New; January 1, 2026

Posted on January 2, 2026 by jgarrott

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Some years I really have to seek the Lord for what the Verse for the Year should be, but this time He just dropped this into my heart when I wasn’t even particularly concerned about it. We tend to be very conflicted about newness. In some areas we tend to want the latest thing, and in some areas we are comfortable with the familiar. That also tends to shift with the age of the observer, with younger people more in favor of the new, and older people hanging onto the familiar. The interesting thing is that God embodies that paradox. As He told Malachi, “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) However, as He told John, “I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5) To go to what Paul says in this verse, those who are in Christ are made new precisely because they acquire the unshakable, unchanging foundation of the God who created them in the first place. As many Bible writers noted, we are entirely transient in this earth, often compared to desert grasses that can sprout, bloom, and wither within a single day. It is only when we are anchored in the Rock of our salvation that we acquire permanence, and that is not for this life, but for eternity. It is natural to fear change, but when we are settled on what and who we are in Christ, we can welcome the new with joy, knowing that our God not only doesn’t change, He is totally loving and good, as well as totally holy and just. In Christ we are never chained to what has been, including what we have been, but we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, as it says in Revelation 21:1.

I am definitely to an age where the old and familiar is more comfortable, so I have to choose to look forward to and accept the new. It has been widely said that the only constant is change. That is true only from some perspectives, and I need to stay anchored in my unchanging Lord. I need to remember what the Lord told me personally over 20 years ago. I was lying in bed, not consciously praying but just thinking, “There are so many things I wish were different.” As clearly as if He had been a person standing beside me, I heard the Lord say, “How do you think I feel?” It was quite a shock, and only the second time I had heard Him speak like that. However, it gave me a great peace that He isn’t pleased with a lot of what is going on, but He has a solution for everything, and I just need to trust Him. It is interesting that at this very moment, all sorts of things in the world that have been in violation of His character are being exposed, not just in the US but in nations around the world. That kind of new is welcome indeed! I am not to get tied in knots over how things are, or how it seems like they might be, but rather trust God to bring about His perfect plans, on His schedule for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for this new year. Thank You that the watchnight service went well last night, though there were certainly some unexpected elements. You have indicated that You are making some changes, on a number of different levels. Help me not fear any of it, nor try to make things happen on my schedule, but rather flow with Your Spirit on Your schedule, so that I may be fully useful to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Believing; December 31, 2025

Posted on January 1, 2026 by jgarrott

John 3:12 “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”

This is the most familiar of all Bible passages, yet there is still much to meditate on here. That’s precisely because of what Jesus says in this verse. We tend to choke on what God says to us about living on this planet. How much more help do we need to grasp all He tells us about genuinely spiritual things? We need to let His Word simmer, sometimes percolate, in our hearts and minds until our merely human thinking is transformed by His truth. That’s not the same thing as being gullible. A gullible person believes anything uncritically. There are a few things that we do need to believe without any question. First, that God loves us. Second, that we are by nature sinners, totally unworthy of God’s love. Third, that God’s love caused Him to send His Son to take the penalty for our sin, enabling us to become His children. There are countless more things, but those are the foundation. Without them there is no salvation, but with them there is eternity in fellowship with our Creator. As Jesus sadly noted in verses 19-20, far too many people refuse to acknowledge their sin, and so choose eternal darkness and destruction over coming to God in repentance. This is the core of evangelism. We can present the good news of salvation, but it is up to each individual to repent and believe. When they refuse to do so it is tragic, but when they open their heart to receive God’s grace, it is glorious!

As I testified this past Sunday, I have recently discovered great joy in evangelism. Up until now I have felt, and stated, that I was not gifted as an evangelist. I still don’t have legions being converted, but I do have joy in the process! There is one man whom I will be seeing again today who seems on the very brink of commitment, but I think he still has trouble with the idea that God actually loves him. However, he is seeing God’s love at work in me and in this church, and he is being transformed. There are others with whom I interact a little less intensively, but still regularly. My prayer is that they all, and many more, would wake up, repent, and believe for their salvation, for the pleasure and glory of God.

