk on this issue, because I have been so blessed. I have indeed been blessed abundantly, but not necessarily financially. My needs have been met, but my income has never met the threshold above which social psychologists say that satisfaction with life is not increased. I don’t pay much in taxes because I don’t have that much income! By God’s grace that hasn’t bothered me very much, but I can’t say I haven’t had unworthy feelings toward those who had more “successful” churches or ministries. That too is a trap of the devil. I need to apply myself fully to the tasks the Lord sets for me, allowing His strength and wisdom to operate through me, without worrying about how He might be using someone else. God didn’t give me their church or their ministry, just as He didn’t give Lot’s territory to Abraham. I am to work for the best possible stewardship of what He has given me, and return to Him the thanks and praise that He deserves.

Father thank You for Your abundant blessings. My marriage is the envy of many! Thank You for meeting my needs, and far more. Help me keep my eyes on the prize and indeed run with patience the race that is set before me, (Philippians 3:14, Hebrews 12:1) not worrying about the course You have laid out for someone else, so that all of Your plans may be fulfilled for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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March 28, 2017

Posted on March 31, 2017 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 1:42 But the Lord said to me, “Tell them, ‘Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you. You will be defeated by your enemies.'”

We are so foolish! We fail to do what God says to do when and how He says to do it, and then we turn around and try to do it on our own, just as the Israelites did. God has made many marvelous promises in His Word, but few if any of them are without conditions. We like to cherry pick the promises and ignore the conditions, and then accuse God of not being faithful when things don’t turn out as we imagine. We need to listen when God says “No” just as well as when He says “Go.” Even Paul had to learn that, as is recorded in Acts 16:6-7. In that case it was because God wanted him to head into Europe, and that was momentous indeed. Later, in writing to the Romans he talked about the Jews, saying, “For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.” (Romans 10:2) Being gung ho for God doesn’t necessarily mean we’re hearing Him correctly! There is a fine line between faith and presumption. Failing to believe and trust God is obviously bad, but so is presuming on Him when we haven’t been humble enough really to listen to Him.

This is extremely applicable to me and to this church right now. We have the whole matter of the land next door and the vision of building an assisted living facility. Had I been listening more actively a few months ago, the situation would probably be very different now. However, my trying to make things happen at this point in my own strength would be equally wrong. Not just there, but in every area of my life I am to listen actively and obediently, never thinking I can do anything apart from God but never holding back, from laziness or for any other reason, when He says to do something. You would think that since I was baptized over 60 years ago I would have learned this better by now! Japanese has a standard idiom, used like a single word, that means, “listen and obey.” That needs to be the hallmark of my life, expressed consistently in every area.

Father, thank You for Your patience with me. That’s a huge part of Your amazing grace. Thank You that You know the end from the beginning, and Your plan for me is perfect. Help me participate actively and joyfully in Your plan, doing Your will on Your schedule for the blessing of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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March 27, 2017

Posted on March 28, 2017 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 1:30-31 “The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

The whole book of Deuteronomy is a recounting of what had already happened. In some ways it is Moses’ edit of what he had written in Exodus through Numbers. The thing is, we need to be reminded of what God has said to us and done for us in the past. Somewhat like a cow chewing their cud, we need to ruminate over such things so that we won’t miss the lessons God wants us to learn. Here, the specific imagery Moses uses is both meaningful and beautiful. We can all relate to the picture of a father carrying his child, and it’s a very apt one. Just like a father doesn’t carry his child all the time, but only when it might be dangerous for the child to walk, or the child might be too tired, in the same way, God doesn’t spoil us, but He does protect us. Just as a child sometimes kicks and squirms, wanting to get down even when the father knows it isn’t wise, so we kick and squirm against God, not recognizing what He is doing and wanting to do things our own way. The Israelites whom Moses was addressing were certainly good examples of that. As Paul pointed out, much of the Old Testament was recorded precisely so that we could learn from such examples. (1 Corinthians 10:11) Sometimes we think that short attention spans are a modern malady, but mankind has a long history of failing to remember lessons they have already been taught. As the saying goes, those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. We need to follow Moses’ example in Deuteronomy and consider what God has already taught us, so that He won’t have to teach it to us all over again.

When I look back over my own life, some of the lessons God has taught me have been delightful and some have been painful. The thing is, I tend to remember the delightful ones and expect more of the same, but push the painful ones out of my mind, and for that very reason have to go through them again. God isn’t mean, but as has been said, He’s more interested in my character than in my comfort. That’s the lesson of one of Paul’s very famous statements: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) I have been shaped and grown by the pains in my life, probably more than by the pleasures. I need to recognize better how God has supported and protected me even when the way seemed hard. Rather than complain like the Israelites, I need to “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for [me] in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s interesting how often I need it! Help me encourage all the believers in the same way, so that together we may “Through Jesus continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15) Thank You. Praise God!

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