July 29, 2013

Posted on August 1, 2013 by jgarrott

1 Peter 2:16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

Freedom can be a tricky, even scary, thing. The devil is adept at using our weaknesses and insecurities to influence us for evil, and we have to be on our guard against that. I’m reminded of a brief clip I saw recently of a professor in the US who, as an object lesson, over the space of just a week or two, managed to get a class of students (either high school or college, I don’t remember) to act just like the Hitler Youth of Germany in the 1920s and ’30s, with uniforms, a hand gesture, and ostracism of those who didn’t conform. He was so successful that when he called an end to it and explained what he had done, they were absolutely mortified. Those students were free to participate or not, but they quickly twisted their freedom into evil, with the right stimuli. We see the same thing in churches, with some becoming cultish and others throwing Biblical morality out the window. None of that honors God! Paul also fought this battle, against legalism on the one hand and licentiousness on the other. (Galatians 5:1, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20) Christians are free to listen to and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and that is far too precious to squander on momentary physical or emotional pleasures.

I have always been impressed with the human capacity for evil. When I was in high school I did a presentation in class on methods of torture (totally grossing out my classmates) because I found the subject fascinating. I recognize that apart from the grace of God, I could have become an absolute monster. That should keep me on my guard in terms of my own life, and it should help me understand those around me who have not avoided those pitfalls. Walking in fellowship with God by His Spirit is life and joy and peace, not to mention true liberty, (2 Corinthians 3:17) but the devil does all he can to tell us it’s “too hard,” that we’ll never make it. That, along with everything else he says, is a lie! I know from my own experience that God can take a potential monster and make him a missionary, and I need to help others understand and believe that too. I need to share the marvelous good news that God’s grace is indeed sufficient to cover all our sins, no mater how far we have fallen, if we will confess our own inability, repent of how and what we have been, and allow Him to work freely in us.

Father, I constantly run into people who think they have “gone too far,” that You aren’t interested in them any more, or that You were never interested in them in the first place. I ask for the anointing of Your Spirit to get through to them, so that they may indeed be set free from the lies that bind them, for their salvation and Your glory. (Luke 4:18-19) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 28, 2013

Posted on August 1, 2013 by jgarrott

James 2:12-13 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!

We don’t like to think about being judged, but it’s going to happen to all of us. This is one of the many areas where we “reap what we sow.” (Galatians 6:7-8) Some people seem to be judgmental by personality, but I think that has a lot to do with how they were raised. A major issue for parents, and one where they often stumble, is in setting standards of behavior without being judgmental. Bad behavior is to be checked, and when necessary punished, but bad behavior doesn’t indicate a bad child. It is my observation that when parents make that distinction consistently, the children not only grow up happy and well-adjusted, they are not judgmental. Attacking someone for who they are instead of what they have done is called an ad hominem attack, and we see it between politicians all the time. That’s no way to live, much less run a country! Sadly, it can win elections, not by winning so much as by making the other person lose. I’m glad I won’t have to answer for those people in the judgment that James is talking about here! We have the expression, “revenge is sweet,” but mercy is ultimately much sweeter, and not just in the long run. It is far easier to live with yourself when you have been merciful than when you have not!

I try to live a merciful life, but I can’t say I always succeed. It is painful indeed when I see people I love and care about being less than merciful, but I am aware of my own failures in that area. I need to help people understand the distinction between bad action and a bad person. To do that we have to recognize that we ourselves are worthy of death, but God in His grace and mercy has provided salvation through the cross of Jesus Christ. The better we grasp that, the easier it is to be gracious and merciful toward those around us. We so often forget that in the heat of the moment! This is not at all the same as saying anything goes; we are to hold strongly to Biblical standards and principles. However, we need to remember that we ourselves don’t measure up fully to the very standards we hold!

