Prophecy; November 2, 2024

Posted on November 3, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:9 “See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.”

This chapter is certifiably Messianic, because Matthew quoted it about Jesus in Matthew 12:20. There are Messianic prophecies throughout the Old Testament, but Isaiah is so rich in them that many have called it “The Gospel According to Isaiah.” It has been instrumental in leading many Jews to recognize that Jesus was and is the Messiah God had promised to their ancestors. That makes this verse particularly meaningful, because Jesus had not been born physically at the point Isaiah recorded this, so this was quite literally true. The thing is, not every Biblical prophecy has been fulfilled yet, so we have more to look forward to! Recently many people have been feeling that we are indeed in another time of prophetic fulfillment, even the Last Days, and some people have been popping off about exactly when Christ will return, but we can be confident that they are misled at best, and are actively demonic at worst, because Jesus said the exact timeline is not for us to know. (Matthew 24:36; 25:13) However, that’s not to say that all modern prophecy is invalid by any means. God still confirms His sovereignty, and His servants, by doing what this verse says. We are not to be obsessed with prophecy about coming events, but rather be focused on what God wants us to do right now. For example, failing to vote in the coming election because you are convinced Christ will return “any day now” is both foolish and irresponsible. We are to recognize fulfilled prophecy and let it strengthen our faith, but keep our personal focus on faithfulness.

This is close to home for me because of an experience of being used in predictive prophecy that was rather dramatic. I was in a small prayer meeting, and in obedience to the Lord I went to a couple who were dating but not yet married, and told them they would have a child. I was not sure it would be genetically the man’s child, but I was sure it would be genetically the woman’s. They responded politely, but thought I was completely off base, because the woman had had a hysterectomy! As it turned out, though, not only did they get married, the woman’s daughter from a previous marriage had a child but was on drugs and was completely unable to raise the child, so this couple adopted what was actually the woman’s grandchild, thus fulfilling what I had said to them. We weren’t even in the country when this happened, but they told my wife about it on a later visit, and how they realized I had been a true prophet to them. That incident proved to me that God can and does speak through me, but I’m never to think it’s because I’m so wonderful, but rather be grateful that God would use even such a one as I am.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I hadn’t thought about that experience in a long time. Help me be available for whatever You want to say through me, whenever You want to speak. Thank You for Your faithfulness to speak through me each Sunday, and even in casual conversations when I’m not “feeling prophetic” at all! May all Your plans be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory, whether we have understood what You’ve told us about them or not. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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God’s Music; November 1, 2024

Posted on November 2, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 30:29 And you will sing
    as on the night you celebrate a holy festival;
your hearts will rejoice
    as when people playing pipes go up
to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the Rock of Israel.

This chapter is head-spinning in its contrasts. Isaiah describes the ferocity of the Lord’s retribution against His enemies, but then drops in things like this, describing the peace and joy of those who are true to Him. The description of His guidance, in verses 19-21, is probably the most famous part of this chapter, but the whole chapter is quite a combination of describing Israel’s sins, the inevitable consequences of those sins, and then the Lord’s grace and mercy in it all. This verse stands out to me because it is a description of the “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) that Paul talked about. It describes an inner life that is independent of outer circumstances. I keep coming back to it, but Jesus’ statement just before His arrest is of vital importance: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We experience all sorts of unpleasant things. Sometimes they are our own fault, and sometimes they have nothing to do with us, but when we are firmly grounded in Christ Jesus our Lord, we have peace and even joy in the middle of it all.

Having grown up in a very musical family, I particularly like the references to music in this verse. I never wear ear buds and I don’t subscribe to Spotify or anything of the sort, but I’ve got songs running through my heart and mind – and occasionally my mouth – a significant part of every day. This morning I got up to find a conversation on my computer initiated by my older daughter, who was writing about her participation in the Knoxville Choral Society, responded to by my younger daughter, who is the Minister of Music at her church. It runs in the family! As much as I love music, however, I can see clearly that music by itself is relatively neutral. The music in this verse is blessed and is a blessing because it is focused on drawing closer to God. I am to use music as an expression of who God is, drawing others, not to mention my own heart, closer to Him. And of course, the music in my heart is not to be dependent on my circumstances, but rather on the One to whom I sing.

Father, thank You for this. I had no idea where I was going when I started writing! Thank You for all You have brought me through, and for the “songs in the night” (Psalm 42:8, etc.) that have sustained me. Thank You for the privilege of sharing Your love and Your truth with others, in music and in every other way. May I be Your instrument to cause others to sing Your Song, that transcends all others, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Human Pride; October 31, 2024

Posted on November 1, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 10:12 When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.”