Father, thank You for the privilege of having a small part in Your process of salvation. May I be fully available and obedient to You at all times, so that as many as will may come into Your kingdom, Your family, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Claims of Christ; December 30, 2025

Posted on December 31, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 4:21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

There are those who say that Jesus didn’t claim to be divine, but here, at the very outset of His public ministry, He declares that He is the fulfillment of prophecy, and specifically, prophecy that the Jewish scholars had long agreed was Messianic. We don’t know at what point Jesus became self-aware, but certainly from the point of His baptism He had that assurance, since the Father spoke it out so that even others could hear it, that Jesus was His beloved Son. (Luke 3:22) As C. S. Lewis said, either Jesus was the Son of God, or He was the most brazen liar that ever lived. He wasn’t just “an inspired teacher,” as a lot of people try to claim. Countless people, and sadly, even a lot of Christians, put Him on a plane with Buddha or Mohammed: the founder of a religion. That’s a lie the devil pushes with all he’s got, but it just doesn’t work. Many, many people find the claims of Christ to be offensive, because they don’t want to submit to Him. Jesus’ glorious statement in the Upper room, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6) is particularly irritating to them, because it completely invalidates every other religion. “How exclusionary!” they exclaim, again trying to place Jesus on the same plane as other religious leaders. If all religions are the same, none of them have any ultimate authority! Jesus was fully God and fully man, which offended the Jewish leaders as well, because, despite various Old Testament Scriptures, they insisted that “God has no Son.” This true union of God and Man is found in no other religion, but it is absolutely essential to the Gospel. If Jesus were not fully Man, He couldn’t have taken the sins of mankind on Himself as our representative. However, if He were not fully God, His death could not have been sufficient atonement for the entire weight of all our sins. The glorious reality is that Jesus was and is everything He said about Himself, and everything that was prophesied about Him before His birth, because He existed before the creation of the universe. It is impossible to express in words all that Jesus was and is, for all eternity.

This is something I have dealt with for most of my life. Ministering in Japan, the average person on the street doesn’t know Jesus from any other “foreigner” on the street, and they don’t particularly care. My challenge is to let them know what He has done in me, and that He loves them just as much as He does me. I think I’m pretty universally known as “a nice guy,” but they don’t know how nasty I am without Him! I’ve got to live as consistently as possible with Jesus as my Lord, speaking what He says to me and acting in obedience to what He shows me, and let the Holy Spirit sort it all out in the hearts and minds of those around me. Before I ask someone else to commit to Him as Savior and Lord, I’ve got to have that commitment myself.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the people to whom You have me ministering. I pray that they and those after them will indeed make that commitment, so that Your name may be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign me established as Your will is done, as perfectly on this earth as it is before Your throne in heaven. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Temptation; December 29, 2025

Posted on December 30, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

We don’t know how the temptation of Jesus came to be recorded. It seems most probable that he told some or all of His apostles about it at some point. It is important to note that the three temptations listed match the three categories given by John in his letter: “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” (1 John 2:16) It is extremely important to note that these temptations aren’t for things that are necessarily bad in themselves, but the moment they come into conflict or opposition to God, they are temptations to sin. Physical hunger, such as Jesus very naturally had after a 40-day fast, certainly isn’t sinful, but gluttony is. For that matter, the physical desire of a husband and wife for each other isn’t sinful, but there are countless distortions of that impulse that are sinful. Ambition, the desire to accomplish great things, isn’t bad, but the devil uses it to get us to follow him instead of God, and that is disastrous. And the third temptation encountered by Jesus is the most tricky: testing God. At times God tells us to test Him, famously in Malachi 3:10, but we are all too capable of misapplying Scripture, as the devil did here. We are to trust God, but not be presumptuous. We aren’t to “proof text” Him, demanding He fulfill some Scripture on our schedule, to meet what we would like. It can take real spiritual maturity to distinguish deep faith from presumption, but we should certainly desire to do so. The final lesson we are to take from this record is what is recorded in the letter to the 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) Jesus understands us, and He doesn’t look down on us for our weaknesses, even as He is the perfect standard for us to emulate.

