Blessing Others; November 19, 2924

Posted on November 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus’ most famous teachings, but familiarity can often breed contempt. Even the most familiar parts of God’s truth are worthy of meditation. This particular verse is balanced by Jesus saying that the Pharisees public “acts of piety” were worthless, which comes up in the very next chapter. (Matthew 6:5) The “good deeds” Jesus is talking about here aren’t things to make us look good, they are things that do good to others. We aren’t to be trumpeting what we have done, but we aren’t to be shy about being God’s agents of blessing. The thing to focus on here is that our Father in heaven gets the praise. When someone says, “Thank God you did that for me,” we’ve done it right! Some people are so shy of attention that they won’t do anything, but that’s depriving God of the praise and glory He deserves. We need to operate on the principle that if God can use us, He can use anybody, and since He really can use anybody, we’d better be available!

I’ve experienced many times the joy of being God’s agent of blessing, and I’m hooked! I feel like God has blessed me incredibly, and I love to share that around. To this point, finances have had very little to do with that. Helpful, timely words cost me nothing, yet they can bless deeply. Kindness and acceptance go a long way in opening people’s hearts to their Creator who loves them. Sometimes, simply being there is the best thing I can do. Whatever the avenue, I am to seek to be available as a channel of God’s blessings, so that people will indeed know that God is real, and open their hearts to Him.

Father, this is one of the shortest things I’ve written in a long time, but it’s a pretty simple principle. Help me not inflate what You are doing, but rather transmit it in simplicity and purity, for the blessing of others and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Preparation; November 18, 2024

Posted on November 19, 2024 by jgarrott

Matthew 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Even Jesus had to be prepared for His ministry, and experiencing and resisting major temptation was a major part of that. There are some fanciful tales of Jesus performing miracles as a little child, but I don’t give credence to any of those. If Jesus hadn’t encountered difficulties of various sorts, such as we all do throughout our lives, He would not have participated fully in our condition. As it says in Hebrews, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Like us, Jesus had to be tempered by life on this earth, and He became the perfect tool for God to work salvation for mankind. That’s why He could say so clearly, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) We don’t experience temptations quite as severe as Jesus did in the wilderness just before this, but we do experience the same kind of temptations. Like Him, we are tempted to prioritize our physical bodies over obedience to God. That’s a big one for most people! We are likewise tempted to do things just to attract attention to us, and we are also tempted to give our allegiance to things other than God. (In the final analysis, all of those things will turn out to be fronts for the devil.) It is in encountering and overcoming those temptations that we are grown and tempered and prepared to be fully useful to God for the tasks for which He created us, and we should be grateful.

I realize that everything I have experienced in my 76 years so far has prepared me for what God has for me today, and today will in turn prepare me for what tomorrow holds. Sometimes I feel unprepared for what I encounter, but to the degree that might be true, it indicates that I haven’t made full use of the training God has provided for me, and even more, that I’m not trusting Him fully. I need to remember that, as Jude wrote, God “is able to keep [me] from stumbling and to present [me] before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” (Jude 1:24) And Jude knew that from experience, because he was Jesus’ little brother! As the song says, “I know who holds the future, and I know who hold my hand.” I indeed don’t know about tomorrow, but I know that my God knows, and He has prepared me, and will prepare me, for everything I will encounter.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that today is Cathy’s birthday. I pray that I would fulfill all of Your plans for me today for her sake, as You have prepared me to do, so that You may receive all the glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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End-Times Prophecy; November 17, 2024

Posted on November 18, 2024 by jgarrott

Zechariah 14:9 The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.

The dramatic events described in this chapter have obviously not yet happened, which is a reminder that God isn’t through with fulfilling His Word. They are hard to imagine, even though they are quite specific, but then, many Biblical prophecies were hard to imagine before they were fulfilled. Isaiah 53 is an excellent case in point, as I’ve preached on just recently. Until Jesus walked on this earth, was persecuted and suffered horribly, died, and rose again, the words just didn’t make a lot of sense. Some of the things in this chapter are that way, too! However, when they happen, there will be people who will be spiritually alert enough to remember this passage and know that God has been faithful. One thing that is interesting to note from this verse is the elimination of all false religions. Every missionary longs for that day! Until that day, we have to keep speaking the truth in love, not looking down on people for being deceived, but praying for their eyes to be opened so that they may receive the truth that will set them free. (John 8:32) Jesus explicitly said that we don’t know the timing of all these things, so we have to operate in faith, trusting God with everything, both small and big, and focusing on faithful obedience.

