June 28, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 5, 2019, is provided by Cami King. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Do You Want, Really?”

Exodus 24:3-7 (NIV)

When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.” ⁴Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. ⁶ Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”

As part of my daily devotional reflection, I listen to lectures and sermons from the late Howard Thurman, a pastor, theologian and modern-day mystic. In one such recordings, he challenged his hearers to ask a simple, but I think profound, question – What do I really want? In this he presses all who choose to respond to examine our lives and discern where our efforts and energies are directed and directing us. And to ponder what is really worthy of the offering of our energy and resources, our days and ultimately our life. I offer his words for your reflection today:

What do I want? What do I want, really? What is it that is the fundamental thing that I am after with my life? What is the meaning of all the activities, and all the strivings, and the struggles? What after all is my point? Am I really concerned ultimately with providing some windbreak against the world around me? Am I really concerned about the accumulation of economic power which will give to me some sense of quiet security and tranquility without the threat either of poverty or some other kind of insecurity that can be measured in terms of dollars and cents, of things and property? Is this the be all and end all of my striving? Or is it for something else? Perhaps for fame or a certain kind of honor so that my name or my memory will be preserved and men will take cognizance of my presence, not because of what I may be in and over myself, but because of the kind of image that my life projects on the screen on which other men are looking. Is this the thing that I’m after? What is it that I really want? What is it that’s capable of making me bring to bear upon a single end or focus or purpose all of the resources of my life, my thinking, my dreaming, my struggling. So that in the fulfillment of myself this thing will follow.

As I’ve pondered these questions for myself, I’ve been excited as some of the deepest desires of my heart begin to come into focus. I’ve also been sobered as I take account of my daily efforts and humbly acknowledge their distance from those desires. What are the deepest desires of your heart? Toward what end are your daily efforts and strivings directed? When you close your eyes for the final time, what do you want your life to have been for?

Yesterday, AMI family gathered to honor the life of Pastor Johann Kim. Since his passing on Easter weekend, I’ve read countless reflections on the impact of his life and ministry from folks all over the world through emails and social media posts. I’ve especially marveled this week at the kind of life that’s lived in such a way that when it’s all said and done on this side of eternity, family and friends in the midst of grief and longing are able to experience some measure of peace and even joy in knowing the eternality of the life and work of their loved one who has gone Home. When we are clear about our life’s purpose and when that purpose is kingdom-oriented, the impact of our lives will always be some hundred-fold, exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we could imagine. I am so grateful for the cloud of witnesses, the ancestors, the saints who have gone before us who were willing to live their lives in this way.

Prayer: Gracious God, I thank You for the gift of my life and all the resources You’ve store within me. I am so easily distracted by business and all that seems to be an urgent necessity. But, help me today to pause and ponder my purpose. Make me aware of my heart’s desires and my contribution to Your coming Kingdom. Help me to redirect and reorient any of my daily efforts that are misaligned with Your good plans for my life and the world. Remind me of those who’ve walked this path before and finished well. May their lives encourage, challenge, and comfort me on my journey. You Kingdom come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 39

June 27, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 18, 2019, was written by Claudia Robbie. Claudia serves as a staff member at Journey Church of Atlanta.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I Matter, to Him”

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Overwhelmed, confused, anxious, doubtful… that is what I have been feeling. When I feel this way, I try to dress it up and hide those things. The temptation to put on a front is very real, but what I’ve learned in the last few years is that I need to be honest about where I am (even if it is just with myself). When I hide and pretend, I don’t allow God to speak and move in my life; I become blind to the habits and things I depend on other than God. I end up being very destructive to those around me and to myself.

A few years ago, I started going to therapy after I had a difficult emotional breakdown. It was God’s gentle hand finally helping me to address the things that I was blind to and bound in. It didn’t feel gentle, it hurt like nothing I had ever experienced and there were thoughts to end the hurting, but I know it was God’s gentle love for me. I got help for some intensely traumatic moments in my life and the behaviors I engaged in to help me cope from the time I was 10 to the age of 37.