Of these three areas, I’ve had the least trouble with ambition, I think, but I’m not entirely innocent there, either. As a pastor, I deal constantly with people who are struggling in all these areas, and I am never to look down on them for it. At the same time, I am not to excuse them, any more than God excuses me. I am to lift up Jesus as the example, because He too was fully human, but He relied on the Holy Spirit to keep Him straight. That same Holy Spirit has been given to all honest believers, and my goal is to listen more and more accurately to Him, and to encourage others to do so as well. Just yesterday I downloaded a paper on “Keys to Leadership,” and one of those was, naturally enough, setting an example. Like Paul, I am to follow the example of Jesus to a degree that I needn’t hesitate to tell others to follow my example. Temptation is a given in this life; yielding to it isn’t.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. May I recognize temptations for what they are and walk in full commitment to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Representing Christ; December 28, 2025

Posted on December 29, 2025 by jgarrott

Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

This declaration by John is one that every pastor needs to take to heart. Whatever the details of their ministry, they are not the Savior. In some churches there are sycophants who will try to make the pastor feel they are on a plane with Jesus, but such people are being used by the devil. Every believer is a representative of Christ, (2 Corinthians 5:20) and Christ is being formed in every believer, (Galatians 4:19) but that doesn’t begin to make us equal with Him. It’s like a private who takes a message from the general. Like John, we are to be telling people to repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, (verse 2) and when they do repent we are to baptize them, but we are never the Savior; That is only and always Christ Jesus the Lord. As John goes on to say, He baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. We are to seek to draw ever closer to Him, knowing that involves such baptism. We might desire to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, but fire is a different matter! The fire of God burns away anything that isn’t of Him, and it can be devastating to find out how much of our lives is in that category. For the person fully dedicated to God, that is a welcome thing. The final step of that is physical death, and that too is to be received with gratitude and joy. However, up until that point, we are to be active in our obedience, allowing His Spirit to work in and through us. Nothing this world could offer can compare with the privilege of being an ambassador for Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:20)

When I was still in elementary school I participated in Royal Ambassadors, a Southern Baptist discipleship program for boys, every year at Mission Meeting. (It didn’t exist in Japanese churches, so we did it when the missionary families were gathered.) That’s naturally when I memorized 2 Corinthians 5:20! That probably is a major factor in my awareness of representing Christ. Of course, being in a missionary family was a big part of that as well. At one point I had a sign beside the front door of this building, declaring it to be “The Kubara Embassy of the Kingdom of God.” I eventually took it down, not wanting confusion with the “kingdom hall” of Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I think the principle is valid. No believer is a perfect representative of Christ, but every one of us is a representative to some degree. Our lives often govern how others see God, what they think He is like and what He thinks of them. That is a heavy responsibility! However, as Paul said, we can do it through the One who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13) At the same time, we’ve got to remember that we aren’t Christ, any more than John was Jesus. My goal, my prayer, is for every believer in this church to recognize that Christ lives in them, and delight to represent Him to the world.

Father, thank You for this reminder, on this last Sunday of the calendar year. I pray that all we do this morning would build up the believers and make them more like Christ, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Joy of Assurance; December 27, 2025

Posted on December 28, 2025 by jgarrott

Matthew 2:10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Once again we have a passage that I could essentially quote verbatim, but God can speak through the familiar as well as through the new. This particular verse was set to a very catchy tune over 50 years ago, and I can’t think of it without that tune running through my head. The point is the joy of confirmation. God speaks to us constantly, but our perception is spotty, and not necessarily accurate. These magi had been sure enough of what they felt God was saying that they went to the trouble and expense of a long trip, but even so, getting confirmation liked this blessed them immensely. We sometimes have similar experiences, though probably not as dramatic and even supernatural as this. Sometimes that confirmation comes long after the fact, when you get a deep assurance that you had done the right thing. Such assurances are never forgotten, and they are a deep blessing. The thing is, that’s what faith is all about. Hebrews 11:1 famously tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” When we have faith, we can have the assurance we need, even without the confirmation of external circumstances. There can be moments when the disconnect between our circumstances and what we know to be true is extreme, as when a believer is martyred and knows it is a great victory. That’s when faith really shines! We may not have a physical star to tell us we are following God, but we can have His light in our heart to give us just as much assurance. That’s not something we can work up on our own; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8-9) However, it is a gift God delights to give His faithful children, and we should receive it with joy.

As I have commented many times, I feel I have been given the gift of faith, and I could hardly be more grateful. I haven’t seen major miracles, or things like that, but I have a rock-solid assurance that God is God, and that’s all I need to know. I see things all around me that the devil wants to use to tear me down, but I also see evidence all around me of God working to fulfill His good plans, and that’s as much as I need to know. I have had some pretty wonderful prophecies spoken to me, as well as one or two I don’t look forward to, but I know they’re all in relation to this world, and as such aren’t the end of the story. God has told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, and the better I do that, the easier I am for Him to use, and that’s my goal. By the human calendar we are coming to the end of a year. By the solar calendar, we’ve already passed the winter solstice. Where we are on God’s calendar is something only He knows, but that’s just fine. His plans are perfect!

