Spiritual Growth; October 20, 2024

Posted on October 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

This verse, in a very slightly different translation, is actually a better fit to the music in Japanese than the original English, to a chorus that in English is called “The Path of the Just.” It’s always fascinating to me when that happens (and this isn’t the only example) because I’ve done so much song translation. Regardless of that, the content is worthy of meditation. These days not many people are out walking at dawn, and if they are in a vehicle, headlights make it harder to understand as a principle. The thing is, pre-dawn light is definitely dim, and it would be very easy to stumble. As the sun starts to come up, the way gets clearer and clearer, and if you’re walking due East, the light is quickly blinding if you don’t shade your eyes. (Walking other directions, of course, is a different matter on the blinding part.) The point of this verse, however, is that when we first choose to walk in obedience to God, the way might not seem very clear, and stumbling can certainly occur. However – and here’s the important part – it gets better. The way is clearer, and we can walk with more assurance and accuracy, and stumbling becomes less and less frequent. Sanctification is an important Biblical principle, but despite the teaching of some groups, it’s rarely instantaneous. When we repent and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are in that moment counted as righteous, but that is worked into and through our lives on a growing basis. Often a new believer will seem so different from the way they were before commitment that we think the job is done, but that’s a very dangerous mistake. Everyone needs to grow, and that includes the most white-haired saint you can think of! Spiritual growth is an essential, and beautiful, part of spiritual life. We need both to aim for it and be grateful for it, even when we have “growing pains.”

This verse really clicks for me because I am often out walking at dawn, particularly in the winter months when the sun comes up later. I have taken many spectacular pictures that people think are sunsets, but they are dawn shots. I wear a baseball cap and dip my head to shield my eyes from the direct sunlight when I’m headed East, but sunglasses aren’t appropriate because the ground around me isn’t so illuminated. On the return trip, headed West, sunglasses are often appropriate. In the area of spiritual growth, I can look back and see that I have grown indeed in various areas, but I am often painfully aware that I have plenty more room to grow. At this point, delegation is one of those areas. I don’t have to be the center of what’s going on! I need to remember that my job is to equip the saints to do works of ministry, not to do it all myself. (Ephesians 4:11-14) In any case, I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in my Lord, knowing that His “lesson plans” are good, and that He will enable me to pass the test, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me keep it in my awareness, seeking to grow and encouraging others to do so as well, in all gentleness and love, so that we may be the children, the disciples, that You desire and deserve. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Omniscience; October 19, 2024

Posted on October 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

I really thought I would be writing on other than this most famous part of this Psalm, but here I am! (Actually, I’m writing on the whole Psalm.) For the first half of the Psalm it sounds like David is trying to escape from God, that he wants Him to leave him alone. He may well have started with a bit of that feeling, but then as the Holy Spirit expanded this Psalm in his heart, he realized what a blessed thing it is to be so intimately known by our Creator. In climax, we have these two verses, which are a prayer for God to do precisely the things David was complaining about in the first half of the Psalm! I think every believer can identify with this prayer, and actually, should pray it regularly. We all have thoughts that we realize aren’t “worthy of a disciple of Jesus Christ,” and we’re embarrassed to share them with anyone. The thing is, God knows them anyway, and confessing them to Him opens our heart to receive His healing and guidance. And the glorious thing is, we can rest assured that God delights to do the last thing mentioned in this prayer: lead us in His everlasting way.

I have been aware of God’s omniscience for as long as I can remember, but that awareness hasn’t kept me from doing things that I knew at the time weren’t pleasing to Him. However, it has been a major comfort when I was suffering, for one reason or another. There is nothing I can experience that God doesn’t know about or care about. That is absolutely incredible on the face of it, because God is the Creator of the universe. Why would He care about such an insignificant speck as me? However, the assurance that He does know and care is the joy and bedrock of my existence. Modern technology has enabled the “surveillance state,” but that doesn’t begin to approach God’s knowledge of us. That’s why I can thank God for my current cold, that I’m glad to say I’m recovering from. He doesn’t allow anything in my life that He can’t use for good, so my part is to cooperate with Him for that to happen.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and thank You for the awareness that my cold is on its last legs. Help me recognize what You want me to do each moment of today, whether that is getting something done or just resting, so that all of Your purposes for me may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Reading the Bible; October 18, 2024

Posted on October 19, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.

