Prayer; December 29, 2023

Posted on December 30, 2023 by jgarrott

2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

I don’t know the Greek here, but where the NIV says, “count you worthy,” the Japanese says “make you worthy.” The difference may be subtle, but it seems real to me. However, in either case the focus is on God doing it, rather than our having to work it up, so to speak. The focus is kept on God in the second half as well, with the idea of God’s power fulfilling the good desires that we have. I like the way the Japanese puts it: “every desire that seeks good.” That can cover a lot of territory! We have a lot of desires, but many of them, though not necessarily bad, are essentially self-centered. This, however, is seeking objective good, as in justice, peace, love, harmony, and the like. Sometimes our desire for those things can be pretty intense, but we can’t accomplish them on our own. That doesn’t mean we are to be passive, though; the last part deals with that. As James emphasizes and the whole rest of the Bible makes clear, faith acts. If we say we believe something but it makes no difference in our lives, that isn’t faith. In writing to the Romans, Paul made a rather extreme statement: “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) When we believe God and what He has said about us, we will live and act according to that faith. It is sad to see how many people proclaim their lack of faith by how they live! We need to pray like Paul in this area, for ourselves and for others.

I am repeatedly challenged by the prayers Paul records for those to whom he ministered. As a pastor myself, how well do I follow his example in my prayers? I tend to pray for people and situation when I think of them, but that is seldom very methodical. That said, I don’t think Paul was very different, because he prayed for so many people that if he tried to do so on a schedule, he could hardly have done anything else! However, I do need to be faithful to lift each person I think of up to God, letting Him show me their specific needs and being His instrument for their blessing. I do spend much of my time with an awareness of God, but it’s not yet 100%. When I am aware of Him, my thoughts themselves become prayers, since I know He’s listening, and that’s a very good thing. To this day I don’t really know why prayer works, because why would the Creator of the universe listen to me? However, I have experienced countless times of knowing I have made a difference, and I am never to discount that privilege.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray that my whole life would be a prayer, useful to You in accomplishing Your perfect will on earth, even though I can’t understand how that could be, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Sanctification; December 28, 2023

Posted on December 29, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

This chapter is loaded with short, pithy statements and admonitions that are often quoted but seldom fulfilled. That pattern comes to a climax in verses 16-22, and then we have verse 23, which essentially speaks of sinless perfection. It’s enough to make a thoughtful person throw up their hands in despair and just give up. But then we come to verse 24, and the focus is firmly placed on Christ, and everything is resolved. One of the great truths of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is that we are unable to fulfill God’s righteous laws in our own strength and wisdom, but He is more than able to do it, even in and through us. These verses have been set to music verbatim in Japanese, very enjoyably, but in translating the song into English I had to expand the lyrics to fit the music, so it isn’t immediately obvious that it is this passage. However, it’s a song I want to use in the first service of the new year, because we need to remember this principle all the time, asking, desiring, and expecting Jesus to work in us by His Spirit to perfect us and make us holy. We throw “sanctification” around as an item of “churchese,” but I don’t think many people really have much of a grasp of it. Literally, it means “being made holy,” but we don’t even have much of a handle on that. To me, the most helpful definition is, “being made like Jesus.” That both fleshes it out and shows us we can’t do it on our own! However, everyone from Jesus on tells us that is God’s goal for us, so we are to trust Him with it, and as He told me personally, rest, relax, and rejoice in the process.

I am certainly preaching to myself here, because the more I progress in this, the further I realize I need to go. In my youth I operated in a remarkable level of pride, thinking I was the finest of Christians, all the while totally ignoring God most of the time. In contrast, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) In a sense, becoming like Jesus means learning that I can’t do squat on my own; He’s got to do it in and through me. However, the joyous truth is that the better I learn that, the more He actually does in and through me! I am not to trust myself, much less depend on myself, but Jesus is totally trustworthy and dependable.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how You have been arranging the schedule the past few days. Thank You for the things You have planned for today. Help us flow with Your Spirit, today and every day, being transformed and used according to Your plans, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Death; December 27, 2023

