February 25, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on May 22, 2019—is provided by Jennifer Kim, who faithfully served on staff at several AMI churches in years past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Consecration to Communion”

Exodus 29:26-46

Aaron’s sacred garments will belong to his descendants so that they can be anointed and ordained in them. 30 The son who succeeds him as priest and comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place is to wear them seven days. 31 “Take the ram for the ordination and cook the meat in a sacred place. 32 At the entrance to the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that is in the basket. 33 They are to eat these offerings by which atonement was made for their ordination and consecration. But no one else may eat them, because they are sacred. 34 And if any of the meat of the ordination ram or any bread is left over till morning, burn it up. It must not be eaten, because it is sacred. 35 “Do for Aaron and his sons everything I have commanded you, taking seven days to ordain them. 36 Sacrifice a bull each day as a sin offering to make atonement. Purify the altar by making atonement for it, and anoint it to consecrate it. 37 For seven days make atonement for the altar and consecrate it. Then the altar will be most holy, and whatever touches it will be holy. 38 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. 40 With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. 41 Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 42 “For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the tent of meeting, before the Lord. There I will meet you and speak to you; 43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory. 44 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.

Something I distinctly remember about my college experience was the continuous love and care that I felt by people who would open up their home to cook for others and myself.  As we would break bread, there would be a natural fellowship, comfort, and care that everybody in the room would feel.  It’s not a coincidence that much of the fellowship we see in Scripture is precisely through the sharing of a meal.  I realize now that my college leaders took the time to cook and eat with people to bring a sense of comfort and love the way Jesus brought people of different backgrounds together.  And it was this experience that drew me closer to the love of Christ as I was brought into deep community and fellowship with other believers.

In today’s passage, after Aaron and his family go through the long consecration and anointing process, they are instructed to eat the food that was given as an offering.  It is important to note that the eating came after the washing, clothing, and atonement process.  The reason is because the eating was to signify the continuing relationship of the priest with God.  However, God does not stop there in His pursuit for relationship.  At the end of Exodus 29, God tells Aaron and his sons to offer a continual burnt offering throughout the generations.  He promises that through this offering God would once again meet with His chosen people and speak to them in order that “they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them” (Ex. 29:45-46).  God’s purpose in all the elaborate sacrifices we read throughout this chapter was for this very reason – that God would once again commune with His chosen people that they would know He is their God.

I received my call to ministry my junior year in college after experiencing incredible healing and love through the community that God had brought in my life.  I credit the many people who cooked for me, broke bread with me, and offered their time, resources, and energy to reveal the love of Christ that I may ultimately commune with God myself.  Let’s reflect today on some of the ways that we can extend hospitality to others that others may be pointed to Christ.  God’s desire is that all may know He is their God, and we have the amazing privilege to partner with Him in bringing others to the presence of God.  May our lives be one that brings people to encounter this amazing God who desires to commune with everyone.

Prayer: God I thank You for your love that continuously pursues a relationship with me.  And thank You for the people that You brought in my life to demonstrate this love that I may draw closer to You.  Help me to be agent of this love to others that they may encounter you as well. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 14:15-24: When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” 16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 
17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Questions to Consider 

  • Many were invited to the great banquet, but many made excuses. What do these excuses signify? (v.18-20)
  • What was the master’s response to the excuses? (v.21)
  • Are there any excuses you are making in your life right now that is preventing you from joining the great banquet?

Notes

  • These excuses reveal they were more interested in their personal/worldly endeavors than feasting in the kingdom of God (v.15).
  • The master became angry and ordered the servant to go into the streets and alleys to bring the poor, crippled, bind, and lame.
  • Personal.

Evening Reflection

This morning we discussed the ultimate purpose for the sacrifices that God called Aaron and his sons to perform – to restore people back to a relationship with God.  This afternoon we read about God’s invitation for people to join in on his great banquet – the kingdom of God – however, many made excuses.  Reflect on the day.   Did your life extend hospitality to others that they would commune with God?  Or did you make excuses because of busyness or personal desires?  Take some time to reflect on ways you can join in on God’s work and lead others to communion with God.

February 24, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was originally posted on February 14, 2019.  Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Potential of God”

Exodus 3:10-12

Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

When my daughter Audrey was an infant, some people jokingly called me a “tiger dad” because I kept trying to make her do things she obviously could not do yet, like trying to get her to lift her head when she was a week old. I really wanted her to be more advanced for her age, a feeling many first-time parents experience. Unfortunately for my new son Benji, I have swung the opposite direction and just figure he’ll learn to do things eventually. I guess my tiger dad days are over.