We humans have a bad habit of thinking we accomplish things on our own. The next two verses sound like they could be a quote from Vladimir Putin, but the takedown in verse 15 applies to anyone who is used by God to accomplish anything. The more I read the Bible the more I am convinced that pride is at the root of the vast majority of sin. It was foundational to the original temptation in the Garden of Eden: “You will be like God.” (Genesis 3:5) Actually, it was what got the devil thrown out of heaven, because he desired worship for himself. (Isaiah 14:12-14) It is a demonstration of God’s grace that He uses anyone in His plans, because it would probably be easier for Him to just do it Himself, without human agency. However, He wants children, and that means He needs to train us to be like Him. The whole issue is actually beyond human understanding, but again in His grace He does speak to our hearts. This is why Paul speaks so repeatedly of “mysteries.” The works of God aren’t something we can figure out on our own! Humility is absolutely essential to growth as a child of God. As James famously said, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10) We should be deeply grateful anytime God chooses to use us, and strive to be as available to Him as possible, but not try to dictate how that is going to be, because we’ll get it wrong every time!

This is a subject I have all too much familiarity with! I have an enormous capacity for pride, and it nearly destroyed me, though I had no idea of the danger I was in. All of my life I have been blessed incredibly, but somewhere along the line I thought I deserved it. Rather than just squash me, God in His mercy showed me a mirror for just an instant, and what I saw of myself drove me to my knees. All that had puffed me up had been given to me, and yet I had felt and acted as though it were mine by right, and I took it for granted. The level of spiritual blindness and stupidity involved in that is astounding! At this point I can’t say that I have arrived, any more than Paul could, (Philippians 3:12-14) but thankfully, I have grown from where I was. I pray to keep growing until I stand before my Lord in heaven, but I won’t accomplish that growth by my own effort, but only by the grace and mercy of God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Guide me in communicating it with others as You intend, so that all of Your children who hear it may be encouraged and strengthened, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Government; October 30, 2024

Posted on October 31, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is of course a very famous verse, quoted and sung every year at Christmas, at least. However, it is worthy of our thought and meditation. In the first place, it specifies a son; no “gender confusion” here! In the second place, the word, government, is very meaningful in this time of a major election. The Japanese term used here doesn’t mean the organization, but rather, ruling authority. That’s something we’ve got to remember. There are some pretty horrible governments in nations around the world, with dictatorships and corruption and all sorts of mess. However, it is Christ who has the ruling authority; all the others are shadows or are downright illegitimate. And then it goes into the wonderful descriptive names. Who could not love such a One as that? However, for those who don’t want to cede ruling authority to Christ, those names seem meaningless. It’s all a question of whether we will submit to Him, to act as His agents rather than running off on our own. All the wonderful things about Christ don’t apply for us as long as we are in rebellion. However, Jesus’ famous parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) is perfectly applicable here. The Father’s grace and mercy, His abundance, are always available to us, but we have to acknowledge our rebellion, our guilt, our need, and come to Him in genuine repentance. If we will do that, then we will find Christ is all the things listed here, and more.

In my youth I was never much interested in politics, but particularly after 50 that interest has grown. In just over a week from right now the results will start coming in from the US election, and my anticipation is growing. However, I’ve got to keep remembering that the ruling authority is on Christ’s shoulders, and not on any other. We do live in political systems, and Paul certainly admonishes us to pray for our rulers, (1 Timothy 2:1-2) and I think that applies to those who want to be rulers as well. Paul’s world was far from a constitutional republic, but that makes no difference when we remember that “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) is Christ’s. We have the privilege of participating in our own government, and we should never take that lightly. Failing to vote is a sinful rejection of responsibility. I am not to be anxious but I am to pray, both for the candidates and for those who will vote for them. I am particularly to pray that those who claim to follow Christ would wake up, get up, and go to the polls, as stewards of the privilege and responsibility they have been given as citizens.

Father, I easily get pretty worked up over this, to the point that I have to avoid the subject in talking with some people. Help me trust You fully, remembering where the authority is and praying as Jesus taught us, for Your will to be done on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Conformity; October 29, 2024

Posted on October 30, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 8:11-12 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:
“Do not call conspiracy
    everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
    and do not dread it.