Father, I am continually impressed by, and grateful for, Your grace and mercy toward me. Help me be an open, and unpolluted, channel of that grace and mercy toward those around me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 27, 2013

Posted on July 28, 2013 by jgarrott

James 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

Verse 22 of this chapter is quite famous, (“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”) but this one perhaps supplies a little more motivation. Many people treat the Bible as a good luck charm, thinking that just having it near them will protect them from evil and/or bring them good. That simply doesn’t work. It is when we pay enough attention to the Word to allow it to soak into us that we become “doers of the Word.” I was talking with a psychologist friend recently and he was telling me what he had just been teaching in a class in the school where we both teach. The lesson that day was on the mechanisms of memory, and how things move from our sensory impressions to our short-term memory to our long-term memory. Many people never let the Bible get past the sensory impression stage! However, it is when we allow it to work into us that we both do what it says and enjoy its benefits. I often remember something my seminary professor grandfather used to ask his students: “How big is your Bible?” They would generally insist that it was the same size as his, if not larger, but then he would correct their misunderstanding, and say that he was talking about how much of the Bible was actually in their heart. If we try to “do” the Bible without letting it work into our hearts, correcting and transforming us, we will fail miserably. However, if we will let it work into us fully, we will indeed be blessed in all we do, as this verse says.

My life is something of a case study in this. I first read through the Bible by age 10, so I quickly had quite a knowledge of the Bible, but that’s not what James is talking about here. I was “acquiring the Bible,” so to speak, but I wasn’t letting it transform me. I became quite an expert at deceiving myself! The Lord has had to break down my pride, intellectual and otherwise, in various ways so that I would receive the Word into my soul and spirit the way a baby receives milk. (1 Peter 2:2) As I did that, my knowledge of the Bible shifted to knowing the Bible, and most especially, knowing the Lord of the Bible. I still have plenty of room to grow, because the Bible, and certainly the Lord, are limitless, but I can say without hesitation that this is the way of blessing, and I recommend it to everyone.

Father, thank You for Your grace toward me. Thank You for the richness of Your Word, and for the privilege of sharing it with others. Help me share it from my heart, and not as some external rule book. May Your Word in and through me accomplish everything for which You have sent it, (Isaiah 55:11) for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 26, 2013

Posted on July 28, 2013 by jgarrott

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

You could say that this verse is “What Would Jesus Do” on steroids. We have very little grasp today of what it meant in the 1st Century to act “in someone’s name,” and our prayers are anemic as a result. The feeling back then was “in line with their character and will.” Thinking that way should have a fairly massive impact on how we pray, for starters, and here Paul is going beyond prayer to every aspect of our daily lives. We are so different from Jesus, or think we are, that we hardly know where to start in speaking and acting like Him, but Paul gives us an important clue here: be thankful. A heart that is not thankful to God is not trusting Him, His love, His power, wisdom, and plan. That is one of the biggest pitfalls of the entitlement mentality, because if we think we’re entitled to something, we aren’t thankful for it, but rather demand it. These days just saying “entitlement” puts you in the realm of politics, but this is much deeper than that. Grace is the opposite of entitlement; grace is getting better than what we deserve, what we’re entitled to. So long as we think we’re “pretty good,” we won’t be thankful God doesn’t wipe us off the face of the earth! I personally doubt there’s any human being alive who has a full and complete grasp of the grace of God, and that certainly includes me. Knowing God’s grace and being thankful are completely inseparable: you can’t understand God’s grace at all without being overwhelmed with gratitude. That’s why choosing to be thankful is an excellent place to start when it comes to speaking and acting in line with Jesus’ character and will.

Once again I’m preaching to me! I’m quick to think I “deserve” good stuff, and that immediately blunts my gratitude. I desire to speak and act as Christ’s representative, but if I fail to be thankful, I never even make it out of the starting gate. God is incredibly gracious to me, and I recognize and thank Him for only a small fraction of it all. I also need to do much better about thanking those who are the agents of God’s blessings to me. Everyone likes to be thanked! I have made some major interpersonal mistakes by failing to express thanks and appreciation properly in this church, and that is certainly to be avoided as much as possible. If I will indeed give God the thanks He deserves, that should spill over to thanking the people around me as well.