In our passage for today, God asked Moses to do something that he thought he could absolutely not do. God had a plan to rescue the Israelites from Egypt and He was inviting Moses to be a part of it. Specifically, God was calling Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to free the Israelites. To this request, Moses said, “No way! You’ve got the wrong guy. Send someone else!” This seemed impossible to Moses. But what was God’s response? “I will be with you.”

Fear is a huge barrier to doing the work of God. Many of us have a fear of failure, a fear of not being good enough, of looking foolish. Yet, when that is our attitude, we are being self-centered because we are putting the focus on ourselves. Moses was being very self-centered – His response was “I cannot do that. I am not the right person.” But it’s not about being the right person; our God is the right God and whoever He calls is the right person for His work. Why? Because God goes with whoever He calls. He enables them to do the task.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the early church did not run around trying to do things that Jesus did. They prayed and waited. Eventually, at Pentecost, they were all filled with the Spirit and empowered to do the work of growing the church. God was with them. Though it seemed impossible, God enabled them to do something that seemed impossible. In the same way, perhaps God is calling you to do something. Remember that you have the potential of God within you. He will enable you to do whatever He calls you to do.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You send Your Spirit upon me to do Your will. On my own, I would fail, but with Your Spirit I have Your potential within me. May I never fear failure knowing that You will carry me through Your purposes.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 26

Lunch Break Study  

Read Exodus 31:1-4: The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

Questions to Consider

  • What did God call Bezalel to do?
  • How did God enable Bezalel to do this?
  • Is the Lord calling you to do something right now?

Notes

  • God called Bezalel “to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” God was planning to build the tabernacle which was basically a tent that the Israelites would carry with them as their place of worship, and it also was God’s symbolic presence with His people.
  • Verse 2-3 tells us that “[God has] called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and [He has] filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship.” Was Bezalel a skilled craftsman before God called him? We don’t know, but he likely was not good enough to do what God called him to do. If you have read these chapters in Exodus, you know that the design of the tabernacle was very intricate. Bezalel needed the power of God through the Spirit to do this. God called Bezalel and gave him the ability to do the task.
  • Take time to reflect on this question. Invite the Spirit to speak to you and give you confidence that God will equip you for all the work He wants to do through you.

Evening Reflection

As you get ready for bed tonight, consecrate tomorrow to God. Say to Him, “God, I want to do what You want me to do tomorrow. Fill me with Your Spirit that I may do it by Your strength.” Imagine praying that prayer every night; God would certainly use you in mighty ways!

February 23, Monday 

REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on January 2, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Real Issue Looming over Sexual Identity and Gender Identity Roles” 

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” 

Psalms 139:14

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”

Meet French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86), a pioneer of modern feminism, who once declared, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Her outlook served as a forerunner to modern conceptions of gender, including Harvard’s own policy on identity: “We understand that gender identity can be expressed in a variety of ways.” The unmistakable message is this: since “sexual identity is determined not by biology but by cultural condition” (Colson), one may choose one’s own sex or gender.

This, however, is not the central issue in modern feminism, except for the relatively few—roughly 0.1% of the population—who experience gender dysphoria. So when the political smoke clears, several questions about the nature of sex and gender still remain.

1. Is sexual identity fixed or fluid?

This question arises largely because the terms sex and gender are treated as synonymous—a point on which both progressives and conservatives often agree. I would argue that while the two are certainly related, they do not refer to the same thing. Sex is the biological distinction between male and female and is therefore fixed. Gender refers primarily to traits and roles culturally attributed to the sexes—precisely the realm Beauvoir considers fluid.

When the two terms are fused, the fluidity associated with gender roles is transferred to biological sex, which is then viewed as equally malleable. But while gender roles may be fluid, no cultural condition can alter basic biological realities: first, the 23rd chromosome pair is typically XY for males and XX for females (with rare exceptions that affect a small number of individuals who nonetheless still identify with their biological sex); second, females have ovaries while males have testes; third, females have higher estrogen levels and males higher testosterone levels. And that is only the beginning—numerous physiological differences between the sexes are widely acknowledged. Thus, when Scripture declares that God created “male and female” (Gen. 1:27), it affirms, among other things, that the two sexes are biologically distinct.

