REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on April 6, 2020.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Is God Actually Doing?”

Acts 2:22-24, 36-39

“‘Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him . . . ³⁶Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.’ ³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ ³⁸Peter 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. ³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’”

Over the years, I’ve noticed a repeated trope in the Church (both in Scripture and in present day): Folks who identify themselves as the people of God or followers of Jesus are inclined to miss (misidentify or ignore) what God is doing in their present time. And, it’s only after the fact, when they find themselves under God’s judgment (1 Pet. 4:17) or when their descendants look back, that the error is identified (and occasionally corrected). And the few, like the prophets, who are aware of what God is doing at the time—well, things don’t end so well for them (e.g., Jer. 38:6).

In the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) we read story after story of God’s personal revelation to the descendants of Abraham, oddly coupled with their continued confusion about what God is like and who God is calling them to be. They get hung up on technicalities of the law when God is instead inviting them to build a just world (Mic. 6:8). They focus on religious rituals (Mk. 7:5-13), when God is calling for acts of love and mercy to both neighbor and stranger. They look for ways to build empires and kingdoms in the world, when God is inviting them into loving community that transcends this world. God sent numerous prophets to signal a large-scale redemptive work, and yet when Jesus came, most were confused about the nature of his ministry, of salvation, and of the Kingdom of God (Lk. 24:21). The history of the Church (our history) tells a very similar story.

We are inundated with woefully unhelpful and often irresponsible speculations about the times in which we are living, particularly within charismatic and evangelical church spaces. There is a temptation to spend more time arguing about things that are deeply subjective and nonessential and speculating about things we literally can’t know (Acts 1:7-8, Matt. 24:36), than we spend actually practicing what we already do know (Mic. 6:8; Isa. 58:6). And in so doing, I wonder if we miss what God is up to in our time and inadvertently reject an invitation to get involved (Matt. 16:2-3).

What is the nature of the redemptive work God is doing in the world? How is the Spirit that works, doing that work right now, today (in our neighborhoods or cities)? How is God inviting us to get involved?

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 1

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Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 2:14-21: Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. ¹⁵These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! ¹⁶No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:¹⁷“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. ¹⁸Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. ¹⁹I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. ²⁰The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. ²¹And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Question to Consider

1. What do you learn from these verses about what God is doing “in the last days”?  What do they teach us about the nature of the Kingdom of God and His plan for the world?
2. What is God’s ultimate mission or goal in these verses (v. 21)?
3. How do these verses speak to you (encourage and/or challenge)? How might you respond in faithfulness to God’s work in the world.

Notes

1. God’s work is Spirit-empowered and done through the Church. The Spirit of God is empowering individual believers to bring forth the Kingdom of God as they do life together in community. This is done as believers prophesy (see as God sees and speak accordingly), dream dreams (of life in the Kingdom of God) and see visions (of God’s wisdom for our present time). These verses teach us that God’s Kingdom and God’s work in the world is available to all people (vs. 17). God’s Spirit doesn’t discriminate but moves powerfully through any willing participant. The intentional naming of specific groups makes this point clear.  The mention of sons and daughters eliminates limitations based on gender. The mention of young and old eliminates limitations based on age. And the mention of servants eliminates limitations based on class or social status. All are invited into the Kingdom and all can be empowered by the Spirit to do God’s work in the world.

2. Salvation is available to all who will come because God’s goal is to save the world and redeem all of Creation.
3. Maybe you don’t feel empowered by the Holy Spirit. Maybe you’re not sure God can work through you. Maybe you’re learning for the first time that God’s Spirit can move powerfully through all people. Maybe you’ve become distracted or disconnected from God’s work in the world. Wherever you are, ask God to speak to you in light of the passage above.

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Evening Reflection

Tonight, we’ll end the day reflecting on the final segment of this passage, Acts 2:42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What do you think it means for believers to be together and have everything in common? What, if anything, keeps you from this kind of radical togetherness? How can you live out the heart of these verses in your present context?

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time blog, written by Pastor Young Kim of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia, was originally posted on June 4, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Guard Your Heart”

Proverbs 4:23-25, 27 (NIV 84)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

We have all seen properties guarded by a secure fence; that’s how we ought to guard our hearts. Once the heart is breached, all moral and spiritual pollutants from the world will enter our thoughts to our demise.  