In the course of my healing I was drawn to Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. In reading some commentary on this simple verse, I found that being still didn’t mean ceasing activity, but it meant to stop striving, to let go, to surrender.

As I learned to be still and rest in who God was, I gained freedom and I could finally stop striving over whether I mattered to people around me. You see, my core lie was that I didn’t matter, and many events of my life contributed to the strengthening of that lie. I always felt like I had to fight to matter and I didn’t care who I hurt in the process of fulfilling my need. When God brought me into counseling and I faced my hurts and owned the responsibility of hurting/burdening those around me to fulfill a need that only God could, I finally embraced that I mattered to God—the proof is the cross. Because He filled this deepest need of my heart through His Son Jesus, I could stop the striving and I could be still in His presence.

In this season, when so many things are in turmoil in my life, God is gently reminding me again to be still and as He guards the things I have learned and experienced in Him, I know that He will be glorified, and everything, in the end, will be okay, in Christ.

Is God asking you to be still? Are you in a situation or a season where you don’t know where to go, what to do, how to hold it together? Do you feel His gentle call and comforting touch even amid your sorrow and grief? Be still and know that He is God.

Prayer: Father, would You draw us into Your presence and help us to be still. Remind us of all that we know and have experienced of You. May You guard us from the enemy who wants to destroy, and restore our hope and peace even in the midst of our struggles and sins.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 37-38

June 26, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on September 25, 2020, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Beyond Comprehension”

Philippians 4:4-7 (NASB)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Our society has been inundated with “fact-checking” and accusations of “fake news” more than ever. These are outward expressions of an ever-increasing sentiment of distrust. There is a growing expectation and demand for answers. And until we get these responses, there is a sense of peace that is lacking. But what if there was a peace that is available even when there are no answers?

Paul writes to the church in Philippi to rejoice always, walk with integrity, not be anxious, pray, give thanks in light of the circumstances that they are facing. As you may know, Paul writes this while he himself is sitting in prison. How can a man facing such trials talk about joy and peace? What explanation can be provided for this?

Well, I think that’s the thing. There is an underlying assumption in many of us that if only we had the answers, if only we had the solutions, if only we could explain what and why these things are happening, then we can find peace. But we’ve all faced situations where there are no real good explanations that can be provided. And in some situations, the answers to our questions are even harder to accept than the unknown.

But an incredible truth and hope is available in Christ who offers a peace that TRANSCENDS understanding. A peace that needs no explanation. A peace that cannot be taken away because of circumstances. Is this not the peace we want? Is this not the peace this world needs? This is the peace that Christ offers to us. And this can only be found in Him.

In conjunction to yesterday’s quiet time, this kind of peace can only be found in God’s presence. And not that we shouldn’t come to God with our questions and our supplications—I pray that the Lord will guide you and respond to you in all that you bring to Him—but perhaps more than the answers to these things, we should seek Him. For in Him and Him alone, is everlasting peace.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are peace. You are not only the giver of peace, not only are You the maker of peace, but You Yourself are peace. And we confess that in this chaotic world that seems to get crazier each day, what we need is not answers—rather, we need You. May our need for answers and solutions never get in the way of our need for You. Thank You for revealing this truth to us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 36

Lunch Break Study

Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Questions to Consider

What are the things that Paul calls the church to dwell upon?
What do you think is the relationship between dwelling on these “excellent” things and the peace available in God’s presence?
What practices can you incorporate to your daily life that will allow you to dwell more on these “excellent” and praiseworthy things?

Notes

Paul calls the church to dwell upon that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent, and worthy of praise. If you take all these things into consideration, it must point our attention to God who alone encompasses all these things and more. But also, it is these things reflected in the life of believers that help us also to dwell upon these things.
When we dwell upon these things that are truly excellent (e.g. the character of God, God’s love reflected in the life of believers), it reminds us how great God truly is. And when our hearts and minds began to fathom the greatness of God, we come to realize that there is peace in God that transcends all understanding available to us (see morning devotion). Especially in times when we aren’t sure how to pray or what to do, these are the things that we should “fall back” on in order to get us back into the presence of God.
Some suggestions might be, one, taking a short part of scripture every day and spending a good chunk of time meditating on how this passage reflects the character of God; two, singing a praise song to God to remind yourself of who He is and why He is worthy of praise, etc.

