January 14, 2013

Posted on January 17, 2013 by jgarrott

reProverbs 16:20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

The Japanese is so much better than the NIV for this verse! Where the NIV says, “Gives heed to instruction,” the Japanese says, “Fixes the Word in his heart.” Where the NIV just says “prospers,” the Japanese says, “finds blessing.” In the second half, where the NIV says “trusts in,” the Japanese says “relies on.” Put together, that’s a pretty significant difference! The American public school system today is a good example of the reality that it makes a huge difference what instruction you give heed to. Some schools are pouring such rot into children and young people it’s a wonder the nation hasn’t disintegrated before now! However, if we fix the Word of God in our hearts we will find blessing indeed. I have no problem whatsoever with the statement that we should trust in the Lord, but sometimes we fail to apply that in practical terms. We say we trust God, but we rely on all sorts of human systems and devices instead of relying on Him. We sing with Dennis Jernigan, “You are my all in all,” but do we really mean it? God indeed works through doctors, governments, and all sorts of things, but if our reliance is on the tools rather than on God, we have some spiritual growing to do, to say the least.

This is of course as applicable to me as to anyone. I love to learn all sorts of things, but if my focus isn’t first on God’s Word and what He is saying to me, I will be led astray. I enjoy technology of all sorts, such as computers, but relying on them above God is an exercise in foolishness, not to mention frustration. I have been given various abilities, but there too, if I rely on the abilities instead of the One who gave them, I am headed for destruction (as it says in verse 18). I’ve got to place God first in every area of my life, in every part of my thinking and actions.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me live it out in practical terms, teaching others to do likewise, so that together we may grow to be the children and servants that You desire, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 13, 2013

Posted on January 16, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.

Though there are differences between the NIV and the Japanese, (“grace” rather than “love,” “guilt” rather than “sin”) I think it’s fair to say that the first half of this verse is strictly from the human per­spective. True atonement comes only through the blood of Jesus Christ by faith, but if we want those around us to forgive us, we had better be strong on love, grace, and faithfulness! However, it’s the second half of this verse that really caught my eye this morning. We have mostly gotten away from what has been called “avoidance therapy,” associating something unpleasant with behavior we want to curb. We still do it in training animals, but it’s being labeled “abuse” when we use it on our children. That’s a tragic mistake! I know someone whose grandson loved trains, and one day when he was about four he got out of the house and went down to the tracks. Someone spotted him and he was rescued, but he was lectured rather than punished. The next time he was not spotted, a train clipped him on the head, and after a week in a coma, he died. His parents and grandparents didn’t practice “avoidance therapy” with him! That’s why it says in Proverbs 13:24 that “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” The same principle applies in our relationship to God. If we think of Him like Santa Claus, always and only handing out goodies, we will not fear Him and we will have little motivation to avoid evil. God is indeed love, but evil is and always will be evil, and has horrible consequenc­es. It is precisely because God wants us to avoid those consequences that He applies discipline. Knowing we’re going to “get a whipping” can go a long way toward keeping us straight!

I’ve not avoided evil as much as would have been good for me, but I have certainly learned that God means what He says. As a pastor and as a teacher I am in the position of applying discipline to others at times. Just recently I gave exams, and those students who hadn’t studied properly, for whatever reason, didn’t pass their exams. It would be no kindness for me to let them get by without knowing the material, particularly since I teach students who will be medical professionals (nurses and therapists). I’m happy that most of them like me, but I must not place their liking me over their learning the material I have to teach them. The same thing applies in the church. I am to shepherd in love, but it is not love to ignore spiritually risky behavior. I am not to be a legalist, but I must never be dismissive of sin. To a degree, people need to learn the fear of the Lord through not wanting to cross me! I must not have an environment where people are afraid to speak up, or even correct me, but I also must not give the impression that sin is insignificant. I need to walk in the “fear and admonition of the Lord” myself, and lead others to do the same.

