March 18, Wednesday

UPDATED Today’s AMI Devotional QT, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang, is an edited version of a blog first posted on January 14, 2013.

Devotional Thought for Today

“Experiencing God in our Desperateness”

Psalms 6:4-7

Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. 5 No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. 7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

I suppose some of us may feel distant from this Psalm because we are not presently walking through life’s travails. But it rains on everyone, eventually. No one is immune from moments that leave us vulnerable, helpless, and fearful.

Often, we come to God with an expectant list of problems we want solved. Yet if what we truly seek is to experience His presence and to know Him more deeply, then we must remember that such encounters often occur in the very moments when our cries to the Lord are most desperate.

I wrote the portion you just read in the original version of this blog, posted on January 14, 2013. I reposted this Quiet Time on October 28, 2019 with this addition: Recently, a man in his 30s—someone with whom I had spent the entire afternoon in a church-related meeting—lost his young son that very evening due to a sudden illness. We were all shocked and utterly heartbroken for the parents. And it led us to cry out desperately to the Lord on behalf of this grieving family. But ultimately, we have hope. In death, we are reminded that while David had to contend with many foes, we have already gained victory over our ultimate foe—death itself. For the apostle Paul writes that in Christ, “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Cor. 15:26). So today, instead of bringing God a list of requests, pour out your heart before Him. Cry out to the Lord. Cry out for this grieving family—in hope.

And now, as I was preparing to repost this for today’s vlog, I couldn’t help noticing the title of this blog: “Experiencing God in Our Desperateness.” My family and I are now living in that very space of utter desperation because of the catastrophic illness my wife is enduring. Faith in God feels and smells different now—stripped down, raw, and honest. In many ways, I find myself returning to the basics: crying out to the LORD for my family.

Prayer: Dear God, I often come to You asking You to fix my life and solve my personal problems. I speak to You at times as though You were merely there to serve my needs. Lord, forgive me. Teach me to cry out to You in true desperation and dependence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 23

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 26:6-13

Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

Questions to Consider 

1. Who said this and to whom was this said (Mt. 26:6-13)?    

2. Evidently, some people are remembered even after they are dead (Ps. 6:5a).  Why was her act so significant? (Lk. 21:1-4)?  

3. How should we understand Ps. 6:5b: “Who praises you from the grave?”

Notes

1. Jesus said this to His disciples who were shocked by this act because they knew how costly it was.  

2. After spending several years with Jesus, the disciples still hadn’t grasped what loving the LORD your God with all your heart meant (Mt. 22:37). As a result, they only saw waste in what the woman did while Jesus saw something else that He deeply appreciated.  The expression, “Spare no expense” (on account of another person) refers to an extravagant expenditure just to make a simple point: You are very important to me.  That’s what this woman and the poor widow (who gave all she had to live on) did!  Sometimes it’s the people who are deeply involved in ministry who forget that.  

3. The Bible does not teach “soul sleep” after death; instead, human souls will continue to exist in either heaven or hell. Here, David wasn’t making a theological statement; it was a metaphorical expression driven by how close he felt to death due to his foes, and he frankly wasn’t ready to die quite yet.  That’s why the book of Psalms is a timeless truth because our emotive responses, such as sadness, happiness, anger or fear to life’s circumstances have not changed and will not change.  

Evening Reflection

As you wrap up this day, did anything happen that made you feel vulnerable, weak or fearful?  Were you insulted?  Did you hear any news that may affect your future? What situations in your life (perhaps at home or work) are presently making you feel vulnerable, helpless, and fearful? 

Like the woman we meet in Matthew 26, who expressed her love for Jesus with all that she had, would you take a moment to worship Him right now (perhaps silently).  More precious than expensive perfume is your heart!  Pour out your heart to Jesus!

March 17, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on April 30, 2019.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“God Who Delivers”

Exodus 23:9 (NIV)

“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

This is the second mention of God’s concern for the wellbeing of strangers and foreigners. (This same command is given near the end of Exodus 22.) In this command, what God is calling the people of God to do is have empathy, caring for others in light of their own experiences. While we’ve never been slaves in Egypt and experienced God’s deliverance through the parting of the Red Sea, we have experienced our own forms of bondage and God’s deliverance in our lives, the greatest of which being the salvation afforded us through Christ. We must remember our former state and allow the grace of God in our lives to inform our dealings with those who are oppressed, vulnerable, and in need around us. 

