Perspective; December 23, 2024

Posted on December 24, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

This is such a familiar passage, I knew which verse I was going to write on before I even read it just now! That’s the thing about the Christmas story: it is in some ways numbingly familiar, yet it is at the same time marvelously deep and rich. Again, I have no idea how many times I’ve written on this verse, but some things bear repeating. Taking this verse in the English word order, it starts by saying the shepherds went back to where they had been and what they had been doing. You can say that and it would be true, but the shepherds themselves were profoundly changed by what they had experienced, and nothing would ever be exactly the same. That said, pivotal experiences sometimes mean a complete change in lifestyle, but sometimes things just simply have to be done, as was the case with the shepherds. They couldn’t just drop everything and suddenly become itinerant prophets, because their responsibility with the sheep was real. Bethlehem was where sheep destined for temple sacrifice were herded, and they could not walk away. At the same time, I’m sure they couldn’t stop thinking and talking about what they had experienced. This was life-changing indeed! We have no idea how devout they were before this experience, but they were certainly the firmest of believers afterward! Never having had an experience anything close to what they had, I can only imagine their state of mind and heart. I have a feeling they didn’t complain about anything for at least quite a while after that! They knew without any question that God cared about His people Israel, and they knew that somehow, for some reason, He had chosen to involve them in what He was doing. I hope none of them later devolved into pride, that they had been chosen for this role, but somehow I doubt it. Their hearts were totally focused on God, and that put everything else into perspective. We may never have such a dramatic experience, but we need to be equally focused on God. If we will do that, everything will fall into perspective for us as well, and that’s something we all need.

I didn’t know what my key word would be when I started writing, but I see that it is perspective. That’s certainly something I need! I am as prone as anyone to get caught up in what is in front of my nose. It is only when I fix my heart on God, His love for me and what He has done, for me and through me, that I can gain right perspective on whatever is going on at the moment. That is an issue every Christmas, but I think I’ve done a little better about it this year than sometimes. Last night, as we were gathering to prepare to go caroling in the neighborhood, I did have a moment akin to a panic attack, just wanting to get away from it all, but I was able to confess that to one of the believers, and she said she understood that about me. That helped me step back just a little and settle me down, and the rest of the evening went very well indeed. We were blessed, and we blessed those for whom we sang, and God was glorified. I even got a glimpse of some things God might be planning for the future, and I am comforted and encouraged. I have things on my schedule for today, and tomorrow we have the Christmas Eve service, and then the pressure is largely off for a while. It’s been many years now since God told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, but I’m still learning. By His grace, though, I will indeed gain the perspective I need, not only to receive all that He has for me but also to be His instrument in blessing those around me, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for all that You are doing. Thank You indeed for all that You did yesterday, and all that You will continue to do. May indeed Your name be acknowledged as holy and Your rule and reign be established as Your will is done, as perfectly in this world as it is before Your throne in heaven. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Justice; December 22, 2024

Posted on December 23, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 42:4 “He will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

I was a little surprised that the Japanese translation I currently use said “judgment,” rather than “justice,” in this verse, and I checked, and one edition back of that same translation does indeed say “justice.” Justice is indeed closely tied to court cases, where judgment is rendered. The US Department of Justice indeed oversees the courts as well as the law enforcement agencies, with the exception of the Supreme Court, which is subject to the Constitution alone (or at least that is my understanding). The thing is, there is actually an authority that is higher than all of that, and we do well to remember it. I think I will always remember the case, in Arizona I think it was, of a particularly horrible murderer who escaped the police into the desert, but he was later found dead of dehydration and exposure. The official police report said, “Remanded to a higher court.” Just recently there has been a spate of pardons and commutations, some of genuinely despicable criminals. Neither we nor they are to think they have gotten off “Scot free.” They will eventually see justice, regardless of what happens on this earth. We are to work for justice in society around us, but we are to remember that God is the ultimate Judge, and nothing escapes His notice. I have always liked the last line of this verse, having been born and raised in the islands of Japan. The ESV renders that as “coastlands,” but I have a natural preference for “islands!” The idea that the islands wait in hope for the teaching of the Lord motivates and encourages me greatly! Reading the prophecies in the Bible is a powerful encouragement. Seeing how many have already been fulfilled gives me anticipation for the rest to be fulfilled! Recently many sober, grounded Christians have been expressing an anticipation, an expectation, that the Lord’s return will be soon, when all the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled. May it even be so, in God’s timing and for His glory!