Father, this is a very difficult balance. Thank You that I can count on You to do it through me. Keep me from thinking for a moment that I can do it on my own! I pray that everyone in this church, present, past and future, would learn to fear You rightly so that they may love You rightly, and walk in all that You intend for them, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 12, 2013

Posted on January 16, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

The NIV gives the translation the Japanese uses for the first half of the verse as a footnote: “Wisdom teaches the fear of the Lord.” The translation the NIV gives in the text itself is echoed several places in the Bible, in Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10, and Micah 6:9, with a more oblique reference in Isaiah 33:6. However, the translation the Japanese chooses is certainly true as well. A wise person will certainly honor and respect their Creator! The second half of the verse is also echoed in many places, but this one is more in the New Testament, perhaps most notably in James 4:10. Both halves deal directly with the human tendency to forget that we didn’t create ourselves; we aren’t the ultimate. It is only when we acknowledge our Creator and submit ourselves to Him by our own choice that we put ourselves in line to fulfill the purpose for which we were created, which is of course the path to greatest joy, satisfaction and blessing. A wise analysis of the facts will lead us to that understanding, and will liberate us from the tyranny of trying to push ourselves forward by our own efforts apart from God. After all, as Jesus pointed out very explicitly, apart from Him we can do nothing! (John 15:5)

This is something I’ve been learning all my life, sometimes the hard way! Human praise and honor can feel very good at the time, and they re not bad per se, but they should not be goals in themselves, because that will distract us from seeking God’s approval. I have been hungry for human approval, but the result has never been particularly good, even when I got what I was seeking. We do need acceptance from one another, but the accolade we should seek is the Lord’s “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21 & 23) To be honest, it’s not easy to have that degree of focus. The glitter of the world can be very distracting! I need to choose God and obedience to Him at every turn, remembering that only He can meet my true needs.

Father, I deal with people all the time who are bound by what they want people to think of them, or are afraid they might think of them. I ask for wisdom in turning their eyes to You, to understand that if they will submit themselves to You, everything else becomes insigni­ficant. Help me remember my own struggles in that area so that I may be an open channel of Your grace, love, and encouragement to them. May we together walk in all that You intend, for our blessing and the blessing of many, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 11, 2013

Posted on January 16, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 15:5 A fool spurns his father’s discipline,
but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

This is part and parcel of the “fatherhood famine” that is afflicting the world today. Some fathers are trying their honest best to correct their children, but their children will have none of it. A major factor in that is that some fathers start too late in trying to establish disci­pline, but that’s not the whole story. Many people try to push respon­sibility off onto others, especially parents, wanting to excuse crimi­nals because “they had a rough childhood.” What hogwash! Back­ground can explain behavior, but it doesn’t excuse it. One of the verses in the song, “Swinging on a Star,” talks about people being like mules, “kicking up at everything they hear.” That’s what this verse is talking about. The thing is, it’s not just physical fathers that get this sort of foolish reaction. Our Heavenly Father has laid down rules for us, and He corrects us in various ways, some of them gentle and some of them less so. It is certainly the part of wisdom to listen to His correction! Accepting correction and discipline needs to be a lifestyle, not just an occasional thing. That’s part of the definition of genuine maturity. (Hebrews 5:14) Physical fathers, in training their children to accept appropriate correction and discipline, are not only preparing them to have satisfying, successful lives, they are also laying the groundwork for them to relate rightly to God.

I have certainly had times of relating less than perfectly to correction and discipline myself, and the result has never been good. As a grandfather at this point, my major interaction is with my Heavenly Father, but that certainly doesn’t make it any less important. As a pastor, I am “in loco parentis” (in the place of a parent) for quite a few people, and it grieves me when they react poorly to correction. However, I need to remember my own checkered past – and present – in relating to them, extending to them the grace that has been poured out on me. Just this morning the Lord had to scold me for being anxious about time and schedules, failing to trust Him for enough time to do what I need to do and being resentful about it all. I’m the one who loses out when I react that way, and those around me suffer the fallout as well. I need to respond well to my Father’s correction and discipline, so that I may be His agent in applying that to others as well, for their blessing and His glory.

