Yielding Our Way to God; July 15, 2024

Posted on July 16, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 142:3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.

The attribution of this Psalm says it was written when David was “in the cave,” that is, fleeing from Saul. That was indeed a very rough period in David’s life, but God allowed it to teach him to trust Him completely. Here David is honest enough to say that emotionally, he is about ready to give up. However, he remembers that God hasn’t forgotten him, and He knows both where David is at the moment and where David should go. That’s true for us, too, and it should be as great a comfort to us as it was to David. When we are self-centered, all we can see are the problems around us and our own inability to solve them. When we lift our eyes to see the Lord, we recognize that our problems are mighty small compared to Him. The difficulty comes in believing that He really cares, and He isn’t mean. One of the devil’s favorite lies is that God is a bully. Any time that thought enters our head we need to recognize where it comes from, and reject it immediately. God’s loving plan for us probably includes some mountains to get over and some jungles to get through, but in doing that, in following God’s path for us, we grow and are strengthened in ways that would never happen otherwise. I keep coming back to the fact that Jesus expressly said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Those troubles aren’t accidents, any more than Jesus’ cross was an accident, but considering the outcome of Jesus’ cross, we can anticipate what blessings will come from our own troubles. (2 Corinthians 4:17) God knows our way, and in His plan, it is ultimately a very good way indeed.

This is a lesson I have been preaching for quite a few years, but I feel like I am finally learning it. What a relief! Releasing everything to God, however good or bad it feels in the moment, removes a huge amount of stress. I know what it’s like for my spirit to fail within me, and it’s no fun. I don’t know what God has for me around the corner, but I know the final destination is absolutely fabulous. When Jesus could endure the cross for the joy that was set before him, (Hebrews 12:2) I can endure anything I might encounter because of what lies ahead for me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. We’ve just lost people close to us, and there are more we could lose any day. I’m not to be morbid about any of it, but remember our mortality and rejoice in it, because the next life is far better than this one. Thank You for how blessed You have made this one for me! May I be a channel of Your grace and comfort to those around me, so that they too may rejoice in You regardless of their circumstances. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Covering; July 14, 2024

Posted on July 15, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 140:7 Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.

This is linguistically a very interesting verse. Different translations render it differently. Most English translations say something about “day of battle,” or something similar, but the Japanese I use says, “the day I take up my weapons.” In that context, saying that “You shield my head,” or “covered my head,” is directly equivalent to saying, “You are my helmet.” The imagery of a “helmet of salvation” is used even in the New Testament. (Ephesians 6:17) Covering the head is also a sign of authority, or of submission to authority, as in crowns and the Jewish yarmulke. Here, it is God doing the covering, and David is simply receiving. Even today helmets are considered an essential item of battle gear, and they have saved countless lives. We need to receive the whole armor Paul talked about in Ephesians 6, knowing that in the world today, we are certainly in “the day of battle” every day, and stand up as God’s warriors for the sake of those around us, for His glory.

I spent two years in the US Army, courtesy of the draft, but by God’s grace I was sent to Hawaii rather than Vietnam. I am familiar with helmets, in that context and also in riding motorbikes. That said, I have been in far more dangerous situations spiritually than physically, and I must remember my spiritual covering at all times. As a missionary, I had a period of thankfully just a few years when I had no one regularly praying for me, and my focus went out the window. God had to deliver a strong Word of correction to me, and then take me away from Omura for four months to foster spiritual connections before bringing me back. Now, the Internet allows me to maintain communication with prayer warriors around the world, and I am grateful. I am also in the position of providing prayer covering for quite a few people, again, around the world. Physical distance makes no difference to God! I am to receive covering from others and provide it to others, recognizing that God is the ultimate source of all covering, and maintaining my full submission and obedience to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I have two families that are under intense attack at this point, and several more that are in lesser danger. Help me be faithful in prayer, that they may be covered indeed and all the plans of the enemy be foiled, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Forgiveness; July 13, 2024

Posted on July 14, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 130:3-4 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