Posted on December 28, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

The longer I live the more I am amazed at some professing Christians who grieve extravagantly, seeming to never progress beyond the death of a loved one. Grief is real and is not to be ignored, but for those who are in Christ, death is no more than a bump in the road. At times, those who believe that death is simply the end seem to deal with it better, and that is an insane tragedy. Thinking about it, it seems to me that the issue is more about the person grieving being deprived of the person who has died than it is about the deceased. It is no shame to grieve, but refusing to let go of grief and move on is a form of narcissism. We are all on this earth by the plan of our Creator, and His plan for this earth has a beginning and an end. It is no surprise when people who deny the Creator strive to live absolutely as long as possible, but it is a tragic waste when people who know the Gospel act no differently. We have friends, dedicated Christians who have been greatly used by the Lord, who are in their 80s. The wife was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago and has endured surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, from which she had severe side effects. A couple of months ago she said “Enough!” and declined to have any more such treatments. They have told her she has only a couple more months, but we saw her just a week ago, and she was much happier and, yes, healthier, than she has been for the past year. I have the most concern for her husband, but he too has come to peace with the awareness that God’s grace is all that either of them needs, and they are a marvelous example of how believers should handle the whole subject of physical death.

I have lost count of how many people I have “seen off,” several at the point of clinical death, and I have a deep awareness that it is part of our natural lives. When my father didn’t wake up after heart surgery at 64 it was a shock, because I had no awareness of how serious his situation was, but I recognized that my grief was for me, that I wouldn’t be able to have conversations with him again, and for my mother, and not for him personally. I knew then and know now that he is in glorious fellowship with our Lord, far better and greater than anything we can experience on this earth. When my mother died of cancer at 72, with multiple tumors to the point that her body looked lumpy, I am told, I prayed that the Lord would take her to Himself rather than leaving her here, and when He did, I didn’t cry any more at all. At this point, with my wife and me in our mid-70s and her having quite a list of physical issues, this whole thing is intensely personal and pressing. My wife has daily issues with pain, and I know that those will all disappear when she leaves her body, but I very selfishly want to keep her around for as long as possible, for my sake rather than hers. Conversely, I seek to maintain my health, not so that I will live a long time but so that she will not have to endure what she would experience should I go first. I know that we are both “on assignment” from the Lord, and we will be here as long as we are fulfilling that assignment. I don’t want to stay longer than that!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the beautiful example of our friends that I mentioned. Help us, help all of Your children, to live out Your plans for us in daily faithfulness, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Standing Firm; December 26, 2023

Posted on December 27, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

In Japanese this verse uses a phrase that I have seen exclaimed over in various English publications, and that is ikigai, “a reason to live.” I have seen it explained as “a reason to get up in the morning,” which is pretty close too. Sadly, many people simply go through the motions, afraid to die but with no real reason to live. God had a reason for creating each one of us, and the sooner and better we grasp that, the better off we are, gaining joy and satisfaction in our very existence. That’s precisely what Paul is talking about here, though the “really live” in the NIV doesn’t convey it very well, in my opinion. Every parent gets real satisfaction when their children do well, and that applies to spiritual children as well. Paul’s statement could be echoed by countless ministers of the Gospel, ordained and otherwise, because it indicates an assurance that we are “laying up treasure in heaven,” as Jesus told us to do. (Matthew 6:20) After all, the only things we can take with us to heaven are the souls of people we have introduced to the Savior! Like Paul, our peace and joy should come from knowing those people are secure and growing in their faith.

I don’t know how long I’ve known this, but it’s been quite a while. My own ministry hasn’t been so much in getting people birthed into God’s family as it has been in training them once they’re born, but the principle still holds. I’ve got spiritual children literally around the world! The challenges are ongoing. One of my “newly adopted” children has just sent me a letter about how she doesn’t approve of the celebration of Christmas because it isn’t found in the Bible. I should have expected something of the sort, because when she first came she said she had been a Christian for four years, but it was her first time to attend church. That indicated that she was led to the Lord by someone who was burned out by the institutional Church, which can be understandable, but it has opened her up to all sorts of fringe teaching, including her position on Christmas. (Incidentally, I am well aware that Jesus was in all probability not born on December 25th, and I too am disgusted by all the commercialization of it, but I believe firmly that the fact that He was born is certainly worth celebrating, and such celebrations are an excellent opportunity to share the Gospel with those who haven’t yet received it.) I want her, and every person in my care, to stand firmly on the truth of the Word and keep growing, to become and be all that God desires and intends for them, for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the opportunity to share Your truth with others, not from a high horse but in all humility, so that we may grow together in Christ, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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God’s Universal Love; December 25, 2023

Posted on December 26, 2023 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.

