September 25, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Job 36:5 “God is mighty, but does not despise men;
he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.”

My understanding is that a number of places in Job are very difficult to translate, and the second half of this verse might be one of those, considering the differences between the English and the Japanese. However, they agree very well on the first half, and that says something very important. Various mythologies, and even major religions, portray the gods, or even God, as essentially despising mankind. That’s certainly not the God of the Bible! As it tells us many times in many places, He is very aware of our weaknesses, but He loves us anyway. We are precious to Him, to the degree that He sent His Son to take the penalty for our sin, death, in order to make it possible for us to come to Him by faith. If God despised us, He would have squashed us long ago! However, the devil doesn’t want us to know that, because he is intensely jealous of the place we have in God’s heart, so he lies to us about God all the time. That’s why the first proclamation of the Gospel is to “repent and believe.” (Mark 1:15) We need to repent, that is, turn around and do something else, for having swallowed the devil’s lies about God, and then believe what God tells us about Himself. This statement that God never despises anyone is part of the truth God wants us to believe about Him.

Growing up in a strongly Christian family, I fortunately didn’t have a lot of misinformation about God to unlearn, but most of the people to whom I minister aren’t so blessed. A major difficulty for me in my ministry is that it often is hard for me to grasp how little my hearers know about God. Their heads are filled with misinformation, and I need to counter that with the truth, spoken in love. One trap the devil sets for me is for me to despise people in their ignorance, or even in their stubborn sin. I must not do that, because God never does. Rather, I am to pray that the Holy Spirit would open their hearts to receive the truth that I share with them, so that knowing the truth, they may be set free to believe and so receive eternal life.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me be increasingly effective as a messenger, a channel, of Your grace and love, so that many may come from darkness to light, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 24, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Job 23:10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

The first line of this verse is true of every human being, as is the second thought in it. God indeed knows each of us. He is fully aware of where we go, what we do, and why. He does indeed allow circumstances that reveal every detail of our hearts. The question then becomes whether we will come through at the end of all of that like gold when it has been refined. Job had that assurance, which was a major factor in his being able to endure what he saw as senseless suffering. For us today, that assurance is really available only through a grasp of and trust in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Unless we understand that Jesus’ cross was really for our sins, and that it was enough to cover them, then close self-inspection reveals too much to ignore, and we have no hope before God. The ideal position is to be able to say with Paul, I know of nothing against myself, but at the same time leave judgment, even of ourselves, in God’s hands, as Paul did. (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

I certainly need to be as careful of this as anyone. I need to be as sure as I can be that I am fully obedient to all that God wants of me, while at the same time acknowledging that it is only by His grace and power that I can do that. I am to “be holy, even as He is holy,” (1 Peter 1:15-16) without being “holier than thou.” My life should be an encouragement to others that it is indeed possible to walk in obedient fellowship with God, without making them feel condemned for their shortcomings. That’s a tall order! It can only happen if I walk in full awareness of and appreciation for God’s grace and love, and allow those to flow through me unhindered.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being Your agent. This week has had many such moments, and I’m grateful. I ask for continued guidance and anointing as we head home today, that all of Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 23, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Job 17:9 Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways,
and those with clean hands will grow stronger.

The fact of the matter is, living in trusting obedience to God (which is the ultimate definition of righteousness) gives good results. Such a person is indeed able to hold to their ways (or preserve their path) because they are lined up with the will of God. Someone who lives that way indeed finds they go from strength to strength, because as He said to Paul, God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) This was Job’s testimony even in the middle of terrible suffering, as it has been for many, many saints since then. The key is in focusing on God rather than on ourselves, on His grace and power rather than on our suffering. If we take our eyes off of Christ, all sorts of things whip us around (Ephesians 4:14) and we can lose all semblance of stability. (James 1:6-7) As comes out from any study of righteousness in the Bible, the only righteousness that makes any real difference comes from God, and is received by faith. From the human side, we are quick to set up a set of rules as the criterion for defining righteousness, but Paul points out that such rules don’t deal with the fundamental problem of our sinful nature. (Colossians 2:23)

This is of course a reality I have to deal with as much as anyone, but as a pastor, the urgency is increased. I am concerned not only for my own way, but also for that of the sheep in my flock. If all I do is try to herd them, then there will never be an end to my labors. What I must seek to do is open the eyes of their hearts to see Christ themselves, receiving His grace and power directly, rather than my spoon feeding them. I have sought to do that for many years, actually, but with widely varying success. I am not to give up, but rather remember that it is a spiritual issue, and so do my “heavy lifting” in prayer. After all, it’s clear I can’t get the job done otherwise!

