November 22, 2011

Posted on November 22, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 99:9 Exalt the LORD our God
and worship at his holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy.

This is the fundamental reason to worship God, but it is completely missed all too often. There were moments in Israel’s history, such as at Mt. Sinai and when fire fell from heaven at Elijah’s prayer, that people indeed responded this way, but even then, this motivation was too quickly lost. God shouldn’t have to use “special effects” to get us to worship Him! Jesus said that God is actively seeking those who will worship Him properly. (John 4:23-24) Jesus pointed out that since God is spirit, our worship must come from our spirits, or our physical acts are meaningless. There’s a lot of meaningless worship that goes on! In a way, the risk of that is greater the longer a person or group has been conducting what they call worship, because of the well known phenomenon of familiarity breeding contempt. In our human weakness, we forget how holy God is. Jesus was born as a human baby to show us that God is not exclusively “other,” but if we reduce Him to just a baby in a manger, we’ve only touched the surface of worship. That little baby was the same God who created the universe, including us, and who loved us enough to take the penalty for our sins on the cross. He is holy!

This has been a point at which I have tripped up more times than I could count. I am well aware of God’s holiness as abstract truth, but all too often I fail to apply that in my own life. Peter put it most succinctly: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Our love for God and our obedience to Him, our awareness of His holiness and our own personal holiness, are all intertwined and constitute the motivation and substance of our worship. I love to worship God through music, but that means very little if my life isn’t reflecting His holiness. Sometimes people want to be taught how to “be Christians,” thinking it means liturgy and ceremony. Others think they are Christians because they know the liturgy and ceremonies. Both groups are sadly mistaken. As a pastor, I am called on to teach people to love God and appreciate His holiness, because only then will they learn to worship Him in spirit and in truth. At the same time, while teaching others I must not forget to follow through myself. Before I am the preacher, the counselor, or anything else in this church, I must be the chief worshiper in all I am and do.

Father, thank You for this strong reminder. Thank You again for Your grace and patience toward me. Help me live out the truth I know, so that I may be faithful as a guide to bring many into full discipleship to Christ, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 21, 2011

Posted on November 22, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 94:20 Can a corrupt throne be allied with you–
one that brings on misery by its decrees?

Two governments come to mind as I read this: the Nazi government of Germany, and the current US administration. Thinking about it, I would also have to add all Islamic governments. All of these used or use the name of God while oppressing people with destructive laws. The verses following this one are a comfort, because they assure us that such governments will be destroyed, as the Nazis were. Jesus’ words come to mind: “ By their fruit you will know them.” (Matthew 7:20) The list of depredations on America’s national character by the current administration is long. They cannot pretend to be committed to the God of the Bible. The concern is how much of the nation they will manage to take down before they are eliminated.

As I wrote two days ago, most of my life I have been apolitical, and it frankly doesn’t feel good to be so emotionally involved in what is going on. I recognize that no government is perfect, but the Bible says clearly, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” That seems to be somewhat in opposition to today’s verse! The answer is obviously trusting obedience. I and all believers should focus first on personal integrity, on how we live our lives on a day-to-day basis, and then be willing and obedient as God directs us to act on a larger scale. The world has never known a representative democracy on the scale of the US before, and the past 250 years have been very interesting. Having US citizenship, I cannot complain that the US is not following God’s laws if I am not committed to obedience myself. If the current situation leads to widespread repentance and commitment to God, then it will prove to have been a massive blessing. I need to pray for a spirit of repentance and righteousness to fall on the nation, while trusting God to be God.

