Standards; November 29, 2024

Posted on November 30, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 16:15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”

This issue comes up again and again in the Bible. Human standards are generally meaningless. As Paul said, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12) Society today is very accepting of various things that are clearly against Scripture, and we are constantly being pressured to accept more. The problem is, there is indeed such a thing as absolute truth, however much people say “my truth” and “your truth.” Our perceptions are very often skewed. That’s why the Old Testament speaks repeatedly of a “plumb line,” meaning God’s standard of what is right and wrong. Violating that is like trying to violate the law of gravity! That’s why the only wise course is to seek out God’s standards and strive to follow them with His help. Actually, we are incapable of following them fully on our own, but He very graciously helps those who seek Him from their heart. The simplest way to condense all of this is to say that just because everybody’s doing it, doesn’t mean it’s OK.

I think everybody struggles with this to at least some degree. In Japanese society, doing what everybody is doing is commended, regardless of any intrinsic right or wrong. There’s even a proverb that says that it’s not scary to cross the street against the light if everybody’s doing it! I’ve always been something of an outsider, for various reasons, and I have tried at times to fit in by doing what everybody seemed to be doing, regardless of any intrinsic value. That was never a good idea! At the same time, I’m not to be different just for the sake of being different. I’ve done a bit of that, too! The phrase, “What would Jesus do?” often shortened to WWJD, has its value, but the point is that Jesus did what He did because He was constantly listening to His Father by the Holy Spirit. We tend to forget that He made a whip of cords and literally drove the merchants out of the Court of the Gentiles in the temple! The Holy Spirit is never going to direct me to violate Scripture, but He may tell me to do something unconventional or unexpected. I must remember that Jesus is my example and my standard, and not settle for anything less.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I live each day in full submission and obedience to You, judging things as You see them and no other way. And that includes judging myself! Thank You for Your truly amazing grace. May I be an effective channel of that grace to all I encounter, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Human Value; November 28, 2024

Posted on November 29, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

One of the devil’s biggest lies is about the value of life. On the one hand he has convinced some people that animal life is as valuable as human life. The extreme example of that is the Jain religion in India, where people wear masks, not for health reasons but to avoid breathing in insects and killing them. Here, Jesus directly refutes that, saying that human life is worth more than that of many animals. I do understand attachment to pets, and have wept at the death of several that have been part of my life, but placing animals on the same plane as humans is a terrible deception. The other side of this deception is saying that human life has no value. The devil loves that one! Stalin famously said, “Five deaths is a tragedy. Five million deaths is a statistic.” France recently took someone to court for saying that abortion was death, when they very accurately wrote that abortion was the leading cause of death in the world. The number is several times greater than that for cancer or heart disease, but the government position is that until a child is born they are less than human. It isn’t an insect growing in the womb! The point is, none of these things are escaping God’s notice. Another lie closely related to this is when people believe that they themselves are worthless. This lie is generally pounded home by various forms of abuse, but social media is currently a favorite tool of the devil. Young people, children, are convinced that their value depends on the number of “likes” they get, and an epidemic of suicides is the result. And I won’t even go into the whole scene of drug and alcohol dependency. Those who know God, who know their own value because they are created and loved by God, need to be tireless in sharing that awareness with others to liberate them from the destructive lies of the devil.

I have always had a high view of my own value (!) but haven’t always valued others properly. I am very much against cruelty to animals, but I am certainly not a vegetarian. I have had a wide variety of pets, with dogs in the greatest number, and I have mourned each one when they died, but I don’t think I have placed them on the level of human beings. That said, the death of pets when I was a child helped me understand that death is a part of life, and I think I respond much more calmly to human death than most people. That’s not to say I take it lightly! A famous, and I think, misunderstood, verse is found in Psalms: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalm 116:15) I think “precious” there should be taken as, “of great significance.” Death isn’t to be taken lightly, but it is still a part of physical life. I am to be dedicated to bringing as many people as possible to the faith that gives them eternal life, so that physical death is no more than a bump in the road.

