June 11, 2016

Posted on June 14, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

This Psalm is dearly loved, and for good reason. It starts by saying how the natural order demonstrates God without needing language, then it goes to talking about God’s use of language in giving His commands to mankind, and then it talks about the speaker’s own thoughts and words. That’s a very natural and meaningful progression, going from the vast to the intensely personal. David was a gifted and skillful poet indeed, but more importantly, he knew God. We all need to emulate him, understanding that nothing could exist without God, even the furthest reaches of the universe. We also need to accept that despite the infinitude of God, He cares intimately about each one of us, giving us instructions so that we may lead the best possible lives, relating rightly to Him and to each other. And then, we need to acknowledge our own personal responsibility and accountability before Him, all the way down to our thoughts. We all stumble at one or more of those points. That’s why we need a Redeemer, and to believe that God provided that Redeemer in His Son Jesus. David didn’t know Jesus, since biologically He was David’s descendant, but he knew enough of God to know that was taken care of, whatever form it took.

Thankfully, I had good input in all these areas from childhood, since my parents valued science, loved the Bible, and had deep, personal relationships with Jesus Christ as Lord. I wish every child could grow up in such an environment! However, I am never to “rest on my laurels,” so to speak, and think I’ve arrived. There’s always more to learn about the natural universe, and it’s fascinating. The Bible is a daily companion and nourishment for my soul. And I too must be on my guard against hidden sins, asking God to purify both my words and my thoughts. I am charged with leading people in all three of these areas, but I must never do so with an attitude of pride. I am not to withdraw into false humility, thinking I can teach nothing, because as I was pointing out to some people the other day, even a 2nd grader can teach a 1st grader some things. I am not to be stingy or exclusive with what God has taught me, but share it in all grace and humility. At the same time I am to keep pressing forward, learning and growing in every area, to be and do all that God intends for me, for His glory.

Father, You are so incredibly gracious! Thank You for all that You have done, all You are doing right now, and all that You are going to do in the future. We are in the middle of some things that seem pretty big to us right now, and that can be very stressful. Help us trust You fully with all the details, accepting and learning what You have taught us in the past and applying it faithfully right now, so that all of Your plans may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 10, 2016

Posted on June 12, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 18:50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants for ever.

One difference between the English and the Japanese in this verse really caught my eye. Rather than, “He gives his king great victories,” the Japanese says, “The Lord increases salvation to the king.” I feel sure that’s because of the particular turn of phrase in the Hebrew, but it really makes me think about our definition of both salvation and victory. We tend to think of both in temporal terms, on this earth in this life, but God looks at things from the eternal perspective. Death, which we tend to see as defeat, is entering into eternity, and for someone who is in Christ, that is the greatest of victories. Our lives on this earth do matter, and God does heal and otherwise pull us out of difficulties again and again, but we must not think that because a particular situation isn’t being resolved the way we would like, God isn’t pouring out His salvation. The Revelation to John makes it very clear that the ultimate victory of the believer is a foregone conclusion, but we have a lot of trouble remembering that in the middle of our daily lives. My wife Cathy remarked just yesterday about how many Christians, even, seem to get mad at God over deaths and the like, and how absurd that is. The resurrection of Jesus proved that the salvation God has provided for us by grace through faith includes victory in every area, even over death. We forget that, or act like we never knew it, and we suffer needlessly as a result. Separation from loved ones is painful, yes, but when all involved are committed to Jesus Christ as Lord, it is a temporary thing that is ultimately no big deal.

This is of course very personal, because I’m just as mortal as anyone, physically speaking. I do my best to stay healthy and active and have every expectation of what the insurance companies would consider a pretty long life, but I’ve already outlived my father by a few years, and who knows what some crazy driver might do even today. Just yesterday I watched a fascinating brief lecture on risk, which talked about how we tend to fear things over which we have no control, but blithely accept far greater risks when we think we do have a measure of control. Some people fear flying, for example, because as a passenger you can in no way influence the outcome, but they might smoke or overeat, either of which has a much higher probability of increased suffering and death. As a child of God I am to be a faithful steward of the body I’ve been given, not taking needless risks (such as smoking or overeating) but fearing nothing. God’s salvation, His victory, is absolute and eternal. I can have no better security than that.

Father, thank You for this clear, strong Word. Show me when and how I am to share it. May I live in all that You have provided for me in Christ, freely sharing it with all who will receive, so that the works of the devil may be destroyed (1 John 3:8) and many brought into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 9, 2016

Posted on June 11, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 18:28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.

