October 30, Friday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), is an updated version of his blog first posted on February 7, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“COVID-19 Proves that There is No God!” Really?

Psalm 14:1-3

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Soon, some atheists will proclaim that the COVID-19 pandemic, a hitherto unforeseen catastrophe of biblical proportions, proves that there is no God. And that is the sort of argument Richard Dawkins makes in his bestselling book, The God Delusion (2006): “The existence of evil, especially natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and tsunamis, counts strongly against the likelihood that God exists” (p. 135). In fact, the authoritative Oxford Companion to Philosophy cites the problem of evil as “the most powerful objection to traditional theism.”

The New Atheist Dawkins, who has written several books to refute what many Bible-believing Christians uphold, is no fool, for he taught biology at Oxford for a long time. But by virtue of rejecting God, he opened the floodgates for evil to inundate the world. Recall what Fyodor Dostoevsky, the famed Russian novelist, once said: “If there is no God, everything is permitted.” Being aware of this, Dawkins raises the question, “What matters is whether atheism systematically influences people to do bad things.”

And it is at this point that Dawkins, a very smart person according to the standards of the world, makes a foolish response: “There isn’t the smallest evidence that it does” (i.e., atheists do bad things). What? Don’t Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, three of the most notorious atheists in the twentieth century, qualify as evidence? Of course, atheists aren’t all mass murderers, but as Nietzsche (of the “God is dead” fame) noted, once God is tossed out, so should the “delusion of morality,” which makes it that much easier to do the unthinkable! Yes, as Dostoevsky asserted, if there is no God, then there is no moral restraint to rein us in from doing whatever we want. Consider what Robert Tulloch, a reader of Nietzsche who killed two Dartmouth professors in 2001, said: “I was especially impressed with the idea that, without God, there were no absolute moral values. A powerful individual could decide what was right, including murder, and do it” (Ramsland).

Certainly, not every believer in God acts like an angel. Neither is belief in the God of the Bible sufficient to transform us into a virtuous and moral person; but, don’t be foolish, it is necessary as the centerpiece of a virtuous life. A question for us: Do your actions indicate that you believe in God? In many ways, COVID-19 has shown our true colors. (Are you listening, toilet paper hoarders and price gougers?) In view of that, let’s be mindful of Hebrews 12:14b, which says, “Be holy [i.e., be different from the world]; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Prayer: Father, I confess that I take You and my faith for granted. But with so many people in this world who refuse to acknowledge You, it’s a privilege that I was given the gift of faith to believe in You. Thank You LORD! Remind me daily to live out that faith in such a way that others would want You! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 1:18-20: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Questions to Consider

1. Some claim there’s lack of evidence to believe in God, but what does the Bible say about that (Rom. 1:18 20; Ps. 19:1-4)?

2. What is additional evidence for God’s existence that the Scripture presents (Rom. 2:14-5, 1:32; Matt. 7:9-11)?

3. What is one reason why some people reject God’s existence (Jn. 3:19-20; Acts 19:23-7)?

Notes

1. “The heavens declare the glory of God” means that God’s existence is self-evident at least in two ways. First, the teleological argument posits that the fine-tuning of the universe (for intelligent life) or biological complexity (of cells) point to a designer (a.k.a., God). Second, the cosmological argument posts that, (a) everything that begins to exist has a cause, (b) the universe began to exist, (c) therefore, the universe has a cause.

2. Rom. 2:15 says that the requirements of the law are written in the hearts of all men. Thus, an evil person knows how to give good gifts to his children. The existence of conventional morality in all cultures (e.g., some aspects of the Confucius ethics and the Laws of Hammurabi) point to the same source: God.

3. For some, they reject God behind some intellectual arguments, but the true reason is a very personal one: They don’t want to be under someone’s rule where their pleasure and profit would be hampered with; also, they don’t want to admit that they have done wrong.

