January 10, 2016

Posted on January 10, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This verse is set to music as one of my favorite verses of the hymn, How Firm a Foundation. In a way it is general, so that it applies to any believer in any situation, but at the same time it feels rather specific as to the sort of thing God is going to do for us. First, He will strengthen us. He’s not going to leave us as weak and helpless as a rag doll. Of course our strongest is totally weak compared to His infinite strength, but we don’t like to feel weak, and He takes mercy on that. Then, He will help us. That is to say, He will enable us to do that which we need to do. Again, this is not passive. Any parent should know that always doing everything for your child will not enable them to grow, but sometimes their input is pretty minor, or even gets in the way of what really needs to be done. God is the prefect Father, and whereas He sometimes does things for us without any input from us at all, those times are rare. At the very least, our decision, our will, is called for. A lot of people fall flat at this very point, expecting God to do things without any input from them whatsoever. I had a friend who desired the baptism in the Holy Spirit, specifically with the gift of tongues, but he wouldn’t open his mouth to start speaking on his own, and to my knowledge has never received that gift. Anyone with that gift is free to choose whether to speak or not; God doesn’t force your mouth to move, He just shows you how to move it. Next, this says He will help us stand, upheld by His “right hand of righteousness,” as the Japanese expresses it. (The hymn says “omnipotent,” rather than “right,” but that is very much in keeping with the feeling of the original.) There are many things that, if unopposed, could knock us down, and sin is the chief of those. Righteousness is exactly what we need to counter it. As always, our will is involved. If we relish temptations (and let’s face it, all too often we do exactly that) we aren’t “submitting to God and resisting the devil,” as James said. (James 4:7) It is as we choose to receive the help, the righteousness that God offers, that we are enabled to stand in the face of all the storms of life.

This of course applies to me as much as it does to anyone. As a pastor I am constantly seeking to help people decide to receive all that God offers them, but I’ve got to be careful I don’t get cocky and think I can get by without Him myself. My weaknesses are glaring, to me at any rate, and I know full well what a mess I’d make of things without His grace and protection. Some people look at me now and think, and even say, that they could never emulate me. They just don’t know! I’m not to parade past sin or even current weakness, but I need to make it very clear that I am as dependent on the grace of God as they are.

Father thank You that Your grace is indeed sufficient for us all, on every level. Help me be an open channel of that grace indeed, so that as many as possible may receive it, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 9, 2016

Posted on January 10, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 35:3-4 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”

There will sometimes be strong individuals, but there will always be those who fit the description in this passage. Actually, everyone fits this description at least occasionally. We are by nature weak and foolish. That’s not bad IF we look to and depend on God. If we fail to do that, it gets us into a lot of trouble that God never desired or intended for us. Just as stress comes from wanting to control things we can’t, so failure comes from trying to do things in our own strength alone. We can have partial and minor successes on our own, but even those will ultimately be completely empty if we are ignoring God. This passage, and the many like it throughout the Bible, does not mean we are not involved in the process, that we are supposed to be passive rag dolls. Far from it! We were given free will, and we are called on to exercise that will to choose obedience, to choose to do God’s best that He has laid out for us. As Paul said, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) We can do those good works and find joy and fulfillment, or we can run from them and find defeat and destruction. Those good works are going to be different for each individual, but there will be some common themes for all who genuinely seek God. For starters, there will be active pursuit of fellowship with God, because He will be the first priority. That will include taking in His Word and talking with Him, regularly and frequently. It will include active humility, being open to the Holy Spirit and repenting immediately of things He shows us need to be corrected. It will include allowing the love of God to flow through us to those around us, blessing them and drawing them to God. There are as many ways for that to happen as there are people, so we are not to go around comparing ourselves to others, either favorably or unfavorably. Rather, we are to acknowledge God in every detail of our lives and walk with assurance the path that He lays out for us. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I certainly have my moments of weak hands and wobbly knees! When I started this devotional time I was having a visual migraine to the point I could hardly see, but that has largely cleared at this point. I am not to let my own weaknesses, physical or otherwise, discourage me at all, but rather rejoice that they will allow God to manifest His strength through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) However, that does not mean that I am to seek to be weak! Rather, I am to choose the strength that God offers, that comes from Him and not from me. Only then will I be able to follow through with all the good works that He has prepared for me to do.