Both the NIV and the ESV use “unfolding” here, but the Japanese says, “when the door to your Word opens.” Both of those translations have things to be said for them. “Unfolding” applies because, as many times as we might have read a passage, there are always more layers of meaning to bless us. That said, the image of a door opening is very easy to understand. Back when most documents were written on scrolls, that might not have “clicked,” but with bound books, it’s the most natural simile ever. (How will that change with the proliferation of electronic Bibles?) In any case, we have to “enter into” the Bible for it to have its full impact on our lives. Recently “meditation” has become a popular method of emotional control, but I’d be willing to bet that very few of those “meditating” are doing so on the Word of God! Jesus used the terminology of “abiding,” when He was teaching his disciples in the Upper Room just before His arrest and crucifixion. (John 15:1-8) We can’t just flip the Bible open for our morning devotions and forget what we’ve just read as soon as we close it. As James said very clearly, that’s just deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22) If we want the wisdom promised in this verse, we’ve got to take the Word in, mull it over, and then put it into practice. If we will do that, then we will surprise ourselves, not to mention the people around us, with God’s wisdom that manifests through us.

I certainly know this from experience! God gave me a high IQ, but that does NOT equal wisdom. Very early in my life I absorbed a lot of knowledge about the Bible, but didn’t let it work its way into my heart. I was the perfect example of a sophomore, a “wise fool,” as that word actually means. Now, I seek to lead and encourage others to take God’s word in, in truth and not just as a “religious exercise.” I rejoice to share God’s truth from the pulpit, but I don’t want anyone to think or feel that’s the only way they can receive it. I want a church that is so centered on Christ and filled with His Spirit that they would hardly notice if I disappeared!

Father, thank You for this past weekend when Cathy and I were out of town, and for how smoothly things went. That’s very encouraging! Help me continue to mentor the believers so that they may mentor each other, and all of them learn that You will talk to them every time they open their Bibles, and so press in enthusiastically to be the disciples You desire, building up Your Church for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Heritage; October 17, 2024

Posted on October 18, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 119:111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.

When I got to this reading my eyes went immediately to verse 105, because it is so familiar and so important for daily living, daily walking with God. However, reading on down, I really resonated with this verse. We don’t choose what our parents amass to pass on to us, and I feel incredibly privileged and blessed that my parents passed on to me a love for God and His Word that will stand me well for all eternity. I did have to be intentional in personal repentance and obedience, but I think few people have as clear a path to discipleship as I was given, even from birth. My parents recorded that at age 5, I came to my mother and said, “Mommy, I really, really love you, but I don’t love you nearly as much as I love Jesus.” Without question, that was because of the spiritual heritage my parents passed on to me. I wish I could say that I’ve always been a good steward of that heritage, but that would hardly be honest. Even so, I can’t really imagine what it would be like not to walk with the awareness of my Creator and hear Him speak to me daily as I read His Word. That gives me all the less excuses for my lapses! The two unique things about such a heritage are, first of all, that it is eternal, just as this verse says. “You can’t take it with you” doesn’t apply here! The second thing is that the more I share it with others, the richer my own store grows! I love to share God’s truth with people, telling them of His grace and love, as well as His holiness and righteousness. I wish that more people would accept it for themselves more readily, but I have to leave that in God’s hands. After all, I can’t save anyone!

I just realized that I have been writing from a very personal perspective, when the “Observation” portion of this devotional scheme is usually much more general. I guess that’s not surprising, since the author of this Psalm was intensely personal throughout. It does no good to treat the Bible as imply objective truth, without applying it personally. Like James said, that’s just deceiving ourselves. (James 1:22) My various lapses, as I’ve mentioned, have all come from the failure to apply the truth I’ve known to the situation I was in. I must not do that! God’s truth is true all the time, and if I act like it’s not, I’m walking in darkness (to go back to verse 105).