The Japanese here includes something that I think is an interpolation, but it’s not unreasonable. It says, “who could stand before You.” It is certainly true that if God had not created a mechanism through the sacrifice of His Son for the forgiveness of sins that no one could come into His presence, because absolute holiness cannot tolerate sin. I often use the illustration of matter and antimatter, but in that case, both are destroyed by the contact. In the case of sinful beings and absolute holiness, it is only the sinful beings that are destroyed. The Psalmist here didn’t know just how God would provide absolution, but he knew that it was real, and he rejoiced by faith. It is interesting that he says, “Therefore You are feared.” (This latest iteration of the NIV changes that a bit.) At first glance, fear might seem to be a strange response to forgiveness, but that just shows our limited grasp of “the fear of the Lord.” This is an awareness of His power, certainly, and that we deserve destruction, but it is both deeper and broader than that. It includes a level of respect and honor that is sadly lacking in modern society in general. American culture in general is so focused on equality that we tend to think we are equal with God! People have widely different levels of ability, responsibility, and authority, but all of that becomes totally insignificant when compared to God. That God is able to forgive sin, to erase it from the record, is a sign of His power and authority that nothing else can equal.

I remember once having a Japanese person be terribly offended by my telling them I forgave them. In their view, that meant I was placing myself on a much higher plane than them, to dispense forgive­ness. The New Testament blows that out of the water in many places, with Jesus explicitly saying that if we don’t forgive one another, we won’t be forgiven by God. (Matthew 6:14-15) I deal with forgiveness a great deal in marriage counseling, understandably, I think. Several years ago I heard a snippet of a podcast, from Focus on the Family, I think, where a guest mentioned something very briefly, because of time restraints, and that has stayed with me and become a pillar of my marriage counseling. I wish I had some idea of who it was, but all I remember is that it was a woman. They said that the four levels of the foundation of a good marriage were, in turn, Commitment, Respect, Intimacy, and Forgiveness. Meditating on that, the Lord has greatly expanded it, and I have included it in a booklet I wrote that I use in marital counseling, calling it Successful Marriage, but I wish I knew whom to attribute it to! In any case, forgiveness is absolutely essential, not only for marriage but for all of life. And of course, all human forgiveness is based on the reality that God is a forgiving God, and His forgiveness is essential to every one of us.

Father, thank You for this reminder. This passage has struck me before, but Your Word keeps giving me fresh insight! Help me rejoice in Your forgiveness and extend it to others, so that they too may repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Respect; July 12, 2024

Posted on July 13, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 123:3 Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,
    for we have endured no end of contempt.

This is an interesting, brief Psalm. It rather goes against the little rhyme most English-speakers learn as children: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Words can be very painful indeed! The Psalmist is suffering from contempt, and that’s not a minor issue. Every human being has a fundamental need to be respected, to be valued as a human being, an individual, and the lack of that can truly cut deep. Sometimes it’s a matter of perception, and some people are certainly thin-skinned, but it is without question something to cry out to God about. That’s because God values every one of us immensely, and the better we grasp that, the more insulated we are against the contempt of human beings. That doesn’t mean that any of us is the center of the universe or anything like that, but it does mean that God considers each one of us worthy of sending His Son to die for us. That means we are worthy of respect! A lack of respect can be fatal to relationships, specifically including marriage. I am grieved to see movies and TV shows that portray the husband and father as a buffoon, an object of ridicule, because I have seen homes torn apart by that very attitude. Men in particular have respect as one of their highest emotional needs, and a man who is not respected by his wife is quite likely to find another woman who will respect him, or at least make him feel like she does. It is very significant that in the famous passage on the marital relationship in Ephesians 5, the man is commanded to love his wife and the woman is commanded to respect her husband. Paul wasn’t married, but God revealed to him how these things work. To be frank, there are various activities that aren’t worthy of respect, but we need to strive to separate the person from the activity. As the saying goes, “Hate the sin but not the sinner.” I have even seen evangelists who didn’t seem to respect the people to whom they were proclaiming the Gospel! That is certainly counterproductive!

I think I have felt respected most of my life, though I did have some nasty nicknames at different points in my childhood that served to toughen my skin a bit. I have also been a bit on the other side of that sort of thing, with pride making me look down on others. That is certainly sin on my part! I need to remember that every person I encounter is someone for whom Christ died, and treat them accordingly in my words and actions. Only then will they be able to see God’s love through me and be drawn to Him for repentance and faith.

