January 24, 2013

Posted on January 26, 2013 by jgarrott

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.”

This verse is rightly very dearly loved, set to music and sung, but the question is how well we really understand it. The first thing is that we have to come to God. So many people in the world simply ignore Him, not understanding at all that their very existence is completely dependent on Him. The second thing is the matter of “reason together.” This completely eliminates the idea of one-way prayer. If we talk to God, we had better be listening for the answer! Also, He initiates the conversation often enough, if we have ears to hear. The idea of conversing with God seems totally “out there” to perhaps most people, but the Bible is filled with God’s desire to communicate with His children. That is often quite literally the case, with God using the words of Scripture to speak to us very individually and personally, so we should approach the Bible with that in mind. The next point is acknowledging our sins. We have a tendency either to fail to recognize sins for what they are, or think they are somehow too terrible for God to forgive. Either of those attitudes is a terrible mistake, and is greatly encouraged by the devil. When we come to God it should be in complete humility, allowing the Holy Spirit to point out things of which we need to repent, knowing that there is nothing that cannot be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is nothing to compare with the joy and release of knowing your sins are atoned for, they are forgiven!

I have certainly experienced this, and I deeply desire that as many as possible experience it with me. I have also discovered that understanding that I am forgiven is a powerful protection against yielding to the same temptation again. That’s what Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 1:9 “But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” Knowing we are forgiven frees us to move past whatever it was that needed forgiveness, to grow to the full stature of Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 4:13, 15) As a pastor, I am charged with helping those in this flock to keep growing, so helping them understand forgiveness is essential.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You know the struggles I have had with trying to get people to understand forgiveness, because of all the cultural and linguistic barriers. Help me never give up, but rather model and proclaim Your forgiveness at all times in all situations, so that I may be useful to Your Spirit in opening the eyes of as many as possible, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 23, 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment – wickedness was there,
in the place of justice – wickedness was there.
I thought in my heart,
“God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.”

We get tied in knots over courts and judges that don’t really abide by the laws or Constitution, but Jesus spoke of an unjust judge, (Luke 18:1-6) and Solomon writes about the same sort of thing. This has been going on for at least 2500 years! Solomon reminds us of what we’ve got to remember: God is the ultimate Judge. Even if things go wrong in earthly courts, nothing will go wrong in heaven. We are so focused on our immediate situations that we have trouble trusting God with it all. I am reminded of a particularly heinous murder that happened in Arizona, I think it was, about 20 years ago. The murder­er seemed to have escaped, but then his body was found in the desert, dead of heat, dehydration, and exposure. The sheriff wrote on his report, “Remanded to a higher court.” Actually, the Bible reminds us many times of that higher court, in almost identical language in Psalm 37:1 and Proverbs 24:19. It’s not that we aren’t to seek to have just courts and judges; it’s that we are not to rely on human institutions, but rather on God who can do no wrong.

This is particularly appropriate right now, when America is in something of a constitutional crisis, with wacko judges refusing to prosecute obvious crimes and handing down rulings that violate the national constitution. America is unique in world history in giving so much power to the people, in what was originally a conscious attempt to trust God. At this point we seem in real danger of a fulfillment of the statement that “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” However much that might work out on the temporal scale, I’ve got to remember that it’s not the final answer. I am to be active in my own obedience to God, but remember that what I see and hear at this point isn’t the last word. I am to pray for and otherwise support those who are active in the fight for real justice on various levels, but I am not to despair whatever the results seem to be in the short term. As the Bible reminds us many times, God is more than able to judge everyone rightly, and no one will escape that judgment.