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that we’re safely home from our trip to Osaka and Yokohama. Thank You for the various things You enabled us to get done yesterday, catching up after having been away. Thank You for the cold I seem to have brought home, and that it didn’t manifest before yesterday. I ask for wisdom in cooperating with Your healing, and also in not passing this around needlessly. I’ll need to drive Cathy to the dentist this morning and to her PD doctor this afternoon. If I’m simply to stay in the car at both places, give us both peace about that. I do ask for clear guidance in my message preparation for Sunday, that the sheep may feed on what You know they need, to build them up as Your disciples for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Music; October 16, 2024

Posted on October 17, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has become my salvation.

There were so many familiar verses that spoke to me in this passage that I didn’t know what I should write on, and then I realized that the reason all those verses were so familiar was because they have been set to music! There are many passages throughout the Bible that speak, directly or indirectly, of singing to God, and particularly so in Psalms, since it was the equivalent of a hymnbook today. The thing is, when we become aware of God’s goodness to us, in whatever form that might come, it is the most natural thing in the world to sing about it. Some people grow up in an environment that is non-musical to a degree that is hard for me to wrap my mind around, but even they quickly learn the joys of music addressed to God, even if they can’t participate directly. Many years ago we had a new believer who asked, in all honesty, “How do you do that? Make your voice go up and down, I mean.” There are also people who are medically tone deaf, though that is extremely rare, and there are plenty of people who “can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” as the saying goes. None of that negates the reality that God gave us music to gladden our hearts and give thanks and praise to Him. There are many styles and modes of music, but it’s a clear fact that Western music – and yes, even rock and heavy metal – has its roots in Church music. The point is to take our music back to its original purpose, and praise God with it. When we do that, we discover strength that can be had no other way, just as this verse says. Everything God gives us has a purpose, and the sooner we recognize that purpose and fulfill it, the more blessings we receive from whatever it is – and that certainly includes music.

I grew up in an extremely musical family, to the point that my brother-in-law once said, “I always wondered what it would be like to live in The Sound of Music, and now I know!” I was a vocal music minor in college, and my job in the Army was playing clarinet in the 25th Infantry Division band. Throughout my life music has been integral to who I have been, and I’m sure it will continue to be so into eternity. In recent years I have been privileged to translate many songs between English and Japanese, in both directions. It’s always interesting to see how some songs seem to come out better in other than the original language! That’s particularly striking between my two languages, because they’re so dissimilar in so many ways. Sometimes they are equally moving in both languages, but just different. All of that, to me, shows that the Holy Spirit is behind it all. I certainly know that singing His songs opens us up more to Him! I don’t think it’s an accident that there’s a whole genre of music called, Gospel, but the Gospel can be expressed in just about every genre, if we will yield that music to God.

Father, thank You for my musical heritage, and for the great joy of making music to You. May my life indeed be “a sweet, sweet sound in Your ears,” as the chorus expresses it, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Rewards; October 15, 2024

Posted on October 16, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 112:10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
    they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

This Psalm sings of the blessings that accrue to the righteous, and it closes with this verse about the evil person’s response to that. This reminds me of the saying, “The best revenge is success.” We’re seeing that on the public stage these days, with such things as Elon Musk’s spectacular success with his Starship rocket. That’s not to say that he is particularly righteous, and it may not be very “spiritual,” but it illustrates this principle. When we get caught up in feelings of “payback,” we waste a lot of physical, emotional, and even spiritual energy. As many places in the Bible tell us, the rewards of the righteous don’t always manifest themselves in this life, but we can rest assured that the ultimate rewards are in eternity, both for the righteous and the wicked. The thing to remember is that the wicked aren’t going to be happy about the rewards of the righteous, and that can make them escalate their attacks at times. When that happens, we are to keep trusting God and thank Him for His resolution to whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, knowing that our reward is sure.

I feel like I have been abundantly blessed, even though I am certainly not perfectly righteous. I have the incredible privilege of collecting some of the blessings that accrued because of my ancestors’ faithfulness. I am not to take any of it for granted, but keep giving God the glory for His grace toward me. I have indeed had people who were resentful of my blessings. I have tried to tell them that God loves them as much as He does me, if they will only open their heart to Him, but most such people have not been very receptive, sadly enough. As the hymn says, I should count my blessings, but not flaunt them. (The hymn doesn’t mention that last part.) I am not to parade my blessings, but rather, quietly give God the credit and thanks and praise that are due Him, knowing that I myself am a very small part in the equation.