Evening Reflection

So how was your day today? We don’t believe in God’s existence simply because it is the most logical view. Some of us may have begun that way but as we experience His goodness in our lives, our belief in Him becomes more personal. Reflect on how God has been so good to you.

October 29, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on May 14, 2020. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why We Struggle with Resting”

Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The pandemic has provided us with what we might call a forced sabbatical—a chance to slow down, catch our breath, and finally rest. This is a great opportunity since we haven’t found much time to recuperate while living in a culture of busyness and packed schedules. However, one thing I’ve come to realize is that rest takes hard work; it’s not as easy as one might think. You see, our culture does not understand the complexities of rest. It sees rest simply as the cessation of activity. Rest is equated with entertainment, travel, and simply finding new experiences. But I would venture to say that these are at best either momentary distractions that make us feel better for a moment, or ways to medicate and distract ourselves from the exhaustion and difficulties of life. The proof is in the fact that many of us still find ourselves tired even after going on vacation or entertaining ourselves.

It seems to me that the true source of our weariness is this inner struggle to feel good enough. There is a deep soul level striving to prove ourselves as worthy and lovable. And this produces within us a restlessness that keeps us constantly striving even when we’re not working. Have you noticed people who have obsessive work ethics? Many of them are driven by the fear that if they don’t succeed, it will undermine their sense of identity and value. For this reason, even while attempting to rest, their soul is still hard at work—trying to secure their worth. We all do this in various ways, whether with our relationships, careers, or reputation. We try to rest but it’s hard for our hearts to be still. We are filled with anxiety and need. Entertainment and vacations might provide a momentary reprieve from the anxiety, but it doesn’t give us the true rest we’re longing for. We can only experience true rest when that deep soul level striving to be good enough has been dealt with. What we actually need is what Jesus calls “rest for our souls.”

In today’s passage, Jesus provides the means by which to find rest from our deep inner striving. Prior to this passage, Jesus has been indicting the Jewish leadership for placing a heavy yoke on the people of Israel. A yoke that calls them to meet the impossible standards of the law in order to be good enough before God- a similar struggle that we all wrestle with in our attempt to meet the standards of our career, relationships, and reputation. However, Jesus calls those who are tired and weary, and offers them a yoke that is easy and light. It is light because He would take our failures, our shortcomings, and our inability to meet the requirements of the law to the cross on our behalf and make us good enough through His righteousness and sacrifice. For this reason, we will only find true rest if we surrender our inner soul striving to be good enough on our own and take up the yoke of Jesus and find our “good enough” in Him alone.

Prayer: Father, I confess that I am weary and tired from everything that is going on. Everything from the pandemic to my own sense of insecurity and feeling not good enough. I surrender that before You and ask that You would help me to find my value, worth, and identity in the work of your Son Jesus Christ! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 3:2-11: Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Where did Paul’s sense of righteousness come from prior to meeting Christ?
  2. Where does Paul gain his sense of righteousness (a sense that he’s good enough) and why does it depend on faith?
  3. Where do you place your own confidence?

Notes

  1. Paul makes a list of his achievements in v.3-6 that he has done before coming to Christ. In a way, he was the model Jew, who fulfilled much of the law and was passionate about what he thought God was about. He had status as one of the elites as a Pharisee.
  2. He counts all the things he has achieved as rubbish in comparison to the righteousness given to him by Jesus. It depends on faith because it’s not something he can earn by working harder or doing more, but can only be received in surrendering his prior confidence for a confidence rooted in the work of Jesus.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Take some time and reflect on where you find your sense of value, worth, and identity. If it’s not in Jesus, take some time to surrender those things up to God and ask Him to help you find your confidence and security in Christ alone.

October 28, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 27, 2020. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Holy Discontentment”

Hebrews 12:25-29

See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

To my surprise, the pervasive sentiment I’m noticing in myself in this season is discontentment. And when I talk to others, I sense discontentment in them as well (even though some describe it as boredom). The luxury of routine and ample provision can leave us thinking, “There must be more than this!” Others express it as frustration with the brokenness we sense in ourselves and the world. Still others express it as confusion and uncertainty about our purpose, worth, and life path. And while I imagine some of these feelings were present before this pandemic, they seem harder to ignore nowadays.