Father, You’ve commissioned me to to tell others of the only way we can receive a “not guilty” verdict in Your court, through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord. Help me be faithful and effective in that task, trusting You whatever my senses, or my simply human intellect, might tell me. May I walk in, and be a channel of, Your peace, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 22, 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

This thought is expressed many times in the Bible and it’s certainly true, even though it runs counter to what most people practice a large part of the time. There is a difference between fearing man and caring what they think. We are created as social beings, and we are supposed to care for and about one another. However, there is a big difference between not wanting to cause needless offense and really being afraid of what someone will think, say, or do. The Bible tells us to fear God, not man! That’s why Peter could be so bold before the Sanhedrin, where he proclaimed, “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29) This verse tells us that fearing people gets us tan­gled in snares. When you think about it, that’s a pretty good descrip­tion. When we’re afraid of a person, or people, that tends to color everything we do, and we wind up doing things we don’t want to do, failing to do things we need to do, and generally getting all tangled up. The way out of that sort of mess is to trust God. People can be pretty scary at times, but they are no match for God! Trusting God involves several things. First of all, we’ve got to believe that He’s big enough, strong enough, to handle whatever situation we’re in. That might seem like a no-brainer, but in practical terms, most of us hang up on this point at times. Second, we’ve got to believe that He is good, that He genuinely has our best interests in mind. The devil tries to attack our minds on this point, and sadly, sometimes he’s effective. Third, we’ve got to believe that He actually cares enough about us individually to act. This one actually violates human logic, because the more we know about the universe, the smaller and less significant we seem. However, when these three elements are in place, we can really trust God, and as this verse says, that’s a very secure place to be.

Having been raised by parents who really trusted God, this has not been as much of an issue for me as for some people. However, that’s not at all to say I never fear people! I have failed to exercise the authority God has given me as a pastor because I’ve wanted people to like me. It’s not bad for people to like me, but I must be more concerned with what God says than with what I think people might say. He is my audience and my judge! Conversely, and just like almost everyone else, I have acted at times as though if people didn’t know what I was doing, it didn’t matter. That’s not trusting God, because He knows everything I’m doing! Even as I seek to draw others closer to God, I must keep close watch on my own heart attitudes, so that I may fear Him alone, and walk in loving obedience.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me indeed not fear man, but rather trust You completely, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, on Your schedule and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 21, 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy.

The sad thing is, someone immediately came to mind when I read this verse. The ability to accept correction is a lifesaver! This of course applies on the spiritual level as well. God is enormously patient with us and gives us many opportunities to repent, but those opportunities are not unlimited. Some people who know that the Gospel is true still love their sin so much that they say, “I’ll repent on my deathbed.” They probably won’t have a conscious deathbed to use for that purpose! Actually, a heart that says that isn’t really repentant in the first place. I think this is related to the feature of human psychology I mentioned a couple of days ago, that we have great difficulty imagining our own future state. If we think we’re “getting by with stuff” now, we think we’ll be able to keep doing so indefinitely. What we don’t realize is that we’re really not “getting by with” anything! There is nothing God doesn’t see, and He knows full well that the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) This isn’t Him being mean, it’s a matter of natural law, just like the law of gravity. Since He doesn’t want anyone to perish, (2 Peter 3:9) He gives us opportunities to recognize our sin and repent. What this verse is talking about is those who are willfully blind to their own sin.

I am not to write anyone off, and I must remember that God is more grieved than I am when someone chooses destruction, but I must also realize that not everyone is going to accept God’s offer of salvation. I am to make the Gospel as accessible as possible, speaking the truth in love, but remember that each person is individually responsible before God. I can’t repent for someone else, any more than they could repent for me. That said, I need to be careful that my own heart is tender before God, recognizing and accepting His rebukes and correction. It is very easy for a pastor to get caught up with how other people need to repent and overlook their own sins. I must not do that!

Father, thank You for the many opportunities You give me for sharing the Gospel. Thank You for the man who came to church yesterday, insisting he had no interest in religion but, when the conversation came around to it, confessing deep emotional wounds. I ask for more opportunities with him, and wisdom to communicate Your grace and love to him in ways he can receive it. Thank You for the natural connection I have with him through our mutual love for photography. I pray that I would not miss any of the appointments You have for me, but would be fully useful to You in drawing many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 20, 2013

Posted on January 24, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 28:4-5 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law resist them.
Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