So, with what should we guard the heart? Guard it with God’s word (Eph. 6:17); guard it with prayer (Eph. 6:18); guard it from bitterness (Heb. 12:15); guard it from selfishness (Phil. 2:3). Above all, keep it away from hopelessness (Prov. 13:12). 

But remember this—even if you failed to guard it and the heart is wounded, you can find forgiveness and healing in Jesus!!!

Prayer: Jesus, I am weak, so I give you my heart.  Let the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 16

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time blog, written by Pastor Sam Lee of Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was originally posted on July 20, 2014

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Being Holy”

1 Peter 2:1-2

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ²Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, ³now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

We, as Christians, have a wrong conception of what holiness is. Many feels that a holy life is something we grudgingly live in order to please a demanding God, taking away pleasures in life.  Our negative attitude towards holiness is partly due to inadvertently glorifying sin (e.g., in our entertainment choices) instead of God. For instance, during my high school days, I would hear so many testimonies of how they used to party, get drunk, do drugs, and live immoral lives. They would go into great details of their life of debauchery with lots of excitement, and at the very end, they would squeeze in how Christ came into their lives; and now, their changed lives merely consist of Bible studies, prayer meetings, and Sunday services.

Yet Peter tells us that holiness is not about taking away things, but something good that is added to our lives. It can be compared to tasty milk that is given to a newborn baby. In a similar way, a spiritual newborn is given pure spiritual milk, consisting of, among other things, God’s word and the Holy Spirit that can help us to be separated from the values of the world (a.k.a., holiness).

Now, my third daughter doesn’t understand why we, as parents, don’t allow her to eat candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Though she might misunderstand our intentions, our reason is simple: because we love her, we want to give our daughter something better to eat; something that will make her healthy and give her strength as well as to make her grow. 

And our God feels the same way. If we get rid of “all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind,” that is, things that hurt us, the Lord has room now to give us something so much better. As we let go of those things that are not good for us, God fills our lives abundantly with far greater things (joy, peace, a clear conscience and purpose, to name a few). So today, let’s clear out the junk in our hearts so that God can bless us with his precious things!

Prayer: Dear God, help me to be holy by adding goodness and kindness to my faith. Lord, embolden me to get rid of junks out of my heart, such as bitterness and resentment, but choose love and forgiveness. Please help me because I cannot do it on my own. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 14-15

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was originally posted on May 23, 2014.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Divisiveness in the Church”

Titus 3:10-11

Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Although a common theme in the NT is unity (both Jesus and Paul prayed for unity), a weapon of choice that can effortlessly undermine unity is gossip. The author of Proverbs noticed that gossip served itself on a platter and was eaten as delicious morsels by its participants (Prov. 18:8), yet all gossip creates a culture of distrust, suspicion, doubt, and ultimately disunity.

Unfortunately, a divisive person is not easy to recognize in the church. The person may appear to carry the best intentions as he/she shares some “constructive criticism” about the church, the small group, the worship team, or the pastoral staff. The listeners begin to take notice of what once seemed to be trivial matters but has somehow quickly escalated into a matter of urgency and great discontentment. What was once a small church fighting for unity, a small group gaining momentum, or a worship team working harmoniously, is now a combative group—mean towards one another or at best stand-offish so that they merely put up with one another.

A divisive person is not to be tolerated in the church. His/her attacks are often taken in the shifting shadows where it is not easy to catch them in the act. Paul knows that the gospel is at stake if the church becomes fractured by divisive and toxic conversations that tear down rather than build up. The divisive person must be identified and warned sternly once, then a second time.

Do you sometimes try a little too hard to justify your discontentment with your church? Do you, therefore, find yourself talking with anyone who is willing to listen to your complaint while not saying hardly anything to the leaders? You may say things like, “I brought up this matter to see if my thinking is off; what do you think? It could be that you are trying to get that person to your side. The best thing to do is to speak to the leaders of the church directly. In fact, in any relationship, the direct approach is always the best. Try it today.

Prayer: Dear God, use my tongue to build up and edify the church rather than divide and hurt the church. Today, I pray for the leadership of my church asking that You will bless them and their families. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 13

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Luke 9:46-48: An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

Questions to Consider 

1. What does this potentially divisive argument among the disciples reveal about our human nature?
2. How are the disciples to cultivate authentic humility as servants of God’s Kingdom?
3. In what ways do you make deliberate attempts to cultivate humility as God’s servants? Do you deliberately spend time with those with the “least” status?