Father, thank You indeed for Your overflowing grace toward me. Help me indeed respond appropriately at all times, so that Your purposes for what You pour out on me may be fulfilled, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Optimism; October 14, 2024

Posted on October 16, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 105:43 He brought out his people with rejoicing,
    his chosen ones with shouts of joy.

This Psalm is another one of many that recount the history of Israel, but in contrast to some of the others, it focuses entirely on the good stuff. Some might say that’s unrealistic, but focusing only on the bad is even worse! It reminds me of the popular song from some years back, “Those Were the Days,” that speaks of remembering only the enjoyable things. If we do that too much, we won’t learn from our past mistakes, but if we focus only on the bad, we forget that God is loving and gracious, and we close our heart to Him. That is tragic! This verse is used as the first line of a little chorus from about 50 years ago that includes several of the verses ahead of this to make a very cheery, encouraging song. Sometimes we need exactly that! God does require repentance, but He intends joy for His people, and we need to trust Him for that and receive the joy.

I get irritated by things like everyone else, but the Lord has trained me over the years to come back to my awareness of His loving grace. A couple of years ago I was talking with a fellow pastor about having forgiven someone who had slandered me badly, and he said, “You have more faith than I do!” I don’t know if my optimism is genuinely the result of faith, or simply a personality trait, but I do know that at one point in my life I was depressed to the point of wanting to die. That’s no fun! At this point I need to be careful not to feel “superior” to others who aren’t optimistic, because their faith is at times deeper than mine. I’m reminded of C. S. Lewis’ character Puddleglum, in the Narnia series, who was a terrible pessimist but was one of the most dependable people you could find. At the same time, I do feel that expecting good is a much more enjoyable way to live life!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all the good things You’ve done so far on this trip. Thank You that we’ll be heading on to our next stop today. We’ll be doing things and going places that are new to us. Help us not get lost, on any level, but be and do what You desire, on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Creator; October 13, 2024

Posted on October 14, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 104:13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

This Psalm is a paean to God for the wonders of the natural world. It shows what today would be called a “primitive” understanding of the universe, but it gets one thing very right: God created and rules it all. I feel sorry for anyone who denies even “intelligent design” in how things are, because there is incredible complexity, beauty, grace and even humor in it all. It would be hard to convince me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor when he created some of the animals we see – or, for that matter, humans! There is a huge irony to the way some people want to worship the created universe, calling it Gaia or something of the sort, and yet deny the One who created it all. My only conclusion is that they want to justify their “natural” impulses, without accountability. Any parent can tell you that not all of a child’s natural impulses are wise or beneficial! That’s one of the biggest challenges of parenting, but God is the perfect Parent, not only letting us know what is right but doing so gently, and as firmly as necessary. As His children, we should delight in the universe in which He has placed us, and seek to hear Him as accurately and obediently as we can, for our blessing and His glory.

I love to take pictures of the natural world, carrying a camera just about everywhere I go. Buildings and such can make interesting pictures, but I’d much rather get shots of birds and sunrises and the like. I am constantly amazed at God’s infinite creativity. He certainly doesn’t seem to think much of monotony! Usually, when I go out walking with my camera, my heart is filled with songs of praise and gratitude to such a Creator. That certainly makes my life more enjoyable! That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the scientific explanations for all the things I’m seeing, but it does mean that I keep the awareness of the Creator of it all as the foundation for my appreciation of it. Nothing says that God had to make His universe so beautiful! As I share my pictures with people, it is my prayer that they too will recognize the work of their Creator, and turn their heart to Him.

Father, thank You indeed for Your magnificent universe, and for the privilege of sharing it with others through photography. May my pictures and my words consistently point people to You, so that they too may walk in gratitude for Your amazing grace, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Sovereignty; October 12, 2024

Posted on October 13, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice.

