Spiritual Growth; July 15, 2023

Posted on July 16, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 9:23-24 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I keep coming back to this story because I can identify with this father so easily, as I think every Christian can. We say we believe and we’re not being hypocritical, but at the same time it can feel like we are, because our faith can feel very shallow at times. The thing is, God knows our frailty and He loves us anyway. He wants our faith to grow, which is a major reason He doesn’t answer every prayer immediately. Dealing with delayed gratification is a major hallmark of maturity. However, He doesn’t reject us just because our faith stumbles, any more than parents reject their small children for being less than mature. (We can be tempted to do that at times, but objective self-examination shows that we’re less than perfectly mature ourselves.) I have liked some t-shirts I’ve seen, with messages like, “Be patient. God’s not finished with me yet,” and simply, “Under construction.” We won’t be “complete” until we’re before God’s throne in heaven, and we need to be at peace with that. Paul’s famous statement to the Philippians is all the more impactful when you consider that He wrote half the New Testament. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14) We don’t believe perfectly, or do anything perfectly, but like this father, we can ask God for help to continue to grow.

The longer I live, and presumably the more mature I get, the more I realize just how spiritually immature I am. I jump to conclusions, I take things for granted, I am judgmental, forgetting my own past failures. I am impatient and demanding, hurting people needlessly with my words. That said, I think it’s fair to say I’m a long way from where I once was. Sometimes, particularly when I’m disgusted with myself, I need to look back and see from where God has brought me. There is no shame in saying with this father, “I do believe. Help me do better.” I do need to remember that repentance is an essential part of this. I’m not to take my failures lightly, but I must remember that God is far bigger and stronger than any sin or failure of mine, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses me completely. (1 John 1:7)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your overwhelming grace! Help me be an agent, a channel, of that grace to all around me, so that they may join me as Your growing children, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Children; July 14, 2023

Posted on July 15, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 6:3 “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

We don’t often think about Jesus’ family when He was growing up. Four brothers are named here and there were multiple sisters, so there were at least seven children in the family and possibly more, depending on the number of girls. As the oldest of the brood, Jesus had plenty of training that would come in handy when dealing with His disciples! Family dynamics are a fascinating study, in turns encouraging, amusing, and tragic. How parents respond to their children, and vice versa, and how siblings respond to each other, has an enormous impact on how we turn out as human beings, and the level of peace, satisfaction, and joy we experience. Affluent societies tend toward fewer children, which can at times be really sad. Only children in particular lack a whole range of interactions that prepare us for life in general. There’s nothing like a house full of siblings to teach you that you aren’t the center of the universe! Numerous studies, not to mention personal observation, tell us that selfishness, being self-centered, never leads to true happiness. Certainly not all only children turn out that way, but they have a major handicap in that direction. An infant is naturally self-absorbed, as well as being curious about the world around them. Wise parents are careful to teach their children from the start to respect others and others’ belongings. If they fail to do so, the odds are high that the children will become selfish and demanding. That certainly isn’t a recipe for happiness! God knew what Jesus needed to prepare Him for ministry, so He gave Him a whole crew of younger brothers and sisters as a training ground. We need to be grateful for the families we have, and allow God to use them to train and grow us as we need, even when the friction level gets high. After all, as was noted all the way back in Proverbs, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)

This is very timely for me, because one of my spiritual children and his wife just had their first child yesterday. I’ve been praying a lot for them! With over 40 years of school teaching behind me, I’ve seen a lot of young people, and some of them I could tell you a lot about their family without ever having been told it: siblings, financial level, and the like. My wife and I both grew up with three siblings each, but my father-in-law was one of seven, and my mother-in-law one of 11! We only have two daughters for medical reasons, much as my father only had one sister, likewise for medical reasons. I do a lot of pre-marital counseling as a condition for the weddings I perform, and I always bring this issue up. I don’t have all wisdom, certainly, but I try to steer them toward what I see as the Biblical pattern, since our heavenly Father desires genuine blessing and happiness for us.
After all, families are His idea!

