May 13, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on February 20, 2017. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Orphans or Children of God?”

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 

If any group of sports fans understood the misery of losing, it was fans of the Chicago Cubs. Leading up to the 2016 season, the Cubs had not won the World Series—baseball’s ultimate prize—in 108 years. Furthermore, the Cubs would fall short in the most agonizing ways whenever they made the playoffs, leading some to believe that the team was cursed. Thankfully, on November 2nd 2016, the Cubs finally won the World Series—and Chicago exploded with joy. At the victory parade, there were over five million fans celebrating, the 7th largest gathering in human history.

For the Cubs fans, they knew what the appropriate reaction was to their long-awaited victory: joy, freedom from anxiety, gratitude, etc. While we may not all be Cubs fans, as Christians, we have received the ultimate victory through Jesus: victory over death, sin and Satan. We were condemned by the law and its burden was too great for us to carry; but through Jesus, who was born under the law (Gal. 4:4), we have been redeemed under the law and by faith and are now adopted as sons and daughters (Gal. 4:5).

If such an amazing victory is ours, where is our joy and freedom? More often than not, such lack reveals the fact that we live as spiritual orphans instead of God’s children. Instead of walking in faith and living according to God’s promises, we live on a succeed/fail basis, using our accomplishments to compare ourselves to others, which leads to either pride or depression. Instead of remembering that there is no striving in love, we labor under a sense of unlimited obligation, believing that everything depends on us. 

Instead of finding satisfaction in God alone, we look for satisfaction in our idols, “drinking from other cisterns” instead of the living water (Jeremiah 2:13).

For the next two weeks, we will be going through how our orphan-like tendencies can creep into our everyday lives. But thankfully, we will also be going through how we can experience the new life promised to us as God’s children. Let’s pray that God would reveal more of Himself.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I can call You exactly that: Father. I am not alone but I have You as my Father, 

Friend and Lover. Yet, I confess that I live as if You do not exist. I confess that I do not live in freedom or joy but in self-righteousness and fear. I confess that my life does not reflect the promises You have given me. Bring me back to You again. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 8:14-5: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 16

Questions to Consider

1. How do these verses describe those who are living under fear?

2. We are no longer slaves to fear but children of God. How then should we live?

3. What fears do you need to surrender to God today?

Notes

1. Those who live in fear are described as slaves. They are not free to live in power and joy but are chained to their own anxieties. 

2. As children of God, we should be led by the Spirit who reminds us of our adoption to sonship. As children, we can continually cry out to our Father for His help in the midst of our helplessness. 

3. Personal response (e.g., fear of failure, fear of being abandoned, fear of death, etc.)

Evening Reflection

What other truths of being a child of God did He reveal to you today? If He hasn’t, take some time and ask Him to speak to You. Once He does, thank Him and ask Him for faith to live that truth out.

May 12, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 26, 2017, is provided by Jane Oak, who serves at Tapestry Church, Los Angeles. Jane is an immigration lawyer.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Marriage is Good!”

Genesis 2:18, 1:28 

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.”

After my parents’ divorce when I was 9 years old, I quickly had to grow up and take on adult responsibilities, such as caring for my little brother, comforting my depressed mother, and figuring out ways to reduce the utility bills. With many years of carrying these burdens, I really enjoyed the freedom I experienced after graduating high school and leaving home. I would play and stay out late, but I also became very involved in church and ministry, investing a lot of time into my younger sisters. I enjoyed this lifestyle so much that the idea of marriage and having a man to take care of was not appealing to me. I wanted to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, with whomever I wanted. For the next 20 years, I went into and out of many relationships. And, in my explanation to others as to why I broke up with my boyfriend/fiancé, I used the noble excuse of, “Oh, I wanted to have more impact for the Kingdom of God. I need my freedom to give more time to the church and to my sisters. Marriage will reduce my impact because I would have to worry about my husband and domestic responsibilities.” 

Everyone who heard this would agree with me, except for this one deaconess.  Her response to me was, “If it’s all about greater impact for the Kingdom of God, you are limiting yourself by staying single. Right now, you can mainly impact women. But, if you get married, through your influence on your husband, you can impact many men. And, if you have children, you will impact many children. Also, it is through marriage that your character will become more like Christ. You really need to think again about your excuse for not getting married.” I was cut to the heart.