Father, this is a huge subject, one of the biggest. Help me keep growing in my own grasp of it, and help me draw others into Your life by repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Legalism; November 27, 2024

Posted on November 28, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 11:42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”

It’s not that external things don’t matter, but rather that we need to have our priorities straight. Being a stickler about tithing is not a bad thing, but our relationships are even more important. It strikes me that Jesus said justice and love for God. Justice is something we do toward people, and love for God is of course toward Him. I’m reminded of the very famous passage from Micah: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Just thinking about it, a particular musical arrangement immediately starts playing in my mind and heart! Jesus was clear that He didn’t come to abolish the Law of Moses, (Matthew 5:17) but legalism can’t save anyone. It is simple reality that we aren’t going to do everything right, so we need to get our focus right and let God take care of the rest.

I have always had a distaste for legalism, but at the same time I have had the sense to know that most laws, at least, are for our good. It’s true that the legal code, humanly speaking, is impossibly complicated, because laws very rarely get taken off of the books, and there are far too many that are unreasonably controlling. At the same time, it’s true that common sense is actually pretty uncommon, so the bulk of us need clear guidelines for behavior. That said, I need to stay focused on what Jesus said: treating my neighbor right, and loving Him. By His grace I’ve done fairly well, but that’s only by His grace. I’ve had a “gold” driver’s license for over 30 years, meaning no violations, and I intend to keep it that way! However, I have had some accidents in that interval, so it would be absurd to claim perfection. As Paul said, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:4) I am not to focus on details of the law, but rather on loving God and loving my neighbor. (Matthew 22:37-40) That’s what this verse says, and I pray to be obedient to it.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray to relate rightly to the people around me, expressing Your love and grace to them, all based on loving You and allowing Your love to fill and cleanse me. Thank You for the various opportunities You give me to do that. May Your Word through me accomplish everything for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:10-11) so that more and more people may repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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How We Hear; November 26, 2024

Posted on November 27, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 8:18 “Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

This is on the one hand encouraging, and on the other hand scary. At issue is our capacity for deceiving ourselves. Jesus has just told the very important parable of the seed and the soil, and then He says this. He has just expressed that His disciples had been “given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God,” (verse 10) and here He says they will be given more. Hallelujah! However, the scary part is that when we think we have “deep understanding,” but actually don’t, however much understanding we actually have will be taken away. We see that all around us. The “intellectual elites” who think they know how best how to run things for everyone else have, in their hubris, lost all common sense. That’s very obvious in the secular, political world, but it’s sadly true in the Church as well. It is essential that we grasp, on the deepest level, that “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) The moment we think we have all the answers here on earth, we lose hold of the truth that God has for us. I think the key is in applying God’s truth personally in our own life, before we go setting ourselves up as the experts for everyone else. As James famously said, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22) When we apply God’s truth in faithful humility, He pours more and more into us. It is when we think, “I’ve got this,” that we suddenly discover we have nothing at all.

I am a textbook illustration of this. Having grown up in the home that I did, absorbing Scriptural truth even from the womb, by the time I hit 20 I thought I could go head-to-head with any theologian and come out on top. And of course, that made me the best Christian ever! However, not long after I turned 24, the Lord mercifully tapped me on the shoulder and, when I turned, showed me a mirror, for just an instant, and I collapsed, realizing I had nothing apart from the grace of God. I quote that experience fairly often, because I have to remind myself that God’s smart and I’m not, and there is far more that I don’t know than I do know. I’m not to hold back the truth God has spoken to me, because as Jesus said in verse 16, the light He’s given me is for the benefit of those around me, but I’m never to think I have all the light, and I’m to be diligent in applying what I have been given.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I need it often! Thank You for getting us through the past couple of days, and for how things are falling into place in various areas. It is joy indeed to be used by You to bless others! May I listen to You carefully, so that Your Words may indeed accomplish everything for which You send them, (Isaiah 55:10-11) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Holy Spirit; November 25, 2025