I have never been one to be consumed by timelines and the like, but it’s been many years since I first had the strong feeling that I would experience the Lord’s return in my natural lifetime. That said, I have known several dear saints who had the same strong feeling, but they have gone on. I am not to try to dictate to God in any way, but rather rejoice in what He graciously shares with me and be a good steward, not just of the material but of everything, including particularly the spiritual insight He gives. The devil fights against that, but he’s no match for the Holy Spirit! I am to proclaim the truth in love for as long as the Lord gives me opportunity, so that His purposes for me may be fulfilled on His schedule for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. May I never forget it, but do all the good works that You have prepared for me to do, (Ephesians 2:10) for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Assurance; November 16, 2024

Posted on November 17, 2024 by jgarrott

Micah 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
    Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be my light.

This is a marvelous statement of faith that has rightly been set to music. Everyone has moments that seem dark, times when we fall flat, generally because of our own mistakes. For the person who knows God, such times are real, but they are no more than incidents, bumps in the road. As David famously proclaimed, “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) We are not to expect life to be “easy street,” as Jesus cautioned us strongly, (John 16:33) but we are to abide in peace and joy, knowing that our God is bigger than any problem and stronger than any sin. We do have an enemy, the devil, and generally we have people who are influenced by him who see themselves as our enemies as well. We can quote this verse to them any time!

I have mercifully had few people who seemed to set themselves up as my enemies, but I have certainly had people who looked down on me or despised me for one reason or another. I was thankfully raised with an awareness of God’s love for me, and that has guarded me well over the years. I remember one person in the Army who took a dislike to me, and when he was given a message for me to report to the office to receive a promotion, deliberately didn’t tell me, in hopes that I wouldn’t receive the promotion. God intervened, but in human terms it was a close call. I literally hadn’t remembered him, even, in over 40 years! I’m sure that I will have more falls, more dark times, before I leave this earth, but I have no reason to dread them, because as Micah and David said, the Lord is my light and my salvation.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me remember it all the time, particularly when the devil tries to drag me down through my circumstances, or even by ideas he puts in my mind. Help me rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Special Note

Posted on November 17, 2024 by jgarrott

When I was posting the previous post on Justice, I went to add the tag words by which people can find a post easily, and as I tried to enter the word, “justice,” the letters kept disappearing, and I was unable to add that tag. After trying for several minutes I decided to give it some time, and it ended up being 24 hours. Still no change! I have another post to upload now, and I will see what happens.

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Justice; November 15, 2024

Posted on November 17, 2024 by jgarrott

Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river,
    righteousness like a never-failing stream!

This verse has been appropriately quoted by such crusaders as Martin Luther King. It is the climax of the judgment on the Northern Kingdom, that shortly after this was carried into exile in Assyria. It is striking to me that the Northern Kingdom had gone heavily into idolatry, but what the Lord is speaking to most strongly here is how people are treating each other. It has rightly been said that politics is downstream from culture, but I’m coming to the conclusion that culture is downstream from faith. If you don’t start with an awareness of the reality that we are created beings, as well as have at least a moderately accurate conception of what the Creator is like, then society itself will be badly distorted. American culture went off the rails only after prayer and the Bible were banned from public schools. From there it was a simple progression to the widespread distortion of biology, the destruction of the family, and disdain for life itself. Right now we are seeing a backlash from all of that, a pendulum swing, if you will, but unless there is reformation in the churches, a genuine revival, any changes will be no more than cosmetic. America has been an exceptional nation for the past 250 years, flaws and all, but as the Founding Fathers recognized, it will survive only by the grace of God. Right now we see almost unimaginable corruption in our institutions, but before we go accusing the institutions, we need to examine our own hearts. We are about to get a “flash flood” of justice, and there will be a lot of turmoil, but it must be founded on an unceasing stream of righteousness that comes from the Fear of the Lord. Those who know God have a lot to pray about in these days!