Father, thank You for this reminder. I do pray for my spiritual son and his wife that they would raise their son, and any succeeding siblings, as You desire and intend, to know and love You and be the person You created him to be, for the blessing of many and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Faith vs. Witchcraft; July 13, 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 5:36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

This is of course another of the stories that is recorded by multiple Gospel writers, but each one includes different details. These particular words of Jesus have encouraged countless people in the centuries since Jesus spoke them. Sometimes the “objective facts” don’t line up with spiritual reality. As Paul stated clearly, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) That can be really difficult at times! A major issue is the matter of wishful thinking, which is not the same as faith. The Left encourages and engages in in that sort of thing all the time, telling people things like, “You can change your gender.” That isn’t faith, it’s attempted witchcraft, which is the supernatural manipulation of things. Witchcraft is very attractive to our flesh, because in principle it leaves us in control. Faith, in contrast, is submission to whatever God says, whether it agrees with our senses or not. We would like to “wave a wand” and change things the way we like, but that is putting man in a place that belongs only to God. That desire is precisely what got Lucifer thrown out of heaven! Some “word of faith” teachers get dangerously close to the line when it comes to witchcraft. God’s promises are indeed magnificent, but they are ultimately for His glory, and not to pamper us. We need to focus on being obedient children, knowing that our heavenly Father’s plans for us are always good, however difficult they might seem along the way.

I too have indulged in wishful thinking, and indeed have been temp­ted by witchcraft. As an avid reader, I have long enjoyed fantasy and science fiction, and at times my imagination has run wild in that direction. However, I have always come back to the reality that God is God and I’m not, and that’s a very good thing. I couldn’t begin to handle even the smallest fraction of all the factors involved, not to mention the unintended consequences, if I were able to make edicts on my own. I will never forget one time when I was lying in bed, not actively praying but just thinking, “There are so many things I wish were different.” To my great shock, the Lord spoke to me very clearly at that moment, “How do you think I feel?” I was flooded with the awareness that, though there are many things that don’t currently agree with His character, He hasn’t abandoned any of it, or us, and He has a plan to bring it all into resolution. Sometimes His plan is clear, and sometimes it is invisible to our natural senses. It is in those latter times that we need to take Jesus’ words here to heart.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There are indeed many things that “it would be nice” if they were different. Help me trust You fully and be at peace with Your timing, allowing You to grow me through all You take me through, so that I may be Your agent on more and more levels in more and more situations, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Listening; July 12, 2023

Posted on July 13, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 4:33-34 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

As in everything else, Jesus was wise in how he taught. The general population was not ready to receive truths that conflicted with their traditions, so He couched that truth in illustrations, metaphors, and parables. His disciples, on the other hand, were still largely ignorant of the things of the Kingdom but they were committed to Jesus, so He was able to say things more plainly to them. There are many examples of that plain teaching scattered through the Gospels. We too need to let Holy Spirit guide us as to what to say to whom, when and how. Educators are very aware of what are called “teachable moments,” when someone’s mind and heart are prepared to receive whatever you are wanting to give them. All sorts of things influence that. Every pastor experiences having an outside speaker come in and the congregation be very moved by what they hear, when actually it is something the pastor has been trying to get through to them for months! That’s why every genuine disciple of Jesus Christ needs to ask for hearing ears, a hearing heart, every time they listen to a message or even read the Bible. I think just about every Christian has experienced reading a passage they had read many times before, but suddenly the words reach out and grab them, imparting God’s truth into their heart. We aren’t to put ourselves down for not grasping that truth earlier, but rather be grateful that God has prepared our heart to receive it at that point. Jesus spoke several times about “ears to hear,” and John famously used that phrase in talking about what he had been shown on the island of Patmos. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22) We need to ask for hearing ears!

I have recently been touched by something my younger daughter said to me. We try to have an online chat with our daughters every Saturday morning, Japan time, and we use “starter questions” to keep the conversation meaningful. One such that came up a few weeks ago was, “What is something you have really learned from your parents?” She blew me out of the water by saying, “I’ve learned to listen. I always felt like I could say anything to you and you would really hear me.” I almost cried, because I’ve never felt like I was a very good listener – I talk too much! It is true, however, that I do seek to listen to God, whenever and however He speaks to me. One thing that impacted me in that area was the brief, 3-month time I had with my father after I brought my wife and children to Japan for the first time, back in 1974. We arrived March 1st, and my parents left for the US the middle of May, for the trip from which my father returned in a box. My father was a university chancellor, very busy, but every time I went into his study I felt like he had nothing to do but talk with me, his youngest child. I know what that meant to me, and I guess I have tried to emulate that, but until my daughter spoke up, I didn’t feel I had been very successful. Listening to people is important but of course listening to God is most important. We are commanded to love God and love our neighbor, and love listens.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for how You have worked in me, often in spite of me! I pray that I would indeed listen more and more and better and better, to be transformed into what You desire me to be, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Demonstrating Power; July 11, 2023