I decided to read the Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller, which completely changed my perspective on marriage. And, by God’s grace and orchestration, I met Harry Yoon three years ago. I knew he had not been in the church for 20 years, but I could clearly see that he was falling in love with God and the community (if you haven’t already, you need to read Harry’s testimony on the Tapestry website).  Now, we have co-led three cell groups and I hear numerous stories of how the men are growing and maturing because of Harry’s wisdom, humility, honesty, and leadership. We decided not to have biological children, but together, we care for many spiritual children at Tapestry. It is such a joy to constantly talk about our spiritual children, to pray for them, and to serve them as a couple. Indeed, my view on marriage has changed. Marriage with God at the center results in an even greater impact for the Kingdom. Therefore, marriage is good!

Prayer: Lord, I praise and glorify You this morning.  I pray that our marriages are being reoriented and shaped in accordance to Your original blue print for the institution of marriage.  Whether married or single, may we yield greater fruits for your Kingdom through serving You faithfully.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 15

May 11, Saturday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on April 1, 2017.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“All Can Speak in Tongues”

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Today’s Bible passage is the same as yesterday’s, but we will focus on the gift of tongues. (If you did not read yesterday’s devotional, I encourage you to do so before reading today’s.)

Yesterday, I mentioned that prophecy is speaking about what is going on in the heavenly realm. God is always at work, so heaven is a busy place! We often do not see what is going on, what God is doing around us, but there is a spiritual realm where God and His angels are working. 

So, then, what is tongues? Well, tongues is in essence praying according to what is going on in the heavenly realm. This passage says that while praying in tongues, a person “speaks not to men but to God” (v.2). Only God hears these prayers, these “mysteries in the Spirit.” Though we may not know what we are praying, still, individually, we are built up by speaking in tongues (v.4).

But, as Paul encourages, we should not be satisfied with tongues alone: “Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret” (1 Cor. 14:13). When we can interpret tongues, that becomes prophecy, because through interpretation, the spiritual realities that are being prayed over are opened to the church, so that everyone can see what is happening in the spiritual realm. 

Do you speak in tongues? Today, let’s ask God for the gift of interpretation. If you do not speak in tongues, do not be afraid to ask God for this gift. As Paul said, he wants “all to speak in tongues” (v.4)—that includes us!

Prayer: Lord, thank You that you open up the heavens to us through tongues and prophecy. Help us to continue to desire these gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. Lord, we want to build up Your church and You give us these gifts for that purpose. Help us to desire what You desire for us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 13-14

May 10, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 10, 2017, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark, after stepping down as its Lead Pastor in January of 2023, is now serving as a staff at Radiance. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Christian Freedom and a License to Sin”

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 (ESV)

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5 For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 7 However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9 But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. 

One excuse that people make to avoid obeying the commands of God is the right for believers to exercise their Christian liberty. However, we need to understand that Christian freedom is not a license to do whatever we want to do.  You cannot make the Bible a book of mere suggestions when in fact, these are the very commands of God.  Therefore, the Scriptures give us wisdom on how to exercise our Christian liberties and outlines the limits of our freedom.     

The important point that we need to know is that Christian freedom can only be exercised in matters that are non-ethical in nature.  Here, in this passage, we have the question of whether to eat food offered to idols.  There were some dietary and religious limitations that particular Jewish Christians held onto.  Clearly, some old practices are hard to break.  In addition, there were other debates that the early Christians struggled with, such as the question of whether to mark off certain days as holy in terms of the traditional Jewish calendar (e.g. Yom Kippur and the feast of Purim).  And so along these non-ethical issues, where the Bible is largely silent, the Word teaches us to do as we are fully convinced in our minds (Romans 14:5). The key word here is fully.  In order to be thoroughly convinced, it means having studied the Bible on the subject and taking it up to the Lord in prayer before deciding to exercise your Christian freedom.  These decisions of liberty and conscience should not be made flippantly for the following two reasons:

First, in the case where Christian freedoms are debated, both parties share the blame.  Those of us who can exercise our freedom with a clear conscience often judge those who might have doubts and questions. Those of us who feel more comfortable in limiting Christian freedom often hold in contempt those who exercise their freedom.  No party is right here, and we will be held accountable to God for the attitudes that we hold against our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

Second, in applying our Christian freedom, we must follow the law of love.  Paul places greater responsibility on the person who wants to exercise their freedom over the person who wants to limit freedom, because it is much easier to change one’s own behavior rather than asking someone else to change their attitudes and thoughts. If you stumble another Christian while exercising your freedom, you can possibly damage the faith of someone who Christ died for; and to do so over a trivial matter, such as the use of alcohol and food, is both unloving and unthinkable.  To show love for others is the highest Christian ethic, and this law of Christ mandates that love restrict even our freedom.  

Prayer: Lord, it is so easy to just think about myself and my own personal needs.  Yet You remind us that our highest calling is to love others as ourselves.   If this means sacrificing some of my rights as a Christian, help me to make those necessary changes in my life.  In all things, I pray that love would be the final standard for every decision that I make.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Deuteronomy 12

Lunch Break Study (ESV)

Read Romans 14:13-23: Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.  20 Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 21 It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. 22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Questions to Consider

  1. Instead of judging each other, what should Christians resolve to do?
  2. How should my personal Christian freedom be exercised?
  3. What are the more important matters that need to be considered when deciding on debatable issues of Christian conduct?  

Notes

  1. Instead of judging one another, it is important that everyone resolves not to be a hindrance or to place a stumbling block to someone’s faith.   
  2. Personal Christian freedom should not be an on-going source of tension in the church.  Debatable matters should be resolved in such a way that peace is preserved and there is mutual edification.  I believe the one who is called to limit his Christian liberty is actually built up the most because he/she can grow in the areas of self-control, sacrifice, and humble submission.  
  3. Christians have incredible degrees of freedom in the Lord, unlike many of the other world religions.  But ultimately, our liberties are subordinate to the kingdom of God, which is characterized by joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.  Any Christian behavior that does not add to this is probably not beneficial in the long run.  

Evening Reflection

As you may know, Pastor Jack Hayford has a certain way with words.  As he prayed in front of the million men gathered in the National Mall in Washington DC, he said these words that have stayed with me all these years:  “For 200 years we have come here to declare our rights, today we come to confess our wrongs.”  It ushered in an atmosphere of repentance that was palpable.  We have many rights as Christians, rights that we vigorously defend, but we have forgotten how to confess our wrongs to God and one another.  Spend some time tonight confessing your sins and allowing the grace of God to cleanse and heal you.     

May 9, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 22, 2017, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“An Insight from the Theology of Jonathan Edwards”

Revelations 9.12- 21

The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. 13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts.

Central to the theology of Jonathan Edwards, the revivalist pastor of the first Great Awakening, was this idea of beauty. For Edwards, we are created with an inclination toward beauty. Now this isn’t just physical beauty, but a spiritual beauty, one that comes from perfect harmony and love; the ultimate beauty being God. Edwards argues that we fall into sin because we find sin beautiful. But when the Holy Spirit comes upon us and illuminates our hearts, we are then able to see the One who is truly beautiful and to see sin for what it truly is. We become captivated by the beauty of God. But it doesn’t stop there. The Holy Spirit continues to work on our hearts so that our ability to see and understand the beauty of God grows as we continue to walk with Him. 

In Edwards, just like when we look directly at the sun, what we actually see is black—we see the dark fallenness of our souls, and yet we are captivated because of the love of God that is willing to love such fallen creatures. And we respond to this amazing God through obedience, worship, and our affections.

In Revelation, the intensity of the judgments that falls upon the world seems to intensify with every seal broken and trumpet blown. And it may be easy for us to start feeling like all of this is too much, but through it, we are able to see the magnitude of sin that elicits such a response from God. But what we also see in this passage is God’s desire for His people to repent; the judgments so far have been a warning to the people for the sake of repentance.  