Notes

1. Luke addresses the issue of status. The synonym of “status” for most people is “power,” and its antonym is “lowliness.” But Jesus calls us away from pursuing status and power. Viewed spiritually, the opposite of status is humility. Such an attitude is fundamental for the disciple. There is an intense irony here: as Jesus discusses the Son of Man’s approaching rejection, the disciples are consumed by their own discipleship rankings.
2. Jesus points to a child, a person with little status in the ancient world. Jesus does not view children as insignificant. For him every person counts. Bringing the child to his side, Jesus says, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Jesus’ point is that everyone, even the lowest person on the ladder, is important. Receiving a child is like receiving God.

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Evening Reflection

Were you able to bless, encourage, and edify others with the use of your tongue today?  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on April 18, 2013.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Power of Tongue”

Psalm 34:11-13

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. ¹²Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, ¹³keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

As New Testament Christians brought up on the concepts of God’s grace and love, it is sometimes difficult for us to understand what it means to fear the Lord. I remember the very first time I shared my testimony, I said something like this: “How can I fear God when I know that He loves me!”

We are not meant to be afraid of God, but rather God should inspire reverential awe: a fervent desire to live according to his will and pleasure. Reverential awe affects every part of the way we live, and according to the Psalmist, one clear manifestation of this fear is how we use our tongues and our lips. In other words, the words we speak. We know this instinctively: there are words that we would never use in front of our parents. How much more so should the words we speak give honor to God who is always with us!

We give glory to God when we praise him with words of reverence and praise. But we also give glory to God when we avoid speaking words that bring him disgrace.

Is our reverential awe for God evident in the ways we use our words? Today, let us commit to considering every word through the filter of worship before we speak. Ask the Holy Spirit for help so that we can fear God with our lips.

Prayer: Father, help me to understand once again how mighty and incredible you are. Help me to remember that you are always with me! May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 12   

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Lunch Break Study

Read James 3:2-11 (NIV): We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. ³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ⁷All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, ⁸but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. ¹¹Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Questions to Consider

1. Why does James compare our tongues to the bits put into mouths of horses or the rudder of a ship (vv2-6)?  In what way is the “tongue also…a fire”?
2. What does James mean that “no man can tame the tongue” (v8)?  Does this mean we have no hope to follow James’s instructions?
3. What is James’s concern in verses 9-11?  If it appears as though “fresh water and salt water is flowing from the same spring”, then what does that signify (v11)?

Notes

1. The tongue is a very small thing, and yet like a bit which controls the movements of a horse, or a rudder, which controls the direction of a large ship, the tongue is the key to controlled living. James claims that a person who is able to control his tongue is “able to keep his whole body in check.” Winning this battle is the key to winning many of our spiritual battles. How so? The tongue is much more than what we say aloud. We cannot think without formulating thoughts into words. We cannot resent without fueling the fires of resentment in words addressed to ourselves. We cannot feel sorry for ourselves without listening to the self-pitying voice. The tongue enflames our passions and lusts. Words have the potential for destruction. Churches have split because of words spoken, accusations voiced. Nations have been divided because of words. In sum, the tongue is much more than the evidence of spiritual maturity; it is also the means toward it.
2. When James says that the tongue can never be tamed, he means that we can never take our tongues for granted. We have to always be on our guard. At the same time, James says that “no human-being” can tame the tongue. However, the Holy Spirit can!
3. James is concerned that with our tongues, we praise God but also curse people who bear the image of God. He compares this to fresh water and salt water coming from the same source. There is something very wrong happening!

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Evening Reflection

Allow me to share a few more thoughts on what comes out of our tongues. 

The tongue is such a small thing, and yet, it is an important key to Godly living. This means much more than simply avoiding speaking evil or praising God (both of which are important).  When we control our tongues, we begin to discipline our minds and hearts so that we can give God praise with the totality of our being. With our tongues, we are also able to give encouragement and love to bearers of the image of God.

How did you do with controlling your tongue today? Did you have any conversations that you regret? Submit those conversations to God’s grace and ask for his help in future conversations.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on November 6, 2014, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason, along with his family, is currently serving in Japan as a missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Not Evolution, but By God’s Wisdom”

Proverbs 3:19-20

The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; [20] by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Nowadays, evolution rules: humans are byproducts of an undirected natural process without either plan or purpose. It certainly is a politically correct view but is not very wise because it is by wisdom the Lord founded the earth and established the heavens (v. 19).  