Father, thank You for yet another reminder of Your plan, for me and for the flock. Help me not try to figure out on my own how to get the job done, but rather be quiet and humble before You to hear and obey what You say to do. Thank You for the appointments You give me day by day to speak Your truth, Your light and life, into people’s hearts. May I not miss any of those by inattention or distraction, but rather be fully open as a conduit of Your grace and mercy, for the salvation of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 22, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

Job 2:10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

I noticed something for the first time just now. Job didn’t even call his wife a foolish woman, he said she was talking like one. People can say what Job did and despise the person in their hearts, which by Jesus’ definition is indeed sin, (Matthew 5:22) but these words themselves don’t specify that. Job indeed did not sin in what he said. It is obvious from reading Job that the root of his faith was trust. Several times throughout the book he makes statements along the lines of, “I don’t understand what God is doing, but I trust Him.” That is indeed the faith of Abraham, whose faith was counted to him as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6) Much has been made of why “bad” things happen to “good” people, with at least one book by that title, but that completely ignores the sinfulness of man and the absolute holiness of God. Jesus was actually very blunt on this issue. When told of people to whom something bad had happened, he came back with another example, and then said, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5) We fail to understand grace because we fail to understand how much we need it. That’s why some notorious sinners have become notable saints, including Paul and Augustine, among many others. The thing is, we don’t have to wallow in the gutter in order to understand grace; the Holy Spirit will reveal it to our hearts if we will open up to Him. That’s why there have been notable saints who have not done anything that society would condemn. Mother Theresa and Billy Graham come to mind as modern examples. Even today, Billy speaks of the marvelous grace of God who would use even such a one as he to do His work. When something “bad” happens to us, we need not to say, “Why?” but rather, “Lord, what do You want to accomplish by allowing this in my life?” If we will do that, we will discover that many things we considered bad were God’s instruments for good, just as the patriarch Joseph did. (Genesis 50:20)

Well, I’ve just eliminated every excuse I ever thought I had for complaining! I must not preach to/at others and fail to receive God’s Word myself. I am increasingly aware of how gracious God has been and continues to be toward me, and that in itself is a great blessing. There is a real and continuing risk that I will feel that I have somehow earned God’s grace, when that is an absolute contradiction of terms. Grace can never be earned! I need to keep growing in obedient love in response to God’s grace, allowing His grace and love to flow through me to those around me, but never take personal credit or pride for any of it. As a pastor, I need to teach this principle by word and example, not only telling people this is how they should live, but demonstrating that it’s possible.

Father, You know better than I do that I’ve just described a lifestyle that absolutely requires the presence, power, and anointing of Your Spirit, so that’s what I ask for. As Paul said, I know that I can do this through His strength, (Philippians 4:13) but I have no hope of doing it on my own. I ask that You would use me more and more to draw people into the fellowship with You that You desire, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 21, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Kings 8:25 “Now LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, `You shall never fail to have a man to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your sons are careful in all they do to walk before me as you have done.'”

It has seemed incredible to me that Solomon could have prayed such an anointed prayer and then failed to grasp the implications and so live in faithful humility. But then I remember the course of my own life, and know that it is only by the grace of God that I have not fallen as Solomon did. In this particular instance, Solomon specifically quoted the conditions of God’s promise never to take the kingdom from David’s descendants: being careful in all they did to walk before God as David had done. Then, Solomon himself came to take the blessings of God for granted, and practiced idolatry simply to placate the wives he had married for political advantage. Such an incredible waste! However, we human beings all have a tendency not to look beyond the tip of our nose. We need to consider, believe, and trust the promises of God, understanding the conditions that apply to them and being deeply grateful for the grace of God. Only then will we walk fully in the fulfillment of those promises.

This is the story of my life! As Paul said of Timothy, I have “known from infancy the holy Scriptures,” (2 Timothy 3:15) but I have been far from consistent in applying them over the course of my life. At least, unlike Solomon, I have gotten somewhat better at it as I have grown older! There is always the danger of complacency, of taking it all for granted, and I must avoid that at all cost. As I deal with others, I must remember God’s grace toward me and let it flow through me to them as well. There are constant opportunities to do that, so I must always maintain my connection to the Source, so that what comes out of me may be of God and not just of me. I am to seek to apply the Word in every area of my life at all times, so that I may not deceive myself (James 1:22) and so that the Word may accomplish that for which God sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Father, thank You for Your truly amazing grace. Thank You for the day yesterday, and all the rich treasures it held. Thank You for today, and all You have planned in it. May I be fully available and responsive to You so that You may do in and through me all that You desire, blessing each person I am with, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 20, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Kings 3:9 “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

I have often thought about how Solomon made this very wise, humble request, and then he strayed from the Lord in his later years, but just now I noticed something. He asked for the ability to distinguish right and wrong, but it was in the context of governing, not for his personal life. In other words, he didn’t ask for a heart to do right rather than wrong. It would appear that his decisions in relation to governing were indeed very wise, but in the matter of his wives he chose political expediency, that is, human wisdom, over following God. That’s why his personal kingdom flourished but his sons had no fear of the Lord, and so his heir lost half the kingdom. In other words, Solomon asked for wisdom for his job, but not for his personal life. That actually is a mistake a lot of people make. Men in particular are adept at compartmentalizing their lives, but God wants all of us. We get the full blessings that Christ purchased for us on the cross only when we give all of ourselves to Him, not limiting Him to Sunday mornings, for example.