As I have already indicated, this is all quite personal to me. I myself am innocent only by virtue of the shed blood of Christ, but I do have that assurance, and my life is committed to getting as many people as possible to share that assurance by repentance and faith. At the same time, I do sometimes get tired of the hassle of it all. I enjoy life and get satisfaction from what the Lord allows me to do, but the idea of eternity with my Lord, without all the injustice and imperfection of the world as we experience it, is attractive indeed! I am to be faithful at the tasks the Lord sets for me, striving to listen obediently to Him at all times, so that all of His purposes for me may be fulfilled on His schedule, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for bringing us through to this point, and for Your plans for each day to come. I ask for anointing, and for open hearts, not only in this morning’s service but also in the caroling we will be doing this evening. I pray for those You are preparing and drawing to come to the Candlelight Service on the 24th, that Your Spirit would break through and lead them to repentance and faith for salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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The Christmas Story; December 21, 2024

Posted on December 22, 2024 by jgarrott

Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

From the standpoint of the world, Joseph and Mary were very small cogs in society. The government spoke, and they had to act. The whole idea of democracy, of being ruled by elected representatives, hadn’t even occurred to the vast majority of people. And of course, technology, and particularly communications, were what we today think of as very primitive. There was no exemption for Joseph because of distance or family circumstances. He had to go register, because he was the householder. It seems doubtful that Mary was legally required to go, but social circumstances meant that Joseph couldn’t see leaving her behind. Her “unplanned” pregnancy made her something of a social pariah, I would imagine, so she wouldn’t have had the support structure for the delivery, and might even have risked stoning in Joseph’s absence. Those are very difficult circumstances! I would imagine Mary’s love for Joseph was cemented in that time, as she saw what he went through to care for her. Theirs was doubtless an arranged marriage, or at least engagement, since such were very much the rule back then, but love will indeed grow, even in such circumstances, when there is a foundation of commitment – and Joseph certainly demonstrated that he was committed to Mary! So many things about the Christmas story speak of the love and grace and provision of God as we consider them from this perspective, but in the middle of it, Joseph and Mary probably felt pretty overwhelmed! We think of the miraculous divinity of it all, but we need also to think about the very real, nitty gritty humanity of it. God becoming a human baby was both divine and fully human, and we must not forget it.

Of course, I’ve been familiar with the Christmas story for as long as I can remember. My family did a tree, stockings, and gifts, but we were never big on Santa. On Christmas morning, after stockings and then breakfast, my father would read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke, and then pray for all our relatives. That was always the longest prayer of the year! That said, as a child I of course had little grasp of the difficulties encountered by Joseph and Mary, (though I had seen puppies being born). As an adult, I need to have more appreciation for the commitment, dedication, and simple endurance of all the people involved in the story. I have nothing to complain about, but I still manage to complain at times. Rather than being burned out at the same things year after year, I need to be deeply grateful, not only for God’s plan but for everyone who participated in it, because only then will the true joy of it all be manifested.

Father, thank You for the way You continue to grow me. Thank You for how You are teaching Cathy and me to let go of things and just rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told us to. May the activities of the next few days indeed bless us and those we interact with, as You intend, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Seeking God; December 20, 2024

Posted on December 21, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

I have long loved this verse, and have written on it countless times. However, it still resonates within me every time I read it. Different translations render it in different ways, but all of them speak of the desire to see and know God, as a reflection of His desire for us. Solomon spoke of this impulse as God “setting eternity in the heart of man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Different people perceive it differently, and how we respond to it varies very widely. Solomon himself departed from it rather tragically, trusting in the abilities God had given him rather than seeking after the One who had given them. If we indeed follow this impulse, God promises that we will encounter Him, and that is a marvelous thing. (Jeremiah 29:13) That road is often different for each individual. Just yesterday I watched a YouTube video of the testimony of a mathematician who had been an atheist but had a strong moral sense, and eventually came to the revelation that there was Someone behind morality, or else morality had no basis. Not too many people come to God that way! There are probably as many variations on finding God as there are people, so we need to remember that, as C. S. Lewis said, when we get to heaven we will all discover that each of us got it wrong somewhere. Paul put it this way: “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) The point is to seek God and trust Him to get us there, ultimately not trusting in anything but Him.