We see that despite our fleshly response to such death and destruction, we see clearly that what God desires for His people is true repentance. He desires for people to come to realize their fallen ways that lead them away from the life abundant. Unfortunately, as John woefully records, the people do not repent. 

For those of us who have experienced the forgiveness of God, the weightiness of sin shouldn’t be any different. In fact, as we come to know the holiness and beauty of God more and more, the seriousness of sin should continue to grow alongside the greatness of God’s redemptive work in our lives. If our understanding of salvation becomes static, something that has happened in the past, our sensitivity to sin can easily become dull. Faith lived out is dynamic. 

Repentance should be the posture in which Christians live as we continue to see the depths of our sin, but also the greatness of God’s grace upon our lives. We wrestle with our fleshly self-dependence to replace it with utter dependence on God. We need the constant revelation of the Holy Spirit that calls us to worship and repentance. May we never become static in our relationship with God. 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for revealing the depths of my sin. Although it is often uncomfortable, sometimes even unbearable to see how sinful I am, I thank You for Your Son who has overcome my sinfulness. May I never lose sight of Him. And if I do, may I never be too slow to fall on my knees in repentance. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 11

Lunch Break Study  

Read Hebrews 12:4-11: In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Hebrews teach us in terms of those that experience the discipline of the Lord? 
  2. What does our experience of the discipline of the Lord reveal about who God is? What does the Hebrews writer teach us is the purpose for this?
  3. Jonathan Edwards writes that for those who have not accepted Jesus in this life, if they were to go to heaven and see God, it would be sheer agony to behold such beauty. What does it mean for you that even through hardships and discipline that God is giving you a foretaste of heaven?

Notes

  1. The Hebrews writer teaches us that our experience of discipline (and even the ability to recognize that it is the discipline of the Lord) reveals the greater truth that we are His sons and daughters. It is out of His love for us. This discipline will be short-lived(v. 10)and may not be joyful but sorrowful, but it will yield a greater fruit (v.11). 
  2. It reveals God as our Heavenly Father who disciplines us for something greater that is to come. We are called to be subject to God just like how we respect our earthly Father. The reason for all this is for training—so that we may share in His holiness (v.10). Through repentance and correction, we are being prepared for the greater glory that we will one day experience. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As you have reflected upon a lifestyle of repentance and constantly coming back to the Lord, what has the Holy Spirit revealed to you today? Are there specific areas that you have come to realize or rediscover that needs to be made subject to the Lord? Spend a few moments thanking the Lord, that He reveals our sin to us, despite how painful it maybe. Trust His love for you.

May 8, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional was first posted on August 23, 2017, by an anonymous writer.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Rain Clouds” 

Acts 13:48-52 (ESV)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

At the end of the youth camp in Vietnam, we took all of the children (the same ones from yesterday’s zombie apocalypse and more) to a large water park in a neighboring city of Ho Chi Minh City. The kids had been looking forward to it all week. As we rolled into the parking lot of the park that morning, we could see their cute faces brimming over with excitement.

And thankfully enough, the children got along well and were having a blast with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The day ran swimmingly, all until about 1PM, when we noticed that the sky had turned an ominous shade of gray and felt the grumbling of a rain cloud from a distance. Rain was coming. Before we knew it, it began to downpour over the park. I turned to the local staff to watch for a cue, expecting them to signal for everyone to head indoors. Instead, I witnessed the leaders embrace the warm rainfall and head towards the biggest water slide in the park with the children. I followed their example and as I zipped down the slide, I realized that the rainfall was not harsh and cold, but surprisingly gentle, warm, and even enjoyable. At first, I thought the rain would be a setback and the cause of an early end to our perfect day. However, to our delight, it did not stop us from continuing in a memorable day of fellowship. 

