July 10, Friday

NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

The Pervasiveness of Sin

1 John 1:8-10

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

A few months ago, my car stalled in the middle of the road, forcing me to pull over. After a couple of hours of unsuccessfully trying to get it to start or even move an inch, I had it towed the thirty-mile trip home. Later that week, it turned out that the problem was caused by a blown fuse no larger than my thumb. A YouTube crash course walked me through replacing the fuse and reviving my car, and I was left dumbfounded that something so small could immobilize something that carried me.

That brief saga was a great reminder of the picture of sin in our lives. It’s very tempting to think of many sins we commit as simply small mistakes—moments where we falter or otherwise “not a big deal.” Oftentimes that temptation comes from the correct view that our sin is no match for the blood of Christ that covers all. However, that truth should not shield us from soberly remembering this reality: all sin, no matter how small, is part of the reason our Lord Jesus went to the cross.

Just as a tiny fuse stopped my car from moving, every tiny sin that we don’t address stalls our relationship with God. Our Lord is gracious, but He is just and does not tolerate sin. Hopefully, you know that while you must fight the blatant sin in your life, you also need to take time to plead with the Father to open your eyes to fight the subtle sins as well.

Prayer: Abba, Father, thank You for the blood of Your Son which covers my sin and allows me to even pray to You right now. Remind me that there is no sin too great for You to conquer, but there is also no sin too small for You to ignore. Please teach me and strengthen me to fight every sin in my life so that my walk with You may be blameless. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 52

Lunch Break Study

Romans 8:31-39 (ESV): What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider

Paul asks, “Who is to condemn?” How can we overcome our victim mentality?
Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” What are some things in our lives that can separate us from Christ?
What assurance can we take from this passage?

Notes

Paul asks a rhetorical question implying that nothing in this world can condemn us. Christ became the ultimate victim by taking our sins upon the cross on our behalf so that rather than being condemned, we are now saved. Actually, before God we were never victims but transgressors. Now, having been forgiven by God in Christ, we are more than conquerors, including over our erroneous victim mentality.
Paul provides a list of things as a warning that will distract us from the inseparable love of Christ. Consider how these items can be relatable in your life (i.e. tribulations can represent hardships or struggles that you may be going through).
There is nothing in this world that can separate us from His love—not physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental. He continually intercedes for us (v. 34) in our weaknesses.

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with Christ. What are the areas, times, situations, or even relationships that keep you from His love? How have you felt victimized and then let that spiral into a mess like Saul? Ask God to open your eyes to see His inseparable love and the people whom He has placed in your life to release you.

July 9, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 28, 2020. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Revolution & Interruption”

Luke 1:1-4

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Acts 2:1-2

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

During the Easter season, I spent time reading through the Gospel of Luke and am now making my way through Acts as we prepare for Pentecost. Taking another look at the life and teachings of Jesus in Luke and the presence and work of the Spirit in Acts has been especially helpful for me, as we all do the hard work of reevaluating and reimagining during our present season of upheaval.

My reading of these texts, while being inundated with the statements and movements of various Christians around the country during this season, has cemented my suspicion that sometimes (often times?) we in the Church lack vision for how God moves in the world and how we come to discern those movements and, in so discerning, know what to do in partnership with God. My time in Luke-Acts has highlighted two crucial things in this regard:

God’s story is one of revolution and God’s work is a work of interruption.

God is transforming all of Creation – from hearts and minds to societies and kingdoms to (one day) the literal heavens and earth. Transformation is not preservation. And transformation requires change—it’s an act of revolution. If we want to understand where God is and how God is moving, then, it would behoove us to learn a little bit about revolutions—particularly how they come about and what they’re resisting to change. God’s story is a story of revolution.

And God’s work in our present world is ALWAYS a work of interruption. From the Creation (which interrupted nothing with something) to the Exodus (which interrupted Egyptian empire/rule) to the prophets (who interrupted the religious and political status quo) to the birth of Jesus (which not only interrupted Mary’s life, but turned the world upside down), to the cross (which was a painful interruption, or so it seemed, to the disciples hopes for deliverance), to the greatest interruption of them all the resurrection (which interrupted, and so overcame, death itself).

God is authoring a revolution through a series of holy interruptions.