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for the solid night of good sleep last night. It really makes a difference in our emotions, despite the cold. Help us rejoice in the assurance of faith throughout today and each day, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Wealth; December 26, 2025

Posted on December 27, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 2:24 … and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Here we have definitive proof that Mary and Joseph weren’t wealthy, because this sacrifice was specified in Leviticus for those who couldn’t afford a lamb. This strikes me as very interesting, because Jesus Himself was the Lamb of God! This brings to mind Paul’s reminder to the Corinthians that Jesus, though the Owner of the universe, became literally poor for our sakes. (2 Corinthians 8:9) We give lip service to the idea of Jesus having humbled Himself, as Paul expounded on in Philippians 2, but we don’t think very much about all that meant. I think the most important thing is to realize that material wealth is meaningless. James, as well as Paul, had a lot to say about that, but we tend to remain stuck in a materialistic mindset. We are quick to quote Jesus’ words, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well,” (Matthew 6:33) speaking of our material needs, but we have a lot of trouble really living like that. We want to become wealthy, because “think of all the good I could do with that money,” but the money itself becomes our goal, and we become spiritually bankrupt. If Jesus never had a big bank account, what are we griping about? Particularly in countries like the US and Japan, the average person lives better, materially speaking, than over half the world’s population, not to mention the vast majority of our ancestors. We need to learn what it means to “lay up treasure in heaven!” (Matthew 6:20-21)

Growing up in a missionary family in post-war Japan, we had a complicated relationship with money. We were far from affluent by American standards, but particularly in my childhood, we were far better off than almost everyone around us. When my grandparents died, my parents inherited funds that they in turn passed on to us four children. I used all of my inheritance in building this building, but the Lord has met all of our actual needs down through the years, and when one of Cathy’s aunts passed, she left Cathy enough that, with Social Security and our Japanese pension, means we don’t have any financial worries. I’m a little uncomfortable with that, because that makes us better off than the majority of our church members. I understand my parents’ conflict! At this point we have little for which we want to spend money, which leaves me seeking God for His guidance as to accurate stewardship. I feel we have a pretty good “nest egg” in heaven at this point, and I’m happy with that. I want to live my life with God’s values and by His standards, for His glory.

Father, thank You for Your gracious provision, not just materially, but especially spiritually. May I be a good steward indeed of all that You place in my hands, for the sake of Your kingdom and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Processing Experiences; December 25, 2025

Posted on December 26, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 2:19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

I can imagine Mary’s interview with Luke, all those years later. I can also understand that Mary couldn’t stop thinking about these things at the time. Simply giving birth is a traumatic experience, not to mention the circumstances of being in a barn – probably a cave – and then on top of that, have total strangers show up and say that an angel had told them about the baby! She had known from the start that this baby was special, and all these things piled up to confirm that. Thinking about what God allows us to experience isn’t a bad thing, because it allows those things to sink into us and grow us as God intends. Obsessing over things isn’t good, but failing to receive the lessons God gives us is bad. Once again, Mary is a good example to us, because she allowed all these events to become part of her, and they prepared her for the incredible task of raising the Son of God.

I am not the best judge of how well I have processed the lessons God has given me. I guess I’ll find out when I stand before Him in heaven. It’s odd to me which experiences seem to pop up in my memory, for no particular reason. I need to let the Lord show me the various reasons for those memories. I’m in the process of writing my autobiography, and I find that I’ll get through a period of my life and then remember something important that I’d skipped over. I’m thankful for computers, that make it easy to go back and insert material. What is most important to me is that my whole life has been, and continues to be, a story of God’s grace. My reason for writing is so that others may better realize what a gracious God we have, and open their own hearts to Him more fully. As I write, I need to let all those life experiences further work in me to shape me more into the likeness of my Lord, for that is the reason for my existence.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You for getting us through the candlelight service last night, and that things went so well. Thank You for the two not-yet-Christians who attended, and for the evidence that You are working strongly in them. May their day of commitment, of rebirth as children of God, come soon, for their salvation and Your glory. And now that all these pressures are past, may I use each moment of each day to do Your will on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Response to Christmas; December 24, 2025