Father, thank You for Your gentle patience with me. Sometimes I am amazed at how slow I am to learn! You know the people and the situations I encounter better than I do. Help me trust You for the wisdom and strength to deal with each one, so that Your will may be done at all times, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 10, 2013

Posted on January 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 14:32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

The translations are strikingly different between the NIV and the Japanese in the first half of this verse. Where the NIV says, “When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,” the Japanese says, “The wicked are brought down by their own evil.” Either translation could be backed up by other Scriptures, but it really makes me wonder what the original Hebrew says. However, it’s the second half of the verse that strikes me most, and the translations agree there. The Old Testament is not very consistent in talking about eternal life, tending rather to talk about “the sleep of death” and the like. In that context, this statement is all the more striking. On this side of the cross we are aware that righteousness comes by faith, so this applies to those who are trusting in Jesus Christ, but from any angle, the assertion that “even in their own death the righteous have a refuge” hits pretty hard. Death is a fact of life. Everyone who is born will eventually die, and many spend much of their lives dreading that end. This verse informs us, hundreds of years before Jesus’ resurrection confirmed it, that even death is not to be feared by those who are right with God. That is a treasure beyond price!

As pastor, I have been closely involved with several people at the time of their death, and they have run quite a gamut, both those who were dying and those close to them. Some have gone with great peace, and some with great anxiety. Some families have sent their loved ones off with blessings, and some have scrambled to hang on to the last second, and beyond. There is no question in my mind which is the better course! When thinking about this I of course remember the deaths of my parents, and I consider my own anticipation of my own death. There is no substitute for the assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ! This is something I have tried to convey to others, but with limited success. It should be one of our strongest tools for evangelism! One of my more dramatic successes was with a man who had been hospitalized with cancer, which had been discovered when it was already too late to do anything about it medically. One of his daughters was a Christian, and by her invitation I showed up unannounced in his hospital room one day. I believe it was on my fourth or fifth visit that he acknowledged that he had asked Jesus to be his Savior. His excuses had been swept away! I need God’s wisdom and guidance in getting through to more people with that sort of efficiency! Simply having no fear of my own death isn’t sufficient in itself to bring most people over from death to life while they have the opportunity; I need the power of the Holy Spirit to transmit the cause of my assurance to others.

Father, You know how I have longed to bring more people into Your kingdom, and my heartbreak when I have failed to do so with some before their physical death. I ask You to open my mind and heart to make me fully available and responsive to Your Spirit, so that I may liberate more and more from the chains of death and usher them into Your eternal life, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 9, 2013

Posted on January 12, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.

Here we have presented, in rather blunt, graphic terms, the danger in relying only on human judgment. Where the English says “right,” the Japanese says “perfectly straight.” We may think we see what the consequences will be of our choices and actions, but without God’s help, the simple truth is that we don’t. We are forever trying to “look down the road,” so to speak, but even if the road is straight, the best we can see is to the top of the next rise or so. Even if it is straight, it’s not flat! I’m reminded of country roads in the Eastern US, where in addition to the assorted bends, dips, and rises, you may at any moment encounter a rather large deer bounding out of the woods on one side or the other. The only one who “knows the end from the beginning” is God, so seeking and depending on His guidance is by far the best course. That’s the biggest fallacy of atheism, because for atheists, man is supreme. If there is nothing higher, then you are entirely on your own, and that’s not a good place to be.

I’m reminded of the Christian country music song, “One Day at a Time.” Depending on God takes patience on our part, along with trusting faith, and we aren’t very good at that. Some wag has said, “I try to take one day at a time, but recently several have ganged up on me at once.” I feel like that at times, particularly around the holidays, when so many demands, expectations, and desires pile up and conflict with each other. I have more reason to trust God, by knowledge and experience, than many, but I experience frustration and burn out too. I’ve got plenty of room to grow in letting God show me the paths I am to take, not just in the long term but on a daily, moment-by-moment basis. Yesterday had some stress over someone who made what seemed to others as a really foolish, risky choice of action, but I don’t always do better. I am not to hold back when I know God is directing me to go somewhere or do something, but I am to seek God’s will at every turn, and not just trust in what looks good to me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the assurance that You will never lead me to anything You won’t lead me through. Help me both keep my own eyes on the “prize that is set before me,” (Philippians 3:14) and teach others to do the same, so that together we may walk in all that You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 8, 2013

Posted on January 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 14:2 He whose walk is upright fears the LORD,
but he whose ways are devious despises him.