2. Do physiological differences produce distinct psychological traits?

The answer is yes. A 2012 Psychology Today article, citing a study of more than 10,000 participants, states: “Women scored much higher than men in Sensitivity, Warmth, and Apprehension, while men scored higher than women in Emotional Stability, Dominance, Rule-Consciousness, and Vigilance.” This is why Beauvoir herself notes, “Women should not be judged to be equal only insofar as they are like men… Women and men are different.”

3. Do biological and psychological differences mandate fixed gender roles?

This brings us to the final—and central—question: Can gender roles at home and in the workplace change over time despite the real differences between the sexes? Put differently, do these differences require certain roles?

For example:

  • Are women inherently better suited to raising children, thus making stay-at-home motherhood the natural norm?
  • Can men fulfill that role just as effectively?
  • Can women serve in combat roles and perform, on average, at the same level as men?
  • Can men serve as military nurses as effectively as women? (Men were only readmitted as military nurses in 1955.)
  • In the church, can women preach to men despite passages that appear to restrict this (1 Tim. 2:11–12; 1 Cor. 14:34–35)?

4. What would Beauvoir say?

First, she does not deny biological or psychological distinctions between men and women. To believe otherwise is to ignore the warning of Proverbs 22:28: “Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” One commentator notes that the landmark represents “the inviolability of the sacred order established by God.” When a society disregards God’s basic order by asserting that sexual identity is fluid—calling a boy “she” and vice versa—it distorts the minds of the vulnerable and risks long-term harm that outweighs any short-term relief for some.

What Beauvoir does argue is that cultural conditions discourage women from assuming sociopolitical roles traditionally held by men. This is a legitimate question—one that deserves careful consideration without mangling English grammar. So can cultural conditions shape gender roles despite biological and psychological differences? If a girl is given a gun, will she become more assertive and thus more inclined toward leadership? If a boy is given a doll, will he become more passive and pliant?

5. Nature and nurture

Ultimately, we return to the classic nature-versus-nurture debate. A sensible answer involves both. My specific conclusions, developed more fully in later posts, are these:

a. Women should be encouraged to pursue whatever vocations they deem fitting, and society should remove unjust barriers. If this suggests that workplace gender roles are fluid and culturally conditioned, that is correct.

b. While many social roles are mutually accessible to both sexes, men and women do not always perform at the same level in certain tasks, due to differences in physicality and, to a lesser extent, psychology. This should not be ignored.

c. In the church, women must navigate with grace between two schools of thought: 

  • Complementarianism, which upholds distinct yet complementary roles for men and women.
  • Egalitarianism, which sees their roles as equal, including in preaching and teaching.

Meanwhile, we should “be sympathetic” (1 Pet. 3:8 NIV) toward those who genuinely struggle with looking one way while feeling another. But rather than calling a boy “she” or viceversa, I would greet such a person by saying, “Hello, you who are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Ps. 139:14). How are you?” And from there, I would find a gracious yet honest way to navigate pronouns.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of life and for the many undeserved privileges men and women enjoy simply by living in the West. Before I think of myself as a woman or a man, remind me that I am first and foremost Your child in Christ. Help me not only to live this new life in Christ, but also to share it with the men and women who still live without the hope found in Him. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Judges 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” 

1 Kings 12:25-31:“Then Jeroboam [the first king of Northern Kingdom—Samaria being its capital] built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites.” 

1 Kings 17:6: “In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Questions to Consider

1. Many people in our world are doing what is right in their own eyes; those who advocate that sexual identity is determined by cultural condition certainly are doing that. Now look at what Jeroboam did—in what ways he also did what was right in his own eyes?

2. What is the ulterior motive that drove this king to completely ignore God’s sacred order?

3. What became of the Northern Kingdom? That is to say, what is the final outcome of a society that defies God’s inviolable order, whether spiritual or sociocultural?

