November 4, 2012

Posted on November 4, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 116:10 I believed; [even when] I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”

In the NIV this translation is given only as a footnote, but this is how the Japanese renders it, and this way it says something very important. Some people teach faith and “positive confession” to the point that you’re not even supposed to admit you have a headache, but that violates the Bible as a whole, I feel. We aren’t supposed to pretend that bad things aren’t happening, but we must not lose sight of the reality that God is greater than the bad thing, whatever it might be. After all, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) It is true that “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” (Proverbs 12:14) However, that doesn’t mean we get whatever we say. “Name it and claim it” isn’t in the Bible! However, that doesn’t mean at all that we are to go around grumbling. We generally talk about whatever we’re focused on, and our focus should be on God rather than on whatever difficulty we’re going through at the moment. We need to continue to trust God even when we are “greatly afflicted.”

I’ve been through assorted difficulties, more than some but certainly not as severe as some. I’ve also done my share of grumbling! I have learned from experience that difficulties are to be acknowledged but not dwelt on. That is an element of maturity. For most infants, the slightest discomfort is perceived as a tragedy. Sadly, some people are slow to progress past that point! In teaching medical English, I tell my Japanese students that some patients will say, “I have such-and-such,” while others will say, “I suffer from such-and-such.” Guess which one deals better with their problem! We all tend to see our immediate problems as huge, so the challenge is in seeing how much bigger than the problem God is. As a pastor, one issue is in distinguishing between the “drama queens,” who inflate their problems for effect, and the people who are genuinely overwhelmed by what they see in front of them. I need to help the “drama queens” grow up, but I need to help those who are genuinely overwhelmed lift their eyes to see the Lord who is greater than all, and who tells them, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Father, You’ve brought me through a lot, and my response hasn’t always been the best. Thank You for not giving up on me! Help me not give up on anyone either, but rather help them lift their eyes to see themselves and their circumstances from Your perspective, so that they may have peace and joy in the middle of their troubles, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 3, 2012

Posted on November 4, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 112:1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

Many of the Psalms speak of “fearing the Lord,” and here we have a specific example of what that means. Someone who fears God rightly, not running from Him in terror but understanding that He is altogether righteous and holy, as well as loving and compassionate, will delight to do what He says. As came out in yesterday’s reading also, Jesus made it clear that obedience is an indication of our love for Him. (John 14:15, 24) If we find we are resenting what He tells us to do, then we need to examine our hearts to see how much we love Him. It’s important to make the distinction here between what God tells us to do and human religious regulations. I have seen quite a few people driven from God by legalistic Christian groups. I’m not at all saying that God’s commands are to be taken lightly, but I am saying, as Paul stressed to the Galatians and others, that forced, external piety does not bring us closer to God. (Colossians 3:23) True piety, true right standing with God, must start from within with both a fear and a love of God. Actually, we can’t love Him correctly unless we fear Him, in the sense of understanding that He is all powerful and awesome and holy. If we have that attitude and understanding, then we will indeed delight to do what He says.

This is a good reminder to me. I am not to presume on my past relationship with God, but keep it up to date, both in obedience and in repentance when I realize I have failed to obey. I am to keep pressing in to Him, understanding that I have nothing apart from Him and that He alone is worthy of my obedience and adoration. I am not to complain when He tells me to do something, and I am to trust Him when it looks like things are not going as I would like. That last part is perhaps the hardest for me! Trusting Him really is indivisible from fearing and loving Him. As I seek to lead others to love and trust Him, I need to keep tabs on my own trust and obedience.

Lord, this is certainly an ongoing issue. Thank You for the very clear lyrics You gave me several years ago now, if I recall correctly. I ask for a good tune to go with them, through whomever You choose to provide it, so that we may sing those lyrics here and be encouraged by them. Thank You. Praise God!

What does God require of His people
For the life of happiness He’s planned?
Just to trust the Lord in all you think and do,
And follow every leading of His hand.