Father, thank You for the accomplishful day yesterday. It included some activities that have been weighing on me for their not being done. Thank You for what You have planned for today. Some of it seems straightforward, and some of it You’re really going to have to show us how to get it done. I ask for guidance and strength, and above all Your peace that is beyond human understanding, so that Your will may be done in Your way on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 8, 2016

Posted on January 9, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 12:2 “Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”

This whole short chapter has been set to music in various ways in various languages, for excellent reason. This particular verse seems much better to me in the Japanese than in the NIV at any rate, because of how the second half is translated. As a matter of policy the NIV translates the formal name for God as LORD, rather than writing out the tetragrammaton, YHWH, with or without vowels, but here the Japanese renders it as “YAH, the LORD.” To me that’s more satisfying than simple repetition. Also, there’s a tiny difference of nuance in the very last line: “He has become salvation for me.” That doesn’t seem much different from “my salvation,” but rather than using the possessive form, as in “He belongs to me,” it is a matter of “for my sake.” That is exactly what God did in Christ Jesus, becoming human flesh and dying to take the penalty for our sins and give us eternal life. That said, the first part of the verse is also very important, and there is no ambiguity there. When we realize that God is indeed our salvation, we can choose to trust and not be afraid. So much of life is a choice, and yet we often don’t realize it. We tend to think we are pawns, swept along by circumstances, failing to recognize that in every situation we have the choice of how we are going to respond. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in John 16:33, when He said that as long as we are in this world we will have troubles, but that we are to rejoice anyway. Knowing, trusting, that God is going to bring it all out right in the end enables us to be strong, and even to sing, regardless of what is going on around us. That God would love us so much as to become salvation for us in the form of Jesus Christ our Lord should be enough to get us through anything!

This is something I’ve known as objective fact for most of my life, but it is as I have gone through various troubles that it has become personal and worked into my heart. Andrae Crouch’s song, Through it All, expresses that experience beautifully. “If I’d never had a problem, I wouldn’t know that He could solve them.” That in itself is enough to give me gratitude even for the problems. Paul’s admonitions to give God thanks in and for everything (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18) seem impossible to some, but I think I have a taste of what he was talking about. When I can bring myself to trust God enough to thank Him even for things that are manifestly evil, knowing that He is going to turn them around for good, (Romans 8:28) I have defeated the devil and participated in Christ’s victory. (John 16:33) I am as human as anyone else, so that isn’t necessarily easy, but it does get easier with practice. There are things that face me right now for which the devil tries to feed me “what if” scenarios, but my response needs to be, “even if.” I am not to dwell on negatives, either potential or already experienced, but know that God can and will use everything for my good and His glory. (Romans 8:28)

Father, thank You for this reminder. My flesh is used to being anxious, but You have proved Yourself faithful more times than I could count. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in Christ Jesus my Lord, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 7, 2016

Posted on January 9, 2016 by jgarrott

Isaiah 8:12-14 “Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,
and he will be a sanctuary.”

It is very interesting to read this shortly after information has been declassified and released proving that there was indeed a conspiracy around JFK’s assassination. Conspiracies abound, as do treaties and agreements, open and secret, but we aren’t to be obsessed with them. (“Treaty” is an alternative translation for “conspiracy”in this passage.) God sees through it all, whether it’s open or secret, and He is to be our focus. Right now the supposed agreement between Iran and the US is big news, and for good reason, but God is bigger than it all, and He is far more powerful than even a nuclear, terrorism-sponsoring Iran. Right now His Spirit is working within Iran and drawing more and more people into the Body of Christ, just as He has been doing in China for the past 50 years. Those who are in Christ don’t need to fear such countries, but rather stay focused on God, His kingdom and His righteousness. For most of world history, common citizens have had very little impact on national/international policy; representative democracy is a very new arrival. We are to exercise our rights vigorously, but not in fear. The various schemes of the devil should not surprise us, but if we are fully submitted to God, He is our Holy Place and we have nothing to fear, just as this passage says.