Father, You know my heart better than I do. Today I will interact with Japanese bureaucracy, and that isn’t a pleasing prospect. I pray that You would enable me to release both my immediate situation and the situation in the US into Your hands, trusting You to be Lord and walking in personal obedience in every area, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 20, 2011

Posted on November 20, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

David recorded a number of spot-on prayers, and this is certainly one of them. A request for guidance must be accompanied by a commitment to obedience. The Bible has many statements on the importance of follow-through and the problems of hypocrisy, including Jesus’ famous question in Luke 6:46. As Joy Dawson taught so faithfully, God is more interested in guiding us than we are in being guided. If we are unaware of what He wants us to do, it means one of only three things: we are ignorant of the Bible, we don’t trust that the guidance we have received is really Him, or we aren’t committed to do whatever He shows us. As far as the Bible goes, David only had the Torah, but in the other two areas he was generally on track. He did have a problem, as we all do, of failing to seek God’s guidance in some areas. Had he done so, he would have been a much better parent, for example. Also, he certainly knew better than what he did with Bathsheba, but his repentance was genuine. Like him, we need to pray for undivided hearts. That’s part of the commitment to obedience. We are so easily distracted! Just two days ago the Lord pointed out to me that as long as we have a Plan B, we aren’t really trusting Him. It’s true that sometimes we might hear Him wrong, but God is more interested in our success than we are, and He is faithful.

This is something that has taken a long time to really work into me. I don’t feel I’m active enough in seeking God’s guidance, but He is the ultimate judge of that. There have been more times than I care to remember that I have been knowingly disobedient. Sometimes I haven’t bothered to ask, but sometimes I’ve known His will and done something else! I’m still growing, and my sermons are preached to me first. I want my hearers to receive and apply them, but I’d better be one of those hearers!

Father, right now it’s not so much a matter of needing guidance as it is of feeling overwhelmed with all there is to do. Help me hear You moment by moment as to what is to be done at that moment, not being anxious about the next thing that is to be done, I know from years of experience that if I will be quiet enough to listen and trust, then You will supply the time, skill, wisdom, and energy to get everything done on time. However, You know better than I do how much trouble I have doing that consistently! I ask for peace and joy, not just for me but for Cathy also, who if anything has more reason to be overwhelmed than I do! May we give You the worship of trusting obedience, today and every day, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 19, 2011

Posted on November 20, 2011 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.

The writer starts with a very wise premise: listen to God. So much misery would be averted if we would just do that! I would say this writer had fairly good spiritual ears, too, because what he hears the Lord saying is consistent with the whole rest of the Bible. God indeed speaks peace to those who have ears to hear, but if they are stubborn in their foolishness, they won’t receive it. Many, many people want God to bless them, but they don’t want to be obedient to Him. In Christian terms, they want a Savior, but they don’t want a Lord. The Bible is very clear that it doesn’t work that way. This applies on the personal level – saints – and on the national level – God’s people. For the past 200 years America has been a nation that, though highly imperfect, was founded on, and has tried to operate on, Biblical principles. Over the past few decades that has taken a strong turn for the worse, and the past few years have been extreme. In conse­quence, God has allowed leadership to match, and the level of overt hostility to Christian faith has caused many people to wake up to what has been going on. However, change on the national level has got to start on the personal level, with real repentance. Repentance means not only saying, “I was wrong,” it means changing direction to do what is right. The only hope for America, and for the World, is salvation by grace through faith, and saving faith commits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

I have been largely apolitical for most of my life, but recent trends have shaken me from my apathy. As has been widely quoted in recent months, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. However, there is an important balance called for. We cannot legislate righteousness, but we must not legislate evil. It is indeed a spiritual battle, and merely human methods and motivations won’t get the job done. It is both a blessing and a frustration that I am at such a physical remove from the US. It drives me to prayer because I can do little else, but it makes me want to take a more physically active part. I guess this is further training in trusting God to be God! My personal field of labor is clear, and it’s right where I am. I am to be faithful at the tasks God sets for me, including praying that His name be hallowed, His kingdom come, and His will be done.

