May 29, 2016

Posted on May 31, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 143:2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

David grew a lot spiritually over the years. In places like 2 Samuel 22:25 (and in several Psalms) he essentially bragged about his own righteousness, but here he acknowledges what Paul said so famously: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) This is by far the more mature position, because pride has no place before God. The thing is, we are righteous before God if we confess our sins to Him and trust in the completed work of Christ on the cross, (1 John 1:9) but that is the only way we can be clean. Being the liar that he is, the devil tries to deceive us in one direction or the other, either with moral conceit or with thinking we are hopeless. Both of those are indeed lies. There are many forms of perfection we can look forward to in heaven: perfect health, perfect knowledge, perfect joy, and this one, perfect righteousness. That said, we experience those momentarily if at all on this earth. We do receive perfect righteousness when we repent before God in faith, just as John said, but in our weakness we are going to sin again in some way in very short order. That’s why it is essential that we walk in humility and trust, keeping our repentance up to date, because unrepented sin is a cancer that eats into us and makes us vulnerable to more and more.

This applies to me as much as it does to anyone. There are those who look at me and can’t imagine I would be anything but righteous, but that shows they don’t really know me and they don’t really understand righteousness. I wish I could say I abide in Christ totally, 24/7/365, but I’m as human as anyone else. By God’s grace I’ve had a lot of practice in recognizing sin and repenting of it, but that process is going to continue until the day I take off this body. The reason the Gospel is such good news is that it doesn’t depend on us; all we have to do is repent and believe. (Mark 1:15) I have been charged with communicating the Gospel, so I must not think that I don’t need it myself.

Father, thank You for Your truly amazing grace. May I be an open, effective channel of that grace, drawing many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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May 28, 2016

Posted on May 29, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 142:7 Set me free from my prison,
that I may praise your name.
Then the righteous will gather about me
because of your goodness to me.

The Japanese gives the more literal translation of “Lead my soul out of prison.” In a sense that is a figure of speech indicating David himself, but many, many people are in bondage even though there are no physical restraints on them. On one level that is common knowledge, but on another level it is almost universally ignored. We speak of people being “caught in addiction,” but even the addicted don’t like to admit they are bound. We speak of “destructive lifestyles,” but those in them think they are maximizing their fun. It comes down to our immense capacity for self-deception, aided and encouraged by the devil. James 1:22 is famous on the subject of self-deception, but Paul spoke of a veil preventing understanding (2 Corinthians 3:14) and said the devil blinds people so they can’t perceive God’s truth. (2 Corinthians 4:4) That can be frustrating to the point of despair for those who see the truth and are trying to lead others into it, but they stubbornly refuse. We have to remember several things about that. First, we must remember that we personally can’t save anyone; only God can do that. Second, we must remember that we have been given the Holy Spirit, so it’s not a hopeless task. (1 John 4:4) Third, we must remember that it is ultimately that person’s decision, and we are not responsible for what they decide. We are responsible to speak the truth in love to let them know what is available to them, and we are responsible to be demonstrations of what life in Christ is all about, but we are not responsible for their decision. Many earnest Christians beat themselves up over their friends and loved ones who will not walk out of their prisons even though Christ has opened the door. We are to care, because God cares, but we have to respect their free will, just as God does.

This is the story of my life! Japan has been called “the graveyard of missionaries” precisely because of the low rate of return for effort invested. It’s easy to get discouraged! However, I need to rejoice in those who do choose to walk out of prison, but even more, rejoice in my Lord who loves me and who loves the people to whom I minister, whether they receive His love or not. I’ve got to remember that He desires their salvation even more than I do. I can have a long, informed discussion of the barriers to the Gospel in Japan, but ultimately I have to confess that I really don’t know why God hasn’t torn those barriers down yet. I am to be faithful in prayer and faithful in witness, so that whatever else is said, I may not be in the way of what God wants to do in this nation.

Father, I really identify with my father having cried out to You, prostrated on the floor, “Lord, if I am what is in the way of revival in Japan, then take me out of the way!” I am reduced to praying that Your name be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done, but that’s not really a bad place to be. Help me be satisfied with that, letting my pride be washed away completely, so that You may receive all the glory as Your plans are fulfilled. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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May 27, 2016

Posted on May 29, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 141:3-4 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil,
to take part in wicked deeds
with men who are evildoers;
let me not eat of their delicacies.