I have been aware of world events ever since I had a superb English teacher in the 7th grade, who required us to follow a topic in the news each week, clipping newspaper articles and writing summaries of each day and each week. It was excellent training in critical thinking as well as writing, and I have profited from it in the over 50 years since. For the past 8 years, leading up to and throughout the current US administration, I have been increasingly involved emotionally in what has been going on. This passage is a good and pointed reminder that I’m not to be afraid, however indignant I might be. God is still God, whatever conspiracies/treaties/whatever are going on in human governments, nationally or internationally. I am to trust Him and find my peace in Him, however little peace there might be around me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I am indeed emotionally invested in this year’s US presidential election. Keep me from letting events shake me or make me anxious. Rather, help me focus on what You are doing, that generally doesn’t get reported in the news, and keep myself available to You for whatever part You have for me to play in it, so that Your will may indeed be done on this earth, as perfectly as it is in heaven, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 6, 2016

Posted on January 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

This truth is more obvious than ever in the modern world, with not only cosmetics but cosmetic surgery, not to mention Photoshop. There are countless women with, at times, striking physical beauty who are paraded before us by various media, but the sad impression is that for the majority it is no more than a shell. Interestingly, I know some women who do fear the Lord who have steadily gotten more beautiful with age. I can think of one off hand who is currently beautiful indeed, but I saw a picture of her as a young mother and I almost had to wonder what her husband saw in her! However, he too is someone who fears the Lord, and he also has gotten better looking with age! This is a reminder of something the Lord told Samuel long ago: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Peter (a married man) put it this way: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4) It can be very difficult to gain independence from the world’s standards, and self-image problems are a major issue today. However when by the help of the Holy Spirit we switch over to God’s standards, everyone benefits.

I had a student show up for an exam last year wearing a remarkably perceptive T-shirt. It said, “Men fall in love through their eyes, but women fall in love through their ears.” There is a lot of truth in that! Whereas anyone can make poor decisions, I’d say that women have the advantage when it comes to choosing a good partner. I personally was blessed incredibly in that area. I’ll concede that my wife first “caught my eye,” as the saying goes, but it was the depth that I found in her through talking about a wide variety of things that convinced me this was the one with whom I wanted to spend my life. Good decision! She has never been big on makeup, and her skin has benefited to the point that she is the envy of many of her lady friends. However, the inner beauty Peter spoke of radiates from her to the point that many are drawn to her. She is careful of her appearance but that is not her top priority, and she certainly doesn’t have much to worry about. I am blessed beyond measure, and I give God praise and thanks.

Father, I’ve thought for a long time that this chapter was talking about Cathy. Thank You for Your incredible grace. She’s been going through a lot physically/medically, and there’s more on the immediate horizon. I pray Your full healing for her, but more than that, I pray Your anointing, the full assurance of Your presence, so that Your peace may fill her and radiate from her, drawing all who see her to You, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 5, 2016

Posted on January 8, 2016 by jgarrott

Proverbs 3:25-26 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

There are some real differences in translation between the NIV and the Japanese, but they don’t affect the over-all thrust of the passage. Where the NIV says, “the ruin that overtakes the wicked,” the Japanese says, “even when the wicked come at you.” Where the NIV says, “the Lord will be your confidence,” the Japanese says, “the Lord will be by your side.” Either way, though, the point is that genuine wisdom depends on God, and He is faithful. There are many things in life with the potential to make us afraid, and that is what the devil wants to use them for. The reason God allows them to exist is that He wants us to learn to trust Him, refusing to be afraid regardless of the circumstances. The peace that can be had through trusting God is available no other way, because it is independent of circumstances. That’s what Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:6-7. That passage gets quoted often, but how often does it really get applied? Trusting God isn’t a matter of lip service, it’s a decision of the heart, of the will. When that is at the core of our being, nothing can shake us.

This is a lesson I’ve been learning over the years, allowing it to work down from my brain into my heart. That process isn’t complete yet! Recently I’ve been having some fairly intense training in that area, but right now I feel like I’m being given a break. It’s rather pleasant! I need to receive the rest and refreshing the Lord has for me at this point, because a month from today my wife will have an MRI preparatory to brain surgery, and that will certainly be an exercise in trusting God. I am not to borrow anxiety ahead of time. As Jesus said, each day has enough troubles of its own! (Matthew 6:34) Rather, I am to “live in the moment,” resting and rejoicing in the assurance of God’s power and love, the knowledge that nothing is too difficult for Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this “break time” you’re giving me. Thank You that I could be Your agent of blessing at the funeral yesterday, and that I felt the blessing was received. Thank You that I’ve been able to sleep a bit later the past couple of mornings. It’s interesting how something as simple as that can impact me. It’s been many years since You first told me (that I heard it) to rest, relax, and rejoice, and I’ve not been too quick in learning to do that. Thank You for Your patience with me. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You whether my circumstances are calm or hectic, whether I am seeing fruitfulness or not, simply trusting You with everything, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled in and through me on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 4, 2016