Father, I do have quite a track record of taking things for granted, of feeling “entitled.” Forgive me. Help me recognize more and more of Your grace toward me, as well as those through whom it comes, and speak and act accordingly. May I be an open channel of Your grace to others, whether I feel they “deserve” it or not, so that more and more thanks and praise may go to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 25, 2013

Posted on July 26, 2013 by jgarrott

Ephesians 6:7-8 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

We do not have formal slavery in most societies today, but the principle Paul is talking about here applies to any work situation. We use terms such as “corporate drones” and the like to indicate that many people feel enslaved to their employer/job, and that is without the job security of a slave! That makes it all the more important to keep our focus on the Lord, rather than on our physical circumstances. Though I am sure there are exceptions, in most work places anyone who who approaches their work as serving Christ will be considered an exemplary employee – and will certainly be the exception! There is a world of difference between working for a paycheck and working for the Lord, on every level. Even more than a difference in the quality of our work (and there might be no difference) there is a huge difference in peace and satisfaction. When we really grasp that our true reward comes from God and not our employer, resentments fade away. Resentment is perhaps the biggest joy-killer of all. Things we might otherwise actually enjoy doing, if resented, become sheer drudgery. When we really grasp the fact that every problem, all suffering on this earth is “light and momentary,” (2 Corinthians 4:17) we are able to bear up under it and still rejoice in the Lord, who gives us such a hope of eternal glory.

Before coming to Omura I had a very eclectic work history, including the Army, and employers good and bad. Since then my employment has been definitely more regular, but the content of my work has still been varied. I can’t say I’ve ever had a job in which I didn’t learn something helpful to me later on. That’s not to say all of the lessons were pleasant! However, I can see that the Lord was guiding and protecting me through it all. I think it helped a great deal that I was raised to look at life as an opportunity to learn. My parents tried to help me see life also as an opportunity to serve the Lord, but my understanding of that came a bit more slowly. However, I now know from experience that approaching everything as Paul says here, an opportunity to serve Christ, is without question the path of peace, joy, and satisfaction. I’ve seen even fellow pastors who didn’t have that perspective, and I wouldn’t trade places with them for anything!

Father, thank You for the privilege of serving You. Thank You for the amazing privilege of being Your agent, of seeing and hearing You speak and act through me. Help me lead all the believers into that expectation and experience, so that with joy we may serve You fully, for the sake of Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 24, 2013

Posted on July 26, 2013 by jgarrott

Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

How totally out of touch with modern society! How unrealistic! Though they might not say it out loud, that is exactly how a lot of people respond to this idea. The NIV translators tried to soften it by saying “sinful nature” instead of “flesh,” but this still flies in the face of the hedonism of our time. The thing is, though, large sections of Greek/Roman culture were just as hedonistic, if not even more so, though that might seem hard to imagine. The “gay pride” parades of today are relatively tame compared with some of the public displays of Paul’s day. Paul had a very incisive question for those who had come out of such a lifestyle: “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!” (Romans 6:21) We are taught indulgence, and the results are fatal. The remedy is twofold. First, there is commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord, which of course involves repentance. Then, there is the daily choice to walk in the Holy Spirit, which is what this verse is talking about. Sadly, even many people who make the first choice fail to make the second, and they make a mess of their lives. We may say we love Jesus, but if we mean it, we will seek to walk in fellowship with His Spirit. It’s not at all that we aren’t to take good care of our bodies, because we are. Paul is not teaching self-mutilation! It is that we are to give the Holy Spirit full authority in our lives, to enable us to walk in the holiness that God desires. (1 Peter 1:15-16)

This, of course, applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I am as fond of quoting the fruit of the spirit, listed in verses 22-23, as any preacher, but I’ve got to walk in the Spirit myself or those won’t be manifested in my life. I’ve got to communicate the truth of this passage to the believers. That isn’t easy, but it’s no harder than it was for Paul, so I am not to be discouraged. An important factor in that is remembering grace. If I am judgmental and condemning, then I put myself in as bad a position, or worse, than the person I am looking down on. Just ahead of this verse, Paul reminds us that all the commandments can be summed up in “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (verse 14) What complicates it even further is the fact that I am to be gracious toward those who are being judgmental! I can’t do that in my strength, so I’ve got to walk in step with the Holy Spirit moment by moment, giving Him control over my emotions as well as my actions.