Living in Japan I have been somewhat insulated from the cultural rot, but I can’t say it hasn’t touched me. The Internet is pervasive! I am a very interested observer, at any rate, and prayer knows no geographic boundaries. I am to commit to a life of justice and righteousness myself, and pray earnestly for those in the middle of the fight. Right now people are being chosen for important positions, and there will be a lot of resistance to some of them, precisely because they will be champions for justice. Those who are scared of what they deserve will fight with all they have! I am to pray for God’s justice to be established and lift up those in the middle of the conflict, and I can do that as easily from Japan as from somewhere in the US. God is doing some very interesting things, and I am to trust Him and cooperate however He directs, for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your mercy on the US. Many are deceived and confused, some horribly so. I pray that Your truth would prevail in every circumstance so that people’s eyes would be opened and they be set free to love and serve You, rather than their flesh or the devil, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Status; November 14, 2024

Posted on November 15, 2024 by jgarrott

Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Daniel’s prophecies, and particularly those that involve timespan, have garnered great interest and led many down essentially unprofitable rabbit holes. However, this particular verse would seem to be pretty easy to understand, as well as glorious. It speaks of the status of those who wisely lead others into a right relationship with God. We rank people by various standards, and the foolishness of most of those is occasionally exposed. One party in the recent election relied heavily on celebrity endorsements, but that didn’t gain them victory. The American people are beginning to realize that just because someone is a skillful actor or singer doesn’t mean they are wise, and to be followed blindly. As this verse indicates, genuine wisdom means getting right with God and leading others to do the same. Actually, this truth is expressed elsewhere in the Bible as well, perhaps most famously in Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The key to being right with God is faithfulness, listening to and obeying Him consistently, and Jesus said that will be abundantly rewarded. (Matthew 25) This verse from Daniel doesn’t mean that only evangelists will be rewarded, because there are many ways to lead others to righteousness. However, I don’t doubt that Billy Graham is a pretty bright star in God’s constellation! God has different tasks for each of us, and we please Him to the degree we fulfill the tasks He has laid out for us. Such people are wise and righteous, and lead others to be the same.

Of course, this applies to me just as it does to everyone. God is the judge of how bright or dim I will be! I don’t want my focus to be on my status, now or in eternity, but rather on my Lord, who is worthy of all devotion and honor and praise, and whose glory far outshines everyone and everything else anyway. I need to be fully obedient in everything the Lord shows me to do. I have been feeling an urging to turn my blog into a podcast, since many people are going completely audiovisual, rather than reading, but that seems somewhat daunting, since I know so little about setting something like that up. Talking, with or without a camera, has never been an issue for me, but the mechanics of it all give me pause. New things aren’t that exciting at my age! However, I need to be done with excuses, and focus on faithfulness to my Lord.

Father, thank You for this kick in the seat, so to speak. Help me be done with excuses and move into what You have for me to do, so that Your purposes for me may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Sovereignty; November 13, 2024

Posted on November 14, 2024 by jgarrott

Daniel 2:21 He changes times and seasons;
    he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning.

This is a famous story, and also a very important one. God used Nebuchadnezzar’s personality flaws to advance His plan, and the result was remarkable. On one level, this was a very clever ploy on the king’s part to expose his fake advisors. They claimed to have supernatural insight, but his asking them to tell him what he had dreamed, without giving them any clues, was, as they themselves acknowledged, something only God could answer, and they couldn’t do it. The thing was, Daniel really did have a direct connection to God, and it was demonstrated miraculously. This particular verse expresses what Daniel learned from the experience. He doubtless knew it before, but this certainly cemented it in his awareness, and gave him peace to deal with the various rulers he served through the rest of his life. We tend to forget this principle, even though Paul likewise expressed it to the Romans. (Romans 13:1) And Paul had to deal with some pretty nasty rulers, eventually being martyred! In America today many people are rejoicing in the election of Donald Trump, but God was also behind the election of Barak Obama, as well as Joe Biden. God used those earlier presidents to show people where the nation was headed, preparing their hearts for what He is going to do now. Nebuchadnezzar could hardly be called “a man of God,” yet God used him to accomplish His purposes, and He is going to do that with Donald Trump as well. Daniel experienced God in clearly miraculous ways, but God has not changed, and we can expect Him to act in our lives as well. After all, a majority of people acknowledge that Trump’s survival of the first assassination attempt was divine providence!

I have experienced God’s hand in my life countless times, some of which I recognized at the time and some of which I didn’t. On more than one occasion I could easily have been killed, but God had other plans. Around 30 years ago I was in a small prayer meeting and the Lord spoke through me: “Do not be amazed at what amazes others. Expect great things of Me.” That was a very small, unspecific Word, but I have experienced its wisdom many times since. I know in my head that God is completely sovereign, but I occasionally forget it on the emotional level. I need to rest, relax, and rejoice in His plan, just as He has told me to do, joyfully fulfilling whatever part He has for me to play, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for your unexpected provision that we found out about on Monday. Thank You for Your plans for today. Help us be faithful in the tasks You have for us, serving You with peace and joy and leaving the results in Your hands, for Your glory indeed. Thank You. Praise God!