This is something I have known in theory most of my life, but it took quite a while before I really started acting on it. I’ve got to be careful that I don’t leave out any pocket of my life or heart in my commitment and obedience to God, and as a pastor, I need to grow the believers in applying the same principle in their own lives. I could list several examples of people who are having that struggle right now! That said, I’ve got to remember the grace shown to me and extend that grace to others, not condemning them but not excusing them either. I must always express the truth in love, both through my words and through my actions. For me, that is very much a part of giving all of myself to God. I’m not to let personal disappointment, and especially not hurt pride, block the flow of God’s grace and love through me to anyone. Writing that, I realize that I try to be careful about that with those close to me, but I am more likely to lash out at someone who wounds me in a casual encounter. There too I am to represent Christ!

Father, a trip like this puts lots of unaccustomed stresses on me, and so it is good training in this issue. Help me come through with flying colors! As You know even better than I do, I have no real hope of doing that without Your guidance and anointing. Help me realize what my part is to play in each of the activities of today, and each day of this trip, so that I will be faithful to accomplish what You desire, but not try to overstep what You intend. May everything that is done and said advance Your kingdom, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 19, 2012

Posted on September 27, 2012 by jgarrott

2 Samuel 22:26-27 “To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

It’s no wonder we have so many conceptions of God! To this extent it is indeed true that we “create God in our image,” as atheists accuse believers of doing. However, they don’t realize that they are doing the very same thing. God being infinite, we cannot grasp Him in His entirety, but we perceive of Him that which our hearts are prepared to accept. Conversely, we project onto Him what we see in ourselves, whether it is accurate or not. Thinking about that can explain a lot of things about human religions! That’s a major reason God chose to send Himself, in the Person of His Son, to this earth. The religious leaders of the day didn’t accept Him because He didn’t match their preconceptions, but the resulting conflict revealed much more of His character than if they had. The challenge to people today, both those who claim Christianity and those who don’t, is to read the Bible and accept the God who is depicted there, allowing the Word to change their conceptions rather than rewriting the Bible to match how they think it should be.

I am open to the accusation that I do no better than anyone else in my understanding of God, for the reasons I’ve just stated. However, I do have the advantage of starting from a Biblical base, given my family background, and I have certainly experienced a great deal of God in various ways in the years since I started following Him. I am very aware of the truth of C. S. Lewis’ statement that when we get to heaven, even those who get there will all discover they were wrong somewhere in their understanding of God. I am to walk in humility, without letting go of the assurance I have been given in what I believe. In dealing with others, I am to let love rather than intellect, much less dogma, be my guide and my strength. Writing that, I realize it is very Biblical, because the Bible speaks many times of God being our strength and our guide, and John famously says that He is love. (1 John 4:8) Only when I operate in love will people get an accurate conception of God by watching me.

Father, thank You for the privilege of being Your agent in so many ways. You know better than I do that I can’t possibly do it on my own. Help me stay connected to You at all times, growing in fellowship and allowing Your Spirit to fill and flow through me more and more, so that people may indeed look at me and see Christ, and repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 18, 2012

Posted on September 18, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Smuel 26:9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”

This verse, and similar expression throughout this chapter as well as in chapter 24, are often quoted by church leaders who don’t want to be criticized for what they are doing, especially when it is questionable. However, that is clearly a distortion, as I see it. David did not hesitate to criticize Saul and what he was doing, but he refused to take judgment into his own hands. David knew full well that God was more than able to take care of that Himself! Leaders are never above criticism, and an environment that implies that they are is certainly not healthy. Paul was all for respecting leadership, even when he wasn’t the leader in question. (1 Thessalonians 5:12) However, any leader who tries to hide behind a title isn’t assured of their anointing in the first place! Leadership isn’t easy, and those being led shouldn’t make it any more difficult, but a leader who is blinded by pride, or any other sin, for that matter, is only going to lead people into problems. (Luke 6:39) Good leadership requires assurance, but it also requires humility.