In light of this, I’d like share a QT I wrote back in 2013 on Psalm 114 – a song of remembering God’s deliverance. 

Psalm 114 (NIV)

When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, 2 Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; 4 the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? 6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

This is a psalm that God’s people would sing at Passover. It tells of God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt and of his sparing them from the plagues of judgment (particularly the death of the firstborn). As we now know, God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery and the Passover celebration (to remember that time) all pointed to Christ’s coming – when God would not only deliver the Israelites, but all of humanity not merely from physical bondage, but spiritual slavery to sin and death. 

The notable element of this praise is that it highlights an appropriate response to the salvific work of God. All of nature yields to the work of God. The sea, river, mountains, and hills all tremble before the Lord and move according to His will. We see this literally displayed when the Red Sea parted before the people of God during the exodus. Likewise, the psalmist calls for all of humanity to follow suit and appropriately respond to God’s salvific work in the world. We should tremble before the Lord – in awe of God’s power and in full submission to the amazing things God is doing in the world around us. 

Prayer: Eternal God, you alone can save and meet all of our needs. Sometimes I find myself thinking, “If only [fill in the blank with what is relevant for you], then I’d be satisfied.” But that is a lie. You have promised to meet all my needs and I trust that you’ll do it. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 22

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 1:13-21: Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

Questions to Consider

  1. What three commands does Peter give us in this passage? How are we to carry out each one? 
  2. What is our motivation for following these commands?  
  3. Somehow in the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection we are given freedom from our old ways of sin. Because of Jesus, we are able to live life to the fullest. Is your hope set fully on Christ? Are you no longer conforming to the ways of your flesh? Are you living in reverence of God above all things? Take some time to commit yourself to God in these areas. 

Notes

  1. Set our hope fully on the grace we receive through Christ: Not merely grace in this life but in the life to come. We have to live with eternal perspective of what God is doing for us through Christ – giving us eternal life. We do this by keeping our minds sober and ready for action – not drunk with sin and things of this world. 
  2. No longer be conformed to our passions: We should no longer give ourselves over to the desires of our flesh because we are called to be like Jesus (holy). We do this through our obedience to the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
  3. Conduct ourselves with fear: Instead of living whatever way we want during our time on earth, we instead live our lives with reverence for God. We do this by being mindful of what He’s done for us through Christ. He sacrificed His own son so that we may have a life free from sin. Our proper response to this is complete devotion (Romans 12:1-2).
  • Peter ends this section by explaining that Jesus came for us – Christ was made know to us so that we may have faith and hope in God. Therefore we do all these things because of what Christ did for us – not because we’re obligated, but because Jesus makes it possible. Christ died so we could have life to the full! 
  • Personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

For those of us who’ve put our trust in Jesus, we have died with Christ so that sin no longer has control over us. And we’ve been raised with him, so that we can (through the power of the Spirit within us) live a new life. Take time to reflect on God’s perfect sacrifice and how you can take full advantage of the new life offered in Christ. In light of yesterday’s quiet time and our passage this morning, how might that new life include caring for those in need around you? In what ways does remembering God’s deliverance lead you to care for the vulnerable folks in your community? 

March 16, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on March 29, 2019, is provided by Pastor Matt Ro. Matt is currently pastoring a church in the state of New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Do You Believe in Miracles?” 

Exodus 16:1-5, 11-16 (ESV)

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily . . .” 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’”

The Soviet Union entered the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York as the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in men’s ice hockey.  As previous winners of four consecutive gold medals and filled with a legendary, star-studded group of professional players, the Soviet Union team was considered a virtual lock for another Olympic championship.  

Contrastingly, the US team was made up of amateur players with an average age of 21 years old, making it the youngest team in US history to play in the Olympics.  It was a bunch of no name college players going against the world’s finest hockey machine.  Imagine the US Olympic basketball Dream Team of 1992 (consisting of Jordan, Magic and Bird to name a few) losing to Angola?  Not going to happen.  But, the “Miracle on Ice” indeed happened when the US beat the Soviet Union 4-3.  Every American on the planet probably tuned into the last minutes of the game, and to this day, this match is widely held as the best international hockey story ever.  