In our passage today, Paul and Barnabus also face an unwelcome rain cloud. We read that the two had been running a fruitful ministry, through which many Gentiles (the very people they had journeyed to reach) were coming to faith. But, when the Jewish leaders caught wind of this, they ended Paul and Barnabus’ “successful” ministry and drove the two out of Pisidia. Instead of seeing this as a setback to their ministry, the two became filled with the Holy Spirit and continued onto Iconium and Lystra to preach the gospel. The persecution Paul and Barnabus faced was no gentle rain and a “setback,” at the least. However, we see that the filling of the Holy Spirit produced supernatural joy and perseverance in the midst of trial and suffering. Many times, when we feel hard-pressed, we are tempted to quit early. This morning, let’s recognize the unforeseen rain clouds in our lives and ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit to press on.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may we not quit serving You at the first sign of some difficulty or  discomfort. Remind us of the price Christ paid to save us and the availability of the Holy Spirt to empower us to get through difficult moments and, ultimately, bear much fruit for You. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 11

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Questions to Consider

1. The writer is probably not prescribing blind happiness, which would be ignorance. What type

of joy is he talking about?

2. When I think about the “will of God,” I usually spend my time pondering what my next step in life is. However, what is the will of God for all believers in this passage?

Notes

1. The joy of the Lord comes from our intimate relationship with Him and the promises of God that He will never forsake us (Deut. 31:8). It takes active faith and trust to be joyful in suffering.

2. To choose to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. If read quickly, this can seem overly simplistic and impossible. However, for a believer who is on the journey of faith, this is a beautiful calling that will bring glory to God. 

Evening Reflection

As you think about your day, did you experience God’s presence and promise over seemingly setbacks in life? Let’s ask the Lord to continue to build our faith in Him.

May 7, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 6, 2017, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Reward for the Faithful”

Revelation 3:4-6 

“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him heart what the Spirit says to the churches.”

One way that my family lavishes me with love is through gifts. They buy me good gifts, such as name brand handbags and nice jewelry. However, I have resolved that it is not worth it for them to gift me in this way because I am terrible at keeping nice accessories free from stains, blemishes, and tears. In my eyes, I am not worthy of such valuable products because I don’t go out of my way to steward them well. Today’s devotional talks about stewarding a much greater gift, our spiritual identity in Christ. 

The Spirit is commending a few people of the church at Sardis for their faithfulness in remaining holy to the Lord. They have not “soiled their garments,” meaning they have not joined themselves to the fleshly pursuits of the world after having been united with Christ. Because their eternal walk with the Lord is of utmost value to them, they have remained pure—stewarding their relationship with God in an honorable way. 

The imagery of the garment represents a person’s spiritual state. Prior to faith, every person figuratively wears “filthy garments,” which refers to life ruled by darkness and sin. When the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us fully, God places the righteousness of Christ upon us. Thus, we become newly clothed with a pure garment, representing our new identity in Christ.  

The majority of believers in Sardis had “soiled their garments” by returning to an ungodly lifestyle, while clothed with religiosity. The Spirit now points to these people to call them back. He is giving everyone a call to repent and says, “He who overcomes” will again be clothed in white and will have full fellowship in God’s presence in this life and the life to come. 

The garment of Christ’s righteousness is God’s most valuable gift to us. By His grace and love, He considered us worthy to receive this undeserving gift. How will we in return wear our garments in a manner worthy of God’s honor? How will we remain pure and unblemished so that we are ready to walk in white when the Lord returns?

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for the gift of new life. Thank You that You have clothed me with Your righteousness. Lord, the battle to remain holy and faithful is beyond my own strength and ability. I pray that You will grant me the strength to be an overcomer. Help me to increase in my love, adoration, and obedience to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I ever knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

Questions to Consider

1. What is Jesus’ warning to those who claim to be His disciples? 

2. According to Jesus, how will some people assume that they are in good standing with the Lord?

3. How does this passage encourage you to examine your walk with the Lord?

Notes

1. Everyone in Jesus’ audience at that time were among those who heard His teachings. Jesus is saying only those who hear His teachings and do them will enter the kingdom of heaven. Merely hearing does not reflect a genuine Master-follower relationship. Verse 21 is parallel to the parable right after this passage: “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Mt. 5:24).

2. Some people will believe that their religious acts and powers performed in Jesus’ name equate to their position in the kingdom of God. This does not necessarily mean they are in relationship with Jesus and actively doing the will of the Father.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Philippians 1:27: “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…”

Our manner of life is a testimony of our faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect on how we can honor God in our lives this week.  