I had always thought of verse 3 as expressing the desire not to speak wrongly, but in context I see that it’s a matter of eating instead. You might even say this is a dieter’s prayer! We don’t know the specific things David is referring to here. In those days obesity was certainly not thought of as sinful, so it’s possible he ‘s talking about meat sacrificed to idols, or simply non-kosher food. It’s also possible he wasn’t talking about food at all, but just speaking metaphorically. In any case, his desire is not to participate with those who ignore God. Today, however, when obesity is such a major problem in the US, it is not inappropriate to take these verses at face value. The Bible does not speak well of gluttony, and in Church history it was considered one of the “7 deadly sins.” (That may have been because few people had the luxury of eating too much, so this helped poor people feel righteous.) Today, many churches would provide a good excuse for one little child’s misunderstanding of Silent Night: “round John Virgin.” When we are overweight, we are less nimble, less active, less available for whatever the Lord wants us to do. With all the negative health effects of over eating, it is certainly not good stewardship of the bodies God has given us. The flip side of that is that it is easy to become so obsessed with our bodies that it’s a form of idolatry. Satan doesn’t much care what we worship, so long as it’s not the true God! When our hearts are genuinely focused on God first and foremost, He will guide us into accurate stewardship of all that is physical, including our bodies. We all know people who are constantly on one diet or another. If our focus is on taking in the Word of God and then exercising that Word in our daily lives, then food issues will cease to be a problem.

I have never been severely overweight, which I consider something of a miracle, when my wife is as good a cook as she is. However, the same genes that have blessed my girth (or lack of it) have given me a tendency to high LDL cholesterol. Since my father, who was never badly overweight, died of heart issues at 64, I realized that good stewardship of my body included exercise. (That was not an awareness my father seemed to have, though he was not sedentary.) I’ve been fast-walking 5 km 2~3 times a week for a few years now, and I really appreciate the benefits. The biggest issue in getting started was time, because it has to be intentional. However, when I pray and worship as I walk, the time is sweet indeed. Since I grew up with a strong “clean your plate” environment, I try to be careful how much I put on my plate in the first place. I do enjoy tasty food! I need to be grateful for the abundance of God’s blessings but not misuse any of them. I need to let God be in charge of every detail of my life, and not think that anything is irrelevant.

Father, this is such a personal issue that it’s hard to deal with as a pastor. Thank you that it’s not a major issue in this church. Keep me from being holier-than-thou about anything, but specifically about this. May I encourage all the believers to be good stewards of their bodies, their abilities, and their resources, so that Your purposes for all those things may be fulfilled, for the blessing of all involved and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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May 26, 2016

Posted on May 27, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

This line is justly famous, or perhaps not famous enough. Far too many Christians fail to see their connection to the physical descendants of Abraham, and some even harbor enmity toward them. That is tragic, and is a work of the devil. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, dealt with this issue a great deal in several of his letters, most extensively in Romans 9 through 11. As he knew from personal experience, physical descendants of Abraham need to repent and believe in order to be saved, just as Gentiles do, but that in no way negates the unique place of the Jewish people in God’s plan of the ages. I would not judge someone’s salvation by their attitude toward the Jews and the nation of Israel, but I would certainly evaluate their ability to hear the heart of God that way. People who fail to honor Israel forget that Jesus was a Jew! What follows this command in this Psalm is an example of how to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Not only are there things to pray for, but motives are touched on as well. We are to pray blessing on Jerusalem, and by extension the Jewish nation and people, for the sake of our brothers and friends, and for the sake of the house of the Lord. That covers both the First and the Second Commandments, as Jesus listed them. (Matthew 22:37-40) That’s because, for David and his descendants at any rate, the house of the Lord was the manifestation of His presence, so loving His house was essentially the same as loving Him. (I could branch off at this point into our being the house of the Lord, [1 Corinthians 6:19] but that would be quite a digression.) What many Gentile Christians have trouble with is grasping that Jews are our brothers and friends. Brothers don’t always do what we might want them to do, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are our brothers! Anyone who truly seeks the heart of God is going to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That certainly includes the Jewish people recognizing and acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, but it is not limited to that. They need physical peace in order to have the opportunity to believe!