The Bible records this sort of message in various ways throughout its length, probably most famously in Paul’s words: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) We all have the tendency to “take the easy way out,” to “go with the flow” of what everyone around us is doing, but that can be dangerous indeed. Jesus cautioned us very strongly, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” (Matthew 7:13) There is a great deal of pressure to conform, sometimes simply by social pressure but sometimes with the force of government. We aren’t to be different just for the sake of being different, but we certainly aren’t to conform just for the sake of conforming. Sometimes that balance can be hard to find! What God said to Isaiah is very important here: don’t fear what society in general fears. Over the past few years it has been all too common that yesterday’s “conspiracy theory” is tomorrow’s established fact. The point is not to fear any of it, but fear only the Lord our God, as it says in verse 13. We must remember that ultimate power and authority reside only in God, so no matter how much fuss anything else might be kicking up, our focus, our fear and our hope, are to be on Him alone. This is particularly important to remember with all the political ruckus that’s being kicked up. In Sunday’s election in Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party failed to get an outright majority for only the second time since WWII, so it remains to be seen what the government is going to look like. In a sense, this was long overdue, because too many LDP politicians were taking power for granted, and corruption was rife. I’m not familiar with the policy platforms of any of the parties, but the thing to do at this point is to cover it all in prayer, so that God’s plans may be fulfilled. With the American election, all sorts of tales of doom and gloom are being spread if “the other side wins.” We are certainly to pray for God’s choices to enter office, but we’ve got to remember that God is ultimately, and positively, in control. The forecasts of how many “evangelical Christians” will not even vote is disturbing to say the least. Even if you have trouble voting for a particular candidate, the ones who need to be voted against are clear indeed, and as has been said, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” God does use His children, and we need to resist every temptation to be inactive.

Father, thank You for this clear, strong reminder. I do pray for Your children in the US to get up out of their apathy and “spirituality” and act as Your agents, not just in this election but in every area of life. As Charlie Kirk and others have pointed out so strongly, I pray for the pastors who have failed to mobilize their flocks, that they would repent of their spiritual pride and understand their place in Your kingdom, so that Your will may be done indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Truth; October 28, 2024

Posted on October 29, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good
    and good evil,
who put darkness for light
    and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
    and sweet for bitter.

It’s interesting how much more compact this verse is, written out in Japanese versus English, because each of the concepts mentioned has its own individual character, rather than needing to be written out with several letters. However, that’s irrelevant to the actual meaning of the verse. Sadly, we are seeing this verse displayed all around us, though thankfully, we are finally seeing some kickback against it. The people who are insisting that homosexual relationships are normative, that childlessness is desirable, and that children should be mutilated on the basis of emotional trauma are pathetic, and the spirit behind all of that is manifestly evil. It seems like America is experiencing a famine of common sense! The point is not to attack those who are so deluded, but it is certainly to stand firm against them and not back down. That can be risky, as people are enduring fines and even prison sentences for such logical behavior. Thankfully, America is still a constitutional republic, and there is a major election around the corner. The imperative is for those who know the truth to express their convictions, legally and peacefully, in such numbers that illegal tricks will be overwhelmed by legal votes. The thing is, reasonable people are needed in all levels of government, because the nation is far too big to be run by just a few people – though some try! Even such lowly positions as local school boards are of vital importance, as has been demonstrated recently. Japan had a major election yesterday, and sadly people were ignorant of the positions and policies of some of the “down ticket” candidates, and simply didn’t make a choice in several cases. That shows what a tremendous service is done by the groups in America who carefully make comparison tables of all the candidates, not telling people for whom to vote but making sure people know what they’re voting for. In all of this we need to remember that God is still God and His truth never changes, but we are to be agents of His truth, so that His kingdom may come as His will is done by us, right in our own local situation, for His glory.

My absentee ballot for the US was mailed as soon as it was legally possible. Yesterday I was asked if I had voted in the Japanese election, and some people were surprised that I can’t vote here. I’m happy to say that all the Japanese in the church seem to have voted early, since elections are held on Sundays in Japan, but some said they left some positions unmarked, such as judgeships, because they knew nothing about either candidate. I was saddened by that, and I pray for non-partisan organizations to rise up in Japan to do the candidate comparisons that are often available in the US. And I certainly pray for the vote-counting mechanisms to be honest, and for God’s plans to be advanced. God is not dependent on human beings, but He certainly uses them. I am to pray not only for those in authority but also for those who want to be in authority, so that God’s truth may prevail.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This verse was extremely timely! Help me be the agent of Your truth, Your kingdom, Your will, that You want me to be, for the blessing of those around me and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Perspective; October 27, 2024

Posted on October 28, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 4:2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel.