Father, thank You for this reminder. It’s not an issue I think about very often, so thank You for the article recently that mentioned it in the marriage context. Help me be an accurate representation of Your attitude toward everyone I meet, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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The Depth of the Word; July 11, 2024

Posted on July 12, 2024 by jgarrott

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

Different translations render the image in the first part of this verse differently, with “unfolding” common in English translations, but the Japanese says “when the door opens.” I like that, because the Bible is in many ways like the magical wardrobe in the Narnia books, leading deeper and deeper into things not previously imagined. In the second half of the verse, where English translations say “simple,” this Japanese translation says “shallow,” and the word for “understanding” is satori, made famous by Buddhism as “enlightenment.” Many, if not most, people are actually quite shallow in their understanding of the great themes of life, not because they don’t have the capacity to understand, but because they never think of them. Reading the Bible forces us to think about those things, which may well be why some people avoid the Bible! Actually, the devil likes things that way, because shallow people are easy for him to snare. When we get into the Bible, and let it get into us, we are far better equipped and enabled to follow God and resist the devil, just as James famously said. (James 4:7) Parts of the Bible are fairly easy to understand, particularly those relating to Jesus being the Savior, like John 3:16, but the depth of it is essentially infinite. That’s why it’s like the wardrobe leading into Narnia! There is always more to learn, more to gain, if we will allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into His Book.

I first read all the way through the Bible by the time I was 10, but I keep getting new insights. The highest compliment ever paid to me is that I’m addicted to the Bible! I can’t think of a more beneficial addiction! It is not unusual for me to be having a conversation in which I say something very matter-of-factly, and the person I’m talking to suddenly looks like I hit them over the head, or in the stomach. They say, “That’s deep!” but to me it’s simply obvious. I can’t take pride in that, because it’s only by God’s grace, and indeed, it makes me a poor evangelist because I’m not very skilled at laying the foundation for the deeper things. As my blog demonstrates, I open the Bible physically every morning, and God’s Spirit opens it to me spiritually, and opens my heart to it. I think that last part is key, because without a love for God and His Word, that Word can have a hard time penetrating. As I have commented many times, I feel like James 1:22 was written for me: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” I will not gain enlightenment, to go back to the verse in Psalm 119, without a heart that is committed to doing what the Lord says to me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Help me keep growing in taking in Your Word and making it part of me, so that I may share that Word with others in ways they can receive it, to allow it to transform us all, for Your glory. (Isaiah 55:10-11) Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Death; July 10, 2024

Posted on July 11, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.

This verse is very famous, but I think it is greatly misunderstood. I think the misunderstanding comes from combined human weaknesses. In the first place, we tend to fear death. People will go to enormous lengths to try to avoid it, even though it is inevitable. The second problem is human greed. If something is precious, we want more of it, so we read this as God wanting more of His saints to die! The third issue is the word, precious. For many people today, that word brings up images of Golum in Lord of the Rings, muttering about the One Ring as “my precious.” That’s not wrong (Tolkien was a very careful wordsmith) but it still misses the point. “Precious” means not simply value, but importance and emotional connection. Put very simply, this verse says that God never takes the death of one of His children lightly; it is a matter of great significance. On one level that seems rather odd, because for the believer, death is simply a transition from this world to the next, but then, we treat other transition points, such as graduation or marriage, as being of great significance. I think it helps in understanding this verse to contrast it with the attitude of some governments toward death. It was Stalin who said, “Five deaths is a tragedy. Five million deaths is a statistic.” Dictatorial regimes have always been casual with the lives of their subjects, seemingly forgetting that if everyone dies, there’s no one to rule over! God is the opposite of that, caring deeply about each individual, and we should rest in that assurance.

I have long had a somewhat unusual relationship with death, and I’m not entirely sure why. Part of it comes from being steeped in the Gospel from my birth, and thus having a solid assurance that this life isn’t the end. I don’t think I ever saw a dead human body before that of my grandmother, when I was in college. I was quite familiar with death itself, since my family always had pets, and so I knew well what grief was. Also, I killed countless frogs, lizards, and snakes as I was growing up, since our house was in a rural area at that point. (I didn’t think insects counted.) As a pastor, I have lost count of how many people I have “seen off,” though some stand out in my memo­ry. Right now, we are essentially waiting for when the Lord says, “It’s time,” for one 87-year-old lady. The longer I live, the more I am convinced that the most important question about death is whether we have fulfilled the purposes for which God put us here in the first place. Do we have a close relationship with Him? Have we done the things that He prepared for us to do? (Ephesians 2:10) If the answer to those two questions is yes, then physical death is something to be looked forward to, and I do (though I’m not in the least suicidal). My biggest purpose is in bringing as many people as possible to the repentance and faith that will give them the same assurance I have.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. I do pray for that lady and for her son. I pray that everything about her passing, whether it is today or years from now, would be exactly as You have planned, for their blessing and as a testimony to Your grace and faithfulness. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Walking in Truth; July 9, 2024

Posted on July 10, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, Lord,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.