Note

  • King Jeroboam committed two actions that radically altered the sacred order God established for temple worship—an order essential for sustaining Israel’s covenant relationship with Him. First, he shifted the center of worship from Jerusalem to Bethel and Dan. Second, although God had decreed that only Levites could serve as priests, Jeroboam appointed anyone he deemed suitable in his own eyes.
  • His motive for breaking God’s sacred order is clear: he feared that if his citizens traveled to Jerusalem (the capital of the Southern Kingdom) to fulfill their temple obligations, their loyalty might shift to his rival kingdom. In other words, Jeroboam altered God’s design to safeguard his own personal and political interests.
  • The Northern Kingdom was ultimately destroyed by the Assyrian Empire in 722 B.C., after only about 150 years of existence. History shows that all empires eventually fall—and the more swiftly they defy God’s sacred order, the more swiftly their demise comes. As Psalm 9:17 declares, “The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.”

Evening Reflection

We began the day by talking about the biological and psychological differences between males and females. It seems fitting to end with this question: Men, how do you view women? Is your default posture to objectify them? They are not objects but human beings who bear God’s wonderful image.

Women, how do you view men? Is your default outlook to see them as chauvinistic, insensitive, even predatorial humans? The MeToo movement has sadly exposed that some men are still behaving very badly. The next time you witness such actions or someone defending them, tell them, “Stop, in the name of Jesus; I will not allow you to demean a child of God like this.”  If you have been a victim, then I would pray that you find healing in Christ and strength to forgive the perpetrator at some point. At the same, please do not be given to think that all men are looking to take advantage of women—many of us follow Christ who admonishes husbands to “love their wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28a).  

If you are married, pray with your spouse right now. For the rest, pray for members of the opposite sex whether at home, work or church.  

February 22, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on February 10, 2019, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God of All Comfort”

Exodus 2:23–25 (ESV)

“During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. [24] And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. [25] God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.”

We tend to do everything we can to avoid suffering and risk.  And though we may invest a great deal in protecting ourselves and those we love, we fight a losing battle because we live in a world ruined by sin.  We know this but we are still tempted to believe in our own strength and ability to control our lives. So when suffering and grief inevitably come, we are caught off guard.  In our confusion, grief can be so severe that we find ourselves unable to even put our experience into words.  We can only groan before God and weep.

In our passage this morning, the people of Israel are enslaved in Egypt.  They suffer for 400 hundred years and they groan because of their slavery.  Certainly they pray to Yahweh, but their suffering is such that they cry aloud indiscriminately, pleading that someone—anyone—might save them.  And as Israel despairs under their oppression—God remembers, sees, and knows.

God remembers His covenant, the commitments that He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He remembers His promise to make them into a great nation, to bless them, and to bless all the families of the earth through them.

God sees His people.  He is the Almighty God of galaxies but His people are always on His heart and mind.  He is constantly concerned and at work for their welfare.

God not only sees, but He knows their suffering.  Jesus is a high priest who sympathizes with His people.

Following a particularly difficult season of ministry, I was thankful that God gave me strength to get through it, but I had a lingering fear that He would bring me into something even more challenging and painful for my good.  I saw God as helpful, but not very compassionate.  Some time later, God spoke to me in prayer.  He invited me to acknowledge how hard that season had been for me, and more importantly, He assured me that He was there and that He saw me and understood my pain.

If you are going through a difficult season, you are not alone.  Your Father remembers His promises to you and He is fulfilling them.  Your Father sees you.  He has not forgotten you.  Your Father knows the depth of your suffering.  His heart is filled with compassion for you and He works for your future joy.  Go quickly to the God of all comfort.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are more than a dispassionate engineer in my life, worried only about the mechanics and results.  You are my Father, who loves me.  Give me not only strength, but comfort as well that I may put all my trust in You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 24

February 21, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on Decem 29, 2018, 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. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“No Slackers Please”

Ephesians 6:5-8

“Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.”

My wife used to work for a major pediatric hospital that saw over a million patients last year.  To run such a gigantic organization, this hospital employs more than 10,000 people in all their branches and associated network offices.  Of course, with over 10,000 employees, there are bound to be a few slackers here and there, which is why, according to my wife, the employee handbook specifically states that employees are not allowed to use more than 10 percent of their working hours surfing the Internet.  To put it another way, as an employee of this hospital you are allowed to use up to 10 percent of your time to goof off and check your fantasy football, or go shopping, or explore whatever the www has for you.  Now, let’s be honest: Most, if not all of us have used company time to browse the Internet; so let’s not pretend that we always work like the fabled ant (Prov. 6:6-8).  I just find it both funny and kind of sad that a major organization would admit defeat and formalize a policy that limits their losses. 