Evening Reflection

Take one of the practices you thought of doing during the Lunch Break Study and implement it now. Sing a song of praise to Him. Meditate on a small chunk of scripture. Google search a famous painting of a Bible story (e.g., Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son”). You can be creative! But whatever you choose, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of how good God is through this, and dwell upon these things.

June 25, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 24, 2020, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Simplicity”

Psalm 27:4-8 (NASB)

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

My wife and I just celebrated my daughter’s second birthday, and I must admit these past couple of years have been a learning experience. But as much as I have learned already, there seems to always be more philosophies, methodologies, and practices (many which contradict each other) in how to raise a child. In fact, what I am most confident about is the fact that there isn’t one “this is how it should be done.”

But this isn’t just in parenting. It’s the case in all areas of life. It’s driven by an assumption that having more options is always better. More options mean more choices, which somehow guarantees better results. But that isn’t always the case, is it? In an age of endless research and information, sometimes it’s nice to have just one solution. There is great value in simplicity.

This is the heart expressed by David: One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek. While running for his life as a fugitive, the one thing David seeks above all else is the presence of God. Before, I understood this as a reminder to forsake all other things so that I may find my security in God, especially in the midst of trials. More recently, however, this psalm spoke differently to me.

It showed me the value of simplicity. There is great joy and freedom in simplicity. I don’t need to research more. I don’t need all the understanding in the world or the “right” words to say in order for God to hear my prayers. I just need to know that no matter what I face, what I need is God’s presence. And that is a prayer that God is always faithful to answer. This is what David prayed for: One thing have I asked of the Lord.

Have you ever had a time when you became discouraged because you weren’t sure what to pray for? Well this psalm shows us that it’s not so much about what we ask for but more so Who we ask for. And when we ask for His presence, we’ll realize that the other questions and concerns don’t matter as much. Because what we always needed was Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You. Thank You that You are always the answer. Thank You that we don’t need complete understanding or some semblance of clarity. We thank You for the freedom we have in this simple confession that all we need is You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 35

Lunch Break Study

Romans 8:14-17, 26-27 (NASB): “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him… 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Questions to Consider

What is the indicator that we are children of God?
Limiting your response to this passage, what does the Spirit do in the life of a child of God?
What does it mean to you that when we do not know how to pray, that the Spirit of God intercedes on your behalf?

Notes

The Spirit of God and being led by the Spirit is the indicator that we have been made sons and daughters of God. Verse 16 – the Spirit Himself testifies of this reality.
The Spirit of God leads us (v.14), He frees us and calls us to cry out to God (v.15), He assures us of our adoption (v. 16), He intercedes on our behalf with words that we don’t have ourselves (v.26)
Personal response. There is great freedom that though we do not have the words, the Spirit who knows the mind of God, intercedes on our behalf. And just like David is Psalm 27, the first thing the Spirit cries on our behalf is “Abba! Father!”

Evening Reflection

There are many things that happened throughout today: While some of you have come to terms with certain issues in your life, others are still wrestling through them. But no matter what you may have encountered today, there is great freedom in this simple truth: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Take a moment to allow this great yet simple truth to fill your heart and your mind as you find your rest tonight.

June 24, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT devotional, originally posted on September 23, 2020, is provided by Joe Suh. Joe is the Leader Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Give It All Away”

Philippians 2:3-11: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I recently read an article about Charles “Chuck” Feeney. At the age of 89 he accomplished his life’s goal. Mr. Feeney was a billionaire and co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers. His life goal was to give away all his money to charity before he died. His desire was to be broke by the time he passed. Over the past four decades Mr. Feeney has donated over $8 billion dollars to charities, universities and foundations all around the world. More astonishing is that he did so anonymously. At no point did he want the recognition of donating to the charities. This act earned him the nickname of the “James Bond of Philanthropy”.