Father, thank You for this encouraging, comforting Word. You know better than I do what happened yesterday, because You know all the thoughts and feelings behind each word that was said. I don’t have wisdom in myself to counter this strategy of the enemy, so I ask You to pour into me everything I need. May I speak Your truth in Your love to everyone, not being a tale bearer but letting Your love cover over the sins on all sides, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 23, 2013

Posted on July 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

I can’t say that I refer to this verse very often, but it is certainly right there in the foundation of what I believe it is to be a Christian. Most modern Christians don’t have that firm a grasp of what Paul is saying here because circumcision isn’t an issue in churches today. However, we do at least understand what circumcision is, so the expression used in the Japanese translation, that it’s “no big deal,” should have some impact. I don’t think any man would think it was “no big deal!” That helps put what Paul is saying into perspective. There are lots of things that various churches consider “big deals,” and they use them as tests of fellowship. I remember a joke about a Christian who came across another man who was about to jump from a bridge to kill himself, and he started to “talk him down” as they say. It turned out that the despondent man was also a Christian, and as the first man kept asking more questions, they had more and more religious points in common. However, as he “drilled down” he came to one very arcane point on which they disagreed. To this point the jumper had been relaxing, and feeling a sense of kinship seemed very comforted. However, finding the disagreement, the passerby shouted “Heretic!” and pushed the jumper off the bridge. We laugh, but I have seen situations that were practically that absurd. God calls us to unity in Christ, not to split hairs and try to be “more acceptable to God” than our brother. This is not to belittle points of faith, but to say that we must not let secondary matters interfere with “faith expressing itself through love.”

I have said that this truth is foundational for me. It is the reason this church is not affiliated with any denomination. That’s because as soon as you bear a denominational name, some people start putting you into that denominational box, either for good or for bad. There is then little opportunity for faith to express itself through love in that relationship. I hold strongly to what I believe and consider the Bible to be the ultimate arbiter on this earth, but I seek not to let anything get in the way of my fellowship with anyone who genuinely believes in Jesus Christ as his saving Lord. That has me rubbing shoulders with people with whom I have strong disagreements, but I still see them as brothers and sisters in Christ. After all, if circumcision is “no big deal,” then how big a deal is it exactly how and to whom Communion is served, for example?

Father, as I wrote I recognized the danger in myself to feel proud that I am “more enlightened” on this issue than others. What irony! That’s exactly what causes such divisions in the first place. Help me indeed trust You alone, not even myself, and allow Your love to flow through me unhindered and undistorted, to build up the Body of Christ for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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July 22, 2013

Posted on July 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I quote this verse every time I do marriage counseling, to explain that we are all of equal value, but whenever I do that I also have to explain that we have different roles. It’s interesting how much difficulty we have grasping that equality does not mean sameness; this isn’t mathematics we’re talking about here. In math, .25 and ¼ are indeed equal, but look different. Two people, on the other hand, might look different and have different functions, but still be of the same value in God’s eyes. We tend to value people based on their abilities and/or their possessions, but that’s not how God looks at it. If we are going to have God’s perspective, which is of course the way to greatest happiness and peace, we have to value people equally while recognizing and acknowledging their differences. That’s not easy to do, in our fallen human state. That’s one more reason why we need to cry out to God and depend on Him in everything.

I’m just as much at risk/fault here as anyone. I remember the pain of being the last person chosen, almost every time, in team division in physical education classes, and feeling devalued because of it. I remember classifying people on the basis of intellectual ability as my refuge and revenge, and choosing to despise people. That’s ugly indeed. I had the unique privilege of growing up rubbing shoulders with people who were highly admired by many, and understanding that they were just as human as I was. That has enabled me to ignore social standing for the most part in dealing with people, but as I said, I have my own pitfalls. It is only when we recognize our own utter dependence on the grace and mercy of God, and get a glimpse of His love which pours that grace and mercy out on us, that we are able to accept what this verse says. It is only when I understand how much He loves me that I can understand that He loves the person next to me just as much, and treat them accordingly.