I know the slave-master relationships does not perfectly parallel the employee-boss relationship (though sometimes it feels that way).  I also know that it’s Saturday and the last thing you want to be thinking about is work (unless of course you must work today), but there are some principles we can glean from today’s passage when it comes to work ethic.  When it comes to our jobs, or really anything in life—like serving in church or volunteering—do we work/serve as if we are serving Christ himself?  Can we be trusted that when the boss’ back is turned, we will do our jobs faithfully as if he is standing right behind us?  Might I go as far as to ask if we do our jobs with a certain amount of joy, because we believe we are ultimately serving our Lord Jesus.  Hopefully that is the case, though getting joy might be a goal that we are working toward in the distant future.  For now, how about this: Today, God is going to give you an opportunity to serve either your company or a person.  So make it a goal to do that well. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to approach this day with the understanding that in all things, whether I eat or drink or work, I can do it in a manner that glorifies you (1 Cor. 10:31).  Thank you for my job.  Thank you for people whom I can serve.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 22-23

February 20, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on April 4, 2019—was written by Pastor Phil Chen. The Pillar Church, under Phil’s leadership, will officially launch in Houston this Sunday. May the Lord bless this new church to bear much fruit and lead many to Christ.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Dangerous Ox”

Exodus 21:28-29, 35-36

When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death… When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

There is a verse in the book of Hebrews that scared the daylights out of me when I first read it. And I think it’s something that many of today’s Christians need to hear. “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26). To be clear, the author of Hebrews is not saying that there is a sin that’s too big for Jesus’ blood to cover. Of course not. Jesus’ blood is more than enough to cover any and all of our sins. However, what the author of Hebrews warns against is a spirit of rebellion. This is when someone knows the truth of the Gospel, understands the grace of God… and yet they willfully choose to live in sin. This type of behavior, according to the author of Hebrews, is not acceptable.

Today’s passage from Exodus 21 reflects a similar sentiment. In the passage, God explains the protocol for when an ox gores a person or another animal. Notice that if the owner had prior knowledge, the penalty becomes much more severe!  In a way, the passage is saying, ‘How can you, after coming to knowledge about the dangerous nature of your ox, refuse to do something about it? This type of mistake is not an accident, it’s rebellion.’ Although this passage seems to be about oxen (a subject that is hardly relevant to us today), it also reveals a deeper principle… that once we come to know something, God expects us to take action on it.

The question for this morning is this: Is there any willful sin in your life? Is there a dangerous ox in your life that you know about, but haven’t taken action on? If so, it is not something that should be taken lightly! Instead, we should bring it to our Lord with a heart of repentance.

Prayer: Father, may we not live in the immature ways of our past. Instead, as we grow in the knowledge of You, may our actions follow suit. Give us grace, courage, and clarity this morning to deal with any willful sin that has gone unchecked. We bring it to you in repentance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:26-29: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Questions to Consider

  • How did the Law of Moses treat those who deliberately rebelled against it?
  • According to the passage, what does the Mosaic Law tell us about deliberate rebellion against Jesus?
  • What exactly is the author of this passage warning against?

Notes

  • Read Numbers 15:27-28, 30-31 – “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven… But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.” In the Old Testament, the Mosaic Law ordered that anyone who committed willful sin be utterly cut off from the people.
  • The passage compares rebellion against the Mosaic Law to rebellion against Jesus. It highlights that a rebellion against the Son of God is worthy of much worse punishment.
  • If this passage has struck some fear into your heart. That is most likely a good thing. But it is important that we fear the correct things. The passage is not saying that we must live a perfect life, no is it saying that certain sins are too big in magnitude for Jesus’ blood to cover over. The passage starts off like this, “if we go on sinning deliberately…” The author is warning against living a lifestyle of willful sin after coming to knowledge of God’s saving grace. For such a person has already heard the Good News, and yet they still have chosen to live in rebellion to God. This is what we must be careful of! 

Evening Reflection

Spend some time tonight meditating on Psalm 32:1-7 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah  

February 19, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 4, 2019, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“No, You Aren’t Sitting This One Out”

Exodus 18:13-23

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

In an exercise in management and organizational behavior worthy of Harvard Business Review, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, saves his son-in-law from certain burnout. Not to mention, he also saves the Israelites from endless frustration, as there was no way one man could have addressed their myriad problems. Instituting a pyramid org chart, Jethro helps to “filter and funnel” Israel’s problems so that only the most difficult cases were placed before Moses. What’s the takeaway from this ancient episode for us? Simply this: We are all meant to partake in ministry.