I am not sure if Mr. Feeney is a believer or not, but his heart of giving is definitely impressive. His thought was that he didn’t want to wait until he died to pass on his wealth because there were major problems now and they needed addressing.

In today’s passage we see Paul reminding us of what Mr. Feeney had done all his life. To do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. To have humility and think of others before we think of ourselves. Ultimately to look out for the interest of others before our own. To serve others before we ourselves are served.

Mr. Feeney was a successful businessman and truly one of a kind when it came to his giving. He was looking out for the interest of others and all the while remaining humble as he did so. The fact that he gave anonymously for all those years is truly a testament to his humility.

Paul uses the greatest person as his example in this passage. He tells us to have the same attitude as Jesus when it comes to thinking of and serving others. Jesus emptied Himself and became a man. He humbled Himself to the point of death so that all of us would have life.

Being a servant is more about “being” than it is about “doing”. I think sometimes we tend to look for that one big experience where we can demonstrate our faithfulness to God, demonstrate our servanthood by giving of ourselves in some heroic fashion. But in reality that is not usually how it happens. In reality, it happens in the small, every day, somewhat uneventful occurrences of our lives.

This attitude, this mindset of serving others instead of being served, of giving rather than getting, of obeying rather than dominating is lived out in our day to day lives. It is really about serving others, not because we have to, but because it is who we are. We are able to live for something so much more.

If we truly follow the example of Jesus, our hearts will be full and we will do all we can to think of others before we think of ourselves.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your son Jesus as an example of what it is to serve others. I pray that my heart and attitude would reflect what it is to selflessly give and serve others. Give me opportunities to grow in this area of my life and really live it out as Jesus did. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 34

Lunch Study Break

Romans 12:10-13 (NASB): Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Questions to Consider

To whom are we to be devoted and how are we to be devoted?
Why does Paul exhort the people to love one another in brotherly love?
How does this passage resonate with or convict your heart?

Notes

We are to be devoted to one another. This would mean everyone. We are to be devoted in brotherly love (v.10). What is meant by brotherly love is a familial type of love—a love that is sacrificial, unconditional and real.
As believers we are all members of God’s family. Though we may not know each other, by virtue of our belief in God we are all family. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. So as members of one family we are called to love each other, to care for each other and pray for each other. We are to give to each other and serve one another as best we can.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As you wind down from the day, take some time to pray through what it means to serve your fellow brothers and sisters. Are you able to serve those you do not even know? Can you give with humility and compassion? As the Holy Spirit to reveal people that God may want you to serve.

June 23, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on August 27, 2020, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson serves in E. Asia as a missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Proclaim the Lord’s Death Until He Comes”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult period of time for Providence Church. While no one became sick, it was difficult for many people because they were not able to go home to see family or go out to make friends. Many people were completely isolated at home with no physical support system.

Switching to online service was also difficult for many members because many of them enjoyed fellowship at church. Our members went from worshipping with a crowd to worshipping by themselves in front of a computer. Many people complained about the lack of feeling and we could not wait for the pandemic to pass.

However, despite our complaining, God worked mightily in his environment. Because our services were online, people started to ask if they could invite their family members, who lived in other provinces, to attend the online service. For many of these people, it was their first time hearing the gospel and attending church. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, three people were saved through our online services, and we were able to baptize 10 people post-pandemic. As John 5:17 says, “…”My Father is always at his work to this very day…”

In yesterday’s quiet time, we learned that communion is not single-dimensioned, but it is a multi-dimensioned sacrament that reminds us of the death of our lord, the hope that is to come, and the need for reconciliation with our brothers and sisters. In continuation with the same theme, I would like to focus on the outward dimension.