Posted on January 5, 2016 by jgarrott

Proverbs 1:29-31 Since they hated knowledge
and did not choose to fear the Lord,
since they would not accept my advice
and spurned my rebuke,
they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

The Bible makes it very clear in countless places that we bring trouble on ourselves by our actions. Romans 6:23 is justly famous: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” However, this passage fleshes that out a little bit. Frankly, reading this brings to mind the gang culture in the US right now. That “gangsta” would be a style anyone would want to emulate is beyond me! Not long ago a young boy was killed by police in a tragic incident because he was emulating a “gang banger” with a very realistic toy pistol, waving it around like he was going to shoot someone or something. That is tragic indeed, and the culture that produced it is clearly a work of the devil. Wisdom is in all-too-short supply! All such foolishness originates with the choice mentioned here: not to fear the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 hits the nail on the head: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” When we choose not to fear God, all sorts of stupidity follows.

I was raised to fear God, but as I’ve written recently, I didn’t learn that lesson terribly well. I now realize that I have no one but myself to blame for various problems I experienced, but it breaks my heart that society today teaches people to blame anyone but themselves for their problems. That is denying the truth in this passage, that we all “eat the fruit” of our actions. I deal with people all the time who can’t seem to get that through their heads, and they suffer for it greatly. I am not to look down on them but remember that it is only by the grace of God that I am not currently in their place. I am to keep speaking the truth in love, praying for their eyes to be opened, but not yielding to their delusions. If God’s grace was sufficient for me, it is sufficient for them as well.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for yesterday and all it held. Thank You for the young people who were in the service because of being home for the holiday, reminding me of the impact I have had on their lives. Thank You for the wake of the dear friend last night, reminding me that You can bring people into Your family even in old age. I pray that I would indeed not grow weary in doing well, (Galatians 6:9) but allow Your Spirit to carry me along and operate through me, working Your works on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 3, 2015

Posted on January 5, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalm 118:13-14 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

This Psalm was written by someone who genuinely loved God, had experienced Him personally, and wanted everyone to know it. That’s why it is quoted several times in the New Testament, including by Jesus! (Matthew 21:42) Parts of it have been set to music many times, including verse 14 right here, which certainly seems appropriate when it speaks of the Lord becoming the Psalmist’s song. The thing is, it could and should be the testimony of every believer, because as Jesus said, in this world we have trouble, but when we are in Him, we experience victory. (John 16:33) Circumstances can indeed push us back to the point we think we can’t take it any more, but in such times we can really discover that the Lord is indeed salvation. Each person walks a different path, but God is there for everyone who will turn to Him. The problem comes when we fail to turn to Him, when we depend on our own resources. The quicker we realize our own resources aren’t up to the task, the better off we are!

I find these two verses are very descriptive of my immediate situation. Emotionally I feel quite “pushed back,” and my margins are pretty slim. However, when I focus on the Lord and praise Him, His peace and strength flood into me. My circumstances don’t change necessarily, but my response to them does. This is further training in trusting God and walking by faith rather than sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) The thing I need to be most careful about is not to wallow in my own misery, being self-centered about it all, but to keep my eyes and ears open to my Lord, to be, do, and say what He desires, so that I may fulfill all His plans for me, which I know are the ultimate good I could possibly experience.

Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You that I did listen to you this morning, to stop in on the early mass at Uematsu Catholic Church, to be an encouragement to Fr. Kamisaki and a blessing to the believers there. Thank You that his homily was about not being self-centered! Thank You for the service here this morning, and that we’ll be able to attend the wake of a dear friend tonight. Thank you that she is someone we will see again before Your throne! May we indeed be Your agents every moment of the day, experiencing Your grace, Your salvation, even as we are conduits of that grace and salvation to others. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 2, 2016

Posted on January 3, 2016 by jgarrott

Psalms 112:1 Praise the Lord.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands.