It is no coincidence that this event takes place shortly after deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Come New Testament, we know that Egypt represented not physical bondage, but bondage to sin, and that Jesus was the one like Moses who would deliver His brothers from spiritual slavery. However, once He does so, He immediately turns His attention to getting us in the game:

Ephesians 4:10-12: He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

There will always be some in Christian leadership especially well-suited to tackling the “hard problem” – the elders, those with the gift of the word of wisdom, etc. – but this doesn’t mean that everyone else sits out while they do the “real ministry.” Christ has given us all gifts and abilities with which we can make a difference in the world for the kingdom of God. If we stick with the old 80/20 rule – that 80% of the work in the church is done by 20% of the people (or, worse yet, 90/10!), we will inevitably find burnt out leaders and a congregation, not to mention world, that’s not being ministered to. Whether as an influencer of “ten” or a “thousand,” there is a place of ministry for you alongside the true Moses, Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for delivering me from the bondage of sin. I acknowledge that You saved me, not so that I could sit on the sidelines, but so that I could serve others with the gifts and abilities that You have given me. May Your Spirit fill me with faith, boldness, and the security of knowing that I am a beloved child of God, so that I may walk in your will and be used to be a blessing to others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 10:17-22: And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Questions to Consider

  • If the rich young man was so good at keeping commandments, why didn’t he think that he was worthy of eternal life?
  • Does Jesus’ command to the young man mean that we also need to give away everything we have? How does this apply to us?
  • What was Jesus’ attitude towards the young man when He commanded him to sell everything? How should this encourage us?

Notes

  • There was another god in his life- money- and he could feel it weighing on his soul.
  • Whatever it is that we are not willing to give away is what Jesus would have us give away.
  • He loved him. Whatever it is that God is asking you to surrender, you can do so in faith because you know that His motivation towards you is love.

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to reflect upon your day. What were the moments of tension or conflict that you experienced in your heart? Do you notice a pattern that might reveal something that has mastery over your heart?

February 18, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—first posted on May 29, 2019—is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim, the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A People of Rest”

Exodus 31:13-14

“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 

You know you’re from Atlanta (pronounced At-lan-na) when Chick-fil-A isn’t just fast food; it’s a way of life. And you know that there’s no other day that you want Chick-fil-A more than on a Sunday—the day when this icon of delicious Southern hospitality is closed nationwide. This is what is said on their website in regards to their weekly Sunday closure:

“Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett [Cathy, founder] saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose – a practice we uphold today.” And despite opening one day less than most of its competitors, we see that Chick-fil-A on average sales per restaurant is greater than the likes of McDonalds and KFC.

In today’s passage, God once again reiterates the importance of the Sabbath. We see how important the Sabbath is by looking at the language used: “you shall surely… it is holy… put to death… cut off from among his people.” And the ultimate reason why this commandment is given is so that in observing the Sabbath, the people may know God is the Lord that sanctifies them. It is recognizing that it is God alone who delivered the Israelites from Egypt, it is God alone who provides for them as they wandered in the desert, and it is God alone who shall lead them into the Promised Land. 

The Sabbath represents the relationship that God’s people enjoy with Him as they are able to rest from all labor and worship Him on this day. What is implied is that those who are not under this covenantal relationship with God cannot enjoy this kind of rest—they must continue to toil and struggle. It is an expression of trust—trusting that in our obedience, God will take care of the rest. Not that we believe that just because we observe the Sabbath, we will be rewarded with financial success like Chick-fil-A, but there is a peace and freedom that comes from knowing that He is our God and we are His people. 

In a society driven by grit and hustle, it is truly refreshing to believe that as God’s people, we can live with this sense of peace and rest, because we know who we truly are in Him. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus who is our peace. We thank You that because of the cross, that we no longer have to live based on our own righteousness, but we are able to live in the reality that we are Your children. Help us to observe the Sabbath as a testament of that truth, not just on Sundays, but everyday of our lives. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 19

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 6:25-27: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

John 1:12-13: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Questions to Consider

  • What lesson is Jesus drawing for the crowd as He directs their attention to the creation? If the argument is from lesser to greater, how are we to understand our relationship with God?
  • What does the John passage teach us in regards to who we are for those who have received Christ? What connections can we make with the Matthew passage?
  • When you think about the things you are anxious or fearful about, how might these things conflict with your identity as a child of God? How is the Spirit leading you toward peace?