Wisdom, not random chance, brought life and order out of chaos. The wisdom of God did not just inaugurate creation, but it was active in the ancient flood and continues to sustain and shape the creative order (v. 20). The wisdom of God is interwoven into creation and even history.  

Even as I consider something as small as my own life, there are many things I don’t understand. I often wonder why things are the way they are. Why do things change so slowly? Why is my family generationally Buddhist rather than generationally Christian? Why am I so short? Ha-ha.

Our passage reminds us that there is a God who shaped the heavens and the earth and He is wise beyond our understanding. The One who created all things is the One who sustains all things and continues to shape all things.

We tend to not handle mystery very well. So when questions arise, we are tempted to spend all of our energy determining exactly what God is doing. Often, we end up finding ourselves unable to think of any explanation that satisfies us; perhaps, we doubt God can either.  

Our passage today invites us to lay these futile quests aside and simply trust God who has created us for a purpose (Eph. 2:10). Furthermore, God, who knows the stars by name, certainly knows the hearts of His children. The God of wisdom founded the earth and He is able to work all things for our good. Go to Him and entrust the many questions and mysteries of your life to His care.

Prayer: Father, there are many things that I don’t understand and I’m thankful that there is a God who does. In the midst of confusion, give me grace to hold on to the rock that is Your Son.  I know that You love me, and I trust in Your faithful care.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 11

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Job 38:4-7: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. [5] Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? [6] On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, [7] when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

Questions to Consider

1. What does our passage tell us about God?
2. What does our passage tell us about man?
3. What response should this passage elicit?  What if we add our knowledge of the cross?

Notes

1. God is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and glorious.
2. Man has a brief lifespan, finite power, and very limited knowledge.
3. The passage elicits fear and awe.  When the grace and love of God are added to this, we are compelled to both worship and trust.

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Evening Reflection

Were you able to recognize God’s wisdom in how He has shaped your life today? What questions arose in your heart about your circumstances or life today? Take these questions to the Lord.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT, written by Tina Hsu, was originally posted on September 25, 2015. Tina and her husband, Anthony, continue to serve as missionaries in East Asia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Cleaning Out Your Life”

2 Kings 23:3, 24-26 (NASB 1995)

The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. ²⁴Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. ²⁵Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

Some of us who follow a reading plan to read the Bible in one year, have had times when we had absolutely no idea what we had just read; nonetheless, we were content to mark off another 5 chapters from the reading chart. But King Josiah wasn’t like that. Upon discovering the Book of God’s Law that had been lost for a long time, he devoted himself to purifying the land of Judah of its idolatry so that Judah’s ways would conform to what was written in God’s book. He read God’s Word to the people of Judah and led them to renew their commitment to walk in the way of the Lord. The majority of this chapter (vv. 4-20) records how Josiah removed idolatrous priests from the house of the LORD, removed altars that previous kings of Judah had built, burned vessels that were for Baal and Asherah worship, and more. Josiah truly turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and certainly, with all his might.

Though Josiah knew that God was going to “remove Judah and cast off Jerusalem” (23:27) because the generations of his forefathers had forsaken God, the Book of the Law (God’s Word) led Josiah to lead the nation back to God in his lifetime. He let God’s Word, which Judah had neglected for many years, define his course of action and his leadership. Though the outcome for Judah was sealed, Josiah was instrumental in preserving covenant faithfulness for Judah in his lifetime. In this way, Josiah was successful and Scripture records, “there was no king like him…nor did any like him arise after him” (23:25). Though he had no control over Judah’s future, he glorified God by faithfully keeping a covenant relationship with God.

The Word of God provides power for endurance and faithfulness. Nothing can nourish our souls and strengthen us to do the work of the Lord than the very words of God. If reading or listening to the Word of God is lacking in your daily spiritual life, ask the Lord today to renew your thirst and devotion for His Word. 

Prayer

Dear Jesus, I desire for your commands and your Words to be near and dear to me. As your Word is able to equip me to do every good work, help me to spend time in your Word daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 10

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 4:1-4 (NASB 1995): Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Questions to consider

1. What is happening during this time in Jesus’ life and ministry?
2. What is the nature of Satan’s temptation?
3. How does Jesus’ answer minister and encourage you today?