One of the things you can get from this verse is a secular proverb: “Actions speak louder than words.” The Bible has a lot to say about hypocrisy, and none of it is good for the hypocrite! There are those who protest that they have faith and they love God, but when they think they are not being seen, their lives are anything but pleasing to Him. Sadly, that includes more than a few people in active ministry. The thing is, nothing is hidden from God, and failure to remember that is effectively despising Him. The Old Testament speaks a lot of fearing God, but even there, in what Jesus said was the Greatest Commandment, we are told to love God with all we are. (Deuteronomy 6:5) The thing is, we can’t love Him properly unless we respect Him fully, and that’s where the fear comes in. God doesn’t want us cowering before Him, but unless we understand that He has absolute power and is perfectly holy, we won’t relate to Him rightly. To me, that is the thrust of the many Biblical admonitions to fear the Lord. Words alone are not a reliable indicator of a person’s attitude toward God; their lifestyle tells the true story.

Once again, this applies to me as much as to anyone. I had the advantage of growing up in a home with parents who indeed loved and feared God, so I had that example. The other side of that was the old thing of familiarity breeding contempt. Knowing God saw and heard everything didn’t keep me from doing things that I knew full well weren’t pleasing to Him! I’m as far from sinless perfection as anyone else on earth! However, I have learned that God’s grace is indeed amazing, and I am deeply grateful. That should motivate me to share the good news of God’s grace with as many as possible, not excusing their sin but letting them know that repentance and faith bring forgiveness and salvation. Such sharing is the privilege of every child of God, and as a pastor, I need to help other believers recognize and exercise that privilege as well.

Father, that certainly seems to be the theme that You are developing for this year for this church. I pray that I would both act on it myself and communicate it effectively to the believers so that they may act on it as well, so that this may be a year of great harvest in this church, motivating all the churches in Omura to follow suit, for the salvation of multitudes, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 7, 2013

Posted on January 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.

This general theme comes up many times in Proverbs, simply because it’s true: who you hang with makes a big difference. We can’t avoid rubbing shoulders with all sorts of people, and we really shouldn’t try to. It is through such interactions that we, and they, are shaped toward perfection. However, this isn’t talking about casual interactions, but about steady association by choice. It is in that context that we either gain or lose the most. This is why active church participation is so important. You will have associates of all sorts, but those you choose should be people who encourage you to press in to God, who build your faith. That’s what it’s talking about in Hebrews 10:25, which is specifically talking about church attendance. To come back to this verse, having foolish friends won’t necessarily kill you, but it won’t do you much good! We do tend to absorb the attitudes of those closest to us, and as comes out again and again, attitude makes a world of difference. If you choose to associate with people who trust God enough to be optimistic, then your heart and life will tend to be bright. If you hang with those who are anxious all the time, then your heart and life will be much darker. The flip side of that, of course, is that we should each strive to be the sort of person we would like to associate with, giving others the blessings we seek for ourselves.

Naturally, this applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I am not to avoid those who don’t walk in faith. Doing so would not only isolate me, it would eliminate virtually all possibilities for evangelism. However, I am to spend as much time as possible with those who will encourage me in faith, and whom I can encourage in turn. The majority of my life outside the walls of this building is spent with people who don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord. That’s not to say they don’t have anything to teach me, but it is to say that I’ve got a lot that they could learn from me. In it all, my closest companion is to be Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit. (John 14:17) When He is my rock, my closest friend, then I can be a good influence on all around me, not fearing being dragged down, but rather lifting others up.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I deal with people all the time who are sabotaged in their faith by those around them. Help me help them lift their eyes to Jesus and recognize that fellowship with Him is both desirable and possible. It is amazing to me that I have trouble getting that point across! May I be the example and influence You want me to be, drawing many to repentance and faith, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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January 6, 2013