If this is true, as followers of Jesus, we have to learn to discern God’s movements in any given moment in history, looking for those interruptions so we can actively participate in God’s revolutionary work in our time. Theologian Willie James Jennings suggests this is the agenda of the book of Acts, “to narrate how one discerns God’s movements” – what they look like and how Creation responds.

God is at work right now through the Spirit in the world today. So, are we discerning those movements? And how are we, who are not only creatures but those with whom the Spirit of God dwells, called to respond?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please free me from my tendency toward people-pleasing and self-gratification. Make me aware of the other masters in my life today, so that, having been liberated from them, I can discern what You are doing in the world and then join. Help me to serve You even when it is difficult. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 51

Lunch Break Study

Acts 2:36-47: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Questions to Consider

What was the result of their obedience in response to the movement of the Spirit? What do you notice about their devotion? How does this encourage or challenge you to respond to the Spirit today?
These verses pick up right after the Holy Spirit comes to the Church for the very first time at Pentecost. What was the people’s (v. 37) response to the movement of the Spirit in Acts 2?
How did Peter instruct them? What is the significance of these next steps? What promise did he give them?

Notes

The people asked, “What should we do?” Why? It’s because they were deeply convicted after hearing the truth concerning Jesus and the message of the Gospel and turned to God (through Peter and the Apostles) for guidance and direction.
Peter told them to repent and be baptized. Repent simply means to change one’s mind(set) or thinking. Repentance is always required as we seek to respond to the truth and movements of God. Peter also tells them to be baptized. This is more than just being dipped or sprinkled with water. The baptism ceremony is an sign of a reality in our lives and hearts—that reality is our choice to be immersed in intimacy with Jesus through relationship and in the body of Christ, the Church, as we do life together with one another. The promise Peter gives is that the listeners will receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit’s presence in the lives of believers is not something we earn or have to conjure up; it’s a gift of grace given to all those who turn to God in repentance and are immersed in relationship with God and God’s people in community.
The result was a radical and generative community, fully devoted in self-giving love and care for one another. There are lots of things to notice about their devotion—take note of what they were devoted to and how they expressed their devotion. The thing that strikes me most is that it was all organic and unprescribed. We often need rule and law to tell us to give and share, gather and pray, love and care. But there were no laws demanding this—this was their natural (reasonable, even – Romans 12:2) response to the Good News and the gift they’d received. They were caught up in the love of God and thus drawn into God’s love for those around them.

Evening Reflection

“God is authoring a revolution through a series of holy interruptions.”

Do you find yourself resisting change and transformation? If yes, why? How does the good news of the Kingdom of God (the Gospel, that God is bringing forth a New Creation) encourage you to desire and participate in God’s transformative work? In what specific ways is God inviting you (and your community) to be transformed in this season? What practical steps of obedience can you take in that direction?

July 8, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on May 11, 2020. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“O, Come Let Us Adore Him (a non-Christmas Version)”

Psalm 145:1-2

“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever.”

During this shelter-in-place time, I have also had the chance to reexamine my habits. Two weeks ago, I realized my tendency was still to rush through things (though I had nowhere to be). I rushed through cooking, so my meals were still mediocre after weeks of cooking every day. I rushed to get ready in the morning and still wouldn’t use my electric toothbrush for its two-minute preset. Yes, I admit it – until two weeks ago, I didn’t think I had time to wait for my toothbrush to run its full course.

Yet another observation arose during conversation with a sister about helpful structures for prayer, including the famous ACTS model (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). While reflecting, I recognized another thing that I’d been rushing through: Adoration.\

As the world has succumbed to this pandemic, I have found my prayer time focused around supplication (asking God for things). I would pray for healing of the sick, protection over healthcare workers and others who are outside, emotional health and safety for those who have been in isolation, provision for those laid off and furloughed, etc. The needs seem both endless and urgent, and they are what I have been preoccupied with.

But skipping over Adoration means neglecting the most important component of prayer: the Lord Himself. He is the one that we come to meet. By rushing through considering who He is, we forgo delight that comes from celebrating what a friend, Father, Counselor, Savior He is. It is through adoring Him that our understanding of God becomes expanded; we will be reminded of what a wonderful, powerful, loving God reigns over this world. Everything else can easily fall into place: confession and thanksgiving naturally arise, and confidence in His provision will follow. We remember that the Father who did not spare His own Son will surely meet all our needs.