Well, what about you?  Do you believe in miracles?  Verse one states that it had been exactly one month since the Israelites had come out of Egypt.  The time reference is not accidental: Only a month before they had been miraculously delivered, but now they forgot all about it. Although they had been given a stunning victory over the mighty Egyptians, merely a month later they were complaining because there were hungry. So God promises them manna, which literally means “what is it?”  And He would provide manna for the next 40 years.  Manna was not a product of some biological organism.  It was not man-made; it was certainly not something that the Israelites brought with them out of Egypt.  Instead, God provided the manna straight from heaven—a great miracle indeed. 

Ancient Israel had no word for “miracle” or “nature.”  They expected natural phenomena to tell them something about God.  The Hebrew words in the OT, which are sometimes translated to mean miracle, literally mean “sign”—an event that points to some future meaning, or an event that draws attention to something else, usually God.  Thus, in NT times, people expected that God would authenticate any disclosure of His intention with miracles.  The Kingdom of God is now here (Lk. 17:21) and miracles are indeed signs pointing to this kingdom.  Consider the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry at the Wedding at Cana in John 2 that was signified by his first miracle of turning water into wine, or Jesus’ declaration, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28). 

I believe that signs still exist today to remind us of God’s Kingdom.  Miracles are still as much today a “sign” to announce the kingdom message as it was then.  Considering that, are there areas in your life that seem hopeless and against all odds?  Don’t give up!  Ask the Lord for a miracle.  Whether it be a miracle of physical healing or restoring a hopelessly broken relationship, let us wait in eager anticipation, in faith and earnest prayer. 

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I come to You today with faith so small I cannot see a way out.  I want to believe You are able to do more than I can ever imagine (Eph. 3:20).  I want to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). God, please bring a miracle into my life.  I know that You can do the impossible in my life and I am trusting in Your promises.  Thank You for being a God who sees and hears my every need. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:21-24 (ESV):  And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”  23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Questions to Consider

  1. What lesson is Jesus teaching the man in v.23, and how does the man receive and respond to the lesson in v. 24?
  2. Why was the father so desperate in his response in v. 24?
  3. In what area of your life do you need God’s miracle?  Ask for a miracle.  

Notes

  1. Here, Jesus’ power is not the issue, but faith in him is.  All things are not possible to be done by the believer himself, but all things are possible to be done for him, by Jesus.  That work is done by faith which is a gift itself.
  2. He recognized his limitations in view of the severity of the situation.  Ultimately, he put his faith and hope in Jesus. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

The fundamental question you and I need to be more conscious of today is, “Am I living my life in the deep faith of being united to God’s presence or am I living my life as though I am in control of everything that goes on in my life?”  If we live our daily lives in the deep and personal union with God’s presence, our deep faith can give us a peace where we strongly believe that our lives are in the hands of God who cares for us. 

So, let us live in the greater consciousness and gratitude to God for His caring and compassionate love, where He never fails to work “miracles” for us daily.  The greater our consciousness and the deeper our gratitude to God, the more discerning we become in our relationship with Jesus.  

March 15, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 19, 2019, was provided by Jin Ha Lee. Jin had faithfully served at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia for many year. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Giving the Benefit of the Doubt—a Loving Thing to Do”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Ephesians 4:1-3


“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 

In Matthew 22:39, Jesus makes it clear that the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” However, we face conflicts everywhere, from work, family, friendships, and even church. When conflicts go long or deep, it’s easy for “loving one another” to take a backseat in our hearts. It can be especially challenging when conflicts arise in our church.

However, God teaches and equips us to combat division by showing us through these verses what love looks like. One practical way to show love is to give the benefit of the doubt. (v7 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”)

During a conflict, a vulnerable area that the enemy attacks is our thoughts. When we begin to misinterpret the other person and question his or her intentions, it can begin to sow bitterness in our hearts. However, it is in those times that we need to prayerfully and consciously make a stand to say, “I will give this person the benefit of the doubt.” This protects our hearts against bitterness and removes the enemy’s foothold. When we give benefit of the doubt, it is a loving way to see others and disarms the disillusionment that the other person was out to “get us”.