Lord, I choose to trust you, and to follow,
Surrendering my life in every way.
Lead me, Lord, for I am prone to wander.
Lord, I choose to trust you, and obey.

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November 2, 2012

Posted on November 4, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

This verse explains why there is so much totally absurd, even insane stuff in the world today: too many people don’t fear God. With no fear of God, there is no foundation for anything else. Facts may be ascertained, but there is no framework to relate those facts to each other. That’s another way of saying that there’s a big difference between knowledge and wisdom. Even if you have all the facts, which in itself is highly unlikely, without the fear of God they won’t lead you to the right conclusion. The NIV for this verse adds words to make it seem more “sensible” to us, but the Japanese says, “those who do this gain good understanding.” The thing is, rightly fearing God produces action; it isn’t just theoretical. If we genuinely fear God, then our lives will be ordered in such a way as to please Him. We can say we believe in God all we like, but our lives will show whether it’s true or not. As Jesus said, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I say?” (Luke 6:46) When we recognize that God is the reason for everything, it has a major impact on our lives! One problem is that contemporary Christianity has emphasized the love and grace of God to the point of de-emphasizing His holiness and justice. Many people scoff at the very idea of a Final Judgment, so they indeed have no fear of God, and so act very foolishly. The only way anyone can stand in that last judgment is to be in Christ Jesus by faith. This is hardly a casual thing, and a proper fear of God will cause us to seek to deepen our relationship with Christ daily.

That said, there’s a difference between the fear of God and terror. Terror paralyzes, rather than provoking to action. If I were to paint a picture of a mean, vengeful God, I would be a terrorist! (It just occurred to me that Islam says that God is capricious, and no one can be sure they are going to “paradise” unless they are killed in a “holy war.” That’s why Islam produces so many terrorists!) I am to proclaim the love, grace, and faithfulness of God along with His holiness and justice, helping people understand how their attitudes and actions have set them on the road to destruction, but that God has provided a way out through His Son.

Father, as usual, this is a task that is beyond my ability, so I ask You to do it through me. I cannot convict of sin, righteousness and judgment except Your Spirit do it through me. (John 16:8-11) I ask that the eyes of many be opened so that they may fear You rightly, clinging to Christ Jesus in love and obedience, so that all of Your plans for them may be fulfilled, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 1, 2012

Posted on November 4, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 103:2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits–

I like the way the Japanese expresses this verse: “Don’t forget a single one of the good things the Lord has done for us.” David shows a real understanding of human nature here. Logically speaking, why would we forget the good things God does for us? However, we human beings are not logical! We tend to forget the good, and/or take it for granted. Then, we turn around and demand more! David gives quite a litany of God’s blessings in this Psalm, and he starts and ends it by commanding his soul to praise God. That’s an excellent remedy to our forgetfulness! David’s use of “soul,” and his addressing his soul as a separate entity, is very interesting. Throughout the Bible we have references to spirit, soul, and flesh (body), and they don’t always seem to carry the same exact meanings. However, the principle that we are multi-part beings seems clear, and agrees with our experience. We battle within ourselves, and in severe cases that becomes mental illness. David certainly had his failings, but he had the right idea: exercise your will in choosing to praise God. When we do that, we restore our perspective on everything else. We are enabled to remember His grace and mercy toward us, and the fact that whatever difficulties we might be facing, they are temporary. Mental illness (apart from physiological diseases like Alzheimer’s) is most often an attempt to escape from pressures or conditions we see as unbearable. That makes praising God the perfect therapy, both as a preventive and as a remedy.