We are in a time when needs only seem to multiply each day. But I urge you today to not rush through time spent adoring God but, instead, dwell there for a longer period. The Psalm quoted is a good place to start by giving us words and ways to adore Him. More than ever, we need to know His agelessness, His faithfulness, and His goodness to be sure of who He is and to be comforted that He continues to work in this world. May adoring and worshipping God be a balm for us as we remember who He is.

Prayer: Father, I adore You! You are magnificent and good beyond my understanding. You are beautiful, gracious, and compassionate. Help me treasure who You are, not what I want You to do for me. Let my soul take its rightful place gazing upon Your beauty today and being in awe of who You are once more. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 50

Lunch Break Study

This Bible study is written a little differently. The questions are extremely simple, so the best way to enjoy the passage is to go beyond the simple observation of the text and to re-apply those answers to your own life.

Psalms 150:1-6: “Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

Questions to Consider

Where are we to praise the Lord (where is He)? For what are we to praise Him?
What are the ways in which we are to praise Him?
Who is to praise Him?

Notes

God both dwells in the sanctuary (the temple, the place of worship) and also in the mighty heavens that He created. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, and His presence is in all those places. Therefore, everywhere is a place where God may be worshipped. We praise Him especially for His power and His greatness. Our God has done wonderful works, and He is also the greatest strength in the universe. Therefore, we praise Him not just for what He has accomplished through acts of power; we praise Him simply for His character.
We praise Him with multiple media – through music and with our whole selves as well. Praise to God is not only in thought but expressed audibly and visibly for others to see and participate in with as well. It takes many to be able to do these concurrently. Therefore, our worship also must be manifest when we are gathered with others.
Not just those who know Him, but everything that has breath (life on this earth) praises Him. All creation is meant to praise the Lord. We join in worship with all humans across the earth (who have different cultures and have seen different works), but we also join in worship with all creation and nature on the earth.

Evening Reflection

How was your time today? Did spending more time considering who God is and extending your time of adoration bring joy and gladness? Let’s ask Him for the grace to continue and have our souls be satisfied as we consider who He is.

July 7, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 23, 2020, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Hidden and Revealed Things”

Deuteronomy 29:29 (ESV)

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

As the coronavirus pandemic rages across the globe, many of us are glued to our news feeds. When I wake up, the first thing I want to do is read the latest articles on BBC or The Mainichi (a Japanese daily). Throughout the day, I find myself distracted and tempted to check these sites for new updates. Now the question is, “What exactly am I looking for?”

In the midst of this global crisis, there are so many things we don’t know: We don’t know when the virus will be contained in our community. We don’t know whether someone we love will contract it. We don’t know what this will mean for our business or career. We don’t know how this will affect our children’s education. And this is frightening.

So we are tempted to seek solace and even peace in information gathering. Of course, having accurate information is important in a pandemic, but my heart is searching for something that daily counts, and reports of new developments in different countries cannot provide this.

According to Deuteronomy 29:29, there are things that are secret and belong only to the Lord; but there are also “revealed things that belong to us and to our children forever.” Only these revealed things can free us from fear and anxiety so we can love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves.

Two revealed things that I am taking comfort in are as follows:

Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Habakkuk 2:14: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

Because my Father is sovereign and always working for my good, I can close my web browser and serve the immediate needs of my children and my students. I can give them more of my attention, care, and prayer than the bare minimum. Because pandemics and financial crises cannot stop God from saving lost people from every tribe and nation, I can look forward with great expectation, pray with unreasonable boldness, and reach out to people who do not know Him with compassion and hope.

In these very strange and turbulent times, we cannot know, do, or control hardly anything—and thank God, that is not our job. But since we have a Father who sovereignly orders human history, we are free to focus on the simple things—loving Him and our neighbors well.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that even in these dark times, I do not need to be paralyzed by fear. There is much in this world that is unstable and uncertain, but Your promises are rock solid. Grant me grace to entrust the secret things to You and to boldly claim the revealed things. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 49

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 6:27–30, 33 (ESV): And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? … [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, does anything good come by being anxious?
What does Jesus invite us to have faith in?
If we are not to concern ourselves with food and clothing, what are we to focus on?

Notes

It does no good. It cannot even add one hour to our lives.
Jesus invites us to have faith in the Father’s love. He who clothes the lilies values us and will provide for us.
Since the Father frees us from concerns about food and clothing, we are free to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. To what things were you tempted to turn to for comfort and peace other than Jesus? Take a moment to wait upon the Lord and invite Him to remind you of His love and promises for you.