Posted on November 26, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

This is one of various places throughout the Bible where the Holy Spirit is said to be on someone, before the Spirit was poured out on the Church at Pentecost. People today, and particularly Pentecostals, tend to act like He wasn’t on the scene between Genesis 1:2 and Acts 2. What was unique about Acts 2 was that the Spirit was poured out on all the believers. He is still available to every believer today, but we see greatly varying evidence of His presence. We tend to pay a lot of attention to spiritual gifts, particularly those mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, but there is also the Fruit of the Spirit, listed in Galatians 5:22-23. No one is perfect, but it is questionable whether someone completely lacking in the fruit of the Spirit is indeed a Christian at all. Simeon, I’m sure, demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit in abundance, as can be seen even in his brief appearance in Scripture. The point, I think, is for believers today to be more aware of what is available to them, and actively seek to be open to His operation in their lives. We need to be honest about how much of the fruit of the Spirit we are manifesting, and repent of our deficiencies. We also should desire to be more useful to God by exercising gifts of the Spirit, not at all for personal pride but for His glory. After all, when He has provided for us to be supernatural, it is foolish and ungrateful to hold back! We aren’t to try to dictate how the Spirit is to be manifested in our lives, but if we see no signs of Him, then we are to seek God as to why that is. God works in and through us by His Spirit, and we are to seek, yield to, and delight in that reality.

I was introduced to the active working of the Holy Spirit back in 1973, but my availability to Him has been varied. My fruit-bearing likewise hasn’t been very consistent! In our church Thanksgiving dinner last night I saw Him working, as someone who is not yet a committed Christian was moved to tears when he was talking about his gratitude for what he has encountered in coming to our church. (We have a time for each person to say something for which they are thankful.) After that, I was able to invite him to step firmly into the world, the dimension, that he has discovered here, and I believe he will do so soon. There are many other people with whom I am in contact who likewise need to make that step, but it is the fruit of the Spirit that will draw them, more than anything I could say or do on my own.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Yesterday was exhausting for both Cathy and me, but if that man commits his life to Christ, it will certainly have been worth it. Help me be an open channel for Your Spirit at all times to all people, so that many may open their hearts to repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Progressive Revelation; November 24, 2024

Posted on November 25, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 1:74-75 “to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him without fear
     in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.”

This expresses the purpose of salvation, in the short term, at any rate. Actually, Zechariah had a rather limited understanding of God and His purposes, because he saw salvation as being from our enemies, rather than from our sins, and so put it all on the temporal plane rather than for eternity. That is also reflected in the phrase, “all our days.” However, that’s not to say that he isn’t currently in heaven. God’s revelation is progressive for all of us, because none of us understand everything at the moment we commit ourselves to Christ. Actually, none of us understand everything even at the moment God takes us from this life to the next! I have always liked C. S. Lewis’ observation that one thing we can be sure of is that when we get to heaven, we will all discover we were wrong somewhere! Zechariah did get it right that we are to serve God “in holiness and righteousness all our days.” (The Japanese says piety rather than holiness.) Salvation isn’t a matter of saying a few words and then doing whatever we like. Augustine had an interesting twist on that, saying, “Love God. Do as you please.” Of course, that was based on a genuine love, just as Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (John 14:15) Our purpose in life is indeed to serve God, and it is a joyful thing indeed. The longer and more faithfully we serve Him, the more He opens His truth, and Himself, up to us, and we grow in our understanding. That is the progressive revelation to which we can all look forward! Just as Bill Gaither wrote, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows.”

This is of course my current experience. At 76, my understanding of God is definitely different than when I was in my 20s, even though He called me personally, and firmly, back to Himself when I was 24. I’m reminded of my love for my wife. I indeed loved her intensely when we got married back in 1969, but there were levels of love that I could hardly imagine at that point, that I rejoice in today. Immature love and immature faith aren’t bad, they just need to keep growing! As a pastor, I deal with people from the moment of their spiritual rebirth until the moment they graduate into the next life. I’m not to put anyone down for where they are at the moment, but I am to teach, encourage, and coach them not to stay where they are, but to keep pressing in for more of Christ and His Spirit. Looking at myself, I’m never to think I’ve “arrived,” but keep “pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” (Philippians 3:12) Paul got it right on the money! Repentance, learning, growth, and revelation are all continuing activities until I stand before the Throne!

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You also for today, that I have been somewhat dreading, because it’s such a full schedule. The part I look forward to least is decorating the building for Christmas. Help me release more and more of that to the believers, and simply rest, relax, and rejoice in You. I’m speaking on Gratitude this morning. May gratitude indeed govern every part of my words and my activities today, for the blessing of those around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Last Days; November 23, 2024

Posted on November 24, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father.”