Posted on January 9, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness guards the man of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

This is put interestingly, because we don’t usually personify our actions like this. The first half brings to mind Ephesians 6:14, which in turn is an echo of Isaiah 59:17, speaking of righteousness as an objective thing, a breastplate to guard our vital organs. The thing is, if we are living right, we simply don’t give evil chances to attack us. That’s not to say we don’t come under attack, but rather that we don’t present opportunities for attack. Conversely, sin destroys us, as the Japanese puts it very bluntly. Actually, the New Testament backs up the second half big time, with such statements as, “The wages of sin are death.” (Romans 6:23) The problem with all of this is that only one person has ever been perfectly righteous, without sin, and that is Jesus. All the rest of us have defied God in multiple ways, and so deserve destruction. That’s why God’s grace is so amazing, and why it is such good news! We are given the opportunity to abide in Christ, the perfectly righteous one, by faith. When we do that, the devil indeed cannot touch us. (1 John 5:18) Life on this earth, from the point we are born again by faith until the point we are lifted to stand before the throne of God, is a process of learning more and more how to abide in Christ. Even Paul was very clear that he hadn’t arrived yet. (Philippians 3:12-14) So the takeaway from this verse in Proverbs is that we need to set our sights on Christ, to walk in His righteousness, recognizing that the junk we go through is the result of sin, our own and others’, and seek to add to that junk as little as possible!

I am no more exempt from this principle than anyone else, and as a pastor I am called to help others understand it as well. The world, with the encouragement of the devil, doesn’t want people to under­stand that sin will destroy them. We have seen a push in the past 50 years to “normalize” sins that in the past were immediately recog­nized as evil, and the pace of that has really picked up even more recently. I’ve got to stand, in my own life and in the church, on the truth of God and not swallow the “sugar coated feces” of the devil! We are called to be a demonstration that righteousness is possible by the grace of God, and the world is indeed watching. I am to extend the love and grace of God, but not confuse that with excusing sin, in myself or in others. Sin is to be repented of, not overlooked.

Father, this is a constant issue, and it goes back all the way to the Garden of Eden. Help me indeed abide in Christ, and teach and lead others to do the same, so that many may be brought from death to life, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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January 5, 2013

Posted on January 6, 2013 by jgarrott

Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself,
but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

I am reminded of the saying, “It is better to keep silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” This fits in with many other passages, particularly in Proverbs, but it must be balanced with the passages that speak of blessing and healing with words. There is a big difference between speaking comfort and encouragement and spouting off what you think you know. We are back to Matthew 12:36-37 and the whole matter of careless, unpro­ductive speech. It doesn’t take more than a few minutes of watching television or the Internet to see examples of people parading their folly through their words. There are some who make a living at it! However, that’s no way for a child of God to be. We are to share our knowledge of God as He gives opportunity, but never in a prideful way. We are to rest assured of His love and our value in His eyes, not feeling we have to “prove” ourselves by how much we know. That is foolishness indeed.

I’m really talking about myself here. I have a long track record of telling people more than they want to know! Feeling inadequate in other areas, I have tried to use my store of (often useless) knowledge as a cloak to hide my deficiencies. Often enough, I have only paraded my own foolishness! I like too much to be “the one in the know,” and have hurt people and damaged relationships by speaking things that should have been kept private. I need to focus more on letting God guard and guide my lips, not only speaking what He wants me to say, but also not speaking anything He doesn’t want me to say. I have a lot of room for growth there. Given my track record, I am tempted to despair at this point, but I know that nothing is impossible for Him, and my weaknesses and failures are no match for His power.

Father, thank You for Your grace and patience toward me. Thank You for the privilege of speaking Your words to others. Help me speak less of my own! Help me express grace and patience toward others who parade their insecurities and their foolishness through their words. That can be difficult at times! May I indeed extend to others the grace that You have poured out on me, so that they my be drawn to You for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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