It is interesting to read something written about 2500 years ago and find a description of the world today! The first half of this is obviously talking about the Bible. (The NIV says “law” and the Japanese says “teaching.”) It is amazing how many wicked people, in politics, entertainment, or whatever, get praised today, sometimes extravagantly. It doesn’t take much thought and analysis to realize that those who do such praising have no interest in upholding the Bible as the standard for life and behavior. The problem today is that those who do acknowledge the Bible have been passive, allowing those who discard it to hijack the culture, but recent events have been extreme enough that there are signs some are waking up. The second half of this applies directly to government. Any government needs to be founded on justice, or it won’t stand long. However, when national leadership is dominated by evil people, they don’t even understand what justice is. When America’s “Justice Department” is actively involved in breaking and flaunting the laws they are charged with upholding (to give just one example) it’s no wonder the nation is in deep trouble. The answer to all of this is found in the last part of the passage: seeking the Lord. Those who are evil won’t do it, but those who haven’t sold out completely need to get on their faces before the Lord. Probably the largest group in America are people who are at least nominal Christians, but who have been passive and lukewarm to this point. Those with an active relationship with the Lord need to pray to burn brightly so that those around them may catch fire as well, until there is a mighty blaze of the Holy Spirit across the land, burning out the filth and rot of all sorts. That’s what this passage is talking about.

Even as I am upset and disgusted at so much that I see and hear, I need to examine myself to see how closely I follow the Lord, how earnestly I seek Him. If my own repentance is not up to date, I will not be effective in calling others to repentance, even if I am simply doing it in prayer. James said that “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective,” (James 5:16) but I must be firmly abiding in Christ for that to apply to me. Rather than running around pointing fingers, I need to be on my own face before the Lord, allowing the Holy Spirit to point out and burn out of me anything that is not in submission and pleasing to the Father, so that I in turn may be His instrument for His name to be hallowed, His kingdom come, and His will to be done.

Father, I keep being reminded of the time You told me so clearly that there is much You are not happy about in the world today. Help me not to be part of that! May I be fully submitted and obedient to You so that I may see people and things through Your eyes, to be Your agent of of grace, speaking Your truth in love, so that Your will my be done in and through me for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 19, 2013

Posted on January 20, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 24:16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,
but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

It’s not a question of whether we will have difficulties; Jesus stated emphatically that we would. (John 16:33) The question is rather what happens to us after the difficulties, and this verse addresses that. The Japanese has an interesting nuance that doesn’t come through in the NIV: “Even though the righteous may fall seven times, they will get up again. The wicked stumble and are destroyed.” In other words, a righteous person can have repeated, major problems and still recover, but a wicked person can be done in by something minor. (That pro­bably seemed illogical to the NIV translators, so they said “calamity” for the wicked.) We need to remember that “In all these things we are more than conquerors.” (Romans 8:37) We have no reason to go around dreading things, because whatever happens, God will bring us through it. Of course, all I have said presupposes that we are right­eous. As has come out recently, none of us is righteous in ourselves, but if we walk by faith in Jesus Christ, we are made to be the right­eousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) That puts us in the category of those who always recover.

Naturally, this applies to me as much as it applies to anyone. I have had difficulties, and at the time, some of them seemed pretty severe. However, in retrospect, they all look pretty minor! I can say with Paul that my troubles are light and momentary! (2 Corinthians 4:17) The more things God takes me through, the more assurance I have that He can take me through anything! I am well aware that in Biblical numerology, seven indicates perfection or completion, so this verse is saying that even if I encounter a “perfect storm” of difficulties, by God’s grace I will stand tall again after it has past. As a pastor, I need to communicate this assurance to others. However, in doing so I must be careful not to belittle the difficulties of the person I’m dealing with. All difficulties seem great to the person in the middle of them, and if I’m not careful, I can make people feel badly disrespected. I am to “weep with those who weep,” (Romans 12:15) but at the same time point them to Christ, who will take them through whatever they are in the middle of.