It seems there is a rising chorus of voices speaking of these being the Last Days, and I can’t say I doubt it. At the same time, we have this verse, and the imperative to be faithful at the tasks the Lord has set for us. The awareness that everything is going to come to an end should light a fire under us and keep us from being complacent, or, for that matter, procrastinate. A few years ago there was a Japanese popular song that said, “There’s always tomorrow.” In a sense it was a noble effort to release people from the stress of having to do, do, do, but the fundamental premise was wrong. None of us has a guarantee of tomorrow, but at the same time the philosophy of “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” is self-destructive. A well-lived life is a balance of being faithful at the tasks we are given and at the same time knowing that what really matters is eternity. As always, Jesus is our perfect example. He, more than anyone, knew His time on earth was limited, but He was fully present for every situation, and He also took time to get away with His disciples to rest and relax. We need to be aware that our time is limited, either by the end of all things or by our own death, and at the same time remember that we are here for a purpose, and seek to know and fulfill that purpose. Along with that, we need to remember that the power and wisdom to do the things assigned to us lies with God and not with ourselves, so that we get neither puffed up nor stressed out. We need to plan as though we will be here for a very long time, but at the same time live so that we will have no regrets whenever the Lord says, “Now.”

This is certainly relevant to me, particularly since I’m now 76! There are a number of things about my current life that would be difficult for my survivors if the Lord were to suddenly take me, and I need to have consideration for them. At the same time, I am to be forward-looking, joyfully anticipating what the Lord is going to do next. My father was taken home at 64 and my mother at 72, so I am aware that I am on “borrowed time.” At the same time, I am remarkably healthy for my age, and could well have another 20 years in this body. That said, I would be most delighted if Christ were to return soon! I need to pay attention to the truths I expressed just above this, and live as an agent of God’s grace and blessing for however long the Lord keeps me here.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed fulfill all Your purposes for me, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Human Stupidity; November 22, 2024

Posted on November 23, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 17:4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

I am reminded of Einstein’s famous quote: “There are two things that are infinite: the universe, and human stupidity. And I’m not so sure about the universe.” This is such a laughably inappropriate thing for Peter to have said! Jesus told them not to tell anyone about it all until after the resurrection, but I have the feeling not just James and John, but Peter himself told the other disciples about this after that point. The thing is, after having denied Jesus three times during His trial, and then being forgiven after His resurrection, Peter had zero personal pride left. That’s actually a very good place to be! We are capable of absolutely incredible stupidity, sometimes with horrific results. I’m reminded of the details that have come out from the trial of the man who murdered Laken Riley. He was married, and yet chose to go out to rape someone, and murdered her when she resisted. That is stupidity beyond belief. When we read all the Bible stories, sometimes we think, “How could they be so stupid?” For me, Solomon comes to mind. However, that’s a reminder that we’re just as human as they were, and we too are capable of incredible stupidity. The wisest course, without question, is to seek and follow God’s guidance at every turn, but we seldom operate in such wisdom. We need to have enough wisdom to know that we’re ignorant and stupid! That’s why the Bible says, in multiple places and with various turns of phrase, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10) The smartest thing is to know that God alone is smart!

This is extremely appropriate for me, because I was born with a high IQ and quickly got used to being “the smartest person in the room.” That led to insufferable pride, which is the ultimate expression of stupidity! God dealt with the pride to a great extent when I was 24, but it wasn’t many years ago when it really penetrated that God’s smart and I’m not. I’m not just stupid, I’m stubbornly stupid! However, there is great liberty in that realization. I’ll never be the smartest person in the room, because God is omnipresent, and He’s the only one that truly “knows it all.” I am constantly faced with decisions of one sort and another, and I’ve got to keep the ears of my heart open to hear what God says about each one. Thankfully, I have God’s promise through Isaiah: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21) My task is to be listening, and obedient.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for not giving up on me in my stupidity! Help me express Your grace to those around me, so that together we may learn from You, even through each other, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Speaking God’s Words; November 21, 2024