I deal with people with a wide variety of emotional and mental problems on a daily basis, and what I have just written rings very true to me. I am certainly not immune to emotional pressures myself, and it is very true in my personal experience. I too tend to forget what God has done for me! There are many hymns that touch on this – “What He’s Done for Me,” “Count Your Blessings,” and many more – and learning and singing them can be very beneficial, however simplistic they might seem. In one difficult period, the songs of Dennis Jernigan were a great blessing in reminding me of God’s grace and love and helping me turn my eyes to Him. At one point I was allowed to have weekly group meetings at the mental hospital, and we sang Christian songs together. Looking back, several people were helped enough by that that they were successfully discharged. Administration policies have changed at that hospital since then, but God’s principles haven’t changed, and I need to seek His wisdom in applying them for the benefit of all to whom I minister.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This applies to everyone, not just those in the mental hospital! Help me personally live a life of praise, not forgetting all You have done for me, so that I may in turn help others lift their eyes to You as well, and so escape the traps of the enemy, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 31, 2012

Posted on November 1, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 97:11-12 Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.

Because of the differences between the Japanese and the English here, I would guess that the Hebrew is a bit difficult to translate. However, the turn of phrase in the Japanese is striking: “Light is scattered like seed on the righteous, and joy on the upright in heart.” The thing about seeds is that it takes time for the full effect to be evident. Often, God will do something for us and we won’t realize until much later what a wonderful thing He did. Because of that delay, we fail to thank Him and praise Him as He deserves. Actually, in my experience, the very act of thanking and praising Him helps us recognize the depth and breadth of His grace and mercy toward us. In the Bible light is used as a symbol of understanding and as a symbol of life. God grants us eternal life when we receive Jesus Christ as Lord by faith, but we may feel very little difference at first. It’s like a woman might not feel any different at the moment of conception, but over time it becomes evident that she has new life within her. God’s life is planted in us, but full fruition comes when we are before His throne. In the same way, we receive “enlightenment” by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, but that understanding grows as we apply it to our lives; it isn’t static. As a result, God’s joy also takes deep root in us, far differently from the passing pleasures and enjoy­ment of this world. Again, thanks and praise to God are the water that makes that seed take deep root and grow.

This is something I have certainly experienced over the years. As the song says, “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” However, I have trouble getting that truth across to people who are younger in years and in faith. We want everything to be instant! I have done my own share of complaining at God’s timing, so I should be patient with those I serve as well. I should seek to help them recognize what God has already done for them and give Him thanks for that, so that the eyes of their hearts may be opened to see the amazing riches of what God has provided in Christ that they might not have recognized yet. Thankfulness, I feel, is perhaps the biggest single key to happiness, yet so many overlook it and focus on complaining. I need to help people recognize the seeds of light and joy that God has scattered on them, so that they may appropriate them rather than ignore them, and so receive the full benefit.

Father, thank You for this insight this morning. This could well be a sermon! I’ll be seeing people today who need this truth. Help me communicate it with Your words in Your love, so that those who hear may bear the fruit of Your Spirit, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 30, 2012

Posted on October 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 94:8, 9, 15 Take heed, you senseless ones among the people;
you fools, when will you become wise?
Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?
Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,
and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Psalm 94 feels very contemporary to America today! America’s enemies are both internal and external, but the internal ones are the more pressing. Verses 8 and 9 address the many who act as though God isn’t paying attention, whether or not they profess atheism. The Psalmist naturally is writing with the presupposition of a Creator. The vast majority of Americans say they believe in God, but their actions are at odds with that claim. The Psalmist is calling them to account! Anyone who pays attention to the news has plenty of reason for depression, but the Psalmist also gives an encouraging word. The court system really seems to be going down the tubes, with thorough­ly unrighteous judges ruling however they please, in defiance of both the Constitution and common sense. Those who are upset by that need to take verse 15 to heart, and trust that God, the perfectly righteous judge, will indeed set all things right.