God’s promise in every situation is to work for our good (Romans 8:28). And I believe that God, in grace and mercy, is entering into our present mess to shake everything that can be shaken so that what is unshakable remains. We have a profound opportunity in this moment to contend with what is broken (in ourselves, relationships, community, society, etc.), bring it to God, and begin to imagine something new and unshakable.

As the world shuts down and the effects radiate throughout our lives, our illusion of control is shaken. As the behaviors of each person pose a palpable threat to the lives of others, the lie of independence is shaken. As our present systems continue to fall short of our collective needs (to put it mildly), we are invited to question our social structures as they are utterly shaken. As our jobs change (in fact, no jobs for many), we’re trapped in the house; vacations are cancelled and weddings are put on hold. However, as our plans are interrupted and life as we know it quivers, God is inviting us to STOP and take note of all that’s being shaken.

I suspect this is the source of much of our discontentment. In the face of a world falling apart, we are sensing in ourselves a hunger for that which is unshakable, a hunger for the Kingdom of God. As we move forward from here, our world won’t be the same. And that may seem scary, and our impulse may be to fight to preserve and revert, but we have to remember that the world is broken (and so are we) and God’s whole Kingdom project is not one of preservation but of transformation.

The longer we sit in this moment with God and one another, I pray our discontent with business as usual grows. I pray that we begin to cry, “I want a new world!” Or, better yet, “I want to join God in making a new world.” And as we do so, may we rejoice and give thanks to our God who has already promised, “I am making everything new! …these words are trustworthy and true” (Revelation 21:5).

Prayer: Sovereign God, help me to remember that I am where I am and that I do what I do because of your sovereign plan. Open my eyes so that I can join You in the remaking of this world. Help me to partner with you in the Kingdom work You have for me to do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Micah 6:6-8: With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Question to Consider

  1. In verse 8, the prophet explains what God requires of God’s people. What are those requirements? How do they reveal God’s heart and desire for us?
  2. The prophet compares what God actually requires (v. 8) with the religious rituals God’s people chose to offer God instead (vv.6-7). How do you find yourself falling into the trap of offering rituals over relationship?
  3. What would it mean for you to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God in your present context? What is at least one practical way you can live out this verse this week?

Notes

  1. God requires that God’s people: (1) act justly (doing what’s right and fair and good in our relationships with one another), (2) love mercy (exercising kindness in our dealings with one another), (3) walk humbly with God (leaning into our need for and dependence upon God at every step). God’s heart and desire is for relationship—the relationship we have with God and the relationships we have with one another. This is what’s important to God—just and merciful relationships over religious rituals.
  2. While we don’t practice the same religious rituals, the original audience practiced (those listed in the verses), we certainly have our own versions of religiosity. What are the things you can fall into by routine without actually engaging your heart in loving (just and merciful) relationship with God and others?
  3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Do you sense things being shaken in your life or in the world around you in this season? In what specific ways? How have you responded? How might God be inviting you into holy discontentment and deeper hunger for the Kingdom of God?

October 27, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church East Bay), was originally posted on March 21, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Most Secure Foundation”

Psalm 26:8-12 (ESV)

O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. 9Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

One thing that has been made very clear amid the pandemic is this: The most secure foundation upon which we can build our lives is not our careers or being fit; rather, it’s God alone and the worship of Him. The psalmist expresses his genuine love for worship as a reason why his fate should not be the same as that of the wicked.

As God’s creation, we are made for one glorious purpose, which is to worship Him with our entire being. Sin has robbed us of that joy, and as a result, worshiping of idols has taken the place of the true worship of God. It is impossible for man to exist apart from worship; it is just a matter of what we decide to bow our lives to. John Calvin called the human mind a factory of idols because of our tendency to worship everything else but the One who came to save us. As said at the outset, money, career, relationships, and our own ambitions are poor substitutes for the one true God. Just as the classic hymn proclaims, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”, this psalm challenges us to place our feet on the unshakeable ground of a life devoted to Christ alone. If that’s your positive take away from the pandemic, then, you are more ready today than before to faithfully complete your journey on earth.