Growing up in the home that I did, my problem was in feeling that I already knew God, so why keep seeking Him? That was probably Solomon’s attitude, and it can be deadly. God in His gracious mercy opened my eyes to my foolish pride, and I have been seeking Him ever since. That may sound like an exercise in futility, if I have to keep seeking, but He keeps showing me more of Himself every day, and that is glorious! The thing is, He is infinite, so I can never run out of more to learn of Him. Just like Paul, I eagerly anticipate the day when I will stand before Him and know Him fully, as He knows me. As the pop song of many decades ago says, “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him, and I do.” This isn’t just emotional, because as Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23) I am to seek Him with all I am and express my devotion to Him with full obedience, knowing that the rewards are infinite.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for allowing me to seek You, and for meeting me in so many ways along the way. May I draw many to seek You as well, so that together we may walk in the obedience that comes from love, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Evangelism; December 19, 2024

Posted on December 20, 2024 by jgarrott

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
    and the one who is wise saves lives.

I just checked with my wife, who drew up the reading list for this month, and even she has no idea why she included this Proverbs passage! That said, this verse has been widely used to encourage people in personal evangelism, and in English that seems reasonable. However, the Japanese turns the second half of the verse around and says, “A wise person captures the hearts of people,” seeming to imply that their wisdom is the attractive element. Wisdom can indeed be attractive, and it is indeed wise to draw people into the kingdom of God, so either rendition seems possible. However, there is no variation in the translation of the first half of the verse. Those who live rightly, that is, the righteous, do indeed produce life, in themselves and in others. Some people are just good to be around, and we should strive to be such people. That doesn’t mean being a “squish,” always adapting to whatever anyone wants. Rather, it means accurately reflecting the character of Christ, loving unconditionally without excusing sin. We don’t do that very well on our own! However, that is something the Holy is quite the expert at doing, even through us! The key to true righteousness is to recognize you aren’t, and really can’t be, fully righteous on our own, and so ask God to lead and guide you. If we will do that, then Christ will indeed be formed in us, just as Paul prayed would happen. (Galatians 4:19) That is true righteousness, and brings life all around!

External observers would probably say that I am pretty righteous at this point, but I’ve certainly not always lived like this, and as Paul said, “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4) I do not depend on my own righteousness, but on that of Jesus Christ, who loved me enough to die for me, taking the penalty for my sins on Himself. Every year at Christmas I tell people that’s why Jesus came, and some of them believe me! We are hearing that several non-Christians are planning to come to our Christmas Eve service, so I’m asking the Holy Spirit to be here in power to open people’s hearts and minds, leading them to repentance and faith for their salvation.

Father, I am constantly aware that I can’t save anyone on my own, and I see so many people who are in need of salvation! I do ask Your mercy on this nation, these people, so that the chains the enemy has wrapped around them may be broken and multitudes pour into Your kingdom, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Rejoicing in Salvation; December 18, 2024

Posted on December 19, 2024 by jgarrott

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

This is an absolutely joyful, triumphant Psalm. It expresses the response of someone who was in a very difficult situation, but God brought him through. The thing is, we can never have such joy if we don’t go through difficult situations ourselves! We are back to the reality that God doesn’t pick on us; everything He does, even allows, is for our eventual blessing. Sometimes those things are absolutely horrible in the short term, but the experience of His presence in the middle of them is precious beyond words, if we will only open our hearts to Him. The issue of Japan Harvest magazine that arrived yesterday has the theme of Mental Health. It’s a quarterly magazine put out by the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association, (JEMA) which includes missionaries from many different countries and many different denominations. Reading this issue, I was reminded that missionaries are subject to all the pressures that are on believers of every description. (As if I didn’t already know that!) At least one writer was alluding to good things that have come from the struggles of her family “back home,” but she didn’t seem to be to the point of praising God for the struggles yet. That’s a step, sometimes very difficult, that we need to come to in order to get the full benefit of what God has planned. After all, Jesus famously said, “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) Paul likewise said, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20) That doesn’t mean, “Thank You, God, that my loved one was murdered,” but it does mean, “Thank You, God, for still being my loving Savior even though my loved one was murdered.” There are many, many things we don’t know or understand in this life. In fact, there is far more we don’t know than we do. However, if we hang onto the reality that God loves us enough to send His son to die for us, then we can make it through anything.