Father, You know my strong tendency toward conflict avoidance. Thank You for continuing to grow me in every area, not to seek conflict but not to avoid it either, if obedience to You results in opposition. Help me remember who is the enemy, and who is Lord, so that I may be effective in liberating those who have been duped by the enemy, and lead them into the liberty of submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 18, 2011

Posted on November 20, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 81:10 I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

The image I get is of baby birds in the nest. (Not that of a dentist, despite one dentist having put this on the wall of his clinic.) God is reminding His people of how He has cared for them in the past, and He is admonishing them for seeking other gods to help them in their difficulty. The point is, as long as we have a Plan B, we aren’t really trusting God. Many people say they trust God, but their actions show otherwise. That’s not to say we aren’t to be frugal with our resources; being wasteful is hardly good stewardship. However, it is to say we aren’t to be anxious about providing for ourselves. This is certainly timely, considering the current unemployment rate! Jesus said very clearly that our focus is to be on God, His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) We are not to be passive moochers, but the focus of our thoughts and activity should be God and not ourselves. Again, this must not be an excuse for laziness, as Paul made very clear. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) However, failing to recognize and trust God as our supply for everything we need is failing to give Him the honor, thanks, and praise He deserves.

I’ve fallen down a few times in this area, but by this time I’ve had a great deal of experience of God’s faithful supply. That’s not to say I don’t get anxious occasionally, or that I don’t wish for better cash flow at times. However, I’ve discovered that God meets needs I didn’t know I had, and that things I think I need often really aren’t necessary, and sometimes just get in the way! I have never been in a high income bracket, but I’ve never gone naked or hungry from lack of resources. As a pastor, it’s not unusual to find that someone who is anxious actually has more resources than someone who isn’t! God showed Cathy and me years ago, during a period of unemployment, that whereas we thought we needed money, what we really needed was the things we would purchase with that money, and that He had all sorts of ways of providing those for us. Recognizing that God is our supply is unquestionably the way to peace, satisfaction and joy.

Father, thank You for Your faithfulness over the years. Help me be faithful in my trusting obedience. Help me impart faith to those around me, so that they may be liberated from the anxiety that is so crippling. Help me be a good steward of all You provide, neither being wasteful nor miserly, so that I may be an open channel for You to meet others’ needs through me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 17, 2011

Posted on November 17, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 68:35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!

The fact of the matter is, it is God who gives power and strength to His people, and nothing else. It is one of the saddest of ironies that from the early days of Israel, people who have claimed God have sought power and strength from other sources, and still do so today. We are slow to realize that God is the source of all genuine power and strength, and everything else is counterfeit. The thing is, many things that seem powerful to us are totally insignificant on God’s scale of things. I am reminded of the absurdity of praying to someone who has died, when we have permission to pray to the Creator of the universe, in the name of His Son, who died, rose again, and reigns forever! Jesus said very clearly that we have direct access to the Father in His name. (John 16:26-27) God is the one who gives power and strength to His people!

As well as I know this, sometimes I am slow to seek and trust the supply. Last night was a good case in point, when I was confronted with issues that are beyond my ability and wisdom. I did pray, but that didn’t keep me from getting down about it all. That shows I have more room to grow in trusting God. Knowing that, I should be more gracious and understanding of those around me with similar difficulties. He will indeed supply everything we need, from wisdom to strength to food on the table, if we will turn to Him in humble obedience, putting His kingdom and His righteousness ahead of everything else. I have experienced that more times than I could count, and I preach it constantly to others, yet I am aware of my own immaturity in this area. I am not to be cast down about that, but rather be grateful that God is growing me, in this and every other area, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for His glory.

Father, thank You again for Your patience with me. Help me be both patient and firm with those around me, pointing and drawing them consistently to You. Help me trust that You will indeed give me the wisdom and strength I need when I need it, and not worry about whether I have it ahead of time. Keep me from neurotic introspection that will only take my eyes off of You. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, as You have told me, so that all of Your purposes for me may be fulfilled, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 16, 2011