This Psalm, specifically verses 1, 3, 5, and 8, was set to music in the early days of the Charismatic Movement. Some of the other verses are echoed in other Psalms as well, and are likewise set to music. All of that is very good and appropriate, because this is a Psalm about the sovereignty of God, and that is something we must never forget. At the time it was written the world in general was polytheistic, so there are various references to “gods.” Westerners today might not identify with “worshipers of images,” (verse 7) but they are quite likely to “bow down” to all sorts of things, including social media and AI, not to mention politics. Those things might be neutral in and of themselves, but to the degree they distract us from our Creator, they become idols. There’s a reason idolatry is forbidden in the 10 Commandments, and throughout the Bible! When we lose sight of the sovereignty of God, all sorts of bad things happen. We lose our sense of purpose and feel we have only ourselves to depend on, and that is terrible indeed. For a while we might think we can make it on our own, but life has a way of tearing down that deception. An honest atheist would have to wish fervently that they were wrong in their atheism, because there is ultimately no hope apart from a benevolent Creator. The problem is, we are all prone to take our eyes off of God and act, and feel, as if He’s not really there, and that is a very sad state of affairs. The Japanese translation of this verse says, “The Lord is Lord,” indicating that the original Hebrew says, “YHWH is Lord.” The “intelligence” behind “intelligent design” is very specific, and we need to remember that. No “holy book” besides the Bible posits such a Creator as we have here, who ultimately loves His creation so much as to send His Son to die for it. (John 3:16) We need to remember that He is truly God, and rejoice to submit everything to Him.

This is something I generally take for granted, but I am having a refresher course in right now. We leave on a 4-day trip in about 2 hours, and as I told my wife a few minutes ago, this is the first time I remember being concerned about my physical ability to handle a trip I was going to take. I am strongly aware of my age! However, God has arranged this trip, and He is going to carry us through every moment, every step of it. This is an intense practicum in doing what He told me years ago: rest, relax, rejoice. I will have various opportunities for ministry on this trip, even though it isn’t “church-related,” and I need to be available and yielded for each one. I need to keep remembering another little chorus I learned years ago: “God’s got it all in control.” If I will do that, I and those around me will be blessed.

Father, thank You for this experience. I’m used to being “the man of faith,” worried about nothing, so this is a reminder that I’m just as human as anyone else. Help me indeed trust You fully, so that all of Your purposes for this trip may be fulfilled, on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Correction; October 11, 2024

Posted on October 12, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
    the one you teach from your law.

In verse 1, the ESV calls God, “God of vengeance.” That kind of hit me in the face, but it agrees perfectly with the Japanese. We tend to forget that vengeance, revenge, was very much part of society in those days, and seen as an expression of justice. It’s obvious that the person who wrote this was pretty upset at the behavior of people around him. It reminds me of some of the reports coming out of the hurricane-ravaged areas of the US, of both government flunkies and “aid organizations” behaving badly. It’s important, and actually satisfying, to be able to release such things to God and know that He will take care of them eventually. Actions do have consequences! That said, this verse is an important reminder. None of us are innocent, no matter how much “better” we seem than whoever we happen to be thinking of. God “taking us out behind the woodshed” is far better than simply going to eternal damnation. I have always liked the extended treatment of this theme in Hebrews 12:4-12, and have taken it to heart. I’m very grateful that the most severe rebuke I’ve experienced to this point simply drove me to my knees, saying, “My Lord and my God,” rather than laying me on a bed of pain or even snuffing out my life. I’m grateful for God’s character, and that He “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) He does take care of retribution, but that’s not His preferred mode of operation. The point here is twofold: we are to be grateful when God corrects us, and we are to be a peace with the assurance that He will appropriately correct everyone else as well.

As I said, I have experienced God’s correction, actually several times. I’m not proud that I’ve needed it, but I’m thankful to be aware that I’m not on some higher plane than anyone else. The ground is indeed level at the foot of the cross! The thing is, God sometimes uses us to correct each other. As Paul said, we are to admonish one another. (Colossians 3:16) I have learned the hard way that in my position as a pastor and spiritual elder, my words can at times be far more painful than I intend, and that’s not good. I need to speak the truth in love, but strive always for the love to be foremost, even when the truth is painful. On the flip side of that, I am to receive correction from others with gratitude, knowing that God is using them even if their expression of it is less than artful. We are all foolish and weak, totally dependent on God’s grace, and we need to extend that grace to each other.

Father, thank You for this clear Word. Thank You for the recent training You have given me in this area. Help me indeed be an expression of Your grace, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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