July 6, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 20, 2020, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson serves in E. Asia as a missionary.

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“Promises Have Power”

Acts 1:6-11

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

A promise is such an interesting concept, because from an objective point of view, it is a group of words. Yet, when someone promises us something, we cling onto it with hope and excitement. When, as kids, our parents promised to buy us a toy on our birthday, or when our boss promises a promotion next year, we hold onto those words with great expectation.

In this passage, Luke begins his second book with Jesus’ last moments with His disciples. Jesus had just spent 40 days with His disciples, speaking about the Kingdom of God, but because He knew at that very moment He was going to be taken away, He comforts His disciples with a promise of the Holy Spirit. With these words, the disciples return to Jerusalem waiting in great expectation. We learn in Acts 2 that they receive the Holy Spirit and were then empowered to share the gospel.

Like the disciples, we, as believers, all have the Holy Spirit living in us. It is not just something that exists in us, but Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit comes with power to help us in our time of need. Here are some promises that Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit is our Helper: “He will teach us all things and bring to your remembrance all that Jesus has said to us.” Whenever we are discouraged and a Bible verse pops in our mind or our friend comforts us, that is the Holy Spirit’s work! (John 14:16 & 26)
The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Truth, who makes it clear for us that Jesus is Lord. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot know that Jesus is the Son of God (John 14:17).
The Holy Spirit provides us power to become a witness to our co-workers, friends, and family members. This power includes spiritual gifts such as healing, words of encouragement, words of knowledge, etc. This power is for the purposes of sharing the gospel (Act 1:8).

All of us are in different seasons of life: Some of us may need help, as we are struggling with our faith, or we may need help in sharing the gospel to loved ones. Whatever the circumstances, Jesus is reminding us that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us—He is there to help us and all we need to do is ask Him.

What do you need help in? This morning, take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to be your Helper in this area. Let’s ask with faith and great expectation because Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will help us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the promises in the Bible. There are times where I struggle with believing them. However, help me to hope in them again and start by believing in the promise of the Holy Spirit. Right now, I’m struggling with (____). Can you please help me? Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 48

Lunch Break Study

Romans 8:5-11: Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

Questions to Consider

What are some of the outcomes of having our minds set on the Spirit (v. 6 and 8)?
Can those who live in the realm of the flesh submit to God’s laws (v. 7)?
In your life, what are some ways you can be more mindful of the Spirit?

Notes

To have our “mind set on” doesn’t simply mean think about the Spirit, but it means to live in the same lifestyle as the Spirit. When we live in accordance with the Spirit, we have life and peace. In addition, having our minds set on the Spirit is the only way to please God.
If you do not have the Holy Spirit, you cannot submit to God’s law nor do you have the desire to follow them.
Personal Reflection.

Evening Reflection

In John 14:16, Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will be our Helper. Oftentimes, when situations are difficult, we try to do things our own way. While it is not wrong to take action, we may neglect the Holy Spirit. This evening, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to be our help in our difficult situation.

July 5, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on March 31, 2019, is provided by Pastor Matt Ro, the founding pastor of Journey Church of Atlanta. He now serves as the Lead Pastor of Ridgeway Alliance Church in New York.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Day of Rest”

Exodus 16:23

He said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord.’”

Vance Havner used to look over the top of his glasses and say to his congregation, “If you don’t come apart, you will come apart.”

While not all stress is bad for us, too much of it over too long a period can be a killer. Literally. Most of us are wound pretty tight, which can result in everything from mild anger and irritation all the way to road rage and even a complete emotional breakdown. The old Greek motto wasn’t far off: “You will break the bow if you keep it always bent.”

For centuries, the people of Israel had lived in slavery to the Egyptians. They did not have three-day weekends or any vacations. Their lives consisted of working to build Pharaoh’s kingdom. When God freed His people and called them to worship Him in the desert, He set a new pattern for their lives. Rather than following an endless pattern of work, eat, and sleep, they were to take one day off each week, to rest.

The Lord whom they met in the desert was very different from the slave-driving Pharaoh. They were compelled to be slaves in Egypt, but they were invited into a covenant relationship with God in the desert. They had to make bricks for Pharaoh who refused to give them straws, but they received free bread from God every morning in the desert. They worked endlessly for Pharaoh, but they were commanded to take a day of rest as part of their relationship with God. The Lord was so intent on blessing them that he even preserved their sabbath day bread from the previous day.