Notes

  • When looking at creation, we see that the animals and plants are taken care of by the natural order of God. Unlike their human counterparts, we see that creation does not have an elaborate tactic of security. And if God cares for them, the rhetorical question asked is, how much more so does our Heavenly Father care for us?
  • John teaches us that through Christ alone have we been given the right to be called children of God. In connection to the Matthew passage, Christ’s offer of grace seals our right to be children of God; therefore, more than all of creation, our Heavenly Father will provide and protect His children. This security is given to us by something more precious than our blood-lineage; it is guaranteed by the righteousness of Jesus. 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Gratitude is a good thermometer of how we are doing in terms of casting our anxieties upon Him. As you end another day, take some time to recognize and give thanks for God’s many provisions for you, how you can live in true freedom rather than under the yoke of constantly seeking security that can only be held by ourselves.

February 17, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on May 21, 2019—is provided by Jennifer Kim, who faithfully served on staff at several AMI churches in years past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Atoning Sacrifice”

Exodus 29:10-25

 “Bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 11 Slaughter it in the Lord’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. 13 Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its intestines outside the camp. It is a sin offering. 15 “Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.16 Slaughter it and take the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar. 17 Cut the ram into pieces and wash the internal organs and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces. 18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 19 “Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.20 Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar. 21 And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated. 22 “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. 23 From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the Lord, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf. 24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 25 Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a food offering presented to the Lord.”

Two months ago, my dog of 17 years passed away.  Although I had prepared myself for this sad day, the grief was one that I still cannot explain.  Most of it came, when looking back, from the realization that my dog had been with me for more years of my life than not.  She saw me through my rebellious, absent teenage years to my move to college that left me seeing her only a few times a year, until I moved back home during the last years of her life.  As I saw all the transitions that she had gone through to cater to my absent lifestyle, I realized her undying loyalty and faithfulness to me until the end.  It was precisely this realization that brought me so much grief as I regretted my choices to not be a better caretaker.

Today’s passage highlights the unusual process of laying hands on an animal’s head before slaughtering it before the Lord.  This process was meant to symbolize the transference of sin from a guilty person onto an animal that, then, is slaughtered as a substitutionary sacrifice.  We know that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and to approach a holy God we must be cleansed by an atoning sacrifice.  What a humbling experience: to put your hands on the head of an innocent animal as you confess the sins that you should die for, and then witness its innocent death in your place.

Although the death of my dog and the regret I felt in no way compares to witnessing something die in place of my sins, I can see the weightiness that God desired for all people to understand during this process.  We must recognize that the road to sin is death and it separates us from the God who desires to be in a relationship with us.  However, God does not leave us here; He gives us a gift – an ultimate sacrifice that will take our place forever.  “For the wages of sin [may be] death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).  

Today let us remember the cost of sin and the sacrifice it took, but may it not leave us in despair or regret, but thanksgiving for Jesus’ work on the cross.   And most of all, may it lead us to action to pursue a life of purity because we know, through the work of Christ, God does not just delight in sacrifice and takes no pleasure in burnt offerings, but a broken and contrite heart he does not despise (Ps. 51:16-17).

Prayer: God I thank You for Your love that moved You to stand in the place of my death.  And thank You that I may now freely approach Your throne.  Help me to never forget the cost of my sins, but may it lead me to a life of purity that seeks to honor You in all things.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 6:15-23:What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider 

  • What are the effects of living as a slave to sin compared to living as a slave to righteousness?
  • What is the mark that you are not a slave to sin but to righteousness?
  • This passage reveals that we are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness, for we cannot serve two masters.  Is there any sin in your life that is preventing you from living in righteousness?

Notes

  • Slaves of sin will reap death (v.16) while slaves of righteousness will live in holiness and eternal life (v.22).
  • A life of obedience (v.16).
  • Personal.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on the day.  Were you living in the righteousness given to you through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross?  Or were you living in sin?  If you find yourself discouraged at the sins of your life, remember we are living under grace because of Christ.  That does not mean we can continue living in sin, as we read in today’s lunch break study, but it does mean God’s mercies are new every morning. As you go in repentance, ask the Lord for strength to live in obedience and righteousness tomorrow.