So, spend a few moments to worship God this morning. Declare to Him your desire to be in his presence and to make Christ the only object of your worship. (A couple of songs I would recommend are “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townsend and “Cornerstone” by Hillsong.)

Prayer: Lord, I confess that my heart can be pulled in a million directions. Though I want to love you with all my heart, mind, and soul, it is difficult to keep my spiritual focus amid my hectic life. Help me to see that building my life on anything less than the rock of Christ, is to invite disaster into my life. May You be enthroned in the highest place of my heart as I give You my worship. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV): “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to build our house on the rock?
  2. How will our lives be tested and judged by God? (1 Corinthians 3:13)
  3. What is the connection between our obedience to God’s word and our love for Him? (John 14:15)

Notes

  1. It is important to remember that the Christian faith is not about responding to the call of Christ with a short flurry of activity, but it is about building a foundation of lifelong commitment and persevering obedience. These things will sustain your spiritual life, as the storms of life will come, soon or later.
  2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches that all our lives will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Whatever we have built on the foundation of Christ, whether it be gold, silver, hay, or straw, will determine the eternal reward of the works we have done on earth. (1 Cor. 13:4).
  3. The description of love in the Bible is never based on sentiment alone. Love is always ascribed to an action and the love of Christ cannot be divorced from our obedience to his commandments. In fact, the great test of love is our willingness to obey all that He has commanded us to do.

Evening Reflection

As this day ends, reflect the way that you have spent today. Were you wise with your time, money, and words? Pray for God’s help in numbering the days you have been given. In these tumultuous and unprecedented times, remember that there is only one thing that remains constant, Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Build your lives on that truth.

October 26, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was originally posted on June 30, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Deposit”

1 Timothy 6:20-21

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ 21for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.”

For guys who like to play basketball, it matters the kind of ball that is used. Back in graduate school, with a little effort, I was able to obtain for myself a decent leather indoor basketball. I cherished and used it sparingly. So when a friend asked to borrow it, I reluctantly gave it to him, thinking it would be returned quickly. But days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, until I finally received it back. Disappointingly, it was no longer in the same condition, which rather disappointed me.

By using the word “deposit,” Paul is speaking to the solemn obligation that Timothy had to keep something of value in safe keeping, which was to be returned at another time. The deposit here that is “on loan” was not just to Timothy, but to the entire church. And this deposit is no other than the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ, which we are called to return in mint condition to the Lord on the Last Day.

This isn’t always easy given our time and culture. Because we do not seek to live in conflict with the people around us, we are always tempted to make the gospel inoffensive, for the sake of peace. But Paul clearly says that the gospel is a “stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 3:6), suggesting that if we preach and live out the true gospel message, the culture around us will inevitably be at odds with us.

How willing are you to be at odds with your culture? Are you willing to live by standards that are foreign to the world? When was the last time you took an unpopular stance because it was more consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Consider if the deposit has been well entrusted to you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for entrusting me with the gospel message. Help me to stand up to falsehood and for the truth. Give me boldness and courage to live out my faith in my workplace, at home, and among my friends. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:12-14: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What comes first, being chosen or having compassion, kindness, meekness, etc.?
  2. On what basis should we forgive other people?
  3. What binds all of the godly characteristics together? Would you say that you have made love the primary goal of your life?

Notes

  1. We are always chosen first. This shows us that our relationship is based on grace.
  2. We ought to forgive those who hurt us because God first forgave us.
  3. Love is what binds us together. Apart from making love our primary goal, our lives are of little significance.

Evening Reflection

How is your love life with the Lord going? Would you say that your day with the Lord was full of love?