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Objective Truth; November 12, 2024

Posted on November 13, 2024 by jgarrott

Lamentations 3:21-22 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.

This passage is very familiar, having been set to music, but we seldom read the first part of the chapter. Jeremiah was in really pitiful shape when he wrote this, having been severely abused by his own people and watched Jerusalem be conquered by the Babylonians. It is only in that context that these words gain their true power. This moment of spiritual clarity didn’t pull him completely out of his pity party, but it did open the door to more rational thinking. The book as a whole is hardly easy reading, but it is very valuable for anyone who thinks they are in rough circumstances. Jeremiah had it worse! The lesson we all need to take from it is precisely what Jesus said to His disciples shortly before He was arrested: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) No matter the horrible trial we might be going through, God is still God, and He loves us. We have no idea the good He is going to work through what we are experiencing, but we can rest assured that it’s going to happen. (Romans 8:28) Right now America is in turmoil because of the recent election, with some people rejoicing and some people thinking the world is going to fall apart. Whichever side of that you might be on, you need to remember what God spoke to Jeremiah, and take hope. Our perception of what is good and right is often skewed, and we need to let Him show us what He is doing, allowing Him to change us as we need it. Objective truth always trumps feelings, however intense those feelings might be. The objective truth is that God is God, and He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us. (John 3:16) With that foundation for our awareness, everything else fades into insignificance.

In recent days I have been distressed that people I love and respect have been on the “other side” in terms of the election. Even as I have trouble grasping how they could be that way, I need to keep remembering that God loves them as much as He does me. There are an awful lot of people on the “other side,” and both grace and clarity are called for. I need to let God show me what the facts actually are, since some “trusted news sources” have manifestly been lying all along, and I need to keep speaking the truth in love. I have a Japanese friend who has been calling me every day to get me to explain the situation to him, since Japanese media have left him terribly confused. He of course had no voice in the election, but what happens in America greatly influences the rest of the world. I am to ask and allow God to guide my words so that I don’t mislead, and so that my own thinking will be grounded in truth as God sees it. After all, Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me stay focused first of all on the truth of Your love, so that all of my interactions may reflect Christ, for the salvation of my hearers and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Human Knowledge; November 11, 2024

Posted on November 12, 2024 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 31:37 “Only if the heavens above can be measured
    and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject all the descendants of Israel
    because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.

This statement by God through Jeremiah is interesting on multiple levels. At the time Jeremiah recorded it, the dimensions of the universe were considered completely unknowable, and likewise the depths of the earth. Today, some scientists have calculated the size of the universe, and others have used various techniques to calculate the contents and character of this “blue marble” we live on, so some people might claim that it’s time for God to abandon Israel. However, cosmologists and astrophysicists are continually coming up with new and competing estimates as to the size of the universe, and even as to whether it is constantly expanding, and if so, at what rate. Likewise, much closer to home, geologists are likewise in agreement on some points but not at all on others about the composition of this planet, and what is going on in the depths of it. In other words, any claim to the requirements for God to abandon Israel having been met are complete fiction and hubris. God in His grace does allow us to discover all sorts of things about our physical universe, but there are certainly limits to that. “The science is settled” is one of the least true, and even idiotic, statements ever! I forget which of the great pioneering scientists it was, but one of them described scientific investigation as “following the footprints of God.” In other words, God allows man to discover some of the things He has done. It seems there is no limit to human conceit, and discarding such conceit is one of the wisest things anyone can do. No, the conditions for God abandoning Israel will never be met!

This is very pointed for me, because I have fallen for intellectual conceit in the past. That makes me very aware of it when I see it in others! I was given a high IQ, and I thought there was no limit to human knowledge and achievement. I am still very much in favor of pressing in to learn more of the physical universe, but I have learned that it is far more important and profitable to learn more of God. For example, I am in a sense a “fan boy” of Elon Musk because of how he is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in several fields, but at the same time I know that the best and greatest thing he could ever do would be to return to the God and Savior he learned of as a child, and thus to commit everything to Him. I still enjoy learning about a wide variety of things; my appetite of information seems to be largely unlimited. However, I am sharply aware of the truth of what Paul wrote: “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) As God told Jeremiah, “‘Let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:24)

Father, thank You for this reminder of the limits to human knowledge. May I indeed press in to know more of You, so that I may be a more useful and faithful disciple of Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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