Posted on November 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 10:19-20 “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Jesus is talking here specifically about times of persecution, but this is still an absolutely marvelous promise. Sadly, a lot of preachers seem to forget it! It’s not that sermons aren’t to be prepared, or that research isn’t to be done, but rather that the words that come out of our mouths should be those of our Father in heaven, and not something we have cooked up. A carefully crafted argument, such as a lawyer might use, can be convincing, and skillful oratory can be moving, but nothing matches speaking the words of our Father in heaven, given to us by His Spirit. Part of the problem is that we have it very easy, being paid to speak whatever we come up with. Here, Jesus is talking about being hauled into a hostile venue and required to speak to defend your life. Such circumstances really sharpen your focus! Today, there are multiple sermon collections for people to copy, and even sermons written by Artificial Intelligence! I don’t think an AI sermon is going to work the will of God. (Isaiah 55:10-11) The problem is two-fold. First, we think that what we say depends on us. We don’t really believe God will speak through us, and so we don’t expect it. Second, we think we can get by without the Holy Spirit. That one is absurd to the point of being laughable! A message is not the same as a Ted Talk, but you’d never know it from many churches. When we focus on “your best life now,” we have abandoned the God we say we serve, and are pandering to itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3) Sometimes God will indeed say encouraging things through us, but He never excuses sin and he always calls us to repentance. Part of the problem is that the preacher hasn’t repented! That God chooses to speak through His servants, His children, is miraculous, and we are never to take it lightly. Rather, both speakers and hearers are to be humble before our Creator and do as He desires, fulfilling the words that He speaks, for His glory.

This is the very center of my ministry. It has been recognized since my childhood that God has given me a gift for words, but that gift is meaningless unless I’m speaking His words. That’s why I start every formal message with a prayer acknowledging that reality. I can cook up a message and have it sound pretty good, but it has no power without God’s Spirit, just as Jesus says here. I have quoted and claimed Isaiah 55:10-11 for many years, but I am never to think for a moment that words that are just mine have that effect. At the same time, I must acknowledge that God can and does speak through me, and so keep myself available to Him in all humility and gratitude.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the incredible privilege of being Your agent, both in words and in deeds. Thank You for the beautifully productive day yesterday. May I be fully yielded to You today as well, so that Your will may be done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Treasure; November 20, 2024

Posted on November 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

This whole chapter is extremely familiar, to the point that I could just about quote it verbatim, but again, it contains deep truths that call for frequent meditation. In all things, value is in the eye of the beholder. Gold and diamonds wouldn’t be expensive if people didn’t want them. Scarcity also plays into that. If the sand on the seashore were diamonds, we probably wouldn’t use diamonds for engagement rings! (Actually, now that we can make diamonds, the price has gone down, particularly for industrial use, and gem companies are worried about that.) The point is, what one person might value highly, another person might not value at all. That’s why Jesus spoke of treasure, since each individual’s definition is somewhat different. Another way to say what Jesus says here is that our heart defines what our treasure is. Verse 33 of this chapter famously says that we are to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” What we seek first is indeed our treasure. Another way to say that is, what makes you deeply happy? When walking with God and serving Him is what satisfies us most, then we are indeed “laying up treasure in heaven,” because in heaven, that will be everything!

This is something I’ve grown into over the years. In a sense, that makes me more childlike. A little child might value nothing more than their favorite blanket, and stacks of money are meaningless to them. In much the same way, physical things are losing their attraction to me. Objects have value according to their utility, and the desire for “things” is greatly diminished. It is interesting that it is at this point in my life that we have been notified that a relative remembered us in their will, for a sizeable amount. I’ve never had to deal with such funds before, and it seems like a lot of trouble! However, I’m to be a good steward, seeking God for how He wants those funds used, because my treasure is indeed in heaven, and I’m very happy about that. I have learned that “things” don’t make me happy for long, but the love of my wife and family, genetic and spiritual, is a huge blessing. Above all, I desire the peace and security of knowing that I’m in the center of God’s plans for me, and that is something unrelated to my bank account.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. I do ask Your guidance and timing for everything, including when we go to enjoy our true treasure with You in heaven, so that Your purposes may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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