Posted on July 12, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 2:12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

This dramatic, moving story is rightly recorded by multiple Gospel writers because it illustrates the distinctives of Jesus’ ministry. In the first place, Jesus’ teaching was very attractive to many people, but not all who came to hear had open hearts. It is amazing how we can prefer our man-made traditions to the pure Word of God! In the second place, it shows Jesus’ compassionate heart. Having someone lowered through a hole in the roof would be disruptive to say the very least, but Jesus’ focus was on the paralytic, and the faith of the men who brought him to Jesus. The third thing is Jesus’ demonstration of the reality that, as Paul said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” (1 Corinthians 2:4) Not too many preachers today can make that statement! You can’t refute the power of God with clever arguments. That’s why the resurrection of Lazarus, as recorded in John 11, was the event that pushed Jesus’ enemies to have Him crucified. They couldn’t deny the reality of what He was doing, so they tried to take Him out. Of course, they didn’t know that they were setting the stage for the biggest miracle of all, the atonement for the sins of mankind and victory over death itself. The devil has always insisted that all religions were of equal value, but that’s just another of his lies. It is only in Christ that we are rightly connected to the Creator of the universe, and His power operates in and through us. We can’t dictate to Him how His power is to be used, but when we are rightly submitted to Him, that power operates in and through us, for our blessing and His glory. We need to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, (Matthew 6:33) and expect Him to follow through.

I have only seen a few physical miracles, but I have seen some and know they are no big deal for God. I frankly don’t know why I don’t see more, but it may be related to what Jesus said to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) However, I covet open demonstrations of God’s power to give the Japanese more impetus to repent and believe for their salvation. In the meantime, I am to be faithful and obedient, doing whatever my Lord tells me to do and leaving the result up to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for the nurse’s response yesterday when she found out I was a pastor: “That explains you!” She went on to say that I had an aura of peace, and she was touched by it. May my life be a demonstration of Your reality indeed, however You choose for that to be, so that many may repent and believe for their salvation, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Fishing for Men; July 10, 2023

Posted on July 11, 2023 by jgarrott

Mark 1:16-20 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

John gives us the background to this story, explaining in John 1:35-42 that this wasn’t Jesus’ first encounter with these men. They had probably been thinking about Jesus a lot since that first encounter. Jesus’ challenge to them recorded here gave them the courage to follow through on the impulse that had doubtless been building in them. It’s interesting to note from John’s record that with both pairs of brothers it was the younger who first believed. John and Andrew, though young, were already counted as disciples of John the Baptist, even though they continued their work as fishermen. Sometimes we forget that in those days boys were considered men once they had their bar mitzva, and were expected to enter a trade. The much shorter life expectancy tended to put everything into a rush. In any case, it was a major decision to leave an established occupation in order to follow an itinerant preacher. The metaphor Jesus used here is significant because of how it related to his hearers on multiple levels. In the first place is the obvious one: they were already professional fishermen. The Japanese expression here, though longer than the English, makes it a little clearer that Jesus wasn’t telling them to change their occupation exactly, but rather the purpose of their activity. The second level, to me, is that these men realized they had already been “netted” by their first encounter with Jesus. I think that gave them a glimpse of just what Jesus meant by “fishers of men.” I think that’s worth our deep consideration. How were we “caught” by Jesus? He wants us to do that for others as well. That’s why personal testimony is so important in evangelism. Just expressing theories and principles isn’t very convincing, but it’s hard to argue with personal experience.

I can’t duplicate for someone else my own experience of growing up in a genuinely Christian home, but I can share my interactions with my Lord since then. Just yesterday I had the opportunity to tell again the story of how I was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and months later received the gift of tongues. The confirmation for me that God had indeed been true to His Word and baptized me in His Spirit was when I realized that I was talking to a total stranger about Jesus, and Acts 1:8 came to mind. I have had many other personal encounters with God, and those are what I seek to share. As someone with Teacher gifting I tend to be heavy on the “theories and principles” side, but as I said, that’s not very convincing. I am never to draw back from sharing what God has done for me, whether I think that puts me in a good light or not. After all, Jesus has given me His Spirit to be His witness!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for all the “body life” that went on here yesterday, with the Taiwan team here for the service, for the pot luck lunch afterward, and for the ministry that continued while I had to go upstairs to do premarital counseling. Thank You for all You are doing in and among us! I pray that all the believers would wake up to their privilege of being Your agents to draw others into Your family, for the sake of the Body of Christ and for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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Faith; July 9, 2023