In verse 26, Paul says, “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” According to Webster’s Dictionary, “proclaim” means to announce officially or publicly. Taking of the bread and the cup is an outward proclamation to the world that we are joining in God’s work. What work are we joining?

Philippians 2:6-8 reminds us, “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

Since beginning His ministry at age 30 to His death on the cross, Jesus constantly sacrificed himself for the needs of others. He boldly proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom. He healed the sick, loved sinners and tax collectors, and cast out demons. As a follower of Jesus, we are proclaiming that reality in our own lives. We are called by God to sacrifice ourselves for the needs of others just like Jesus on the cross.

Therefore, when we take communion, we are reminded to proclaim the gospel, through word and action, to our non-believing family members, coworkers, friends, employees, classmates, neighbors, and strangers.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us a life of sacrifice in the Gospels. You showed us how to love those who are different than us, and You performed Your ultimate act of sacrifice on the cross. May we be reminded daily, as followers of Jesus, to live out the same sacrificial life. In Your name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 33

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 5:43-48: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Questions to Consider

What does he call us to do for those we consider our enemies?
Why does he call us to do that? (v. 44-45)
Self-Reflection: Who is your enemy?

Notes

Jesus says to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
We do this because, just like us, they are God’s beloved creation made in His image.
Your enemy may be someone who has hurt you, who disagrees with your politically, or who is different from you. Take time to invite the Holy Spirit to bring to mind someone who you may consider your enemy and pray for them.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s devotion, take a moment to pray for someone who does not know Jesus. Afterwards, think of some way to begin cultivating a relationship with them.

June 22, Monday

UPDATED Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on January 29, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“‘The Bible Approves the Oppression of Women’: Is That Right?”

1 Corinthians 14:34

“The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.”

Romans 16:1

“I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant [diakonos in Greek from which the English word “deacon/deaconess” is derived] of the church which is at Cenchrea.”

I have a very famous cousin who grew up attending church but has long since left the faith. When asked why, he said it was because of the poor treatment of women he believed Scripture teaches and the church practices. His comment reminded me of a pamphlet I once received from the United Atheists of America, which claimed: “The harm done to women by the Christian religion began with the Bible giving the stamp of God’s approval to the oppression of women. Christian men used the Bible to keep women silent, submissive, and uneducated for centuries.”

No doubt today’s passage—one that instructs women to be silent in the church—would rank high on the cynics’ list of grievances. And admittedly, a few biblical passages can look harsh in a modern world where women can vote (a right granted only about a century ago) and run for political office, even for the presidency.

But before condemning the church as the historic enemy of women, we must recognize a simple fact: in antiquity, women were treated poorly across the board. No man living in that era—whether the equivalent of conservative, liberal, religious, or irreligious—would be considered “pro-women” by today’s standards. Therefore, if we want to judge the early church fairly, we must compare it to the norms of its own time.

When we do that, we find something surprising. Rodney Stark, a sociologist at the University of Washington, writes in The Rise of Christianity (1996)—a book Newsweek called “brilliant”—that the common accusation that the Bible kept women “silent, submissive, and uneducated” is simply false. According to Stark, Christianity “promoted liberty, social relations between the sexes and within the family,” giving women far more status than they enjoyed in Roman society, where they were legally the property of men.

He adds that women benefitted from the church’s sanctification of marriage and its opposition to divorce, since divorced women were often considered “damaged goods,” with some forced into prostitution to survive.

There is also an irony worth noting. Critics often claim that the New Testament borrowed ideas from Mithraism and other ancient mystery religions. Dan Brown, for example, asserts in The Da Vinci Code that Jesus parallels the pre-Christian god Mithras, “the Son of God and the Light of the World.” Yet Brown never mentions that Mithraism was restricted to men only.

By contrast, as Stark notes, most Christians in the Roman Empire were women, and some even served as deaconesses (Rom. 16:1)—a mid-level leadership role unheard of in the mystery religions of the time (Cybele, Isis, Ishtar, etc.). In many of those religions, the primary role of women was temple prostitution.