I would imagine Isaiah’s hearers got rather confused sometimes, because his prophecies seem to mix disaster with blessing. Part of that is because blessings, and for that matter, disasters, are generally conditional – if this, then that. God’s love is unconditional, but how we experience that varies greatly by how we receive and respond to it. The thing is, our understanding is so limited that sometimes what we see as a disaster is actually a blessing, and even vice versa. America’s current luxury has led to spiritual apathy and deviancy, and such things as the recent hurricanes have led to outpourings of love and faith. That’s why Paul admonished us, “Rejoice aways, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) When we make our love for God conditional, we get way off the mark. We tend to feel, even if we don’t articulate it in so many words, “If God’s nice to me, then I’ll follow Him.” We don’t stop to think that our actions don’t deserve His being nice to us! God has already demonstrated His love for us in a way that couldn’t possibly be topped, by sending His Son to take the penalty for our sins and die for us. (John 3:16, Romans 5:6) It is when we believe that, and respond in repentance and commitment, that we are saved. We will have all sorts of junk in our lives, as Jesus famously warned us, (John 16:33) but that doesn’t change anything about God’s love for us, and the eternal salvation that is available to us by faith in Christ. Whatever is going on around us, we need to remember that “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

This is a very timely reminder, because Cathy and I aren’t yet out from under the flu, or whatever this bug is. Last night was hardly restful, with congestion and coughing and the like. However, we know that by next week we will hardly remember what we’re going through now, and God’s love is constant. Today being a 4th Sunday, we will be celebrating Communion, and that is something to make us rejoice! Today is also a national Diet election here in Japan, so we won’t be pestered by the sound trucks of the politicians, as we have been for the past couple of weeks. We do need to cover this election in prayer, just as we need to do for the US election on 11/5, because who is in leadership does make a difference. Unusually, the new Prime Minister is a Christian, so we need to be lifting him up particularly, to be able to hear God’s guidance and follow it, and be protected from all sorts of attacks in the process. Thinking about that, the remnants of the flu seem rather insignificant! We need to remember that God is still God, and pray the Lord’s Prayer with intent, faith, and passion, for God’s rule and reign to be manifested throughout the earth, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me stay focused on my Lord throughout today, whatever is going on, so that I may be fully available to You for however You want to use me, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Priorities; October 26, 2024

Posted on October 27, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 2:5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
    let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Verses 2-4 are a dearly loved prophecy of God’s kingdom, culminating in this invitation to live in obedience to and fellowship with God, but then this is followed by a description of the state of Israel at the time Isaiah was writing that is far from the idyllic description of the kingdom of God. I really hadn’t remembered this juxtaposition. The description in verses 6-8 sounds remarkably like modern society, if you make shifts for changes in technology. This is the tension for anyone with spiritual discernment. We know and look forward to the wonderful things God has promised us, but current reality just doesn’t match up. We might not call them idols, but everyone around us seems to be “bowed down to the work of their hands,” (verse 8) indeed, in their hands, as in, their phones. When we read the Old Testament we tend to relegate it to ancient history, but human nature hasn’t changed; only the technological window dressing has changed. The invitation to “Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord” is as urgently needed today as it was in Isaiah’s day.

I too am quite prone to get ensnared by technology, to “bow down” to manmade things. Phones and computers and such can be very useful tools, but the question is always the priorities of my heart. I am grateful to have multiple computers with which I can access different Bible translations and record what the Lord says to me through them, but I must not let the tool take precedence. I haven’t hand-written devotions in so long I’m not sure I could, but God certainly hasn’t changed! I delight to record and share the insights God gives me, but I must not let the recording and sharing loom bigger in my mind and heart than the One who speaks to me. After all, I won’t have or need computers in heaven, but will be in constant communication with my Lord!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I’ve always been a geek, delighting in machinery of all sorts. Help me delight first and foremost in You, Your Son and Your Spirit, so that my priorities in everything else may likewise be as they should be, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Aging; October 25, 2024

Posted on October 26, 2024 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator
    in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
    and the years approach when you will say,
    “I find no pleasure in them”—