Courtesy of Handel, there are few verses in the whole Bible more familiar than this. However, it still bears meditation. The first thing that hit me this morning is that it repeats the plural pronoun, us. The Messiah is not exclusive! There have been countless groups down through the centuries who have tried to claim that Jesus was their Messiah, to the exclusion of other groups, but God dealt with that issue quite clearly in the early Church, first through Peter (Acts 10) and then through Paul, who repeatedly used the phrase, “first to the Jew, and also to the Greek,” to get his point across. Christ was given to all mankind, but the necessity remains of individual repentance and faith. (Mark 1:15) Jesus focused His earthly ministry on Jews, sometimes to the point of seeming harsh to Gentiles, (Matthew 15:21-28) but what let Him know that the time had come for His ultimate act of redemption was when some Greeks came looking for Him. (John 12:20-28) I think everyone has at least some tendency to parochialism and xenophobia, but “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” Everyone who has ever lived on this planet was created by God in love, and we need to look at them that way. We cannot experience the love of God fully until we allow it to flow through us to others, whether they seem to be like us or not.
On a completely different note, the use of “government” in English translations confuses a lot of people, I think, but the Japanese clears that up by saying “ruling authority.” When we hear “government” we tend to think of politics, but this has nothing to do with that. The kingdom of God is not a democracy or even a republic, but rather the absolute rule and reign of King Jesus. That’s what we pray for in the Lord’s Prayer, and we forget it to our own detriment.

Of course this applies to me. I have a truly blessed heritage in this area. One of my grandfathers, W. O. Carver, founded what is currently the oldest continuing Department of Missions in any Protestant seminary in the world, and my parents became missionaries while still single, and married in Japan. My father even did a stint while in seminary of preaching at an English language church in Havana. (Maybe that cemented his conviction that he was called to Japan!) Even so, the Lord has dealt with some negative feelings in me about some people groups, and I have repented of such prejudice. I even resigned my first pastorate over the race issue. At the time, one of the church officers said, “As my father used to say, they (Blacks) may go to heaven, but they won’t do it through my living room.” Thankfully, my departure triggered some very needed changes in that church! Today I pastor a church that is genuinely international. In our candlelight service last night we had people from Japan, America, Taiwan, China, and Honduras. I have no trouble imagining the scene described in Revelation: “After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.” (Revelation 7:9)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that Your love truly encompasses all of mankind. May I be a useful instrument in Your hands to impart that understanding to more and more of Your children, so that indeed Your kingdom may come as Your will is done, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Joy; December 24, 2023

Posted on December 25, 2023 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.

I have no idea how many times I’ve written on this verse, because it’s so important, in my view, to the Christmas narrative. To analyze it, we start with the fact that the angel had told the shepherds what was going on. That is significant, because we tend to forget that God sees all of eternity at a glance, from the moment He said, “Let there be light,” to the end of the universe. Nothing surprises Him, and He sometimes clues us in on what is happening or is going to happen. That should give us peace, at least! As part of that, we have the word, “everything.” God doesn’t miss anything, and He doesn’t make mistakes. (So much for “being born in the wrong body.”) Our response to Him and our perception of things, however, can be, and generally is, all over the place. Often enough it isn’t until after the fact, and sometimes years later, that we realize things indeed transpired just as God had indicated they would. That is certainly true with the life and ministry of Jesus, which is laid out in amazing detail in the Old Testament, but wasn’t recognized as having been so until after His resurrection, and then by only a limited number of people. All that said, we need to pay attention to the response of the shepherds here. They “glorified and praised God.” What is it to glorify God? I would say that it is recognizing Him for who and what He is, because we cannot add anything to Him. This is closely connected to worship, because who can fail to worship when they recognize God for who He is? The Japanese term in this passage for “praise” is the one used for singing to God, and the mental image I get is of the shepherds walking along, singing scraps of hymns or just exclaiming things like “Hallelujah!” or “Praise God!” Very few people are granted something as dramatic as what the shepherds experienced, and I’m sure they were overwhelmed. However, even without the drama of the angelic appearance, we should have the same or an even deeper level of joy and worship, because we have the rest of the Bible to explain to us all that God has done and is doing. That’s why the dominant word for Christmas should be joy. Like the shepherds, and later the magi, (Matthew 2:10) we should let the reality of God’s love, grace, mercy, and power lift us out of all the mess we are living in, to worship Him with a joy that has no equal on human terms.