In The Da Vinci Code, the detective Sophie rejects her grandfather after witnessing him in ritualistic orgies. Langdon then explains that these acts were “not about sex but spirituality,” and that the early church suppressed such rituals because they threatened its power. But if these religions were so spiritually liberating for women, and the church so oppressive, why were women drawn to the church in such overwhelming numbers?

So please consider the historical evidence and do not be misled into thinking that the Bible or the church is inherently anti-women. The truth is that Scripture set in motion the very social forces that eventually elevated and protected women. Was the process slow? Yes. And much of the blame lies with sinful men—some ignorant of Scripture, others willfully disobedient—who treated women poorly. But that failure is not God’s. He gave us His Word and His Spirit to make this world safer for women (“Your kingdom come”). We are the ones who have fallen short.

And for women—beloved image-bearers—Christ died.

Prayer: Father, what a privilege that we are called “God’s fellow workers” (2 Cor. 6:1). Yet we have failed so often to carry out Your will on this earth, including making our world a safer place for women. We men need to repent. Help us change—in our homes, our churches, and our workplaces. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 32

Lunch Break Study

1 Cor. 14:34-35 (ESV): “The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

1 Corinthians 11:5 (NASB): “But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head . . .” (Note that these Corinthian women did this in the church).

Acts 18:24-26 (ESV): “Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.”

Questions to Consider

1. When 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 11:5 are read side-by-side, what observations can you make?

2. When Acts 18:24-26 and 1 Corinthians 11:5 are read side-by-side, what observations can you make?

3. In light of these two observations, what logical conclusion can you draw?

Notes

1. Evidently, women were not completely silent in the Corinthian church since they prayed and prophesized publicly (1 Cor. 14:29).

2. Whereas Paul tells the Corinthian wives that if they have questions, to “ask their own husbands at home,” Luke reports that Priscilla actually taught a man (not just any man but a biblical scholar). Note that the verb “explain” in Greek is conjugated in the third person plural.

3. It leads me to draw these conclusions: first, when Paul tells the women to be silent in the church, he does not mean a complete silence; second, it may be that Paul is addressing a local situation facing a particular church; third, men can learn the Bible from women—to put it different, women can teach men. The debatable point is whether this is a one-time exception or a prototypical foreshadow of more historical changes to come. More on this tomorrow.

Evening Reflection

Before you turn in, let me share a really unpleasant thought: The devil is a deceiver who “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:4). Meaning what? One of his greatest weapons is “disinformation”—slightly twisting the truth to make it appear still “truthful” yet is a lie “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn. 10:10^a). The enemy did that when, while tempting Jesus, he appeared to quote a Scripture (i.e., Ps. 91:9-12), “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written . . . (Matt. 4:5). He lied; the correct clause is, “If you make the Most High your dwelling” (Ps. 91:9^a), not, “If you are the Son of God.” Evidently, the devil tried get Jesus to question His Sonship.

In light of that, what lies of the enemy have you accepted? Have you believed the lies of the enemy regarding the supposed bad treatment of women by the early church? Do you feel you aren’t worth much apart from having a shapely form? Is that why you focus so much on your body? That’s called conditional love and it does not come from God.

Spend a moment to really examine your thoughts and feelings. Believe God’s truth. How about Romans 5:8 that says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”—and be set free from the disinformation of the enemy?

June 21, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on April 7, 2019, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“You Gotta Want It”

2 Kings 2:9-14

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

“Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary”: In Dead Poets Society, John Keating (played by Robin Williams) used these words to inspire a group of young English students to aspire to live lives of significance. He reminded them that in just a few short years, they would be dead and fertilizing the flowers of the field.

Much of our millennial generation would agree with Keating – that life is short and therefore should be lived to its fullest. How this plays out, however, varies greatly by individual. Some throw themselves into making the next hot app, dreaming of millions (if not billions) as they program away into the night. Others look for meaning in experiences, whether through travel or thrills or drugs. Still for others, romantic love is the answer. Whatever the path, meaning is the goal.