I need to give the benefit of the doubt because I need it too. I can give mercy because I’ve been shown mercy. When God sees all that is in our hearts including our sin, He sees Jesus in us. Therefore, we can try to see Jesus in our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must remember that we are all a work-in-progress who are constantly loved by God.

It is a privilege to build up one another in this race of faith. So, let’s refocus on what God intended our church to be. We are a body of Christ that works together to build up one another with spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit distributed (1 Cor. 12). Love is the most excellent way.


There may be conflicts due to direct offenses that requires confrontation. This passage also teaches us that love is patient (v4), perhaps in timing and communication. Love perseveres through multiple hurtful conversations to reach mutual understanding and unity. But whether the situation gets resolved or not, we are “…bearing with one another in love…” out of love for Jesus and His precious church.

Are you experiencing conflict? Let’s bring it before the Lord and pray for wise counsel. Even when our love has run out, the Lord has an infinite amount of steadfast and unfailing love waiting to cover us.

Prayer: Lord, You love us and Your church so much. God, though we come across conflict, please give us humility, gentleness, and patience to bear with one another in love. Please touch our hearts so that we can respond with Spirit filled love, to see our own faults, to confess, to forgive, to reconcile, and to run together as a church for You. Thank You that there will be one day when we will be in heaven, fully reconciled, and enjoy perfect fellowship with You and each other.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 20

March 14, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 11, 2019, is provided by Pastor David Kwon. David leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Holy Spirit”

Exodus 26:1-6

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.

For the past few days, we have been reading about the tabernacle and the furnishings that the Israelites were commanded to build.  This chapter contains detailed instructions for setting up God’s tent – the tabernacle in the wilderness. Tabernacle in the Bible means, “dwelling place”.  It was supposed to serve as God’s own dwelling place so that He could be with the children of Israel. 

Today, we no longer have to go to a tent to be in the presence of God, we can invite Him to come and meet us wherever we may be because of the Holy Spirit.  Oftentimes we forget that the presence of God can be with us outside of the church doors.  His presence, that same presence that dwelled in the Tabernacle, can be with us today in our churches, on our jobs, in our hospital rooms, in our homes etc.   What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?

  1. He Comforts Us – In John 16 when Jesus tells his disciples he was going away to the Cross, he reminds them that the Spirit will be their comforter.  He still brings peace and comfort in our darkness moments.   
  2. He Illuminates our minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24; 1 Cor. 2) –
  3. As one author puts it, “God’s mind is revealed in the Holy Scriptures but we can see nothing without the spectacles of the Holy Spirit” (Thomas Manton)
  4. He Empowers us for ministry – The Spirit gifts us and empowers us to do ministry (1 Cor. 12:11); and this is done primarily through our witness.

Are you relying on the Spirit in these areas of your life?  Let’s depend on Him today.  

Prayer:  Lord, give me greater dependence on the Holy Spirit in my everyday life.  May the Spirit’s working continually be evident in my work, home and witness in the world.   

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 18-19

March 13, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on July 16, 2019, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Heroes and Villains”

Jeremiah 40:13-41:3

Now Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah 14 and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam would not believe them. 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, “Please let me go and strike down Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered about you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?” 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely of Ishmael.”

1 In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah,2 Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land. 3 Ishmael also struck down all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.

After the Avengers Infinity War movie, a friend of mine tried to convince me that Thanos, the chief antagonist in the movie, was not so much evil as misguided.  For those of you who haven’t seen Infinity War (I don’t know where you’ve been), Thanos had a conviction that because resources like food and energy were finite and sentient life had grown to unsustainable numbers, life for half of the universe’s population would be better if the other half of the universe ceased to exist.  So my friend made the argument that from a certain point of view, Thanos could be considered a hero (which was actually how Thanos thought).  Of course, my response was that anyone who tries to kill off half the living things in the universe has to be an evil guy; Captain America agreed with me (as did Ironman before he bit it… spoiler!)  