This is a timely Word, and not just because of the magazine that came yesterday. My wife, on top of her already long list of medical issues, will be having a test tomorrow to see if she has what could be a very serious problem. It could equally be something much less serious, but at this point we simply don’t know. In either case, this verse is true, as we have experienced time and time again. The thing is, she was given a trip to heaven and back almost 50 years ago, so she has had a taste of what awaits us, and she’s looking forward to the full banquet! What we go through here is to open our hearts to all that God has for us, that far exceeds our current capacity to understand. I am personally not afraid for myself, but I do not like to see my wife go through pain and suffering of any sort. We’ve both got to remember that God is big enough for both of us, and give Him praise and thanks, with genuine joy, whatever He allows us to go through here.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that we were able to get an appointment for the test so quickly. I read about the long wait times in so many places, and am grateful for the Japanese medical system! Thank You for the interdenominational prayer meeting that will be here this morning. I pray that it would be a joyful Christmas celebration for all, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Learning Obedience; December 17, 2024

Posted on December 18, 2024 by jgarrott

Hebrews 5:8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

The Japanese connects this with the next two verses as one sentence, but this is certainly worthy of meditation all by itself. The Japanese also plays with the content just a little, perhaps reflecting the theology of the translators: “Though Christ is the Son.” Most English translations say, “a son,” and because of English grammar they put that in the past tense, to match “learned,” but the Japanese puts it in the present, because Christ always was, is, and always will be the Son of God. That to me is a valid point, but it brings up the whole mystery of the Incarnation. Eternal, infinite, omnipotent God became a human being with all our weaknesses! That is absurd on the face of it, but it is the glorious reality of the Gospel. He so identified with our humanity that He had to learn obedience! That is a mind-blower if ever there was one! That’s why God’s choice of Joseph to raise Jesus to adulthood was so absolutely key. Parenting isn’t the same thing as biology, and in most respects Joseph was indeed Jesus’ father. It is hard to imagine a greater honor, or responsibility. We don’t have a record of Jesus’ youth, except for the one incident at the time of His bar mitzvah, so our imaginations can run wild. That’s not necessarily a good thing! However, Jesus continued learning, all the way through His crucifixion, just as we are to keep learning our whole lives. “What He suffered” doubtless included dealing with His sometimes very dense disciples! There are many kinds of suffering, and their effect on us depends on our response to them. I keep coming back to the very important reality that God never picks on us. Everything in our lives, whatever the immediate cause, is allowed by God for our benefit, even if it might seem to be destructive in the moment. (Romans 8:28) When we respond to suffering with that awareness, we indeed learn obedience, and grow and mature and are strengthened by it. As the secular proverb says, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” God wants strong, mature children, so He teaches us obedience.

I’ve certainly been taught this over the years, and I’ve got some scars to prove it! However, I am grateful to say that because I have the awareness of God’s love as a foundation, none of that has destroyed me. I wish I could say I am perfectly obedient at this point, but I’ve still got learning to do! As I age, different things come across as suffering. This “tent” isn’t what it used to be! (2 Corinthians 5:4) However, that is teaching me how to ask for, and receive, help. That also gives me the opportunity to teach others what God has taught me, and for that I need to be grateful. Today I have some carpentry to do that is more physically challenging than it once would have been, and I don’t have anyone around to ask for help. I need God’s wisdom, for sure! That is a minor illustration, but I need to remember that I’m still learning obedience, just as Jesus did, and be grateful.

Father, thank You for Your grace toward me, on so many levels. Help me respond to it as You intend, for my blessing, the blessing of the people around me, and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Praising God; December 16, 2024

Posted on December 17, 2024 by jgarrott

Psalm 107:1-2 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.

This says, very simply, “If God has blessed you, say so!” There are many reasons to praise God, but none of them are “because He needs it.” God is entirely self-sufficient, but we are quite the opposite, and failure to acknowledge that puts us in very dangerous territory. After all, what made Satan the devil was his desire to take God’s glory for himself, and the temptation to Adam and Eve was “to be like God.” Even the ancient Greeks, who didn’t have the Bible at all, recognized that hubris was exceedingly dangerous. Honest praise to God is perhaps the best antidote for that. When we recognize how wonderful He is, our own limitations become clear to us, and we rejoice in His grace that He chooses to redeem us, as it says here, and even use us in His plans for His glory. Praising God is a privilege and a joy that those who don’t acknowledge Him obviously don’t have. Actually, every human being alive has been blessed by God, or they wouldn’t exist. The more we recognize and acknowledge His blessings, the more they pour through us! Praise for God is a natural expression of gratitude, and as now countless psychologists have recognized, gratitude is the key to happiness. Dennis Prager even says it is the key to goodness in people, and I think he has a real point. You can’t find a really good person who isn’t grateful, and I think the reverse is true as well. Praising God gives us the foundation for all of that, and it is a wonderful privilege.