February 16, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 3, 2019.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Guidance Today”

Exodus 23:20-21 (NIV)

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 

In every season and iteration of doing life with God, in biblical times and today, the people of God are given God’s guidance for life’s journey. For the Israelites after the exodus, a visible manifestation of God’s presence was given. A pillar of smoke by night and fire by day guided their journey through the wilderness. God promised, in the verses above, to send a heavenly messenger ahead of them for the purposes of both guidance and protection. All the people had to do was pay attention to God’s messenger, listen and obey. 

It almost seems silly that God would command them to listen and not rebel against the angel. After all, they are in the wilderness with no clue how to get to the place they are going. God brought them out of the place they left and God alone could lead them to wherever they are headed. Furthermore, God is promising both guidance and protection. Why on earth would they rebel against that!? Well, we know how the story goes. The journey through the wilderness was long and hard and the hearts of the people were far from formed in righteousness. And, thus, rebellion was swift and sure. 

I often wish we had physical manifestations of God’s presence today. A clear, audible voice to say do this or that and a visible manifestation of Godself guiding and protecting us every day. But even with those things in place, we too would rebel. And although we are without smoke and fire, God has not left us alone—we have the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our help, who comes alongside us to guide our steps and guard our way. God’s Spirit within us forms our heart so that we are able to not rebel and so are positioned to experience the fullness of God’s promises, the abundant afforded in Christ. But sometimes, at least for me, it’s hard to know when the Spirit is speaking and how God is calling me to obey. 

I’ve picked up a few tools over the years that have been helpful: 

(1) Time in God’s word (Scripture), time with God’s people (fellowship), and time in God’s presence (prayer): God has revealed Godself in Scripture, God’s presence resides in God’s people, and God has promised to meet us in prayer. 

(2) Contemplative practices and Sabbath rest: In contemplation, the heart and mind are able to slow down and become aware of oneself, one’s surrounds, and God’s presence (which is always near). Likewise, rhythms that honor Sabbath leave margin for us to sense God’s movements. 

Regardless of your preferred practice, we must each find ways to sense the movement and hear the voice of God’s Spirit. 

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide me toward Your path, toward Your will, toward Your Son.  Thank You for the Word and the Spirit through which I’m guided by You daily.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-12 (NIV):You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Question to Consider

  • In the first few verses, what is the psalmist (David) emphasizing about God? Why is this such mind-blowing truth? 
  • How does David respond to God’s intimate knowledge of and constant nearness to him?
  • How does God’s intimate knowledge of you make you feel? Does it encourage you or make you feel “hemmed in”? How does knowing God is always near make you feel? Fearful or safe? Why might you feel this way? 

Notes

  • David is focusing on God’s intimate knowledge of him. God knows the intricacies of his heart and all the facts of his life. God knows his daily movements and is aware of his mundane activities and even his travel plans. Even when David thinks he’s far from God, God is so near as to know David’s thoughts. God knows his words and everything about him. 

Because theology teaches us that God is all-knowing, the awesomeness of these statements may be lost upon us. God is infinite and has no reason or need to be so actively mindful of you or me. God chooses this. Just imagine what it would take for you to exist in the kind of relationship with another person that was so intimate that you could make these statements about them. 

  • Not positively… David feels trapped or hemmed in by God. Even if he wanted to escape, he feels like he couldn’t. That’s a fearsome thought. This is of course David’s initial response. Later in the Psalm he is thankful for God’s presence and invites God to “search and know” him. 
  • Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Two questions, informed by Romans 12:1-2, have come in clutch for me as I seek to discern the leading of the Spirit in my life. The first is, “God, what do you want me to do for you?” or, to put it a different way, “How can I offer myself to You in worship in this specific situation?” The second is, “What do I want to do for and with God?” or, “In light of my resources (time, talent, treasure) and the sort of person God has formed in me, how can I intentionally and strategically orient and direct the whole of my life toward the end of maximum Kingdom impact?” The first question is a micro kind of question and has been helpful in all the little decisions that come my way on any given day. The second approaches Spiritual guidance on a more macro level and has help me keep the end goal in mind. 

What kinds of questions help you discern God’s guidance in your life? Spend time reflecting on Romans 12:1-2. What would it look like for you to offer yourself (your time, talent, and treasures) in worship to God in your present context? In light of your personality, gifts, resources, passions and experiences, what might strategic Kingdom building look like in your life long term?