As ridiculous as this might sound, Hollywood isn’t always that different than real life.  People do all kinds of crazy things because they rationalize the ends justifying the means.  In today’s narrative, I bet you Ishmael thought he was doing the right thing.  I also bet you a bunch of people left in Jerusalem agreed with him.  Think about it, in Jeremiah 39, we read that Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians, and Gedaliah was installed by the Babylonians to run Judah.  I bet you Ishmael and many of the remaining Israelites looked at Gedaliah as Nebuchadnezzar’s puppet and actually wanted him out.  In some sense, I bet Ishmael, and perhaps many in Israel, saw himself as the hero who was going to spark a rebellion against their oppressors.  But of course, heroes don’t assassinate people.  

Here’s the point: Just because you aren’t leading a rebellion or assassinating government officials doesn’t mean you haven’t rationalized the ends justifying the means.  We’re all tempted to fib a little to cover up a mistake at work, or fudged on our resumes, or convinced yourself that you don’t need to mend that relationship.  Either way, let’s just call it what it is: Rationalizing.  Hopefully, we haven’t gone so far as to call our villainous acts heroic; however, if this is indeed what we have been doing, then there is only one counter left on the table: repentance!  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, search my heart.  Is there something within me that needs to be brought to light and confessed.  If so, help me to face it honestly and act righteously.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 24:31-46: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[f] you did it to me.’  41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Questions to Consider

1.  What are the similarities and differences between the sheep and the goats?

2.  Why are the goats so surprised?

3.  What are some things that you feel like God wants you to do lately that you haven’t done?

Notes

1.  Both the sheep and the goats have encountered similar types of people, but the sheep acted in love towards these people.  Both groups were surprised by the Lord’s reaction; it’s as if sheep never noticed their tender hearts, while goats never realized their callous hearts.  

2.  The scary part about this parable is that the goats were oblivious to the state of their hearts.  They thought they were doing fine, loving God, etc.  But in reality, they were very far from him.  I hope none of us will be unpleasantly surprised on the day of judgment.  

3.  Personal response

Evening Reflection

Today’s theme was searching our hearts and making sure our actions align with our calling as children of light.  How has the Lord been speaking to you about your life and how you’re living it?  Do you represent him well in this world?  Ask the Lord to reveal something that he wants to refine in you.  

March 12, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on October 19, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Sympathetic Ear”

Hebrews 4:14-16 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 Early in my college days, I went through a series of eating disorders. Though I felt healed from it, the road in recovering was riddled with moments of struggle that I hadn’t expected. Because so few of my friends understood the experience, I often felt that I didn’t know how to navigate my problems. But one day, while meeting with an older sister, I decided to share in order to stay vulnerable. In doing so, I learned that she experienced the same things! Immediately, I felt relieved, safe, and understood. I knew that I could ask for her guidance. Realizing that someone had gone before me in this experience encouraged me to persevere and comforted me with the reminder that I was not alone. 

The Scripture says that, for us, Jesus has gone through every temptation and trial that we face. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says that He was tempted in all things yet remained without sin. While we may know in our minds that Jesus went through some sufferings, we rarely take the time to reflect on how Jesus can and will understand us when we come to Him. 

We can go to Him for everything! He experienced abandonment and betrayal. He understands how it feels to be misunderstood by family and strangers. He understands weariness and the struggle to honor the Father to the very end. He understands the barrage of temptations that arise when we want to react to each of those situations. And He overcame! So we can come to Him, knowing that we will find a friendly and sympathetic ear and knowing that we will surely be understood.

Our Christ has gone ahead of us and overcome. Let us come to Him with confidence, knowing that He will provide the mercy, grace, and guidance that we crave. Is there something weighing your heart that makes you feel all alone in your experience? I urge you to call on Jesus today. Better than any human comfort, He understands perfectly, and He is always available and present.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for going before me in every way. I know that I can come to You as a friend and confidant. Show me more of Your understanding so that I could be even more forthcoming in my life and see how safe and wonderful it is to share my heart with You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 16

Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:13-17:“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

Questions to Consider

  • Why is it significant that we are now counted as friends of God?
  • What is the command that Jesus gives to His friends to follow?
  • Jesus describes a oneness in mind and spirit that comes from friendship with God. What does this oneness result in?