The Internet has made it possible to know a lot of things that the “main stream media” has tried to keep quiet, but the flood of information has been a real test of faith. Evil has existed in the world ever since Eden, but now it is inescapable. I have really been stressed out by it all, but becoming a hermit isn’t the answer. I’ve got to walk in daily, consistent trust and obedience, knowing that in the final analysis, we win. Of course, this is also true much closer to home than the information that comes in over the Internet. As I deal with each of the situations that confront me, I’ve got to remember that God is still God, He sees and knows, and He has the right answer. My task is to be quiet enough before Him to hear what He is saying, so that I may obey it.

Father, yesterday was an interesting lesson. I didn’t feel right about something that was going on, but I didn’t trust that You were telling me it wasn’t right, and my body eventually reacted strongly to the stress. I still don’t know Your answer to that particular situation, and I have quite a list of other situations I’m dealing with. Help me trust You fully, speaking and acting as You direct and rejecting the anxiety the devil tries to dump on me, so that I may be Your instrument to accomplish Your will in Your way on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 29, 2012

Posted on October 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 89:14-16 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.

In our thinking about God and our response to Him, we must not forget that He is incapable of evil. It seems a bit odd to think of God being incapable of anything, but in this case it’s perfectly true. He can not be unjust, He can not be unrighteous, He can not be unloving or unfaithful. However, all of these things operate in parallel, and sometimes we can’t see His love when His justice is at work, for example. Grasping this reality of the character of God is a bit of a tall order for us as human beings, but God in His grace reveals it to us by His Spirit, if we are open to receive. Verses 15 and 16 describe the state of those who have received this revelation, who “know the shout of joy” and live accordingly. There is a depth of peace and joy that can be had no other way, and it is a taste of what awaits God’s people in heaven. As the hymn says, “Blessed assurance! Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!” We cannot know everything about God in our current finite state, but the more we know of Him, the better off we are.

Being raised in a strongly Christian home, I had a real head start on a lot of people in this area, but that is all the more motivation for me to want to bring others along with me into this knowledge of and relationship with God. I completely understand Paul’s statement that “Christ’s love compels us,” (2 Corinthians 5:14) because the more you know and receive that love, the more you understand that God intends it for everyone. I am never to “beat people over the head with a Bible,” so to speak, but I am to share the abundance of God’s love, grace, and faithfulness with them.

Father, thank You for allowing me to witness to the people at the meeting the past two days. I didn’t have the personal talking time with the one couple that I had wanted, but I did have it with others, and You indeed supplied the words for the prayer I prayed for the whole group. I ask that every word You spoke through me, in whatever setting, would bear the fruit You desire and intend on Your schedule, bringing many into Your kingdom for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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October 28, 2012

Posted on October 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints–
but let them not return to folly.

This one verse contains a prayer of sorts, and then God’s direct answer. The Psalmist simply indicated a desire to hear what God had to say, and God complies. I have no trouble with that, because the reply that is recorded is very consistent with what we know of God through the whole Bible. That is, He delights to do good for His people, but His promises call for obedience. This verse points out something that we often forget: disobeying God is foolish. God’s rules are always for our good, so rebellion hurts us most of all. I am reminded of the current situation in the US. Many people are rightly reminding Christians of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which is a call to national repentance. America is certainly in need of that! However, as this verse reminds us, that is not to be just a momentary, one time thing. The history of Israel is a story of “returning to folly,” and we don’t need that. Our folly doesn’t erase God’s promises, but it sometimes puts us on the wrong side of them! This is true on a personal level as well as on the national level. (2 Peter 1:9) Many examples come to mind of people who repented, did fine for a while, and then went off on a tangent again. That benefits no one!