The first part of this is excellent advice, but everything that follows, all the way through verse 8, is a terribly depressing view of aging, old age, and death. This brings me back to my conviction that Solomon is one of the most pathetic figures in the whole Bible. He had absolutely every advantage, with intelligence and wealth and every opportunity, and yet along the line he took it all for granted and lost focus on his Creator (though he gives Him lip service here.) Our lives are indeed meaningless vanity (one of Solomon’s favorite words) without the awareness that we were created for a purpose, and our existence doesn’t end with our physical death. The Egyptians focused everything on the afterlife, but that too is a mistake. Our time on this earth is indeed brief, but we aren’t here by chance, and the better we grasp our purpose, the happier and more fulfilled we will be. Solomon’s biggest problem was that he let pride replace gratitude in his heart, and human pride is indeed empty vanity. We can gain wisdom from what Solomon wrote, but the best thing we can gain from him is not copying his negative example. That he would actively promote and participate in idolatry, after all God had done for him, is incredible to me. Like his father David before him, women were a snare to him, and the results were tragic.

I thankfully had the example of a father who was totally committed to his Creator, and totally faithful to his wife. At 76, the physical symptoms of aging mentioned here are easily recognized, but I don’t let them take control. I don’t expect to have years in which I have no pleasure! At the moment I’m in the final stages of recovery from what seems to have been the flu, which was of course no fun, but I am feeling much better than I was, and I anticipate months and years of productive life ahead. The important thing for me is to keep my focus on my Lord, not simply for the eternal reward that awaits me, but for what He wants me doing here and now. My greatest joy is in the awareness that I have been useful to my Lord in some way, sharing His truth with someone or otherwise blessing them. I look forward to going walking this morning for the first time in a couple of weeks, because of our trip and the illness that followed. I look forward to the exercise itself and to taking pictures of God’s beautiful world I’ll be walking in, but I eagerly anticipate running into a man I’ve gotten to know through these walks. I don’t know if we will synchronize this morning, but I hope we will, since his birthday is tomorrow. He doesn’t yet know Jesus as Lord, and the prospect of being useful to God in drawing him to salvation is exciting to me. Whenever God takes me home, I want to have as many people as possible “tagged” to join me when their time is up!

Father, thank You that my “final years” are far brighter, far more joyful and meaningful than Solomon’s were. May I not “kill time,” but rather delight to do Your will on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Humility; October 24, 2024

Posted on October 25, 2024 by jgarrott

Ecclesiastes 11:5 As you do not know the path of the wind,
    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
    the Maker of all things.

Solomon was noted for his wisdom, but I think this is one of the wisest things he wrote, and it’s a confession of ignorance. Just like yesterday, we run into the different meanings of ruach here. The ESV renders it as “spirit,” but both the NIV and the Japanese say “wind.” It’s interesting that the two mysteries Solomon gives as examples are things we claim to know a lot about today, but they are actually still mysterious. Fetal development is an area of intense research, and one of the points of hottest contention is when it becomes a human being. That would fit with the ESV rendering this as “the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb.” Going with “wind,” meteorology is so complex that it has sparked the creation of some of the biggest supercomputers in the world. With those and satellite observation weather forecasting has become much more accurate, but it is still far from exact, and weather certainly can’t be controlled. The point is, as Solomon states here, only God knows everything, because He actually does everything. Not grasping that is hubris, which even the ancient Greeks recognized as one of the most dangerous attitudes. Humility is an essential component of wisdom! By God’s grace He allows us to discover more and more about the physical universe, but having a grasp of just how much we don’t know is necessary for genuine wisdom.

This is something I’ve run into off and on all my life. I was given a high IQ and I have always liked to learn and know stuff, but that has led to times of intense pride, even to the point of hubris. That has never been pretty! It was a beautiful breakthrough when it really came on me that God’s smart and I’m not. Discovering things I don’t know has become a joy to me, whether or not I think I could ever learn whatever those things might be. Releasing things to God has become a joyful exercise, not to be irresponsible but to recognize that I don’t have to know everything because God does, and He loves me. I am at times saddened by the ignorance of some people, not because they are ignorant but because they seem to have no desire to be otherwise, but then I compare my ignorance to God’s omniscience, and I can love them as God loves me. I have always liked the Japanese expression, “acorns comparing height,” because it so beautifully encapsulates the reality that we are equally insignificant, compared to God. The marvelous thing is, God loves us anyway!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all the things You do to teach us and grow us and remind us of our humanity. Thank You that I seem to be mostly through this cold/flu/whatever, and that my wife is well along as well. Help us keep our focus on You, whatever is going on in our bodies or in the world around us, so that Your purposes for us may be fulfilled on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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