Father that last point is one where I have tripped up in the past. Help me communicate Your love and acceptance to all, while not leaving them where they are. You have done that for me more times than I could count; help me be an effective agent of Your grace to others, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 18, 2013

Posted on January 20, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Aging is a fact of life, but how those who age and those around them react to it is a variable. Signs (you could say symptoms) of aging are different for different individuals, and they appear at different rates depending on genetics and environment, so it’s hard to say at what age someone might demonstrate a particular characteristic. However, we all slow down at some point. This verse addresses not those who are old, but their children, and what it says is very important. It speaks of “father” and “mother,” but what it says about each is applicable to both. In the first place, they need to be listened to. In some societies the old are venerated, probably because not so many survive to great age, but young people have a strong tendency to tune out the old. Old people have something to say! Actually, they often feel a need to talk, to be acknowledged as still valuable, and too often that is not granted to them. Recent research has shown that age indeed imparts wisdom, because even though memory problems are a well known characteristic of aging, the wealth of experience on which to base decisions is still operative, even in someone who can’t remember whether they ate breakfast. That ties in with the second half of the verse, which speaks of “despising your mother.” It is sadly common that younger generations effectively despise the old, and that is demonstrated in many ways. As older people need more and more assistance of various sorts from those who are younger, it is easy for the younger to see that as an imposition, resent it, and frankly, wish the older people would go ahead and die and get out of the way. Just a few days ago I read a research report that talked about how we can’t imagine ourselves in the future. In our minds we will always be no older than we are currently, and that greatly limits our empathy with our parents and those of their generation. That’s why we need such admonitions as this verse!

At 64, I am already older than my father was at his death, which is a strange thought every time it comes up. However, I have a good friend who is 91, so I don’t feel so old! I interact with quite a few people who are somewhat to much older than I am, as well as young­er people, of course. I am to treat all with respect, really listening to them rather than thinking of something else while they’re talking. Widows and widowers can be desperately lonely, and really need to be heard. That’s a situation I can envision, and it’s scary! If I will relate well to those around me of all ages, based on my relationship with God, then I myself will age gracefully, and be a blessing rather than a burden.

Father, I feel like You are opening new doors for me at this point, and that doesn’t feel like getting old! Help me live fully for as long as You keep me here, so that I may bless people and draw them to You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 17, 2013

Posted on January 20, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity and honor.

Once again there are significant differences between the NIV and the Japanese. The Japanese reads, “He who pursues righteousness and integrity gains life, righteousness, and honor.” The point is, if we pursue the right things, we get better than we bargained for. I am reminded of Jesus’ famous statement that if we will seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, we will not only receive that, but all our physical needs as well. (Matthew 6:33) This verse says that if we pursue righteousness, we will get it, if we pursue integrity, we will get honor, and life itself is part of the package. That sounds pretty good to me! It’s important to notice that this isn’t talking about pursuing honor. Lots of people do that, to varying success. This verse tells us that if we want honor, we do well to pursue righteousness and integrity. Honors that are divorced from righteousness and integrity (and this world has a lot of those) are fleeting at best, and essentially meaningless. As it says in Proverbs 22:1, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” That sort of “good name” is gained through righteousness and integrity.

At various times I have been painfully aware of what people thought of me, or what I thought they thought of me, and I know what a trap that is. I think we all have an innate hunger to be liked, to be acknowledged, but when we focus on other people to meet that hunger, we fall into all sorts of traps. We should be seeking God’s approval, for God to be pleased with us, and righteousness and integrity are certainly the path to that. I have adopted my father’s principle of absolute honesty, and that is certainly a core element of integrity. People should be able to count on me, that when I say something, I mean it. In my human weakness, sometimes my follow-through isn’t what it should be. Frankly, sometimes I forget what I have said I would do. That keeps me actively dependent on the Lord, not only for wisdom and strength, but also simply to remind me where I’m supposed to be and what I’m supposed to be doing! However, He’s wonderfully faithful to do that. I need to rest, relax, and rejoice, seeking above and before everything else to abide in Christ, because He is my righteousness, holiness, and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:30)

Father, thank You for Your unfailing grace, Your love and mercy that are new every morning. Help me focus on being who and what You want me to be, in every detail, so that You may indeed delight in me. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 16, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD;
he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