October 25, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, was originally posted on September 7, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Don’t Just Hold Down the Fort”

Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

“Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. 17I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.”

I had just finished sweeping and mopping the floors, but do you know what happened within two hours? That’s right, dinner, and really the second worst dinner to have after having cleaned your floors: spaghetti (the worst dinner is Korean/Chinese spaghetti, cha-chang-myun). Sometimes, I wonder if cleaning the house is meaningless (or vanity). I could add a verse to Ecclesiastes, “I toil for hours to clean my house and within minutes rowdy children come and mess it up; this too is meaningless.”

But as I looked at all the tomato sauce stains covering an otherwise spotless floor, the realization hit me: in the Christian life, you often have to fight battles that cannot possibly be won. If you are unwilling to do this, then you will probably not do any good either. For example, do you think that Christians (or anyone else) will be able to end poverty, abuse, sex-trafficking, or any of many ills of society? No, because in this world, there will always be evil people doing evil deeds. But nonetheless, we are called to preach the good news, free the prisoners, recover sight for the blind, etc. (Luke 4:18).

We, as followers of Christ, must not mistake a falling and corrupting society for no progress whatsoever. On the macro-level, I would agree that our world is getting worse, but on the micro-level, people are being saved, slaves are being freed, people are turning to Christ, and the kingdom is advancing. The work of Christians does indeed matter to the lives that are being touched by them. So to complete the earlier thought, sure my house may feel gross after the kids spill sauce, but how much worse would it be if I totally gave up cleaning? What would our world look like if God’s people stopped trying to “hold down the fort” until he returned?

Truthfully, Ecclesiastes is a difficult book to teach from because it strikes a chord with how most of us have felt at one time or another: “What is the point?” Yes, as this passage points out, there is wickedness all around, but do you believe that God put you here for a purpose? What is that purpose? One day, as Christ returns to make things right, will he reward you for winning a battle that could not be won?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me not to give up being an instrument of Your righteousness in this sin-tainted world. When I feel discouraged by how much more is left to do, remind me that all things are under Your control. Thank You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 8

October 24, Saturday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was originally posted on March 24, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Amazing Faith of Atheists”

Hebrews 11:6b

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Many years ago, I met a university professor at his home, quite drunk at the time, at the urging of a student from my church who was concerned about his mental health. Distraught by loneliness after his divorce and by backstabbing at work, he was deeply despondent.

As we spoke, I quickly learned that his father was a pastor in the same denomination in which I had been ordained and that he had grown up in the Christian faith. Somewhere along the way, however, this Doctor of Music lost confidence in the Bible because he became convinced that science had disproved it and exposed it as nothing more than myth. For instance, he insisted that the Big Bang proved that the creation account was untrue. In response, I asked him, “Where did the very ‘stuff’ (for example, the singularity, infinite density, or the physical laws themselves) from which the Big Bang emerged come from? How did inorganic matter suddenly become self-replicating molecules?” The professor replied, “That’s one problem science hasn’t solved.” I responded, “That’s one problem it will never solve.” Then he muttered to himself, “But we all have to be honest with ourselves and with our intellect, even if what we believe leads to despair. I must believe it because it is the truth.” The Bible says that the truth will set you free (John 8:32), but the “truth” embraced by Nietzsche and by this professor led instead to despair and, ultimately, mental collapse.

Human beings are created in such a way that without hope and purpose, life loses much of its meaning. The Christian belief that an infinite, personal God created each of us individually provides both hope and purpose. Christians and atheists alike have one thing in common: both begin their inquiry with certain faith commitments.

In the movie A Beautiful Mind, John Nash, the brilliant mathematician who won the Nobel Prize in Economics, is about to propose to his girlfriend Alicia. Presumably because of Nash’s scientific mindset, he asks her for evidence or proof of love. She responds by asking, “How big is the universe?” Nash answers, “Infinite.” When Alicia asks, “How do you know that?” Nash confidently replies, “Because all the verifiable data indicate it.” However, when she follows up with, “Have you seen it with your own eyes?” Nash pauses briefly and admits, “No. I simply believe it.”