Of course I need to remember this in my own life, and as a pastor I need to help others understand it as well. My own life has certainly been peppered with foolish disobedience to God, so I should have a lot of empathy for others who are struggling! However, that doesn’t mean I can’t, or shouldn’t, point them firmly to what the Bible clearly indicates is God’s will. Most of us don’t go wrong in the things that the Bible isn’t specific about (like, what job should I take) so much as we ignore God in things the Bible is very clear about (like morality and seeking intimacy with God). It’s not unusual for people to come to me for advice on major decisions, when if they had a habit of seeking and obeying God on a daily basis, they’d have little hesitation. Again I am not to put them down, but I am to encourage them in living out their faith on a daily basis, so that it will grow to be the shield and guide that they know instinctively that they need.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the opportunities You’ve given me on this trip to share Christ, just as I asked. I ask for continued guidance and anointing throughout today’s activities, that I may be consistent in pointing people to You not only by my words, but by all I am, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 27, 2012

Posted on October 30, 2012 by jgarrott

PS 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.

There is a very nice setting to music of the Japanese for these three verses, which I was pleased to be able to render in English for use by our bilingual congregation here. The meaning is actually quite important when it comes to dealing with the difficulties of life. To start with, the Psalmist speaks of “the great road to Zion” (the road of pilgrimage) being in people’s hearts. As many Negro Spirituals bring out, life on this earth is a pilgrimage and not a destination. However, a lot of people don’t recognize that, and the results are often tragic. It is those who know where they are going who have the most real success on the way. The Psalmist mentions passing through the “vale of weaping.” The NIV treats that as a simple place name (Valley of Baca), but whether or not there is such a physical location, everyone goes through times of tears in their lives. When our hearts are set on our ultimate destination, such times/locations are transformed into opportunities for blessing. The line about going “from strength to strength” brings to mind 2 Corinthians 3:18, which speaks of going “from glory to glory.” The final destination is indeed the presence of God, and that will truly be glorious.

I am constantly dealing with people who have lost sight of their destination, and as a result bring multiplied emotional suffering on themselves. They don’t understand this passage! I can’t say that I’ve always understood it myself, but it has certainly been worked into me over the years. The journey keeps getting better and better, because it’s easier and easier to overlook the bumps in the road and delight in where I’m going. I will confess to times of frustration and exhaustion, but those fade in importance when they are put into perspective. I am to seek to bring others to the same viewpoint, but extend to them the same patience that was extended to me, not berating them for their slowness but encouraging them to lift their eyes to Jesus.

Father, thank You for Your grace, toward me and toward everyone around me. Help me be an open channel of that grace, not trying to drag people into the “way to Zion” but allowing Your Spirit to use me to open their eyes to see that way and choose to enter it. Help me not focus on difficulties, but rather on You who are the solution, so that I may be fully available for however You want to use me to bring others into Your family, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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October 26, 2012

Posted on October 30, 2012 by jgarrott

Psalm 75:6-7 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.
But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

This is an extremely pertinent passage in a US election year! We get all worked up about such things, forgetting that God is the ultimate judge. That’s not to say that we aren’t to participate in the political process, because that is a civic responsibility as well as a gift from God, but our mental and emotional framework should be in submission to God. We are responsible to be faithful to God in our words and actions, seeking His will in things small and great. (Actually, we often misjudge whether things are small or great, which is all the more reason to seek to be faithful in all things.) We need to remember that everyone ends up before the judgment seat of God, and live and act accordingly.

This election cycle has certainly had me tied in knots at times, as I’m sure is true for many. That’s a clear indication I’ve got room to grow in full appreciation of these two verses! At the same time, I’ve not been as faithful in prayer as I might have been, and that shows misplaced priorities. At this point it’s just over a week until election day and my absentee ballot was mailed in some time ago, but I still have plenty of opportunity to pray. However, that’s not to be anxious, desperate prayer, but rather prayer that those who know God would be obedient to Him and that the mouths of fools would be silenced. (Proverbs 10:14, Ecclesiastes 10:12) In other words, I need to pray the Lord’s Prayer and mean it, that God’s Name would be hallowed, that His kingdom would come and His will be done, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray that all of Your children would hear this same Word from You and act on it, what ever their nation or situation. May we trust You with our circumstances and our selves, trusting You to lift us up as You see fit, (James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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