May 6, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 29, 2017, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Reevaluating Weakness”

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When I was in college, I had a friend named Moe (not his real name). Moe was a large man: 6’3” and roughly 250 lbs. Although Moe was a member at my church, I didn’t like him very much. For one, he had a hot temper, which had gotten him into trouble at home and with the law several times in his past. But moreover, he always had too much to say. In my flesh, I was extremely annoyed by Moe because I saw in him these two blaring flaws, yet he continued to hang around the church (and me) so faithfully.

One day I got a call saying that Moe had been arrested for aggressively threatening a bank teller. I shook my head in disappointment as a few of my church brothers and I went to his court hearing. Fortunately, Moe only had to spend a week in jail; but in my mind, I wasn’t thankful for the brevity of the sentence—I just saw Moe as a burden to me, the community, and the church.

A week passed, and I went to go pick up Moe from the train station after he had been released from prison. To my surprise, he ran to me and gave me a huge bear hug. He had a huge grin on his face and kept saying how happy he was to see me. But what he said next caught me completely off-guard: he told me that during the week that he was in prison, he shared the gospel with every single person he came into contact with, and both his prison cellmate and the guard posted in front of his cell gave their lives to Jesus!

I began tearing up as God began to humble me in this moment. All this time, I had seen this brother as only a burden. I only saw his weaknesses, his temper and his loud mouth. But it was those very weaknesses that God used to reach people that may otherwise have never been able to receive the gospel. I repented for my lack of faith and my critical spirit against Moe. 

Perhaps you have noticed weaknesses/flaws in people (or yourself), and you have fostered a critical spirit. But God says that His “power is made perfect in weakness.” In light of this let us change our approach towards weaknesses as opportunities for God’s power to manifest. 

Prayer: God, thank You that You use the weak to display Your strength. I ask that You would help me to see my weaknesses and others’ weaknesses in the way that You see them. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Deuteronomy 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 5:27-32: After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What was it about Jesus’ choice of company that caused the religious leaders to grumble?
  2. What justification does Jesus give for his choice of company?
  3. What does Jesus’ response teach us about what it means to be a follower of Christ?

Notes

  1. The Pharisees and scribes grumbled at Jesus because he was hanging around “tax collectors and sinners.” In those times, rabbis (Jesus was considered a rabbi) did not associate themselves with spiritually poor people (a.k.a. tax collectors, prostitutes, commoners, etc.) But not only did Jesus spend the majority of His time with these “sinners,” He chose His disciples from among them! 
  2. Jesus responds to the religious leaders, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” There is some irony in Jesus’ words, because in reality even the Pharisees were sinners. Yet, in their minds, they saw themselves as righteous. This false perception of their own spiritual state effectively prevented the Pharisees from following Jesus. On the other hand, those who were aware of their own spiritual poverty were drawn to Jesus without hindrance. 
  3. There are many things we can draw from this passage, but we can certainly learn at least two things:
    1. In order to genuinely follow Christ we must first come to realize our critical need for Him. He cannot actually be our Lord and Savior if we see ourselves as self-sufficient or righteous.
    2. In Christ, we no longer practice factions/divisions based on outward merits. In other words, we should not measure a person based on our perception of their spirituality or lack thereof. This can be tricky because spiritual maturity is a real thing. But true spiritual maturity is marked by a humility that recognizes one’s own need for God. 

Evening Reflection

This evening, pray for someone who “annoys” you. Maybe you wouldn’t necessarily use that language, but if you’re honest, in your heart you find it burdensome to be around that person. Perhaps it’s a friend, co-worker, or brother/sister in Christ. Or maybe that person is you. Ask God to show you how He sees that person, and to give you His perspective.

May 5, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provide by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 9, 2017.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Prayer Walk That Opens a Closed Door”

1 Cor. 16:8

But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

Last Sunday, a sister—showing a lot of enthusiasm—asked me, “Are you excited about our prayer-walk around the community this afternoon?” And with a genuine excitement, I replied, “Yeah, I’m really excited!” 