Like Nash in the movie, Christians readily admit that their starting point is faith in God’s existence, a faith supported by plausible evidence (Ps. 19:1-4). What many atheists do not wish to admit is that statements such as “God does not exist” and “the universe has no beginning” also rest upon faith commitments. Given those alternatives, I will choose the one that offers hope and purpose rather than the one that leads to despair and meaninglessness. Let this truth encourage you today. Worship the Lord more passionately and show greater care for others in His honor.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of faith. Thank You that You have enabled me to believe that which the so-called “smart” people of the world find it beneath their intellect. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matt. 11:25). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 6-7

October 23, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on September 26, 2014, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Dwell Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“No More Putting My Foot in My Mouth”

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 (NIV 84)

Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. 13At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—14and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming—who can tell him what will happen after him?

When I was in college, I knew one brave sister who decided to give up sarcasm for Lent. I thought that this was a great idea, so I considered giving it a shot myself. But as I thought more about it, I realized how impossible this would be. To endeavor for 40+ days not to mock nor make any witty disparaging comments to anyone was too great a task for me, so I concluded that it would be easier not to speak for 40 days (but I didn’t do either one).

Solomon would likely have called someone like me a “fool,” but I don’t think I’m the only one, for James 3:8 says, “No human being can tame the tongue.” Maybe you don’t have a problem with sarcasm, but we all have said things that we regret; words that have offended or stumbled others. And what do we typically do when we’ve said something that we know we shouldn’t have said? We “multiply our words” and try to justify ourselves, digging our graves a little deeper. We are all fools when it comes to controlling our words.

James tells us, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). This is a path to wisdom. The wise person listens first, learning and understanding what others are saying; and slow to speak, meaning they take time to process their thoughts and speak well. Also, he doesn’t speak with many words but with a few thoughtful words. Solomon tells us, “Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious” (v. 12). While we will all struggle with the foolishness of our words, let us strive to be like the wise man and speak words of grace.

Prayer: Father, may the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You. We pray that You will set us free from the folly of our own lips. Give us the wisdom to speak words of grace and love towards others. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:14-16: Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is it about grumbling or disputing that prevents us from being blameless and innocent?
  2. Why do we shine as lights in the world when we refrain from grumbling?
  3. How can you use your words to shine like lights in a dark world this day?

Notes

  1. Grumbling or complaining ultimately reveals a heart of discontentment towards God and his rule over our lives. It’s a declaration that we know better than God, and that is, of course, a sin of pride.
  2. If we “do all things without grumbling or disputing,” then we would shine brightly in the world since most people are constantly grumbling and complaining, dissatisfied with everything. (Just browse through some reviews on Yelp to see how dissatisfied and entitled people feel.) But if we as Christians can refrain from a heart and mouth of grumbling, we will stand out as people of joy, content with what we have and who we are in Jesus Christ.
  3. Consider how you can encourage someone today with your words.

Evening Reflection

Think about how you used your words today. Were you encouraging people with words of grace? Or did words of grumbling and complaining come from you? Take some time to reflect on your words and what it shows about your heart and relationship with God. Pray for wisdom and joy to overflow to the words you speak.

October 22, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on December 11, 2013, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato in Japan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Posture During Uncertain Times”

Psalm 125:1-5

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 3For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!

We have known all too well that we live in a rapidly changing world where technology, culture, and even values are changing at a dizzying pace. What none of us really knew is how invisible viruses can greatly disrupt our personal lives just as swiftly: our finances, relationships, and health, to name a few. In the midst of such uncertainty, who cannot be “moved,” that is, ready to give up on God? But those who trust in the Lord will not be moved!

We often try to find stability in money, power, and acceptance by others, but these things are shaky ground. Now, that is a gross understatement in view of all that has happened just in the past few months. Entrusting ourselves to them will only lead to disappointment and even despair, day to day, hour to hour. Only God and our faith in His goodness are a firm foundation, even if we don’t always understand what He is doing in our lives.