Notes

  1. Friends are different from servants because friends have a level of exchange and intimacy that a master-servant relationship would not. Friends disclose their hearts and thoughts in a mutual exchange. Masters only tell servants commands and tasks to do but never disclose their intentions and plans. Friendship with God is not just a warm relationship; He willingly chose us to become friends and grants us access to His ideas and plans. 
  2. The command that Jesus gives is to love each other. The love that He specifically calls us to (and emphasizes) is a sacrificial love that honors others’ lives above our own. This is not always about dying in place of one another, but a consideration of others above ourselves.
  3. Oneness with Jesus when we are exchanging our thoughts with His and also obeying His commands becomes a lifestyle in which our desires and wishes are also totally fulfilled. If our lives are bent on serving / loving others and being wholly devoted to God’s people, we can be more sure that our wishes and desires are more pure and in-line with what God desires; they are the very things He will grant.

Evening Reflection

How did today go? Were there any instances as you sought God that it felt more certain that He understood and sympathized? Let’s ask Him to be at the forefront of our thoughts so that we can always turn to Him for counsel and support.

March 11, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 25, 2019, is shared by Pastor Mark. He is currently preparing to launch a site church (of Radiance Christan Church) in the East Bay area near San Francisco. Please keep him and his planting team in your prayers.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

Psalm 25:16-21 (ESV)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me. 20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 

Henry Thoreau is famous for his statement that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”.  The general context in which this quote is written deals with the plight of the common man who has no time to pursue anything of significance and is relegated to living life as a machine.  

The vast majority of us live at such a hectic pace that we simply feel like we don’t have the time to deal with the emotional wounds that linger deep within.   Everyone goes through seasons of life where loneliness, distress, affliction, and anxiety are acutely felt but never examined.  When life seems to crash in from all sides, it is easy to distance ourselves from our emotions and bury our heads in our careers or families. Eventually, these emotional wounds will catch up to us if we don’t take the time to deal with them at the spiritual level.  

The psalmist understands that God is the guardian of our souls and the healthiest response to our troubles is to turn to Him for protection and forgiveness.  

So, this morning, identify some of the negative emotions you have been dealing with recently.   Turn to the Lord and pray for protection and deliverance.      

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray daily for your protection and deliverance so that I can be aware of feelings and thoughts that are a result of enemies working in my life.  Give me the strength to deal with all my wounds by turning to you in prayer.  In the end, it is the healing found in your grace and forgiveness that can restore my soul and bring me the peace that surpasses human understanding.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 15

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:33 (ESV): “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why did Jesus say this to the disciples (John 16:32)? 

2. Is the Christian life devoid of trouble and grief (John 16:33)?

3. What is the ultimate source of peace that Jesus promises (John 14:26-27)?

Notes

1. Jesus said these things because he knew that his death on the cross would lead to anxiety and discouragement amongst the disciples.   Many would fail him and lose their sense of purpose but in the midst of all the confusion, Jesus promises that he would never leave them nor allow the enemy to snatch them out of his hands. (John 10:28) 

2. In the Gospel of John, the troubles that come with discipleship are plainly laid out for the reader.  Although the health and wealth movement has misled many people in regard to the true blessings of God, John spells it out very clearly that believers will have trouble in this life.  Though we are not of this world, our presence in this suffering world is God’s ways of communicating the Gospel.  

3. The peace that God offers us is found in the Jewish understanding of shalom.  It is not simply an absence of turmoil but a restoration to wholeness in every aspect of our being.  As Jesus tells the disciples about his departure (ascension into heaven), he reveals that the Father will send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach and guide the believers afterwards.  The believers will have a newfound peace in their reconciliation with God and the ministry of his Spirit.       

Evening Reflection

Did you make the most of your time and the opportunities that God gave you today?  Write down any convictions that God has placed on your heart.  

March 10, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI Devotional, originally posted on April 22, 2019, was written by Esther Chailim just days after the passing of Dr. Johann—a beloved AMI pastor at OTR who went to be with the Lord while on missions in Athens. Esther has been faithfully serving at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego for many years.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Corinthians 2:14:15

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

One of the traditions of the triumphal procession was to burn spices, spreading the aroma of victory into the streets for all the crowd to know. In the same light, I think Paul was alluding to the fact that we as believers were captured by the grace of God so that we can be a fragrance of Christ to all those we encounter.  