Growing up we sang lots of hymns that praised God in various ways, including the famous Doxology, but when I was introduced to the Charismatic Movement in 1973 I entered into a whole new dimension of praise and worship. I love it! Since then, the Lord has allowed me to translate many songs between English and Japanese, and even write a few myself. It’s not unusual for every song we sing in a worship service here to be one I have translated in one direction or the other, and we sing about seven songs each time! Sometimes I am moved to tears in singing them, that God would have poured His Spirit and His words through me so beautifully. All I can do is praise Him! Knowing the blessing of praising God, I desire for everyone to have that blessing, so I seek to obey this passage, telling people how incredibly good and gracious God is, so that they too may open their hearts to Him, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You again for the privilege of praising You. May I do it more and more accurately and effectively, drawing others to praise You as well, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Faithfulness; December 15, 2024

Posted on December 16, 2024 by jgarrott

Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
    and my reward is with my God.”

I feel sure I’ve written on this before, because it’s something just about every servant of the Lord feels from time to time. We don’t feel we are getting a proportional response to the effort we are putting into serving God. However, there are several things we need to remember. In the first place, our effort, our strength, is meaningless when compared to God’s omnipotence. It is actually miraculous that He allows us to participate in what He does! In the second place, God doesn’t actually need our service; it is by His grace that He allows us to serve Him. And all of that comes back to the reality that God is not unfair; He does bless us for our commitment and faithfulness. We don’t have to worry what the score is when God’s the scorekeeper! I have long been impressed by the example of the sons of Zebedee, James and John. They both gave their lives in total commitment to their Lord Jesus, but James did it all at once, by the sword of Herod, whereas John gave his life one day at a time, for over 90 years. I don’t think that difference changes their ranking in heaven! In many ways, James had the easier path, but that’s not ours to choose. We are called to faithfulness, whatever seems to be going on from our perspective.

This is very close to home, considering my parents’ commitment to God as missionaries, as well as my own. We haven’t seen the harvest we have desired, and this verse rings true. That said, there are little steps along the way that make it clear God doesn’t forget His servants. Just yesterday my wife and I were ministering to a 99-year-old lady who heard the Gospel as a young girl, but had never made a clear commitment to Christ. We sang Christmas songs with her, and when I prayed for her, for Jesus to be born in her heart, she was joyfully in agreement. I know I’ll see her before the throne! There are others to whom I have been ministering for a long time, and I believe the moment of their acceptance of the Gospel will come too. I am never to give up, but operate in the strength God supplies and leave the results up to Him, for His glory.

Father, thank You for yesterday, Thank You for Your gracious faithfulness to me. Just recently You have been pouring out material blessings, but these spiritual blessings are far more important! I do pray for more and more harvest, even in this Christmas season, so that Your house may be full, as You desire, (Luke 14:23) for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Righteousness; December 14, 2024

Posted on December 15, 2024 by jgarrott

Jeremiah 33:16 “In those days Judah will be saved
    and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’”

The physical blessings of Jerusalem mentioned in this chapter are partially fulfilled, but the Lord being our righteousness was fulfilled on Calvary. As Paul said, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) That is the total and eternal fulfillment of this Word to Jeremiah. We aren’t to be presumptive about it, and we certainly aren’t to think that what we do doesn’t matter anymore, but the whole question of whether we are righteous and acceptable to our Creator was settled forever on the cross of Christ, if we will accept it by faith. It’s a very strange situation, really, because when we discard our own “righteousness,” recognizing that it is worthless, (Isaiah 64:6) and place our trust in Jesus, the Righteous One of God, then we will act righteously! It doesn’t make much sense to our human intellect, but it is glorious reality in the kingdom of God. To me, a good definition of righteousness is displaying the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) in the context of being obedient to God. Of course, that requires faith and submission to God, but in that case we can resist the devil, the driving force behind unrighteousness, and he will flee from us. (James 4:7) The world is currently filled with unrighteousness, but the only real cure for that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This is something I have known in my head for quite a while, but it is still being worked out in my heart and life. I am not immune to temptations of all sorts, and I must never forget my weakness. At the same time, I am to have total confidence in my Lord, because He can do anything at all, even in and through me. I have no personal righteousness of which to brag, but my Lord is indeed my righteousness, and by His grace, that is manifested more and more, even in and through me.

Father, I am very aware of my inability to be righteous on my own. Thank You. Help me keep my eyes off of myself and fix them on Jesus my Lord, (Hebrews 12:2) so that Your righteousness may be manifested indeed, for Your glory alone. Thank You. Praise God!

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