This whole Psalm switches back and forth between talking to God and talking about Him. That might reflect a flaw in David’s grammar or it might just blur the distinction between prayer and other speech, since God knows everything we say. In any case David is overwhelmed by the goodness and greatness of God, and that’s certainly a good thing. If we were to talk about God’s attributes more often, and not just in church, I think our lives would definitely change for the better. This particular verse is a reminder that God keeps us going. The Japanese says, “The Lord illuminates my darkness,” but I do like the turn of phrase in the NIV, “turns my darkness into light.” The first part of the verse brings to mind the song, This Little Light of Mine. That is actually based on Matthew 5:14-16, but the imagery is the same. We don’t really like darkness (unless we’re trying to hide something, as in John 3:19-21) but this says two things about that. It says that God illuminates our darkness, but more strikingly, He often does it through us, causing our lamp to burn. When that happens we illuminate those around us as well, just as Jesus was talking about. When our circumstances seem dark, we need to check our wick and our oil level! Jesus’ story of the foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) indicates that we can indeed run out of oil. We need to keep our oil supply up by staying in intimate fellowship with God by His Spirit (who is often spoken of as oil). The better our oil supply, the more light we will shed on everyone around us.

This is something I have tried to live by for quite a few years now, but God is the judge of how well I succeed. There is a secular proverb that says, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” I am never to curse the darkness, but rather realize that “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) The darkness in and around me is defeated, not by my railing against it, but by God filling me and illuminating through me. Darkness is a negative, the absence of light, so the way to overcome it is by applying light. Even in physics there is no measure for darkness, only measures for light. Sometimes for scientific purposes you need a “total black.” That is achieved in various ways, but all of them strive to reflect nothing. The easiest way to do that on a small scale is to bind together a group of razor blades, which actually are quite shiny, but when viewed edge-on, none of the reflections go back to the light source. I’ve got to be careful that I’m always reflecting Jesus; otherwise it won’t matter how shiny I might be.

Father, this is an important truth. Help me communicate it effectively and live it out consistently, so that the darkness may indeed be defeated by Your light in and through Your children, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 8, 2016

Posted on June 11, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 18:3 I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

There was a very simple reason David prayed so much: he knew it worked. Probably starting when he was a young boy herding sheep and dealing with lions and bears, he learned that praying made a difference. There are lots of people who would like prayer to work, but they don’t like the corollary: we are accountable to the One to whom we pray. That has been an issue from the dawn of mankind. We want things our way, and we don’t like to submit our wills to anyone. All authority structures are to some degree reflections of the relationship between God and man. No strictly human organization reflects it perfectly, because there are no perfect human beings, or organizations, for that matter. However, employee satisfaction, and even performance, are closely related to how responsive they feel management is to their needs. The flip side of that is that management values employees who go by the rules and apply themselves fully to their jobs. It is very instructive that one of only two people Jesus praised for their faith was a Roman soldier, who understood this whole matter very well. (Matthew 8:5-13) If we want to operate in the power and authority of God, we’ve got to be submitted personally to that authority ourselves. This is where grace comes in big time, because God treats us much better than our actions deserve. We are obedient sometimes, but He is loving all the time. Sometimes His love takes the form of discipline, (Hebrews 12:7-11) but He doesn’t just throw us away in disgust, however much we might do that if we were in His place. David made some major errors, but he repented and God didn’t throw him out of the game.

I have certainly experienced the grace and mercy of God. As the world looks at it I haven’t had a “rough” life, but I definitely haven’t always lived consistently with the truth I knew. Jesus made it clear that we are responsible to the degree we have been blessed, (Luke 12:47-48) and by that standard I deserve to have the book thrown at me, since I have been familiar with the Book from childhood. To compound that, I am now a pastor/teacher, and as James pointed out, I am held to a stricter standard. (James 3:1) However, I have learned as David did that when I cry out to God in humility He is there, and I am deeply grateful. (I’ve also learned the pitfalls of pride, but that’s another, and long, story.) I know that as long as I am walking in Christ I have absolutely nothing to be anxious about, so my focus is on being as close, and as obedient, as He enables me to be.