Posted on November 17, 2011 by jgarrott

PS 68:5-6 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
God sets the lonely in families,
he leads forth the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Any consideration of God’s goodness must also consider His holiness and justice. God delights to meet needs, even (or perhaps especially) those that seem impossible to meet. However, He doesn’t put up with rebellion. Rather, He deals with it in ways that give the rebellious opportunities to repent. The first part of this passage reminds me of something the man whose funeral I attended yesterday wrote in one of his books. His favorite Scripture was Romans 8:28, and he wrote that no trial, no hardship, no sorrow, is wasted if it draws us closer to God. Orphans and widows go through a lot even today, and they had it much harder in David’s day. However, God was able then to meet them in their need, and He is still capable of that today. It is when we react to our circumstances by rebelling against God that the world around us seems blasted and scorched, with nothing to nurture us or make us glad. The flip side of that is described in Psalm 86, where it speaks of those who have set their hearts to follow God finding that their place of weeping has become a place of refreshing. It isn’t a question of what we experience, but of our attitude, as to whether we will go through that hard place to the abundance on the other side. Rebellion will get us stuck right in the middle of it! We encounter people all the time who seem stuck in something they have experienced. The expression in American English is that they need to get a life, and of course, true life is found only in Christ. That’s why forgiveness is so essential, because it is only as we forgive that we let go of the hurts of the past to move on into the good that God has planned for us.

I feel like I have been incredibly blessed, but that isn’t to say I haven’t had my times of weeping, of agonizing over one thing or another. I have learned the truth of this passage first hand. As a pastor, I am constantly dealing with people who need to learn it, to let go of their rebellion and repent of it. Counseling would be so much easier if I could just press a switch and make that change in them! However, these things must be of our own free will, and things that can be switched on and off aren’t free. I am to be an agent of God’s comfort and blessing, but I must remember that I am not the source of that comfort and blessing. I need to help those to whom I minister understand that as well. My goal should be that no one would stay in the scorched land, but that all would move on into what God desires for us.

Father, I can think of many people offhand who have spent years in “scorched” circumstances, and yet they haven’t been able to see that it’s been by their own choice. One such person recently wrote me from prison! I can think of several others who are in emotional prisons of one sort or another. I have no wisdom to lead them out, but You can do so, just as this passage says. I pray that You would do so, that You would open their eyes to see that the exit is right in front of them, and that repentance will take them through it. Keep me from trying to force them in my strength, but keep me available to You as Your instrument of deliverance and healing, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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November 15, 2011

Posted on November 17, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

The greatest insanity of the atheist is in imagining that there is nothing greater than he is. David, on the other hand, knew better. From the rest of the Psalm it is evident that this was written after David was king, but he is still sharply aware of his own limitations. There is no indication of what troubles caused him to be emotionally exhausted, but everyone experiences that at times. What a blessing it is when in such times we know on whom to call! From his years of running from Saul in the wilderness, David knew well the tactical advantage of being on top of a big rock. Believers through the centuries have agreed with Paul that the true rock David was speaking of is Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4) He is still available as a fortress to all who call on Him, but sadly, we are so slow to call! When David, the king of Israel, was quick to call on God, is it not only reasonable for us to do likewise?

Thankfully I was raised in an environment in which calling on God was extremely natural, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been slow to do it at times. God has allowed me to have many experiences that were totally beyond my ability to handle. Sometimes I was quick to call on Him, but sometimes I was painfully slow. The difference has, I believe, been in my attitude before the crisis. When I walk in fellowship in the good times, the easy times, then I turn to Him almost instantly when there is a need. However, when I start walking in pride and complacency, then my first response to difficulty is to look within myself. That’s what an atheist does! Or else, perhaps, they look to their god of “science.” (Actually, when science is deified, it immediately become unscientific, but the atheist’s mindset can’t see that.) I need to look, not to myself, but to the Rock that is much higher than I am, and as a pastor, I need to lead others to do the same. One problem I have encountered there is that sometimes people look to me instead of to Christ. That won’t do them any good! I need to help them understand that any wisdom, any encouragement or comfort they receive from me does not originate in me, so that they will turn their hearts to the Source who will never fail them.