Why should we trust this God? Because He is the One who is near, who is faithful, who protects His people; He is holy and just who shuns evil.

Take a moment to meditate on the One who remains constant. Reflect on His character and His promises that remain the same even though everything else is continually changing.

Prayer: Father, You are my rock. You alone are ever faithful, unchanging in Your power, goodness, and love. Thank You for being my firm foundation in the midst of a world that is so unstable. Enable me to entrust myself to You today. May my joy, freedom, purpose, and life be firmly fixed regardless of my circumstances because of Your Son. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1:1-4: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the path to blessings?
  2. Who is like a planted tree?
  3. What are the signs of a tree planted by the streams of water?

Notes

  1. Avoiding the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of scoffers.  This may include advice given by experts that may sound humanly acceptable but are antithetical to God’s truth.
  2. The one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night, and then puts it to practice (Matt. 7:24-7).
  3. It certainly would include bearing good fruits and not withering. In the same way, those who dwell in Christ would be just as fruitful in their lives, bearing fruits such as love, peace, kindness, etc. (Gal. 5:22-3).

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day in light of the signs of a tree planted by the streams of water. Does your life reflect these kinds of fruit? As you read Acts 20, ask the Lord to help you to delight in His Word.

October 21, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church East Bay), was originally posted on March 1, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Adversary and Prayer”

Psalm 20:1-5

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob
protect you! 2May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from
Zion! 3May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt
sacrifices! Selah 4May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
5May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our
banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

Psalm 20 is the prayer of Israel for their king as he prepares to lead his armies into battle. It is a proclamation of God’s protection, salvation, and favor as their nation faces the challenge of going to war.  This passage and all of its promises can be properly applied to the New Testament believer who is called into constant and unceasing spiritual warfare.

Many times, we can forget that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of evil—led by the adversary—that are unseen. The apostle Peter puts it like this: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). Sometimes turning defeat into victory and failure into success is simply a matter of turning to God in prayer. In fact, there is no other recourse in dealing with “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12) apart from prayer.

As we live out our faith day to day, we should remember that there is an enemy that is lurking nearby but more importantly we should be mindful of a God who is willing and able to answer all of our prayers according to His plan and purpose. Prayer paves a clear path to the victorious life that we all desire. Pray with confidence for victory in areas of your life where you are struggling.

Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize that the battles in my life belong to You. You are the one who leads me to victory and helps me to prevail over situations and circumstances that seem out of my control. Teach me how to rely on Your protection and favor as I live out my faith today.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Daniel 10:13 (ESV): The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia.

Questions to Consider

  1. These are the words of the angel Gabriel to Daniel. What is the main reason for the delay to Daniel’s prayers?
  2. Who is the prince of Persia and Michael? (Daniel 11:2, 12:1)
  3. What was Daniel doing prior to the arrival of Gabriel? (Daniel 10:2-3)

Daniel lived constantly in the awareness that there is something beyond the material world. Therefore, he was able to fast from the things of the world so that he could increase his spiritual vision. As we prepare for Easter, what are some things that you can give up as preparation for the observance of Christ’s death and resurrection?

Notes

  1. Gabriel, who is one of the archangels of God, was delayed because of an on-going battle with the demonic forces of Persia where Daniel and his countrymen were being held in captivity.
  2. The Prince of Persia is not just the title of the video game series but actually the demonic principality that was in command of the region of Media-Persia (Ephesians 6:12). We see through this passage that demons can exert a wide range of influence from personal, to territorial, and even socio-politically. Michael is a ruling angel who leads the forces of God in the spiritual war that is on-going in the heavenly places.
  3. Daniel was engaged in a 21 day fast in which he kept himself from delicacies and meat and wine as an expression of mourning for the state of Jerusalem.

Evening Reflection

What prayers were answered today? Were you able to overcome a temptation to sin? Was there a chance to forgive, love, or share your faith with someone?