Israel was to set aside time and space to make room for God to live among them. God’s presence came with the promise of peace, blessing, and flourishing for all (shalom). Israel would not have seen this as an oppressive command, but as a gift of grace.

God Himself was the very first Sabbath keeper. God “rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” It was God who first started the rhythm of six days of work followed by one day of rest. He is the one who established the pattern in the beginning. And because we have been made in his image (Gn. 1:27), that pattern is built into the very fabric of who we are. Our lives, in order to reflect the life of the Creator, are to follow that same “six-and-one” pattern of work and rest.

Have we set aside time in our busy lives to make room for God? How do you try to observe the Sabbath in a way to reflect the character of God?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, on the seventh day, You looked out over all that You had created and declared it good! May we follow the pattern of work and rest that You began. May we remember that true sabbath rest is found in the work of Christ alone. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 47

July 4, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on April 13, 2019, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson serves in E. Asia as a missionary

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Fighting Giants in Our Lives”

1 Samuel 17:42-47

He (the Philistine) looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord ’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

“Blessed Assurance,” written by Fanny Crosby, is a powerful hymn that has inspired so many generations. Crosby, who lost her sight at a young age, declared a victorious future which can only be seen through the faith-anointed eyes: “Visions of rapture now burst on my sight.” In darkness, her hope in the Lord, flashing out through the lyrics, formed into a melody of faith. In fact, her life story became a powerful worship dedicated to God.

1 Samuel 17 describes David’s most well-known battle, fighting against Goliath the giant. Looking down at this young little boy, the giant mocked and threatened him. Yet, with no sword in his hand, David fearlessly declared, “The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands!” David chose to proclaim the victory of God despite how powerful the giant appeared. On that battlefield, he offered his worship to the lord. We can find similar convictions in the book of Psalms. No wonder, David is known as “a man after [God’s] own heart (Acts 13:22)

We all have our own giants to fight against. These giants may manifest as a woman’s inability to have children, an infirmed person’s fight against an incurable disease, or being persecuted for faith in God—the list can go on. When the giant is mocking our identity and threatening our well-being, we all face a choice: “Should I continue to believe that God is good and victorious? Should I continue to bring Him praise?” Both David and Crosby chose to trust God; they chose to declare into their situations that God has won. That is the worship we want to offer to God.

But some might wonder, “What if I am too weak to trust?” Yes, the battle is brutal and frightening, but the good news is that God has put a triumphant song in every one of us, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus declared “it is finished” in front of the greatest giant—death. He rose again three days later to show the world that death has been defeated. For this reason, we have the strength to experience God’s victory in our own situations!

Prayer: Dear God, we praise You not because You have delivered us from all of our difficulties. We praise You because You ARE the victory. During the tough seasons of our lives, may we learn to declare Your victory into our situations; may our faith grow deeper as we seek you daily for the strength to face the day; may Your victory and goodness become our hope that one day we will experience breakthrough. May all these (our stories and our lives) become our worship to you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 45-46

July 3, Friday

NEW Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Friendly Debate”

Romans 14:5–9

“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whet… and of the living.”

As is common in AMI, GCC participates in a fast leading up to Good Friday, including several days of “juice only.” Usually, as the day to begin the juice-only part of the fast approaches, one question inevitably pops up: Do smoothies count?

The arguments for smoothies counting are pretty convincing: smoothies are indeed liquid, the fruits in smoothies are mostly made of water, and sticking to smoothies greatly decreases your overall calorie intake, so it’s still a fast. The argument against smoothies is also convincing: if it would break my fast to eat a banana, it should also break my fast to drink the same banana that’s been liquefied in a blender. That’s not a fast from food but a fast from chewing.

So how do we settle this? Simple: after realizing that this debate has no bearing on salvation, those who drink smoothies drink smoothies, and those who don’t, don’t. I personally won’t try to convince anyone to abstain from smoothies during a juice-only fast, but I won’t accept a smoothie if offered one.

As followers of Christ, we obviously have foundational beliefs that make us Christian. We only have a relationship with the Father because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who conquered our sin and death, and we draw closer to Him through the Holy Spirit. How that guidance of the Holy Spirit manifests in each of our day-to-day lives will have commonalities with our fellow brothers and sisters, but we all have our own unique personal convictions.