This Psalm could be said to describe the ideal life, so it’s appropriate that it starts with this verse that describes the touchstone for all such blessing. The NIV and some other modern translations translate everything in this verse, but the Japanese, as well as many English translations, start it with the original Hebrew: Hallelujah! I really feel the meaning of that term has been communicated widely and well enough to use it freely, and it is certainly an integral part of Christian worship the world over. That said, the rest of the verse is rather interesting, because we don’t usually associate fear and joy or delight. However, looking around us today, it’s obvious that those who don’t fear God don’t really care what He has to say, much less delight in it. We have to start with the fundamental awareness that God is God. In other words, we have to realize that He is both omnipotent and perfectly holy, so He isn’t going to put up with sin. When we realize how sinful we are, that should give us a healthy fear of God! However, that very same God teaches us how to be obedient to Him and walk in His grace and mercy, and that is indeed something to rejoice about. The person who realizes how fundamentally scary God is, but at the same time how loving, compassionate, and merciful He is, is blessed indeed, because they have a firm moral compass to guide them through life.

I was raised with a knowledge of God, but my fear of Him was all too often deficient. That led me to count on His blessings without being careful of my obedience, and I tripped up pretty badly, more than I like to think about. As a pastor I don’t want to give people the image of God sitting up in heaven with a big stick, just waiting to whack us when we get out of line. Far too many people have that very image, so they spend their lives trying to avoid God. Rather, I need to give people the understanding that God is omnipotent and holy, but the consequences of our sins are things we bring on ourselves; God has provided absolution and cleansing through the blood of His Son. When we are in Christ, we have nothing to fear. This is of course the Gospel I preach, but so few seem to believe and receive it! However, I am never to give up, but keep proclaiming the power, holiness, love and grace of God, so that as many as will may be saved.

Father, just yesterday I was talking with other missionaries about the pall that is over this nation, oppressing the people spiritually and blinding them to the necessity and possibility of salvation. I pray that in this year You would break through that pall, dispelling the darkness with the light of Your truth, so that the many who are already drawn would be set free to follow through and come into Your kingdom, drawing many others with them, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 1, 2016

Posted on January 3, 2016 by jgarrott

Prov 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.

I am actually more familiar with this passage from where it is quoted in Hebrews 12:5-6, which is of course quoting the Septuagint translation of this. In any case it is a vitally important truth, both for our relationship with God and for human parenting. Our response to discipline, either God’s or our human father’s, governs a great deal of how we turn out in life. Some human parents fail miserably in their interaction with their children, even to the point of their children dy­ing from either abuse or neglect. I read of such a case just yesterday. However, those are mercifully in the minority, and our heavenly Fa­ther will never either abuse or neglect us. Even in extreme cases, though, the response of the child has a greater impact on the long-term effects than the action itself. Especially in relation to God, if we respond with humility and repentance, correcting our behavior, our emotional and spiritual growth will be rapid and we will enjoy the best He has to offer us. However, if we respond with resentment and rebellion, we will experience a never-ending sequence of discipline until we decide to change. Actually, the scariest situation is when God takes His hands off, because that means we have consigned our­selves to hell. (Hebrews 6:4-6) When God checks us and exposes our sin we should be deeply grateful, because it means that He loves us and hasn’t given up on us. That’s what this passage is saying.

I am very grateful to be aware that God continues to discipline me as I need it. As a parent and as a pastor I am aware that my own ap­plication of discipline has been far from perfect. Since my daughters are in their 40s now they are pretty much out of that category, but as a pastor I am often in situations of needing to apply appropriate dis­cipline. Sometimes I do it well, sometimes not so well, and some­times I fail to do it at all, and that generally produces the worst re­sults. I am to seek God’s wisdom in applying discipline and I am to pray God’s grace for those who receive it, that they may respond well and receive the benefit as well as the momentary discomfort. I am always to speak the truth in love, or I will benefit no one. However, I am not to remain silent out of a fear of people’s response, because that is loving me more than loving them, and I am commanded to love them as I love myself. (Matthew 22:39)

Father, thank You for Your faithful discipline. Thank You for not giving up on me through the years, and that I can rest assured You won’t give up on me even now. I ask for courage and wisdom to be the spiritual father You want me to be. At times it is very difficult, but there too I recognize that You are growing me even as You are growing them. Help us all grow in Your love and grace, so that together we may be the children, the family, that You desire, for our blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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