Posted on July 10, 2023 by jgarrott

Matthew 27:41-42 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”

I’ve heard various stories of people saying, “If this happens, then I’ll believe.” Such statements, and such people, are never wise, because the Biblical pattern is faith first, then the miracle. Faith is both a gift and a choice. Because it is a gift, no one can boast about it, as Paul succinctly and famously stated. (Ephesians 2:8-9) However, it is also a choice; we have to choose to receive what God offers. He gives us all various opportunities to believe, but we can be remarkably hard headed at times. Some who choose not to believe call those who do believe “gullible,” but who has the better outcome? Just yesterday I was reading an article that stated that even atheists concede that the fellowship and community in a church is better than anywhere else. I didn’t do that survey, but it sounds right to me! The peace and joy of a life of faith can be had no other way, but we have to choose to accept it. And that’s just talking about the results of faith in this life! The Bible is clear that we will spend eternity with our Lord, whether it is Jesus Christ the Son of God, or the devil, who in pride rebelled, desiring the glory for himself, and is destined for eternity in torment. Faith that God loved us enough to send His Son to die for our sins indeed brings the eternal life that the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16, talks about. The men who were mocking Jesus obviously didn’t choose to accept that faith.

Growing up in a household of faith it was a very easy choice for me, but pride nearly derailed me. I learned the hard way that choosing faith isn’t an “into bliss and out of blister” proposition, as my grandfather used to put it. I have learned that faith is an ongoing choice, to be renewed at sometimes very frequent intervals. However, I have also learned that such renewals are effective, and very blessed. I am never to take my salvation for granted, “sinning so that grace may increase,” as Paul put it, (Romans 5:20- 6:2) At the same time, I am not to be anxious about “losing my salvation.” Repentance is both necessary and effective on a continual basis. The longer I walk with my Lord in this life, the more assurance and anticipation I have of walking with Him in the next. We don’t have to have “incredible faith” for faith to be incredible!

Father, thank You for this encouraging reminder. Thank You that I’m getting more and more used to the new lens in my right eye, and that I’ll be getting a new one for the left tomorrow. Thank You for all the things that are scheduled to go on today. I ask Your guidance and anointing for every detail, so that the team from Taiwan, our usual members, and especially those who don’t yet know You may be powerfully touched by Your Spirit, to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Your Son, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!

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End Times; July 8, 2023

Posted on July 9, 2023 by jgarrott

Matthew 24:36 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

I think that after His resurrection Jesus perhaps knew the timing of His return, but in any case this is an important verse to remember, all the more as it feels like “end times” are upon us. Even in New Testament days there were some who were claiming “the resurrection has already taken place,” (2 Timothy 2:18) and getting people all stirred up. The point for us is not to set up timelines and try to figure out where we are in Revelation, but to live each day as though it would be the day of Christ’s return. As Jesus Himself said right after this, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” (Matthew 24:46) After all, none of us knows how long we will be on this earth, regardless of when the Lord returns. Diseases generally give us some warning, but there are countless ways to die suddenly, as the recent submersible incident demonstrated. The biggest point of this whole chapter to me is actually in the very next verses, that I didn’t include in today’s reading: we aren’t going to have any more warning than people did in the days of Noah. They too were told that they were violating God’s rules, that they needed to “straighten up and fly right,” but they ignored the warnings. We need to live each day as though it were our last on this earth, keeping our eyes and our allegiance on our Lord in full, loving obedience. If we will do that, we have absolutely nothing to be anxious about!

This is the attitude I think I must have been raised with, though I can’t remember my parents ever saying anything about Christ’s return. I have known people, even some fairly close friends, who were obsessed with this and were always using charts and timelines and the like. It has always saddened me, because to me it takes the focus off of what we are to be doing right now. I wish I could say I were 100% faithful, that any given moment I am doing exactly what my Lord desires of me, but that is at least my goal. In a sense you could say that goal is inherited. The inscription on my father’s tombstone is, very appropriately, “To do the will of him who sent me.” (John 6:38) So long as that is my heart cry, I have no other concerns.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for Your plans for my remaining time on this earth, however long that might be. Thank You that my cataract surgery yesterday seems to have gone well, though it was surprisingly painful because of my insensitivity to anesthesia. I pray that my recovery would go smoothly and that the doctor would remember and use more, or stronger, anesthesia for my left eye! I pray that both of my eyes, and the rest of my body, would be fully useful in doing Your will for as long as I need them, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Firm to the End; July 7, 2023