If there is one couple I can confidently say who exemplifies being used to spread the aroma of Christ everywhere they go, it is Pastor Johann and Sister Grace.  They have immensely impacted the lives of so many they come across, including mine.  To many, they are spiritual parents, mentors, co-laborers, and dear friends.  I had the great privilege and honor to serve alongside them in 2012 for a 1-year internship, where I got to witness, first hand, their love for the Lord and their relentless pursuit to make Christ known wherever they went.  Of course, not everything was picture perfect as they struggled through moments of discouragement and unsuccessful attempts, but never once did they give up hope in our Lord or cease in worship. And it’s evident that through their ministry, so many lives were touched by the Spirit of God. The aroma they left behind always pointed back to Christ, our Savior 

Last Monday I received the devastating news that Pastor Johann was in the ER in critical condition from bleeding in his brain. He and Sister Grace had been in Athens, Greece for about a month, in obedience, spreading the good news of Christ to the many refugees there. Upon their arrival, they faced much attack from the enemy, even losing their laptops (with all his teaching material) from a team robbery, prior to a 3-day intensive teaching seminar.  But in faith, he persisted to teach and minister out of the work of the Holy Spirit. And by the grace of God, Sister Grace informed me that “he finished well.”  We see that, still, in the face of much spiritual attack, the aroma that he and Sister Grace leave behind continues to point back to Christ, our Savior, worshiping Him through and through.  I was reminded of this, once again their spiritual daughter, Christine Yun, updated us about the state of Pastor Johann’s condition. She shared this after meeting some of the refugees Pastor Johann and Sister Grace had been ministering to, “They said Pastor Johann and Sister Grace changed their life and I absolutely believe this — as they carry the Spirit of our Living God everywhere we go. This brings a lot of comfort to us…and if we weren’t certain already, God is so glorified through their obedience and love for Him and can see how they have deeply touched lives of the people here.” Her words could not describe their love for Jesus more perfectly. 

This morning, I learned that Pastor Johann went to be with the Lord. Though I grieve over the loss of my pastor, spiritual father, and friend, I am comforted knowing that he is dancing and worshiping side by side with our Heavenly Father.  It is without a doubt that every waking moment of Pastor Johann’s life was fully, and whole-heartedly devoted to our Lord, Jesus Christ.  His faith is unlike anyone’s I have ever met and it is clear that many have smelled the sweet fragrance of Christ throughout his ministry.  I believe he and the apostle Paul share that same passion and zeal for the Lord in spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Christ everywhere they went.  All glory, honor and praise to our Lord, Jesus Christ

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for the life and ministry of Pastor Johann and Sister Grace. I am so honored to know such people of faith and I know that You, Lord, are so pleased with them. As their lives continue to spread the aroma of Christ knowledge to all, I pray that we too, as believers, can do the same. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 14

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 4:7-11: The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Questions to Consider

  • What does Peter mean by “the end of all things is near?”
  • How does love cover sins?
  • How do we spread the aroma of Christ to others? 

Notes

  • In light of Christ’s return, Peter was encouraging the church to live godly lives. Because we do not know the time and date of His return, he exhorts us to be alert and of sober mind, so that we can pray.  And as we wait for His return, this ought to influence our attitude, actions and relationships with others. 
  •  Just as God’s love deals with our sins through his forgiveness, Peter encourages us to choose love and forgiveness when we are dealing with relationships. When we enter a relationship with love, we are much more willing to overlook that person’s faults.  When we’re sinned against, love overrides our reflex for revenge.”
  •  We should love each other deeply, offering hospitality and using our gifts to serve others.  God uses us as humans to be instruments in delivering His word, so we are encouraged to speak, with reverence, the words of God by preaching, teaching or simply talking with others about His goodness and faithfulness. 

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on your own life.  Do others smell the scent of Christ in you? Can they see that you live for the Lord or do they simply know that you go to church?  Our time on earth is limited, so I want to encourage us to be like our brothers in Christ, the apostle Paul and Pastor Johann, and continually spread the aroma of Christ everywhere we go.  Let’s be intentional in the conversations to make Christ known.