We already see those differences in how we pray, how and where we serve, how we work, and how we worship. Is the brother who serves in the worship ministry more of a Christian than the brother who consistently comes to Sunday service with coffee, notebook, and Bible in hand just before the doors open? Is the sister who worships through dance and prays through tears more of a Christian than the sister who is stoic in both things? Are the Christians who attend every church event better than those who show up more sparsely? We can never know and therefore cannot judge one over the other.

So when the Lord convicts you to join a fast, for instance, follow what He says without the expectation that He told everyone around you to join it and follow it the same way.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for providing so many ways for us to worship You! Teach me the way You want me to praise Your name and protect me from believing that what You show me is the only way to worship You. May everything I do be done to please You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 44

Lunch Break Study

James 1:19-21 (NIV): “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.”.

Questions to Consider

In regard to speaking and listening, what does James expect the believers to do?
How does James characterize the moral filth and the evil in our lives?
How can believers deal with the anger, the moral filth, and the evil that we wrestle with?

Notes

James says to master the art of listening quickly while speaking slowly. He also writes that believers ought to be slow to become angry.
Unfortunately, James notes that this moral filth and the evil in us is apparently prevalent.
Rather than angrily blaming God for our temptation and sin, and thus forfeiting the good he is trying to accomplish in us through the trial, we should instead remove the evil that caused the temptation, and return to the wisdom of His Word which can take us safely through the trial.

Application: Take a silent retreat this weekend if possible.

Evening Reflection

Heavenly Father, I ask that you help me to practice the art of listening quickly while being slow to speak words of complaint, judgment, and criticism. Help me to accept your word that fortifies me in my trials. Amen.

July 2, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on April 20, 2020, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Sabbath Rest”

2 Chronicles 36:20-21

He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, 21 to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.

In the midst of the lockdowns and quarantines, there has been some expected good news. In normally overcrowded and bustling cities all around the world, people are hearing birds chirping for the first time in ages. In many places, mountain ranges are now visible because the smog has lifted, due to the lack of emissions from cars, power plants and factories. The water in the famed canals of Venice has typically been murky from pollution and overcrowding from tourism, but now due to all the shutdowns, the water is now crystal clear, so much so that people can see the fish swimming in them. To quote this Chronicles passage, it seems that the world is enjoying its first Sabbath in a long time.

In Leviticus 25, God commanded the Israelites that every seven years they were to take a Sabbath year and refrain from their normal agriculture work and not sow seeds or prune their vineyards. They were to just leave the land alone and let it rest. At the end of 2 Chronicles, we see the complete decline of God’s people as Judah is forced into exile in Babylon, and the author says it was a Sabbath for the land; it then became desolate. The implication here seems to be that the Israelites had not been practicing the Sabbath year for a long time and in some sense, God was forcing their hands and giving the land a rest.

While we recognize how difficult and trying these times are in this global pandemic, at the same time, I think we can recognize that there is something that God wants to do in us and our world. In our formerly normal lives, we all carried on with the usual: work, school and family affairs. But in between all of that, we packed in social clubs, workshops, workouts, eating out, vacations, shopping, social media, Youtube and Netflix (just to name a few). It feels like the goal of our lives was to fill every moment with something, to be busier, more educated, more entertained, more everything. One of the last things on our minds was taking a Sabbath. Sure we took days off or “mental health” days, but even then, we usually rested for the sake of being recharged to do more!

But now, perhaps God is forcing our hands, as most of us in some way or another have been compelled to put our normal, busy lives on hold. I believe that God wants to remind us to not make our lives about more achievement or more progress but to trust him by resting from our work. The environment is enjoying the rest with cleaner air and clearer water and skies, and we all the more are meant to enjoy this rest since, as Jesus says, the Sabbath was made for man. Let us then enjoy this rest that God has given us, and let us witness His work in our lives.

Prayer: Jesus, we surrender our lives to you in this season. It’s hard to not work and achieve as we once did before, but all the more, may we rest from our work and trust in Yours. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 43

Lunch Bible Study

John 6:11-15: Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Questions to Consider

What good work was Jesus doing in this passage?
What would you do after performing such an amazing feat? How do you typically feel after a great accomplishment?
What might have happened if Jesus stayed with the crowd? Why did he withdraw instead?