Elisha was no slouch himself. When his master Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven, he asked for a “double portion of [his] spirit.” In other words, he wanted everything that Elijah had – the prophetic ministry, the power and the miracles. He wanted to be great in the kingdom of God. The fact that this was “a difficult thing” did not discourage him. Someone once said that if something isn’t difficult to do, then it probably isn’t worth doing. Elijah assented to his request, but not without condition – Elisha would have to witness Elijah’s ascension in order to receive such power. In other words, such power must be actively appropriated, not passively received.

In Acts 1:6-11, we witness a strikingly similar event. Jesus is taken up into heaven before the disciples’ eyes, and a few days later on the day of Pentecost, the disciples are filled with incredible power (as evidenced in Peter’s sermon as well as the ensuing miracles throughout the book of Acts). What cannot be missed, however, is what took place between these events— “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” The power of the Holy Spirit did not come upon casual observers or slack disciples – it came upon a people actively seeking the promise of the Father through prayer.

God wants us to live lives that count, and He provides the means to do so – the power of His Spirit. We can be great in the kingdom of God. But we have to go after it. What kind of life do you want to live? There is nothing stopping you from living it, no matter what your life circumstances. God’s grace is sufficient for you. But you have to take hold of it through radical, believing, faith-filled prayer. Carpe diem!

Prayer: God, I don’t want to live a lukewarm, defeated, mediocre Christian life. I want to live a radical, power-filled, miracle-witnessing, sin-overcoming life! Forgive me if I’ve settled for anything less. Give me the faith to believe that no matter how difficult, it can be achieved through Your Spirit. Give me a heart to pray. Give me a passion to pursue. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 31

June 20, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on April 20, 2019, was written by Pastor David Son. David pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. Stay up to date with the church by following here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Spiritual Food for Thought For the Weekend

“When We Really Pray with our Back Against the Wall”

Esther 9:1

Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.

In 2010, I was on a short-term mission trip to Northeast China. Traveling to different villages, we preached and taught many pastors who had gathered from surrounding villages. It was during one of these secret gatherings that the police barged in. Four policemen kicked the door open and immediately arrested my pastor and his translator. Within moments, he was put into the police car and driven to the police station, hours away. I began to panic.

We did the only thing we could do: pray. For hours and hours, we kept asking God to do something. When we finally got in touch with the translator who called us from police station, it was not good news. Our pastor was in jail, awaiting his sentence, which was expected to be one or more of the following: a massive fine, jail-time and being added to the “blacklist” of China. The verdict would happen the next morning.

I fell asleep, but I woke up early to the sound of the Chinese locals praying; they had stayed up all night, interceding for my pastor. Soon, a car pulled up and my pastor stepped out with a huge grin on his face. “What happened?” we asked. While the chief of police was explaining all the punishments that could be inflicted upon my pastor, for some reason, his heart softened. Instead of my pastor being punished, the reverse occurred: my pastor shared the Gospel with the police chief, and he agreed not only to release him, but to begin attending church, to learn more about God!

As today’s text says, sometimes God allows “the reverse” to occur to rescue His people, thereby bringing further glory unto Himself. When the Israelites were trembling before the Philistine army, He used a shepherd boy to bring down Goliath. When Jesus was being nailed to the cross, and it seemed all hope was lost, God was actually unfolding his plan for the salvation of man. Today, let us strive to put our faith in our God, especially in the midst of trials, hardship and brokenness. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice even in our sufferings, not because they are fun, but because we know and believe that you are a God who works even with suffering to produce good. Open our eyes today to your faithfulness that is revealed in today’s passage, and all throughout Scripture. Increase our faith as we read and meditate. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 29-30

June 19, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on January 21, 2020, was written by Pastor Phil Chen. Phil pastors the newly planted Pillar Church in Houston.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why should I Fast?”

Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV)

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Matthew 9:14-15 (ESV)

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

At the turn of the new year, our church typically has a corporate fast to start out the new year. Fasting has quickly become a forgotten and neglected practice in our culture of opulence and instant gratification. We have access to an abundance of things at the tip of our fingers, and so it has become increasingly difficult to abstain from things like food, drink, social media, entertainment…etc. After fielding several questions from people who genuinely wanted to engage with the Lord in this time of fasting, I thought it would be helpful if I shared a little bit of my experience and understanding of why I believe fasting is so important.

First of all, fasting quiets the noisiness of our flesh so that we can be attentive to the Holy Spirit. The greatest paradox of fasting is that when we fast, time actually feels like it goes slower. There are less distractions when we shut out social media. There is less noise in our lives when we simplify things. Our usual tendency is to drown out our inner turmoil with the noise of the world. We think that more toys, more entertainment, more relationships can fill the voids in our life, but they cannot. They are mere distractions. Only the intimate presence of God fills that void and fasting quiets our flesh so we can deal with our inner turmoil and seek Him in the midst of it. Psalm 46:10 tells us to be still and know that (He) is God. Fasting helps us experience that reality.

Second of all, fasting is meant to strengthen our spirit. It is a voluntary weakness of our flesh that is actually meant to strengthen our inner man. Think about it, we have every right to eat anything we want to eat, and yet, when we choose to lay down these rights in our flesh, I believe we are building an inner resolve that aids us in our pursuit of holiness. The truth is, we are people that easily give in to temptations, but fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us to resist the devil. Do you long to pursue God and a life of holiness but find yourself lacking in willpower to resist temptation? You need to fast! It is ridiculous to think I can run a marathon without training. Similarly, it is ridiculous to think we can finish the marathon of life without spiritual training. I like the NLT translation of 1 Timothy 4:8. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” May our times of fasting be the training needed to run the race that God has designated for us well.

Finally, fasting is an expression of our longing for Jesus’ return. In our first passage, we see John’s disciples question Jesus and his disciples: Why did they not practice fasting, rather it seemed like they were overindulging in food? In fact, Jesus was called a glutton probably because he ate so much with the people he came to minister to (Luke 7:34). But Jesus, without skipping a beat, points to the fact that their national mourning, repentance, and longing for the coming of the Messiah is actually fulfilled in Jesus’ coming. He is the King of the Kingdom of God, the Bridegroom who would receive his Bride. There is no reason to fast when He is present, but when He departs (which He has), the bride will fast while it waits for her bridegroom to return. Our fasting is in response to the ache inside of our hearts for Jesus to return.

There are so many other reasons to fast – to mourn and repent, to seek guidance and direction, to experience breakthrough, just to name a few of the things. But my prayer is that the next time you decide to fast, your heart would be in the right place – and you would be all the more aware of the rewards of fasting.

Prayer: Father, in my times of fasting, may my heart be quickened to your Holy Spirit. May I know the depths of Your love and may the times I fast produce fruitfulness in my life. May it produce a deeper yearning for intimacy with You. May it produce a deeper hunger for Your presence. May it produce a stronger will in my spirit to pursue a life of holiness. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 28

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV): “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Questions to Consider

1. Did Jesus expect everyone to fast?

2. In this passage, what is a proper fast?

3. How do you feel about fasting and its place in your life?

Notes

1. While Jesus did not command a fast, it seems like he expected his disciples to fast. Notice in verse 16, it doesn’t say “if you fast,” but rather “when you fast.” Thus, we can deduce that fasting is a spiritual practice that should be part of our regular regiment.

2. Jesus teaches us to fast not as a badge of honor to show off to others, but rather as an intimate act between our Father and ourselves. While it may seem more rewarding to be complimented by others in our discipline and holiness when we fast, there are actually greater rewards from our Father when we do it in secret and with the right heart.

3. Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

Have you considered regularly scheduling a fast for yourself? Some of us may have corporate fasts with our church during the start of the new year, during lent, or during the advent season, but consider scheduling in days to fast throughout the year and see how God will move in your life!