March 9, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on March 28, 2019, is provided by Pastor Matt Ro. Matt is currently pastoring a church in the state of New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“From Bitter to Made Sweet” 

Exodus 15:22-27 (ESV)

Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

The Christian life is not easy.  Rev. William Taylor, a preacher in New York City at the end of the 1800s, wrote, “We may learn that we are not done with hardship when we have left Egypt.”  It is just as Jesus said to his disciples: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33).  He warned us in advance that we do not have an easy path to glory.

There will be Marah in your life at times.  After the Israelites had sung that great song of Moses and Miriam, rejoicing over what God had done, they marched to their first oasis, Marah.  For a large company of people driving animals, the constant search for a well, an oasis, any source of water, would’ve been difficult in the desert.  

The problem was that when they reached Marah, its water was so bitter that the people couldn’t drink it.  That’s why the oasis was called Marah, which means “bitter.”  Naomi uses the same word in the book of Ruth when she tells her daughters to call her Marah because her life had been so bitter (Ruth 1:20).

In that moment, Moses “cried out to the Lord” (v. 25), and the Lord provided a log that when thrown into the water, made the water sweet.  “I am the LORD, your healer” (v. 26) presents a new name for God:  Jehovah Rapha.  The God of deliverance is also the God of healing, and He will take care of Israel every step of the way in the wilderness.

I believe the bitter water at Marah is symbolic of what was going on inside the hearts of the Hebrews.  When freedom was not as easy as they had hoped; when circumstances were not what they desired, their hearts began to be filled with the diseases of bitterness and resentfulness.  God knew their need for healing from bitterness and He longed to bring that healing to them.

God can heal our bitterness and turn it into something sweet.  The next oasis on the journey was Elim, which had 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees.  A time of refreshing. 

Let’s apply this lesson to our hearts today.  I invite you to allow Jehovah Rapha to examine your heart.  “Are there ways that you are more like the Israelites than you care to admit?  When God doesn’t work in our lives in the way that we think He should, does it lead to bitterness?  When God’s timing is different than we had hoped, do we harbor resentment against Him?  Let Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who heals you) examine your heart and heal you of the diseases that sin inflicts upon us.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, there are deep wounds, broken hearts, and incredible pain that I want to bring to Your throne of grace.  Through the power of your Holy Spirit, don’t let my heart become a garden filled with resentment and bitterness.  Have mercy on me, Lord; grant me healing, freedom, and lots of grace.  In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Job 5:2: “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.”

Ephesians 4:31-32. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,  forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Questions to Consider

  1.  What are the some of the causes of bitterness?
  2.  What are some of the consequences of bitterness?
  3.  What is the cure for bitterness?

Notes

  1. Much of our bitterness and anger towards others is rooted in our inability to be profoundly amazed at Christ’s love for us in our sin. If you are struggling with bitterness then it may be that the Lord is letting the very sin that is flowing from your inability to see Christ as the means by which you come to see him.
  2. Bitterness is like poison that infects our lives.  The author of Hebrews compares bitterness to a root that overtakes our hearts and causes trouble in many other areas of our lives (Hebrews 12:15).  Although our feelings of bitterness, anger, and resentment may seem justified, they are not.  Instead, they’re hurtful and destructive—to ourselves as well as to the person who hurt us.
  3. We must forgive.  “Forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you” is an unbelievably important word from Ephesians 4:32.  Because we have been forgiven by God for things that are mortally dangerous, it should open the door for greater grace towards other people.  We need to be stunned at God’s grace in a deeper way regularly.  Out of that experience can flow grace towards others.  

Evening Reflection

I invite you to think of a situation or person where feelings of bitterness have festered.  God’s Word teaches us to forgive and instructs us not to let the sun go down while we’re angry.  When we do, we give the devil a place to work in our hearts and relationships.  Instead of allowing the enemy room to plant relational weeds between us, choose forgiveness, extend grace, and prevent a bitter root from taking hold.  Make a commitment to “let go of any bitterness” and to “forgive those who have hurt you.”