Father, I am so quick to fall back into human categorizing and judging. Forgive me. Help me love people with Your love regardless of whether their abilities, possessions, or position are of any “benefit” to me. Help me acknowledge and rejoice in differences, knowing that they demonstrate the magnificence of Your plan of creation. May I be an unrestricted and unpolluted channel of Your grace and love to all, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 21, 2013

Posted on July 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Galatians 2:8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.

It should go without saying, but God assigns different ministries to different people. Sadly, we sometimes have trouble grasping that on an emotional level, and we feel everyone should have the same sense of urgency that we do toward our particular ministry. Any sort of objective analysis would show us that diversity is absolutely necessary, just as it is in our physical bodies, but we still try to lay our particular burdens on everyone around us. That is particularly true with what might be called more “spiritual” job descriptions, such as intercessor. After all, we are indeed all supposed to pray, and pray for those around us. However for some people that is their major task, calling, and gifting. I once interpreted for such a man, who was beautifully gifted and used as an intercessor, but he took me to task for telling him I wasn’t “called as an intercessor.” He couldn’t get the distinction that though yes, all Christians are called to intercede, not all are called as essentially full time intercessors. Paul dealt with the whole matter of different calling and gifting at some length in 1 Corinthians 12. It’s not a matter of ranking, it’s that specialization is part of the natural order, whether we like it or not.

I’m in danger of being the pot calling the kettle black here. I am called and gifted as a teacher, and I have no greater joy than sharing the riches of God’s Word with those who have ears to hear. However, that job description is one that the Bible itself says there should not be too many doing! (James 3:1) Even knowing that, it still feels odd to me that more people don’t delight to dig into the Word and write about it as I do. It is indeed true that every Christian should have a firm devotional habit, actively seeking to draw closer to Christ daily, but not all are to spend an hour or more at it daily, 365 days a year, the way I do. As well as I understand that in my mind, my emotions still want everyone to do what I do! This is yet another example of my needing to practice what I preach, applying the Word personally rather than just teaching it to others. I delight in my calling and am grateful for it, but rather than trying to drag others into that same calling, I am to help them recognize, be grateful for, and delight in their own calling.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s especially appropriate when I am speaking on Manifestations of the Spirit this morning. Help me help the believers understand that, just as Paul said, there are different manifestations but one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11) May I be faithful in my stewardship of what You have placed in me, so that others may be encouraged and strengthened to be faithful in their stewardship of what You have placed in them, so that together we may do Your will, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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July 20, 2013

Posted on July 24, 2013 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I started to write on verses 4-6 of this chapter, and this ties in perfectly with that. The focus is entirely on the Lord, as it should be, and the effect on and in us is entirely because of Him. This verse is a counter to the tendency in some circles to differentiate very strongly among the Trinity, listing the characteristics and actions of Father God, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit in turn, as though they were mutually exclusive. I do believe in the Trinity, but this chapter seems to present more of a “unified theology,” so to speak. Any time we try to put God in a box we miss out. That said, God wants to indwell us, (John 14:23) and that’s mind boggling. When He is indwelling us because we are abiding in Christ, then His Spirit fills us and flows through us, manifesting His glory. As a completely natural result, we become more and more like Jesus in every way. None of this is because of our strength, wisdom, or effort; it is all grace. All we have to do is trust and obey, opening ourselves more and more fully to Him. That is what produces true competence (verse 5) in the kingdom of God.

As I write and contemplate this, I am strongly reminded of a verse that comes up very shortly after this: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) I am painfully aware of what a cracked pot I am at times! I’m back to the reality that as long as I’m focused on me, nothing good happens, but when I am totally focused on and open to Christ, the possibilities are limitless. I see in myself and in those to whom I minister the strong tendency to “navel-gaze,” to be self-centered. There is no future, no real possibility for growth and fulfillment, when all you are looking at is how you are right now. I’ve got to acknowledge how I am right now, and help others do the same, because otherwise there is no true repentance. At the same time, I’ve got to remember that God’s not limited by how I have been or even how I am right now, and I need to help others grasp that truth as well.

Father, thank You for this potent reminder. I need such reminders fairly often! Help me indeed lead each member of this church to take their eyes off of themselves and fix them on Jesus, (Hebrews 12:2) with great joy and anticipation of what You are going to do in and through us, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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