Posted on July 8, 2023 by jgarrott

Matthew 24:12-13 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

For once I actually prefer the NIV to the Japanese! I don’t know the nuances of the Greek here, but the idea of “most” not only has more punch, it also agrees with personal observation. At this point it’s extremely refreshing to encounter people who are sold out to the Lord, because they are so few and far between. Where the NIV says, “the increase of wickedness,” the Japanese says, “the infestation of lawlessness.” However you put it, that certainly seems to describe the world today. The temptation to throw our hands up and retreat to isolation is real, but it doesn’t agree with the Biblical picture. Just the other day I was reading an article by Lee Grady asking, “Is it too late for America?” He used both England and America as historical examples of times when society was highly degraded and depraved, and God brought revival. He quoted historians to point out that the revival in England under John Wesley saved Britain from something like the French revolution, and the Great Awakening prepared the colonies for the American revolution that established a nation on Biblical principles. There were other examples given but in each case, contemporary commentators had despaired because of the extreme wickedness that was manifested in society as a whole. There is indeed extreme wickedness infesting society, but Jesus would have us trust Him and stand firm, not allowing our love for Him and for each other to grow cold but resisting the devil, in society and especially in our hearts. Frankly, it appears that we are indeed in End Times, but we need to remember that those times began with Jesus’ ascension and will not end until the last trumpet mentioned in Revelation. We are not to let circumstances drag us down, but rather stand tall as Christ’s representatives, with no lack of love for Him and for our neighbor.

I was much younger when I first had the strong feeling that Christ would return before the end of my natural life, but since then I have had various friends, genuine saints, who had the same conviction but have been called home while I’m still here. Considering that I’m 74, it won’t be that many years before I stand before my Lord however it happens! I need to be careful that I’m not included in the “many” or “most” in this passage, but keep Christ as my goal and my priority in all purity. That’s not easy in the world as it is today, but nothing is impossible with God! (Luke 1:37, Matthew 17:20) I am to stay submitted to my Lord, doing His will on His schedule for His glory, and leave everything else up to Him.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You that I’ll be having my first cataract surgery this afternoon. I do pray that everything would go completely smoothly, not just in the surgery itself but in the recovery, so that my eyes will be fully useful for as long as You keep me here. May I be a good steward of the body, resources, and opportunities You give me, for Your pleasure and glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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Speaking Truth; July 6, 2023

Posted on July 7, 2023 by jgarrott

Matthew 21:24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

It’s very clear there was no outsmarting Jesus! This is one of several interactions he had with those who were against Him, and in every one His responses are very satisfying to those who believe in Him. This incident points out something explicitly that we do well to remember: we are always to speak the truth in love, (Ephesians 4:15) but we aren’t always to say everything we know, no matter how true it might be. There are some who would say that is “lying by omission,” as is often done by the “news” media. The consequences of that are evident in France right now with all the riots going on, because the news media didn’t report that the “teenage delivery driver” who was shot and killed by the police was also a gang member who had had multiple run-ins with the police, and at the point he was shot was trying to get away from a traffic stop and was putting a policeman’s life in danger in the process. A very similar thing happened in the case of George Floyd’s death in the US a couple of years ago. Jesus wasn’t doing that, and neither should we. However, there are true things that don’t need to be said in a given situation. We need to seek and follow the guidance of Holy Spirit at all times, letting Him put a brake on our tongues as need be, so that our words won’t injure needlessly, but rather heal.

This stands out to me because it is a problem I have had all my life. I often say more than I should, and I have damaged relationships in the process. As anyone who knows me will tell you, it can be hard to get me to shut up, and it would appear even Holy Spirit has that problem with me at times! I love to know stuff, and my telling all I know is a kind of bragging. As the Lord said very clearly through Jeremiah, “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24) I am all too prone to boast of the wrong things, in various ways. Whether something is factual is far from the only consideration in whether to speak it. I am never to be afraid to speak when the Lord says to do so, but I am not to spout off on my own, and that is something I am all too prone to do.

Father, thank You for this clear reminder. I do ask for a “brake job” on my tongue, that I may speak only Your words in Your love in Your timing, for the blessing of my hearers and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!

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