This is an important reminder to me, because in most years the very busyness of Christmas drags me down, and I can’t wait until it’s over. This year my heart is in a somewhat better place, and I’m grateful. Our church Christmas caroling last night went well, and that is done and out of the way. We have the service this morning and the candlelight service tonight, and God’s got that taken care of as well. I am not to shirk my responsibilities, but at the same time I am to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, just as He has told me to do. I need to be praying for all who will attend, particularly tonight’s service, so that nothing will stand in the way of their responding to God’s presence here.

Father, thank You for this reminder, and for the fact that I am growing spiritually, however slowly or late. May I indeed rejoice in You throughout today, whatever my body is doing, so that the results may be Yours, blessing many, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Spiritual Fathers; December 23, 2023

Posted on December 24, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Even though Jesus was very clear about not giving people titles, (Matthew 23:8-12) it’s easy to understand why Catholic priests came to be called “Father,” because as Paul expresses here, the relationship between pastor and people is very familial. Frankly, I have reservations about any pastor who does not feel like a father to those in his flock! In this verse Paul keeps the focus on God, because it’s His kingdom and glory we’re involved in, but the interpersonal dynamics in a local church, certainly, are very much those of a family. The problem is, many people grow up in dysfunctional families, so they don’t know how to relate to their family in Christ. That’s not all from things like abuse. I know someone who was the only child of a mo­ther who was an only child, and she doesn’t understand sibling relationships in the least. We all tend to mirror what we know, so it is vital that we all keep growing. This is also why mentors are so important, because we need examples to show us how we need to grow. The right mentor at the right time can have a marvelous impact. That’s what Paul is talking about here: mentoring his spiritual children. He had no physical children, but he labored to be a good father to his spiritual children, and as such became a model for all in pastoral ministry of all sorts.

My own father was loving, but not very “hands on.” He was not into sports at all, and I don’t remember ever playing catch with him. He used to take me to kindergarten on the back of his bicycle, but I don’t remember him actually teaching me how to ride one. I’m sure that impacted my own patterns of ministry. That’s why the study of Coaching that I’ve been doing for the past few years has been so helpful. I’m having to learn how to come alongside people and show them how to live, rather than lecturing them about it. My father was enormously busy, but I’ve just retired from secular teaching, so I have no excuse! I need to let my Heavenly Father keep teaching me how to be the spiritual father He wants me to be, so that my children may grow strong in every way that matters, in turn raising up more healthy spiritual children, so that the family of God may grow in every way, for His pleasure and glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the changes I do see in myself, though they are small. Help me keep growing as Your child so that I can be the father You want me to be to all the children You give me, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Practical Religion; December 22, 2023

Posted on December 23, 2023 by jgarrott

1 Thessalonians 1:3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I know I’ve written on this before, doubtless multiple times, but it hits me every time I run into it. The various “abstract” things in our lives always have “concrete” effects, whether we recognize it or not. For example, true faith works, as James wrote about extensively. It does no good to say we believe this or that unless that belief is reflected in what we do. Often enough, we aren’t even aware of our own hypocrisy, until the Lord points it out to us through someone or something. Then there’s the matter of love. As the whole Bible points out, love is the ultimate motive. The Old Testament says it many times, but that chorus reaches a crescendo in the New Testament, with John 3:16 and 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4 and many more. A sufficient quantity of the right kind of love can make us do anything, which is why the devil loves to twist love around and pollute it. And then there’s the matter of hope. A complete loss of hope is essentially fatal, but hope that is grounded in God will carry us through anything. As Paul said, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:5) There are false hopes, so we need to be careful of the object of our hope, but for those who have received the Gospel, we have “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) All of that put together is why I love this verse!

As a person with a gift for words, I can talk a pretty good line, but as the saying goes, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. That’s another reason I like this verse: it helps me check on my own spiritual health. Am I acting out the faith I proclaim? Am I giving of myself sacrificially, as Jesus sacrificed Himself for me? Am I enduring with grace all that I go through because of my assurance of the ultimate outcome? Those are very serious questions for me, because I am in the position of teaching others, and as James said, “We who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1) I am never to be satisfied with just saying the right thing. I rejoice in the privilege of speaking God’s words, but I must be sure that I receive and apply them myself, rather than just push them onto others.