I could obviously go on at quite a length about this, because I feel strongly about it and because I am convinced the entirety of the Bible backs it up. At the same time, I have not been active in any “support Israel” groups. Frankly, I’m not sure why not. I do know that I am convinced that God’s plan includes the Jewish people, so any time I pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,” I am aware that I am praying for the peace of Jerusalem. I minister in Japan, and I have said many times that the Japanese sense of racial/national identity is most comparable to that of the Jews, in strength and in various other ways. I have had the immense privilege of interpreting for Benjamin Berger here in Japan. It was a joy indeed to be a channel for the good news of the Messiah to come from a Levite to the Japanese people. I don’t know what part God has for me to play in His plan of the ages, and I have never even been to Israel, but like Paul, I know that the Jews will certainly not be left out when God brings everything to consummation.

Father, this surprised me a little. You have kept me aware of this issue over the years, but it’s not usually in the forefront of my thoughts. May I be available at all times for however You want to use me, whether in words or in action, so that indeed, Your Name may be acknowledged as holy and Your kingdom come as Your will is done perfectly, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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May 25, 2016

Posted on May 26, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 109:21 But you, O Sovereign Lord,
deal well with me for your name’s sake;
out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.

This is not a comfortable Psalm to read, as David asks God for all sorts of bad things for his enemies. You could say it’s not a very “Christian” Psalm! However, an important hallmark of David’s relationship with God was brutal honesty; he didn’t sugar-coat things. This was how David felt, so he expressed it all to God as he felt it. That level of honesty is lacking from a lot of people; even the Church has become politically correct! I suppose some people would want to call it “spiritually correct,” but most of the time it’s just being dishonest. Sometimes we get so used to the pretty words that we even deceive ourselves. That doesn’t mean we’re always to be praying imprecations on people; Jesus was very clear that we must forgive if we are to be forgiven. (Matthew 6:14-15) However, we can’t forgive until we have acknowledged the wrong in our own thinking. “This is what they did to me, so because of Christ’s great mercy toward me, I choose to forgive them.” Politically correct thinking keeps us from doing that, which is why the devil loves political correctness. Even if we go on a rant against our enemies, as David did in this Psalm, we must come back to focusing on God, as David does in this verse. It is as we remember how gracious God has been toward us that we are able to be gracious toward others.

When I tell people that forgiveness includes wishing blessing on the person we are forgiving, they are often disbelieving, thinking they could never do that. However, I know from experience that is the path to the greatest healing, the greatest blessing. The ultimate revenge against an enemy is to turn them into a friend! I have learned that sometimes we have to keep people at arm’s length until God does His work in their character and personality, but that work is precisely the best thing I could pray for them. Paul quoted Proverbs 25:22 in addressing this issue. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” (Romans 12:20) As Paul discusses there, I am never to repay evil with evil, but with good, remembering how incredibly gracious and forgiving God has been toward me. I am to be honest, as David was, but I am to let the love of God flow through me to heal and erase whatever wounds people inflict on me.

Father, thank You for the examples I have had along the way of people who lived as Your children indeed. Help me be such an example to those who see me, so that the traps of the devil may be defeated and people be set free to walk in the light of Your grace, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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May 24, 2016

Posted on May 25, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 102:12-13 But you, O Lord, sit enthroned for ever;
your renown endures through all generations.
You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her

Even the introduction to this Psalm says that it is “A prayer of an afflicted man,” but he has the right idea: be honest about his situation, and then shift the focus to God. We generally get so focused on our problems that we can’t see God at all! The other side of that is some “name it and claim it” people who are so afraid of “making a negative confession” that they can’t even talk straight about what they are facing. God’s big enough to handle it, whatever it is! We have a hard time striking the right balance between a pity party and La La Land. I think a good part of that comes from feeling like we have to be in control, and that’s a mistake whatever form it takes. We are responsible for repentance and humility; God supplies the rest. Even faith is a gift, (Ephesians 2:9) so we aren’t to beat ourselves up over it, but choose to receive what God offers. Often He doesn’t give for very far in the future, but He will always give everything we need for the moment. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us today our daily bread.” If we’re worried about tomorrow’s supply, we won’t enjoy, or perhaps even recognize, today’s supply.

This is something I’ve been learning over the years, but it’s been in the Bible all along. As Paul said, “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) That’s most often quoted from the King James: “Tribulation worketh patience,” but the point is true: we don’t know what we can handle until we’ve been through it. I often remember Andrae Crouch’s song, Through It All, that deals with this issue so beautifully. Today is my 47th wedding anniversary, If I had known 47 years ago everything that would be involved in “in sickness and in health,” I might have blanched, but I think I would still have gone through with it. There have been many invitations to pity parties along the way, but thankfully we haven’t stayed at any of them very long, and today we recognize how enormously blessed we are. Right now it looks like there are some exciting things on the horizon, but God will get us through those, too. The point is to stay focused on Him, resting, relaxing, and rejoicing in Him, so that He may be glorified as His will is accomplished on His schedule.