Posted on December 25, 2025 by jgarrott

Luke 2:6-7 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

In this extremely familiar story, the thing that struck me just now is how normal everything was. This was a watershed moment in the history of the universe, but Mary and Joseph were doing what the government required of them, and Mary’s pregnancy proceeded on schedule. As an interesting note, a normal pregnancy is around 280 days, which is 10 lunar months, and that’s how the Japanese refer to it. The Japanese here says, “The months were fulfilled.” In some ways that seems more logical that the Western 9 months. Regardless, this was the most exceptional family in history, but they went through things one day at a time. Mary riding several days on a donkey probably guaranteed that Jesus wouldn’t be late arriving! We think of the birth happening soon after they arrived, but the text doesn’t specify that. It’s possible they camped outside a night or two, but when Mary went into labor, they wanted a roof over their heads. In any case, they didn’t have an Air BnB reservation! When Jesus came from heaven to be born as a human baby, absolutely no exceptions were made for His special status. He went through it all, just like we do. That leaves us no room to complain! I’m reminded of places like “dude ranches,” where tourists go to “experience the authentic West.” They aren’t getting an authentic experience, they are getting a whitewashed, cushioned version. Jesus’ time on earth wasn’t like that at all. Jesus lived our life for us and with us, and we need to remember that.

I feel like my life has been exceptional in numbers of ways. We were a missionary family, but we lived in an American style house and rode in an American car, in post-war Japan. That was very exceptional right there! I have been through various tight spots, but never through extreme poverty or tragedy. I very literally have nothing to complain about, but I have managed to complain about countless things over the years! I need to remember what Paul wrote to the Philippians, in Philippians 2:6-8, and let it percolate through my mind and heart. Jesus came, for me, and what have I done in response? Every moment of my life needs to be lived in obedient dedication to Him. Anything less is unworthy of who He is.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This is my 78th Christmas, though I certainly don’t remember the first ones. Keep me from just getting it over with. Help me rather be consumed with gratitude for all that You have done for me, so that I will be totally available for whatever You want to do through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Joseph; December 23, 2025

Posted on December 24, 2025 by jgarrott

Matthew 1:19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Two days ago I preached on verse 21, but this verse also is very impressive. It speaks clearly of the character of Joseph, the man chosen to raise the Son of God. Mary tends to get most of the attention in this story, but Joseph was a huge player as well. Various words are used in English and Japanese to translate whatever the Greek word Luke used is to describe Joseph, but none of them entirely do him justice (even though the ESV uses “just” to describe him). Any man can imagine himself in this situation: you’re engaged, you haven’t been jumping the gun, and your fiancée turns up pregnant! Shock and disappointment don’t begin to describe it. That such a sweet, innocent girl as Mary would do such a thing! It’s hardly surprising that he wanted to call the wedding off, but that he wanted to do it all quietly, for minimum damage to Mary, speaks volumes. He was a man who put others ahead of himself, who did the right thing regardless of the cost to himself. God chose him well! That he responded as he did to the angelic dream described in the next verse speaks of his level of faith as well. Mary was a shining example of faith, but so was Joseph. Many have noted his similarity to Joseph the son of Jacob, who also had dreams from God, believed they were real, and acted on them. We don’t know many details about this Joseph, but I’d be willing to bet he was a very good carpenter/woodworker, very careful to do everything right for the sake of his customers. There’s a church in Mexico that has a very beautiful, technically very difficult, circular staircase that was built by a traveling carpenter who just gave his name as Joseph (Jose). Whether that was actually this Joseph, sent on a special mission, is not something that can be stated definitively, but it certainly seems to be in keeping with his character.

We’re back to the matter of fathers. Joseph wasn’t Jesus’ biological father, but he certainly filled the role beautifully. We have no record of when God took him home, but he was there during Jesus’ formative years at least. My father went home when I was a young father myself, when he was what now seems the very young age of 64. It seems odd that I’m 13 years older than that right now! He was a magnificent example to me, though imperfect. I could make a long list of common character flaws that he didn’t have! I can only pray that my own parenting has been similar. I would be delighted to have more input into my grandchildren, but I can and do pray for them, entrusting them to the only One who can truly keep them safe. I can also seek to be faithful, a trustworthy person to all with whom I interact. Joseph is certainly an example worthy of emulation.

Father, thank You for Your plan of the ages. It uses so many different people despite their imperfections. Help me fulfill the part You have for me, for as long as You keep me here, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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