For the past year, our church has been intentionally praying for our local community. We moved into an area called Kearny Mesa in the fall of 2015, and after finally settling down, we participated in several prayer-walks around the area. We also began to bless our community, asking for His Kingdom to come into our areas during our intercessory prayer times. Afterwards, as I have learned from Experiencing God study, we kept our eyes open to see what the Lord would reveal. 

Today, it seems that God is opening up several doors within our community. Those three areas are: 1) Chinese International student population, studying at the universities of San Diego; 2) possibly the camper community (homeless) within Kearny Mesa; and 3) Vietnamese-American youths who are considered “unreached,” living within the U.S. Step by step we are walking through these doors, knowing that doors for effective work is being opened for us by the Lord. 

We also understand that there will be some level of spiritual “opposition.” Whether the challenges come from within or from the outside, we know that open doors do not guarantee ease of entry. If you’ve ever followed Paul’s missionary travels throughout the Book of Acts, you will see that open doors often included opposition. Paul could have just as easily been tempted to think that opposition meant the door was closing just as soon as it was opening, or that he may have simply misunderstood God’s will. Thankfully, Paul understood that opposition would soon ensue open doors for God’s work. 

We, too, understand that with these open doors into our community, we expect to face challenges, difficulties, and perhaps even opposition. The Word of God has already shown us enough patterns so that we are made aware. The Word of God also exhorts us to continually pray as prayer is part of our spiritual weaponry in standing firm and overcoming opposition. 

Ask the Lord for open doors for God’s work. Then keep your eyes open. When the doors do open, get involved, but do so with prayer, for you know that difficulties may soon follow. Remember Paul’s words in Romans 8:37: “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Prayer: Lord, give me a heart for the people in my neighborhood, work, and church.  Motivate me to share with them what You have given me.  But first, help me to begin praying for them so that I may recognize what You’re already doing in their lives so that I merely need to join You.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 8

May 4, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 20, 2017, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston.  Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Examine Yourself”

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

One of my seminary professors refused to give exams in his class because he had been scarred by all exams and tests he’d endured in his own education.  Even though I did fairly well with exams, his class was still one of my favorites in the seminary!  Few of us like the idea of exams:  We delay going to the doctor; we dread what we will hear from our auto mechanics.   There is even a school of thought in education that wants to eliminate high-stakes testing (i.e. state wide exams) in our public schools.  But we know that—even if we don’t like it—exams at some level are necessary.  They are necessary because sometimes we get off-course (even if we don’t want to acknowledge it). That’s why we need to check where we are and figure out where to go from there.  

The church in Corinth had gotten off-course.  They had started in grace, but now division, anger, jealousy, spiritual pride and sexual immorality were serious problems.  They had begun to reject the teachings and authority of Paul who had originally started the church.  So as Paul concludes this letter, he commands the church in Corinth to examine itself.  

The phrase “examine yourselves” (Ἑαυτοὺς πειράζετε) has three grammatical nuances in the Greek language that I’d like to point out:  First, it is imperitival, i.e. this is a command and not optional.  Second, it is in the present tense which has a continuous aspect; in other words, Paul is commanding, “examine yourselves and keep on examining yourselves.” This is not meant to be a one time or even semi-regular type of evaluation—we are to continually examine our hearts.  Third, the second person plural indicates that this is something that we are to do together.  While each of us is to examine ourselves individually, as a church, we also need to help each other examine ourselves.  

Let us examine ourselves and keep ourselves moving toward Jesus.  Here are some possible questions to ask ourselves with the Spirit’s help:

  • Are you where you want to be in your relationship with Jesus?
  • Do you love Jesus today more than you loved Him yesterday?
  • When was the last time you thought about the cross?
  • Are you rationalizing away any sin?
  • Do you have people whom you have given permission to speak to in your life?  

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for Your grace.  Holy Spirit, please search our hearts and reveal any hidden sin or complacency within us.  We don’t want to do this in a spirit of legalism, for we know that we are not earning our salvation.  At the same time, we want Your incredible grace to continually transform us and drawing us closer to You.   In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Deuteronomy 6-7