Father, You know the level of my success better than I do, but I know that I can have no success apart from You. Help me indeed be done with both anxiety and pride, flowing with Your Spirit on Your schedule for Your glory, so that Your will may be accomplished in and through me for Your pleasure. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 7, 2016

Posted on June 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 13:2, 5-6 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.

Here we have clear evidence that David got depressed, but he knew what to do about it. Verse 2 is a pretty accurate description of depression, and the last two verses are an excellent prescription for overcoming it. Depression essentially looks inward and fails to find the resources it’s looking for. Singing to God in recognition of His abundant grace and blessings is the perfect antidote. The thing is, when we’re depressed we certainly don’t feel like singing praise. That’s the key: choosing to act differently from what our emotions are saying. This isn’t hypocrisy, it is recognizing that God is greater than our emotions as well as our circumstances, and acting accordingly. Being self-centered never turns out well. Not only does it fail to bring genuine happiness, it often leads to depression and even suicide. Actually, suicide is the ultimate self-centered act. We were created for relationship as social beings. That’s why the two great commandments, as designated by Jesus, deal with love. (Matthew 22:37-39) There can be no love without an object for that love, because love is outward; self-love doesn’t cut it. Our primary love, our primary relationship, is to be toward God, and secondary to that is loving people. Depression is inseparable from being self-centered. If we are focused first on God, we realize that His resources are always greater than whatever it is we are facing. If we really see and love the people around us, we will allow God’s grace and blessings to flow through us to them, and everyone is blessed.

Talk about timely! I had just said to Cathy that I felt “under-rested and overwhelmed.” That can happen only when my focus is on me and my feelings, instead of on God and what He is doing through me to bless others. The whole issue of depression and being self-centered is so easy to see when I look at others, but then I fall into it myself. This is a reminder that I have no high horse from which to look down or talk down to others. I am as much in need of the grace and mercy of God as they are, so I need to choose to focus first on God and then on those whom He wants to touch through me. If I will do that, depression will not be an issue.

Father, thank You for this experience. I have recently felt somewhat exasperated at people who couldn’t seem to grasp this truth, but You have reminded me that every blessing is Your grace. I ask for wisdom to communicate Your truth more effectively so that we may all submit to You and resist the devil effectively, (James 4:7) to walk in Your victory at all times in every area, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 6, 2016

Posted on June 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 12:8 The wicked freely strut about
when what is vile is honored among men.

I would not say that this verse “blesses” me, but it is certainly both accurate as truth and descriptive of America today. Some people might try to “sanitize” this verse and say that “what is vile” is talking about idols. (Actually, the Japanese here does refer to worship.) However, the Bible also uses “vile” in talking about sexual perversion, and taken that way, this describes America today to a T. The LGBTQRST people aren’t out to be tolerated, they are out to make their way of life normative and to punish anyone who doesn’t celebrate it. And “celebrate” is often a religious term, fitting right back in with this verse. The thing is, the fact that this verse was written 3000 years ago tells us that this is descriptive of the human condition, and the situation is not unique to today. Actually, that should be comforting in a sense, because it means that we aren’t so unusually bad after all. That said, we need to consider the rest of the truth expressed here. It is saying that in conditions like today, evil people strut around freely. One look at the major US presidential candidates – not to mention a lot of other celebrities and politicians – certainly confirms that! We are in a time when a sex tape is considered essential to success as a celebrity. How sad! The devil is in a “full court press,” which certainly brings to mind what it says in Revelation. “But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” (Revelation 12:12) Whether these really are the Last Days or not, those whose eyes are open need to cling closely to God and His Word, walking in obedience to Him and not being swept away by the tsunami of filth that is upon us. We are not to deny present reality, but neither are we to lose hope. Rather, we are to remember that God is still God, and everything will be straightened out in the end.

At times I am sharply aware that I could have been swept up in all of the junk myself, and I am deeply grateful for God’s grace. I am not to despise people, but neither am I to be affirming of their rebellion against God. I am to remember that our enemy is the deceiver, and always speak the truth in love. I am to keep my eyes open so that I myself won’t be deceived. The temptation at times to just curl up in a ball and shut the world out is quite real, but as the Lord said through me in the message yesterday, we are called to be salt and light, and that doesn’t mean retreat. I interact with young adults all the time, and I am to be a pillar and a standard for them, calling and encouraging them to what their own hearts know is right, so that the schemes of the devil may be defeated. (1 John 3:8)