This is a prayer that every believer can and should pray. We do know God’s way in general terms, because the Bible has a lot to say about it. However, we need His help in getting it into our hearts and minds to really know it, to grasp it so that we walk in it consistently. And of course, we all have questions about the specific path God has prepared for us, and desire that He show us what is right. Sometimes that isn’t the easy path that our flesh would choose, but we know that God’s way is best, even when it’s difficult. We need to remember that God’s way is truth, that there is no deception in it. We need to be totally honest with Him, with ourselves, and with those around us. That doesn’t necessarily mean saying all we know, however true it might be, particularly to those around us, but it does mean absolute integrity, with no deception or excuses. The last half of the verse is extremely practical. We all have a strong tendency toward a divided heart. In cartoons that is drawn as an angel on one shoulder and a demon on the other, but that is certainly simplistic. We are constantly making decisions, whether we realize it or not, and there are forces that do NOT want us to follow God’s way. There’s a reason David connects this with fearing God’s name. The fear of the Lord is very powerful in helping us know what is right and choosing it, getting us past the “split personality” to which we are so prone.

I write from experience here! I have certainly experienced the pull of differing paths, and I haven’t always chosen the right one. I have learned without question that God’s path is always best, but that doesn’t mean I’m never tempted, by any means. I need to pray this prayer along with everyone else, even though I was baptized 68 years ago! I need to have the basics down firmly, just as it says in Hebrews 6:1-2, but at the same time I must remember that I will never be perfect this side of heaven, as even Paul recognized. (Philippians 3:12-14) Walking in God’s truth is a constant exercise, a consistent choice, and I need to keep doing it better.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for not giving up on me, the many times I have made the wrong choices. Help me be an effective guide to those in my care, so that they too may learn better how to listen to You and choose Your path, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Reputation; July 8, 2024

Posted on July 9, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 79:9-10 Help us, God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.
Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”

Once again, this is a Psalm written by a descendent of Asaph, because Jerusalem was never conquered during David’s lifetime, and Asaph was a Levite appointed by David. Little things like the attribution of Psalms might seem unimportant, but they give insight to understand the events and emotions behind the words. It would seem that this Levite was a contemporary of Jeremiah, and if so, he had seen plenty of idolatry, not to mention despising of God and His messengers. He doesn’t claim innocence for those who were slaughtered, but he asks for deliverance for the sake of God’s name, that is, His reputation. Monotheism simply wasn’t a thing back then, and gods were considered powerful to the degree that they made their devotees prosper. On that score, Yahweh seemed to be striking out! From our perspective it is easier to see that God is the Creator of the universe, but it benefits nothing to look down on those who didn’t have that perspective. There have been many genuine saints who had shaky theology! The problem with those about whom this Levite was writing was that they hadn’t lived their daily lives so as to acknow­ledge God or give Him glory. Religions are known by the actions of their adherents! As James said, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) How many Christians today are earnest about not being polluted by the world? We rightly speak and sing of “The Name of Jesus,” and indeed, “Christian” expressly means “Christ follower,” but do we live so that those around us can see the difference between someone who follows Jesus as Lord and someone who doesn’t? God has made His character obvious throughout the universe, (Romans 1:19-20) but his reputation among men comes from those who say they follow Him. We should give no one an excuse to say, “Where is their God?”

As a pastor in Japan, I am very much in the place of being considered a representative of Christianity, and indeed of Christ. I was deeply pleased last week to receive a call from a psychiatric hospital, because one of their inpatients was saying they wanted to become a Christian. After 40 years, we have established a name in this city, and it is all by the grace of God. I am to live my life in faithfulness so that name will not be discounted, because it is connected to the Name of my Lord. If I live in daily fellowship, in step with God’s Spirit, (Galatians 5:25) then people will see Christ through me and be drawn to Him for their salvation. That is my desire and my goal.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all You’ve brought us through in the sight of this city. May more and more people realize that they need, and can have, what they see and admire in us, and so repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Meditating on God; July 7, 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 77:11-12 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