Leadership is something I have always been ambivalent about. I don’t dislike the spotlight, necessarily, but I’m not always happy with the responsibility that comes with the territory. I have greatly benefited from honest criticism, but I haven’t always responded to it well. I have a pretty strong defensive reaction (which I am working on) that makes some people afraid to say anything. That’s not good! It is far more damaging for people to be grumbling in the shadows than for them to be up front with their questions and reservations. I am to be assured of what the Lord has shown me, but still allow the Lord to use others to make course corrections. I can’t begin to know every­thing, and the minute I think, or pretend, I do I’m in dangerous territory.

Father, thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You for how You have grown me in leadership, and how You are still growing me. Over the next week I will not be “the one in charge” at any point, and frankly, I’m not used to that! Help me be available to You and supportive of those who are in leadership, so that in all things Your will may be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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September 17, 2012

Posted on September 18, 2012 by jgarrott

1 Samuel 12:20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.”

A favorite trick of the devil is, when we have done something wrong, to try to convince us we’ve disqualified ourselves, so it’s no use trying to follow God any more. Probably Matthew 12:31-32 is his favorite passage in the Bible, because it speaks of unforgivable sin. As one anxious person was told years ago, if you’re worried about it, you haven’t committed it! It’s no accident that the name, Satan, means “the accuser.” Accusations are what he lives for, because he’s really the guilty party. However, the Holy Spirit is very different. He will indeed convict of sin, because that’s part of His job description. (John 16:7-11) However, He’s always very specific, and His goal is to bring us to repentance and restoration. Sin breaks our fellowship with God, and since we were created precisely for that fellowship, God wants to deal with the obstacles as promptly as possible. That’s what Samuel is saying here. He didn’t know about the cross of Christ, but he did know that, though we commit sins, it is foolish to allow those sins to drive us away from God.

This is something I tell people frequently, especially in personal counseling sessions. Many, if not most, people have experienced the devil’s lies about being unworthy. The thing is, no one is worthy of fellowship with God on their own merits, but God made a way for us all to be reconciled to Him through the cross of His Son, and that is the truth the devil tries to hide. I am forever telling people, “The Holy Spirit is a gentleman; He doesn’t issue blanket accusations. If that’s what you’re hearing, it isn’t Him.” When we realize we have sinned, it should drive us to God in repentance, deepening our fellowship in consequence, rather than driving us from Him. Sometimes I get discouraged at how little this message gets through, but I must not give up, but rather keep speaking the truth in love. After all, the only way to counter lies is with the truth!

Father, thank You for the privilege of speaking Your truth. May I do so more and more consistently, so that people may receive Your truth and be set free from all the lying traps of the enemy, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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September 16, 2012

Posted on September 16, 2012 by jgarrott

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
He is the Rock, his works are perfect,
and all his ways are just.
A faithful God who does no wrong,
upright and just is he.

This passage is striking for several reasons. First, it is the testimony of Moses at the end of his life, after all he has gone through. If we look at his life, that speaks volumes. I’m reminded of the song, “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows.” Actually, any older person who has spent their life trying to serve God is going to have this testimony, unless they have been totally deceived by something along the way. The second thing that strikes me is much more evident in the Japanese translation than it is in the NIV. In Japanese, verse 3 reads, “I’m going to proclaim the name of the Lord, so give glory to our God.” The phrase, “give glory to God,” has various nuances throughout the Old Testament, but most often it just means, “praise Him.” Moses is saying that the simple act of proclaiming the name of Yahweh should be enough to make His people praise Him. We could use more of that attitude in churches today! The third thing that strikes me is that this is describing God’s perfect righteousness, and Paul tells us that in Christ, we have been made to be the righteousness of God. (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21) That is to say, when we are genuinely walking in Christ, abiding in Him and fellowshipping with His Spirit, this is a description of us! That makes it clear how high the standard is, and eliminates all grounds for complacency. This is our goal in this life, serving Him this perfectly. We need first of all to believe that God indeed can do it, even in us, and then we need to give Him permission, and cooperate fully, for Him to accomplish it for His glory.

I have understood this for quite a few years now, but my grasp of it continues to grow. “The Longer I Serve Him, the Sweeter He Grows” is certainly true for me! I am not to be condemning of failures, my own or anyone else’, but neither am I to stop short of the goal and say, this is far enough. That means continuing to move forward the rest of my life! I recognize things in myself all the time that aren’t to this standard yet, and my repentance must be kept up to date. The whole purpose of life on earth is to prepare us for heaven and draw others to do likewise, so I must never back off, but keep pressing in for more of what God has provided and prepared for me in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Father, the past few days have been quite an intense training period, and the schedule looks to continue to be hectic. Help me keep my eyes on Christ, to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, so that Your Spirit may carry me along and flow through me, to the blessing of those around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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