Father, every day is a mix of seeing Your hand at work and seeing the junk the devil is stirring up. Help me focus on You and what You are doing, not getting discouraged and certainly not having a pity party. May I walk personally in the victory of Jesus Christ (John 16:33) and lead others to do the same, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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June 5, 2016

Posted on June 6, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

This verse points out the essential idiocy of those who exclude God from their hearts. The NIV turn of phrase is pretty good. The Japanese renders it, “The one phrase, ‘There is no God’ expresses the limit of their thoughts.” I read an article recently that put it this way: “Atheists insist there is no God, and they hate Him.” There are exceptions, I’m sure, but particularly for vocal atheists, I think that’s a pretty fair statement. It’s all a part of the self-centered trap. The devil wants us to think that we’re the be-all and end-all of everything, because when we do that, we not only have no real regard for other people, (except for how they can benefit us) we have no perception and appreciation of our Creator, who brought us into being so that we could fellowship with Him. Every human being is born with a capacity to seek, know, and appreciate God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 calls that “eternity in our heart.” However, when we focus on ourselves, we blind ourselves to God. When we do that, standards of right and wrong crumble for lack of foundation, and we destroy ourselves with sin. The very reason vocal atheists are so vocal is that their hearts convict them of sin and they don’t like that. They therefore deny the basis for all standards of right and wrong, logic be hanged. That’s when the Japanese for this verse sums things up nicely.

I have toyed with atheism as an intellectual “what if” scenario, but the Lord has protected me from staying in such idiocy. As much as I like science, to me it all points to the absolute necessity of a Creator, and once you are settled on that, the God of the Bible is the only one that makes any sense. I did have a time of descending more and more into spiritual pride, thinking I was a fine Christian when actually I was ignoring God in my daily life, but God in His mercy broke me out of that trap, and I am deeply grateful. The vast majority of the people around me are practical agnostics, cultural Buddhists who also practice some Shinto rituals but who have no personal faith at all. They see religion as largely irrelevant to life, applying it only for major life events, like marriage, the birth of a child, and death. It is interesting that such an attitude is so extremely hard to crack with the Gospel. I have demonstrated that I can’t get through effectively by logical argument alone, so I’ve got to keep praying for people that the Holy Spirit would break through the lying walls that surround them. They need to see that not admitting God into their hearts and lives puts them into the category of “wicked” that this verse talks about, and so repent and believe. I am convinced that God wants to bring many people to that point, so I’ve got to be available for however He wants to use me in the process, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, generations of Your servants in Japan have struggled with this, but You aren’t through with this nation. Thank You for the things You are doing in this church even now. May we be open and eager to participate fully in all that You will do in this city and nation, for a massive harvest in Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 4, 2016

Posted on June 6, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 9:20 Let the nations know they are but men.

This brief little snippet of a prayer is actually of great importance. The thing is, mankind is all too prone to forget that they are simply human. Today we have active work on “man-machine interfaces” and “artificial intelligence,” attempting to transcend the boundaries of what it means to be human, but none of that changes the fundamental reality that we are mortal. We were created to be eternal but our physical beings are manifestly mortal, however much we try to change that or simply ignore it. We love “super heroes,” because we would like to be that way ourselves, but in the process we overlook the only true super hero who has ever lived: Jesus Christ. After His resurrection He walked through locked doors and levitated up into the sky, and even before that He walked on water and performed numerous miracles. He was fully human, but He was manifestly not just human. The thing is, we can be in Him by faith and obedience, and if we do that, we have the assurance that we will be like Him. (1 John 3:2) For that to happen, we have to first realize that apart from Him we can do nothing, (John 15:5) because in ourselves we are no more than human. Praying this prayer for the nations is actually praying God’s best for them, because He desires that everyone repent and believe for their salvation.

I have certainly had my times of superhuman fantasies, but I have come to realize that what I have in Christ is far better than anything I could imagine. There are times when I chafe at being “just human,” so I have to remember that I belong to Him who is genuinely, authentically divine. As He told Paul, His power is manifested most perfectly in our weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9) so I need to be satisfied with that and rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, just as He has told me to. I am not to go around telling people, “You’re no more than human,” but I am to pray for God to reveal that to their spirits by His Spirit, and keep myself ready and available to share the Gospel with them when their hearts are ready.