Father, thank You for this verse, and for speaking to me through it every time I read it. May I indeed live out our Word and not deceive myself, (James 1:22) so that I may be a useful son in Your service, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Successful Christian Living; December 21, 2023

Posted on December 22, 2023 by jgarrott

Colossians 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Here we have the key to successful Christian living. The first point is that our commitment to Him isn’t just for the moment of salvation, but is ongoing. Too many people essentially go through the motions and then forget about it, at least in practical terms. What happens when we maintain our commitment is expressed in two ways here, one from botany and one from construction. We are to be “rooted” in Christ, just as a plant puts down roots to draw nutrients from the soil. We aren’t self-sustaining; we have to be supplied from somewhere. The way to do this is expressed in the very first Psalm: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” (Psalm 1:2-3) We need the Word of the Lord for spiritual nutrition, because without it we will have “spiritual osteoporosis,” not to mention spiritual weakness that could be compared to ALS. The other image here is of being built up, as in a strong tower. Jesus Himself used this imagery, (Matthew 7:24-27) as did Paul (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) and Peter (1 Peter 2:5). We should seek to become castles fit for our King! Paul closes this description with something that could well be the key to it all: gratitude. If we don’t value what Christ has done for us, that is, the Gospel, then we won’t be grateful and won’t follow through to receive and apply all that He has provided for us. All of this is embodied in Christ Jesus our Lord. That’s why Paul starts this by speaking of “receiving Christ Jesus as Lord.” If you haven’t taken Him into your heart and given Him first place, then you don’t have anything. Just last night the Lord was expressing through me that the Gospel is the Person of Jesus Christ, not simply a body of knowledge. If you have Him in your head but not in your heart, then you are simply an educated sinner, destined for hell for not having opened your heart to Him.

Of course this applies to me as much as it does to anyone. I continue to grow spiritually, but the more I do, the more I know I need to grow further! The Lord has given me pretty deep roots in His Word, and I am deeply grateful. I have the magnificent spiritual heritage of generations of ancestors who were committed to Christ and shared Him with others, but the Lord has told me explicitly that I can’t “ride on their coattails,” as the rather archaic expression has it. I have the privilege of sharing Christ with others. That involves giving them information, but it must not stop there. I need to model what it is to walk in fellowship with the Lord, so that others may know that it’s possible and desire it for themselves, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for that rather powerful time in the prayer meeting last night. I pray that everyone in this church would grow in their relationship to Your Son by Your Spirit, so that together we may present an irresistible image to Christ to this city and this nation, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Stress; December 20, 2023

Posted on December 21, 2023 by jgarrott

Colossians 1:29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

I think Christians endure a lot more stress than God intends. Stress itself isn’t necessarily bad. Without it, we would quickly become aimless slobs. However, excessive stress damages our health, not to mention our peace and joy. Paul here gives the secret to dealing with it all: realizing that we aren’t in this alone. When we think or feel that we have to deal with everything in our own strength and wisdom, our stress level goes through the roof. When we realize that God is at work in and through us, accomplishing His will by His power, then we can let go and let Him take over. That’s not being lazy; someone in that situation can indeed be “busier than a cat on a hot tin roof,” as the old saying goes. However, the stress level is magnitudes lower, because of the awareness that God is in control. I think the biggest issue is in taking ourselves too seriously. We need to realize that we aren’t who gets anything right; that has to be God working in and through us. When that’s how we see things, we can laugh at ourselves and have a good time in the process. When we think it’s all about us, we totally stress out and make things much harder on ourselves and everyone around us, and the results frankly aren’t as good.

This couldn’t be more timely, because the Christmas season has long been a pressure cooker for me, as I’m sure it is for most pastors, at least. The schedule is packed and the emotional demands peak on top of everything else. Thankfully, this year I seem to be learning the lesson of what I just wrote. Yesterday’s schedule was loaded indeed, but everything got done, including things I didn’t know about when the day started. Today likewise has many thing looming, and who knows what else may happen, but God is still in control, and He has given me some ideas of how to juggle things. I just might enjoy this Christmas! I need to be like Paul: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10) Silly little me can be an instrument of almighty God! It’s been years now since He told me to rest, relax, and rejoice in Him, and I’m still learning how to do that. Sometimes I can be a really slow learner! However, as I have known for a long time, when I manage to take my eyes off of myself and fix them on Christ Jesus my Lord, everything falls into place and I am carried along by His Spirit, and His will is done in and through me for His glory.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the amazing dovetailing of events yesterday, and for how You are going to take care of today as well. May I enjoy the ride, for my blessing and the blessing of those around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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