Father, thank You for Your incredible grace and faithfulness. Help us communicate that more and more effectively to more and more people, so that they too may repent and receive Your gift of faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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May 23, 2016

Posted on May 25, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Several things about this Psalm are very interesting. In the first place, it’s the only one we have that claims to be by Moses. That in itself makes it somewhat amusing that verse 10 says human lifespan is 80 years, when Moses didn’t start leading the Israelites out of Egypt until he was 80, and he died at 120. However, he did have the insight to realize, as verse 4 says, that time is largely irrelevant to God, since He is the Creator of it all. That makes this verse all the more poignant. It’s not that we need to know exactly how long we will live; it’s really better that we don’t. Rather, it is important to realize that our time here is limited, and so make the best use of however much time we have. That actually is part of the “fear of the Lord” that is mentioned so many times in the Bible. I’m reminded of an article I read yesterday about how Maine cuts off welfare payments after 5 years, and what a good impact that has made on the citizens and the state as a whole. When people understand they don’t have forever, they get off their duff and do something! That’s a lesson we all need to learn. The devil and the world never tire of offering us distractions, so if we aren’t careful, we waste the time, abilities, energy, and everything else the Lord has provided. There is a tremendous difference between a long life and a life well lived. This isn’t a matter of “accomplishments,” as the world looks at it, but of fulfilling the purpose for which we were created. That is, learning to walk in intimate fellowship with our Creator and acting as His instrument, His representative to those around us. God always gives us enough time to accomplish that, if we will make it our goal and our focus.

This is an area where I still have plenty of room to grow. I am quite susceptible to distractions! I have another book in the works, but I think of it in fits and starts, and often not at all. I need to let God set my priorities, and I know already that means less Internet time! I work with people of all ages and have buried several, and so I know that sometimes we are given notice that our time is short, and sometimes not. I’ve already outlived my father by several years, which should be reason enough for me to make the best use of each day. I’ve never been much at setting goals, but I need to have the goal each day of using that day as God intends and not wasting it, so that all of God’s plans for me may be fulfilled on His schedule, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Help me pay attention and not let things slide! May I be driven, not in fear but in love, for You and for Your children, Your Creation, so that, submitted to You, I may resist the devil’s efforts to get me off track, however successful they might have been in the past. Thank You. Praise God!

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May 22, 2016

Posted on May 23, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 88:1, 18 O Lord, the God who saves me,
day and night I cry out before you.
You have taken my companions and loved ones from me;
the darkness is my closest friend.

This is the prayer of a seriously depressed person. Details are sketchy, but he may have lost family and friends in some sort of disaster. It’s not comfortable to read! That said, Heman the Ezrahite (the purported author) had one thing definitely right, and that was presenting his ravaged soul to God. His prayer is to “God of my salvation,” which makes it personal rather than general. I would be very confident that God did answer Heman, even if it was not in the way that he thought he wanted as he was praying this. God doesn’t want us to dress up what’s going on inside us when we come to Him, He wants us to be honest, and Heman was doing that. Too often we think our thoughts and feelings are “inappropriate” to express to God. The only thing that is inappropriate is pride. If we know that He is our only hope, and that He is love, then go for it. He is never surprised or shocked by anything we say, even if a bystander might be surprised or shocked to hear it come from our lips. Actually. I’ve been surprised at some of the things the Holy Spirit has spoken through me in prayer! If we have the attitude of humble dependence on God, there are no restrictions as to what and how we pray.

This is something I try to get across to people, but many of them have real trouble receiving it. They think prayers should be “pretty,” or at least “skillful,” and don’t think they are capable of praying well. The only skill involved in prayer is opening your heart to God! As I keep remembering, I was raised in a family that considered prayer as natural as breathing, but few people have had that blessing. Because I am so comfortable with prayer, people think I am “skillful,” and so feel intimidated. That’s unfortunate. I am never to put anyone down for what or how they pray, but rather encourage them to pray. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit to help us when we don’t know what or how to pray, (Romans 8:26) so we need to take Him up on it and just cut loose.