This Psalm is attributed to Asaph, but it seems likely that it was written by one of his descendants. It was written by a Levite in any case, and that means someone quite familiar with the Torah. His immediate situation makes him feel like God had abandoned him, but he makes the choice of faith, to think about what God had done in the past and allow that to build up his faith to stand in the present. Countless saints have made this choice down through the centuries, and it is always the right choice. Some have even written of “the dark night of the soul,” when they clung to God even when it felt like He was nowhere to be found. I don’t know why some people go through such times, but I do know that the results can be magnificent in and through those who stand firm. Human emotions are very unreliable. At times they can feel like the greatest blessing in the world, but at other times they can drive people to suicidal despair. One reason we have been given the Bible is so that we will have a written record of what God has said and done, that doesn’t change. When our emotions are playing tricks with us, getting back to the Bible and letting the words sink into us is one of the best things we can do.

I am grateful to say that I’ve never been in such a situation myself, but I have certainly been around people who were. Just yesterday we visited a lady in the hospital who is quite possibly actively dying. She was complaining of her pain, and said that she had asked her mother to take her place, but her mother wouldn’t do it. The lady in question is in her 80s, and her mother has been gone a long time. She also said, “Your God answers you, but my God doesn’t,” even though she is a baptized Christian. I reminded her of her husband’s confession of faith at the time of their baptism, and how moving it was. I also reminded them of how they had come by the church to speak to us one time and her husband had asked me to do his funeral when the time came. I replied that I would be delighted to do so, but I hoped it wouldn’t be soon. It was less than a week before he had a heart attack in the bath, and didn’t last physically till morning. I also quoted to her Paul’s statement that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) I do pray that she would choose to remember God’s countless blessings toward her and rest, relax, and rejoice in God’s grace, for as long as He leaves her here.

Father, I do pray for that lady, and for her son, who is facing serious health challenges of his own. I pray that both of them would be able to focus on You and let go of self-centered demands. Help them both trust You, since You alone are fully trustworthy, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Influence; July 6, 2024

Posted on July 7, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 69:6 Lord, the Lord Almighty,
    may those who hope in you
    not be disgraced because of me;
God of Israel,
    may those who seek you
    not be put to shame because of me.

This is a prayer of a genuine servant of God. Every time a Church leader falls, those who had been served by them are embarrassed. Our actions always influence more than ourselves, but that is doubly true for those in leadership positions. As James noted, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) To some that seems unfair, and many “Preacher’s Kids” and “Missionary Kids” have rebelled against it, not wanting to be under a microscope because of their parents. However, there is no denying human nature, and that’s how things are. PKs and MKs notwithstanding, God sets people up as examples, and we are to fulfill the positions God has prepared for us. That’s why every real minister of the Lord needs to pray this prayer with some regularity. We are indeed under attack, and if we fall, many are adversely affected. The most dangerous attitude is thinking you are fine, that you are not vulnerable, but we forget that the devil is smarter than we are. However, he’s not smarter or stronger than God, so as long as we are genuinely submitted to God and abiding in Christ, we have nothing to worry about. We aren’t to be legalistic, counting our steps on the Sabbath and that sort of thing, but we are to remember that we are being watched, and that God wants to show Himself mighty through us.

Growing up as an MK, I don’t think I ever really felt this pressure, though I knew many people who did. Some, in fact, completely discarded Christianity, at least for a while, but I think their parents must not have been consistent at home, as opposed to their “public face.” Children are the closest beneficiaries of the prayer in this verse! I don’t think I ever detected hypocrisy in my parents, and I am deeply grateful. In fact, one of my father’s core principles was Absolute Honesty, and he stuck to it faithfully, as much at home as anywhere else. For myself, I have avoided drinking alcohol for exactly this reason. At one point in college I actually tried to get drunk, just for the experience, but several ounces of bourbon didn’t even give me a buzz. Not feeling a need for it, I wasn’t as tempted as many are, but I have always been aware of the influence factor, and I haven’t wanted to influence someone else to drink when they didn’t have the same enzyme shield I did. In Japan, that has required explaining why I didn’t drink on many occasions, but it has thankfully been respected, for the most part. On a positive note, my relationship with my wife has been noticed by many, and admiringly commented on. I’m grateful!

Father, thank You for making me aware that people watch me. Growing up as a Caucasian in Japan, that was inescapable! Help me be the influence You want me to be, drawing people to You and helping them understand Your grace and love, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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