This is a very important promise that we often fail to remember. The Bible records several instances of God using rulers who didn’t acknowledge Him at all, such as Cyrus, to accomplish His purposes. (2 Chronicles 36:22) That doesn’t eliminate human free will, and the responsibility that goes with it, and it doesn’t eliminate the right and responsibility of Christians to participate in the democratic process, in countries that have such, but it should eliminate a lot of the panic we tend to have about politics. History is loaded with bad leaders of all sorts, but this verse points out that God is still God, regardless of who the leader is and what he is doing. Right now America is in a fine mess because of ungodly leadership, and Japan is in danger of a constitutional revision that would eliminate freedom of religion and conscience. (Do we see a trend here?) Those things notwithstanding, God is still God! Trials cleanse and strengthen the true Church. (1 Peter 4:17) God allows things that we would not choose, because He can use them for ultimate good that far outweighs any suffering. (2 Corinthians 4:17) The important thing for Christians is to keep trust­ing God and making use of the opportunities He provides to share the good news of His kingdom, in contrast to the political systems we see around us.

I could have benefited from reading this verse a year ago! I have done my share of hand wringing, and it has only been emotionally exhausting. That’s not to say that I’m not to speak out against ungodly things, either where I have citizenship or where I live, but it is to say that I must never forget that God is God. As He pointed out to me personally several years ago, there is a lot in the world today that God is not happy about, but He knows where it’s all headed, and I need to trust Him with that. I am to submit my will to His, so that His will may be done in and through me. The earth was given to mankind in the Garden of Eden, which means every human being has a measure of authority and responsibility. I need to exercise whatever degree of authority I have so that God’s Name may be hallowed, His kingdom come, and His will be done, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the strong Word of encouragement in the meeting yesterday to move out in obedience to You. Help me not be a passive pew warmer, but rather a responsive, obedient son and servant, so that Your will may indeed be done in and through me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 15, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out.

There is a saying that “Ignorance is bliss,” but this says that ignorance is not wise. Actually, an informed electorate is the bane of any dictator or crooked politician. In the Church, anyone who does not seek to know more of God really doesn’t understand how little they know, of God or of anything else. The way we learn more of God is by reading His Word and allowing His Spirit to illuminate our hearts. A person who is hungry for more of God will be eager to hear testi­monies from others of their experiences of Him, but someone with wisdom will filter what they hear through the Bible. After all, the Bible is clear that there are lying spirits who seek to deceive even God’s elect, if they can. (Matthew 24:24) The more we know of God through His Word, the more easily we can discern whether something is of Him or not. Combining the two areas mentioned, of politics and the Church, any church leader who is not encouraging his or her flock to dig into the Word on their own is on dangerous ground. Cult leaders down through the centuries have entrapped people by insisting that only their interpretation of Scripture is to be received. It was that attitude that triggered the Protestant Reformation, because people were actually forbidden to read the Bible on their own.

I grew up being encouraged to read the Bible on my own, and actually read through it for the first time when I was 10. I continue to read it daily, because it is so rich and deep that I continue to get new understanding even from passages I’ve read dozens of times before. As a pastor, I desire that each member of my church do the same. It is frankly a mystery to me when Christians don’t seem to have much interest in getting into the Word. Spoon-feeding pablum is not my idea of an ideal ministry! The old saying about leading a horse to water certainly applies. What I can do is pray and present the Word, and trust the Holy Spirit to work in hearts and lives. What I want to see is each member digging into the Word for themselves, with each one providing guidance and assistance to one or more others who are less experienced, so that we may all be growing together. I do believe that is what God wants for/of us, so I need to be fully available to that end and fully responsive to all He says to do.

Father, thank You for being perfectly trustworthy. Thank You for this conference I’m attending right now, and for how You have been working on and in me, and others. Help me not draw back from any­thing You say to do, but not run off half-cocked either. May I walk – run – in total obedience to You, so that Your purposes may be accomplished in and through me on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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