Father, I believe You want this church to be a praying people, but I can’t make that happen in my strength or power. Thank You that our midweek prayer meeting has grown from three to four people. May more be added! I ask that You embolden each of the believers to trust You enough to pray about everything, all the time. May we grow in fellowship and obedience to You by taking full advantage of the privilege of prayer, to be and do all that You desire and intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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May 21, 2016

Posted on May 22, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

Having a divided heart is a perennial problem for mankind. We speak of “being of two minds” about something, which is another way of saying the same thing. Many people are plagued by indecision to the point of missing out on things. We speak of that with the proverb, “He who hesitates is lost.” What is different about David’s prayer here is his motivation: he wants to know God’s truth in order to walk in it with appropriate reverence. These days we tend to delegate decisions to machines/electronic systems. Stories abound of people who have gotten into real trouble by blindly following the advice of their GPS, for example. Seeking God and His path for our lives has always been a good idea, but it’s never been more important than today. Society (with the strong encouragement of the devil) pushes us toward immorality and generally ignoring God, or even spitting in His face. Sadly, that can look pretty attractive to our flesh. We need to be purposeful in choosing God and His way. Since that is expressed pretty clearly in the Bible, such an attitude starts by taking time to read the Bible daily, making it a genuine priority. It is no fluke that Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Having the clear standard of Scripture in our heart and mind is the best insurance against going the wrong way when temptations try to pull us off track. However, we aren’t going to do that unless we grasp the reality that actions have consequences, and particularly, eternal consequences. That’s what the fear of the Lord is all about. We need to understand on the deepest level that we make it out alive only with God, and not in rebellion against Him.

This has been the struggle of my life, as it is for every human being, and that struggle will continue until I am before God’s throne. If I didn’t know the grace of God, I would have given up a long time ago! As I wrote that, the TV show Game of Thrones came to mind. I’ve never seen it, but its presence is inescapable in contemporary media. It strikes me that the title is deliberate, because the devil wants us to think that he has a throne that is equal to God’s, though he has no throne at all. From what I hear, the TV show revels in all that is dark and polluted about mankind, and yet it has enormous viewership. How sad! I am to be aware that these things exist, but not be pulled away by them. I am to walk in God’s truth, not as an intellectual exercise but in practical reality, so that I won’t deceive myself. Likewise, I am to encourage others to seek God as David did, so that we may walk in God’s way together.

Father, thank You for this reminder. The onslaughts of the enemy are unrelenting. Keep me from thinking I can stand against them on my own. Rather, help me depend on You fully, submitting to You so that I may resist the devil and experience Your victory, for Your glory. (James 4:7) Thank You. Praise God!

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May 20, 2016

Posted on May 22, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.

This Psalm is a sweet one indeed, with several parts of it having been set to music even in recent years. It’s not by David or some other king, but by an anonymous Levite, a descendant of Korah. That makes it all the more approachable, as something that applies to any believer. As a Levite, the author was in the temple a great deal more than the average person, and he was deeply appreciative of that fact. Today we aren’t limited to a physical temple, but have the possibility of worship/fellowship with God anywhere and everywhere, by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The question then becomes, how much do we value that privilege and make use of it? This verse gives a strong clue. It is indeed a blessed thing to live in God’s house, in His presence, but a characteristic of those who do so is that they are always praising God. If you think God is far away, try praising Him! I like how the ESV and some other translations render Psalm 22:3. “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” It also gives as an alternate reading, “Dwelling in the praises of Israel.” If you want to enter God’s house, and not just go to a building, you need to do so with a heart of praise. As long as we are focused on I-my-me-mine, we aren’t going to be in God’s house, wherever we are physically! God is not stingy with His presence, but we have to get our focus off of ourselves in order to receive it.

I am in the decidedly unique position of living in the church building, which even the Levite didn’t do. That makes it all the more important that I focus on praising God, because otherwise familiarity indeed breeds contempt. When all the little mundane details of my life take place here, it takes a conscious choice to focus on God. However, when I make that choice, I find He is present indeed, in this building or out of it. I have some sweet times of fellowship when I am out walking, for example, as I “count my blessings” and sing to Him (generally just in my heart, but sometimes out loud). What I want the believers to understand is that He is just as available to them, and this building, though a blessing, is hardly essential. I want them to understand that, as Paul said, they themselves are God’s temple, (1 Corinthians 6:19) and let His praise fill that temple, as Jack Hayford put to music so beautifully.

Father, I believe You are in the process of doing some wonderful things in this church. May we indeed grow to be the praying, praising manifestation of the Body of Christ that You intend for us to be, so that the gates of hell may indeed be shattered before us (Matthew 16:18) and multitudes be set free, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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