Father, thank You for Your absolute reliability. Today I’ll be attending the funeral of a faithful saint whose children have not followed You so closely. Help me point them to You, encouraging them to follow their father’s magnificent example, so that they may escape the devil’s traps and walk in all that You intend for them, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 14, 2011

Posted on November 17, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 44:6-7 I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.

People have a bad tendency to rely on their tools, rather than on the God who provided them. The problem is, tools fail. More importantly, we fail. However, God never fails, either in the sense of running out or in the sense of being defeated. God calls for our cooperation and our commitment, but He does the “heavy lifting,” so to speak. We forget that to our peril. One look at America at this point is enough to make a Christian weep, with so little honor and so much downright antagonism being directed at God. The ratios Abraham pressed the Lord for (Genesis 18:16-33) come to mind, because otherwise, America would have been destroyed quite some time back. The phrase in Psalm 36:1 (which was in the reading for the 11th) comes to mind: “There is no fear of God before his eyes.” As the Bible says repeatedly, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and America is being very foolish. However, that attitude is hardly limited to America, and governments and economies are toppling all over the world at this point. People are relying on almost anything but God, and it’s getting them nowhere. Governments have been fostering reliance on them, creating dependent populations, and now those governments are collapsing under the weight of the debt they have piled on themselves. That’s embarrassing to say the least, to use the expression in this passage. Reliance on God, and repentance of an independent spirit, is the only answer.

I’ve just had a mild touch of training in this area, with my main computer seeming to flip out on me. However, when I set it aside and went about the tasks God had for me, the problem cleared up without any intervention on my part. I certainly have as much temptation to trust in tools as anyone, and my yielding to that temptation has caused me, and others, a great deal of completely unnecessary grief. I am not to fail to use the tools God provides, but my reliance must be on Him rather than on the tools, and certainly not on me. I have demonstrated my personal unreliability more times than I care to think about! However, when I am relying on God, then my actions become dependable by reflection, and He is glorified. As the hymn says, “I would be true, for there are those who trust me.” To do that, I’ve got to rely on the only One who is totally reliable.

Father, thank You for Your patience and faithfulness in continuing to teach and train me how to be Your child. Help me grow at the speed You desire, so that I may be fully useful to You as Your son and servant, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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November 13, 2011

Posted on November 13, 2011 by jgarrott

Psalm 40:10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

God’s blessings are not to be hidden. That’s not the same as flaunting wealth, which we see far too much of. Rather, it is telling others of God’s faithfulness so that they, too, may turn to Him in faith. That is what gives God glory, as we are called on to do throughout the Bible. Many people don’t talk about how good God has been to them, either for fear it will come across as boasting, or out of embarrassment that they needed such help from God. In either case, that’s pride getting in the way of giving God glory. The Black church in America has a beautiful tradition of “testifying” or “giving a witness” that touches on the small things of life that we often overlook. As the question/answer song by Andrae Crouch puts it, “Who woke you up this morning? Jesus! Who set you on your way? Jesus!” That’s not to say we have to recount every detail of our lives to others – that’s the current aberration called Twitter – but it is to say that we are to be aware that we can do nothing without God’s help, and to let that reality be reflected in our conversation. Few people, when talking about their experiences, ever bring God into the narrative, and that’s a shame.

I perhaps do better than some in this area, but that’s not to say I don’t have a lot of room for improvement. Interestingly, the aches and pains that come with growing older help me be more aware not only of my dependence on God, but also just how much He does bless me. The fact that I don’t always have a cramp under my shoulder blade (like I do now), or that only one of my fingers has joint pain, is something to be thankful for! I don’t deserve better, and God deserves all the praise. I am not to focus on the negatives, either in my own thinking or in my words to others, but rather focus on God’s sustaining grace. I have a packed schedule today, but past experience tells me that God will carry me through, giving me the strength and wisdom necessary for each task, and that is certainly something to praise Him for!

Father, I do thank and praise You for Your faithfulness. Show me how to give You the glory You deserve, not only by how I speak but by how I live. May I draw each of the believers likewise to praise You in every facet of their lives, so that we may be a church that delights You by delighting in You, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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