Father, thank You for Your incredible mercy on us all. In our humanity we defy You all too often. I pray that more and more people would indeed repent and believe, receiving Your salvation and entering Your family as Your children, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 3, 2016

Posted on June 5, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

Modern light pollution has robbed the average person of the sense of perspective that David expresses here. There are plenty of magnificent images available on the Internet, but nothing compares to looking directly up at more stars than you could possibly count. The more we know of the vastness of the universe, courtesy of the Hubble and other such telescopes, the more awed we should be that God really does care about individual human beings. There are those who want to deny that He does, because they want to escape accountability, but when they face the end of their lives, who will they depend on? In David’s day they knew only as much as could be seen with the naked eye, but that was enough to make him and others seek their Creator. David had the huge advantage of being a descendant of Abraham, whom God had chosen as a contact person through whom to give knowledge of Himself to mankind. As a result, David knew that his Creator was holy and just and did not ask for such things as infant sacrifice. Many of the nations around him did not have that awareness, just as the devil is working to remove that awareness from modern society. America has sacrificed far more infants to Molech than the Philistines ever did! We lose a great deal when we lose the sense of wonder that the Creator of the universe would care about us. That’s why Jesus’ message, in the simplest terms, was, “Repent and believe.” (Mark 1:15) We need to repent of our self-centeredness, our ignoring God and doing our own thing, before we can believe that He does care intimately about us, despite having created the vastness of the universe. Only then can we receive the incredible gift of eternal life through His Son, and rejoice to be His children. (John 3:16, 1:12-13)

I grew up in a family that was more academic/scientific than most, since all four of my grandparents were college graduates and both my grandfathers and my father earned doctorates. National Geographic Magazine was a major part of my education, since we had back issues going back to the 1930s, and I loved to sit and read them. By the 4th grade I was reading our Encyclopedia Britannica for fun, and I entered college as a Chemistry major. The bigger blessing was that it was also a family of faith. One of my grandfathers was a pastor and the other a seminary professor, and my father was a missionary and university chancellor. I was encouraged to learn as much as I could about this magnificent universe our heavenly Father had created. I can’t think of a better intellectual and spiritual foundation for life! I am at times overwhelmed by the magnificence of God’s grace toward me. This passage really resonates for me. I can’t begin to explain why God would love us so much, but I am totally convinced that He does, and I am eternally grateful.

Father, there really are no words to express my gratitude. Thank You that when I am before Your throne, words will no longer be an issue. Help me live out my gratitude in full obedience right here and right now, so that all that You desire in, for, and of me will be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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June 2, 2016

Posted on June 4, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 7:9 O righteous God,
who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.

For once I prefer the turn of phrase in the NIV to that in the Japanese. The Japanese puts the statement that God searches minds and hearts after the request, but I personally think it’s much more appropriate to make requests on the basis of what we know to be God’s character. This particular request is one that has been made from the earliest days, obviously enough. The thing is, until the Judgment, we are in the period of the free exercise of human will, and that means evil people work evil. There are obviously limits, but they are mostly in the natural consequences of evil itself. As long as evil people don’t fear those consequences, they will keep doing evil. It doesn’t take too much depth of perception to see that everywhere in the world today. The thing is, even with that going on, God enables people whose hearts are right before Him to stand firm. It’s all a matter of what we’re standing on, as Jesus pointed out so memorably in His parable of the people who built houses on rock and on sand. (Matthew 7:24-27) We aren’t going to get away from the presence of evil in this life, but if we are standing on Christ and His Word, in full submission and obedience, then evil has no control over us. (James 4:7) However, we must do so in full sincerity, because God indeed searches minds and hearts, and He knows our motives better than we do. It is certainly not wrong to take action against evil, as Jesus showed when He cleansed the temple, but trying to do so in our own strength simply sets us up for total failure. When we are submitted and available to God, then He will use us to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

I have never been more aware of the evil in the world than I am right now, and sometimes I get pretty stirred up about it. I need to remember that my anger will not bring about God’s righteousness. (James 1:20) I am to speak the truth in love and walk in it myself, never fearing what could be done to me (Luke 12:4) but allowing God to work His will through me, for the blessing of others and for His glory.

Father, it gets to the point that I don’t want to know the news sometimes. Help me always focus more on You than on whatever the devil is doing at the moment. It is sad indeed to see how many people are so severely deceived, but I can’t grab them and shake them to their senses, however much I might want to do so. Help me be faithful in prayer, remembering Your grace toward me and allowing that grace to flow through me to them, so that they may perhaps turn and repent, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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