Notes

Jesus was feeding the five thousand miraculously with the five loaves of bread and two fish.
Personal reflection question. I think many of us feel a “high” of some sort after we accomplish something. Most of us in Jesus’ place would have stayed for the adulation and adoration of the crowd. We’d use this opportunity to be congratulated and affirmed.
It says here that they may have taken Jesus and forced him to be king. Jesus withdrew because he was not meant to be a king like other earthly authorities. Also, Jesus withdrew because he was not defined by his work or accomplishment or by how much the crowds loved him. He could rest from his work because that work was not all he was about.

Evening Reflection

In this season, I believe God wants us to reconsider what or who defines our lives. In the midst of our busy lives, we can so easily let ourselves be designed by our work or accomplishments, but now is one of the best opportunities to rest from our work and to trust God to show us who we are. Let us close this day by surrendering our lives and our work to Him; let us seek rest for our busy souls.

July 1, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on May 8, 2020. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Always Loved”

Matthew 3:16-17

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

When I learned that shelter-in-place would go into effect, one of the first things I did was make a to-do list. I wrote down chores and hobbies that I “didn’t have time” for before. It turns out that having time was not the problem. Six weeks later, the bulk of what I’d hoped to achieve remains untouched. Instead, I have slept a record amount and watched more TV in several weeks than I did in the last several years. Subsequently, one of my most difficult challenges became processing the deep sense of guilt and shame I’d acquired for wasting this time.

In other seasons, I pride myself on being productive and efficient. As time passed and I felt hopelessly behind with all the things I’d wanted to achieve, I began condemning myself: Staying indoors was a golden opportunity, but I had squandered the gift. Friends challenged whether my own standards of productivity had enslaved me to a vision incompatible with the freedom God gives. I was reminded of this story from Jesus’s life explained through Peter Scazzero’s Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. He writes, “We are given a snapshot of Jesus’ understanding of who He is. Heaven opens. The Spirit descends like a dove. And Jesus’ Father speaks audibly: ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased’ (Matt. 3:17). In other words: ‘You are lovable. You are good. It is so good that you exist.’ Jesus has yet to perform miracles or die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Nonetheless, He receives an experiential affirmation that He is deeply loved by His Heavenly Father for who He is.”

Could it be that we are loved even before we do a single thing? Many of us find His acceptance and unconditional love too good to be true; as a result, seasons like these burden us with guilt and shame that we aren’t better. For those who can relate to the disappointment of a seemingly fallow season, I invite you to come back to the Father. He loves you. He loves you beyond what you can do for Him. He will free you from the chains of productivity and help you believe in the easy yoke of His love once again.

God is neither surprised nor derailed by what we have (and haven’t) made of this time, so I urge you not to let it drive a wedge between you and the Father. God does not need our productivity to accomplish His work in the world, but He does want our hearts and our trust in His promises. So today, let’s come to Him, surrender the fruits of this time, and taste the freedom that comes from His unfailing love for His children.

Prayer: Father, I am thankful that I belong to You. You are a good, endlessly good, Father. I confess that I still try to earn Your affection and praise by being useful. Teach me to trust in Your amazing and unconditional love once more. I want to be free in Your love! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 42

Lunch Break Study

Luke 15:18-24 “‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Questions to Consider

What is the younger son’s plan to come back to his father? What does this tell us about his understanding of his father?
What is the father’s response like to his son? What does this tell us about God?
Reflect on this passage and put yourself in the younger son’s shoes. If this was your experience, how would you accept the father’s love? In the context of yourself and God, how readily do you accept His love, forgiveness, and restoration?

Notes

The younger son has several methods to try and win back his father. He plans to come back to his father humbled and address all his misdeeds and regrettable actions. He also plans to make himself useful and become a hired servant to earn his keep. The son’s impression of the father is that the father will find it difficult to forgive him, and that perhaps the father’s favor can be curried with usefulness.
The father’s response to the son is such: he has been yearning for the son all this while as he seems him a long way off (v.20); he is filled with compassion (v.20); he hurriedly goes to restore his son with a public display of affection (v.20). Furthermore, the father not only welcomes him back home but immediately restores him to a place of honor and belonging in his household once more. This is an unexpected turn for us, as the father has forgiven all the transgressions quickly, and the father did not hesitate to embrace his wayward son. God’s love is like this – always beckoning towards us, always eager to bring us home, always ready to restore.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to think about today’s topic. How do you feel about accepting God’s love? Are you more freed from guilt and shame? Let’s ask Him to continue to reassure us of His love and make it more of our reality for the days to come.