Notes

1. This takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist baptized Jesus at the Jordan River, where Jesus revealed that He came to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15). He came to fulfill and complete what man, tainted by sin, could not do. The world fell under the power of sin because man was overcome by temptation, but Jesus has now come to face temptation and to overcome it by the Word of God.  
2. Satan’s temptations begin with “If you are the Son of God” (v. 3). Satan desires to drive a wedge between Jesus’ love relationship with the Father. He wants to deceive Jesus into using His own power and role for His own personal gain. He wants to hinder Jesus from trusting and obeying the Father’s will. 
3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Before going to bed, meditate on Psalm 119:103-104: How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time blog, written by Pastor Sam Lee of Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was originally posted on July 16, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“You Aren’t Alone”

1 Peter 1:1-2

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

Peter addresses the “exiles” scattered in different foreign lands: the people of God who have new life in Christ but feel like strangers in a land that does not understand nor embrace them. This land is a place that drains them spiritually; a place that mocks them for their values, priorities, and teachings; a place that tempts them with immorality, materialism, and selfishness. 

Peter reminds the exiles that where we dwell is not important, but who dwells in us. We who know Christ are “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.”  God knows all things, meaning He knew us even before we were born, but that also means He knows what we are going through now. This knowledge should not be treated like facts and statistics to be organized and stored, for God is not a scientist that just observes from a distance: He is a loving God, a loving Heavenly Father. When Adam and Eve sinned, bringing sin into the world and into the hearts of all human beings, God did not panic and annihilate Adam and Eve; but He had a plan. God told the devil, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He (Jesus) will crush your head, and you will strike His heel” (Gen. 3:15).  

I want to encourage you today with this: you are not alone, and He knows what you are going through. You don’t have to convince Him of all your problems, for He already knows them and has a plan to help you. This plan is the “sanctifying work of the Spirit,” and the trial is there to make you stronger. You are holding on to something which is not helping you, therefore, God is asking you to let that go and trust Him, believing that He has something better for us.

Prayer: Lord, block out all lies, noises, and temptations. In You, we can change the surroundings. In You we can overcome, instead of being overcome. Release Your victory in my life.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 9

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Questions to Consider 

1. As a citizen of the Kingdom of God, how should you respond to trials and to difficult people in your life?
2. What is one desire that you would have to let go as God’s people, knowing that our core values should not be influenced by the secular world?

Notes

1. With more patience, seeing things from an eternal perspective (that this, too, will pass); and kindness toward those who upset us.
2. For many, it is an incessant desire for more of anything that the society values as important.  But we should strive after contentment, and reject the desire to hoard things.   

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Evening Reflection

At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow. Remember, we are citizens of the most powerful kingdom! So let’s change our mindset from defeat to victory, from shame to joy, and from hiding to power and influence.

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time was written by a former staff member of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan (now Dwell Church) and was originally published on September 9, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Keeping the Faith Despite the Persecution”

Philippians 1:27-30

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

In Philippi, there was a great sense of patriotism and pride in their city, being part of the great Roman Empire. In light of that, the apostle Paul appeals to a greater membership, that is, partnership in the gospel and furthering the cause of God’s Kingdom.  

Now, apparently, the pagans in the city were persecuting the believers since Paul stated that they were going through the same suffering he had gone through even to the present moment (2 Tim 3:12). So, such encouragement coming from an individual, who kept on serving the Lord in spite of the persecution, surely would have inspired the Philippians to honor God in word and by example.  

Keep verse 27 in mind, particularly the phrase, “Manner of life”. It derives from the Greek word politeuo, which refers to the fulfillment of responsibilities as a member of a polis, a basic governmental unit of Greek society. It’s comparable to how we think of a citizen (polites) of a state or county (polis). Thus, Paul is saying that the believers ought to fulfill the responsibilities of their faith despite the persecution. 

In view of that, allow me to raise some questions. First, how does vv. 27-28 deepen your understanding of fellowship? In what ways can you help fellow believers to stand firm in their faith? Second, are you facing opposition as you share your faith? Ask that the Lord would grant you faith and strength to be bold and faithful. Third, how aware are you of the persecution Christians are experiencing internationally? Take some steps to learn more about our brothers and sisters who are suffering for the gospel. Remember, worship is more than just singing songs; it’s an outflow of one’s life. So, how can you align your life so that it is clear that what you do, you do “for the sake of Christ”? (v.29)

Prayer: Tonight, agree and decree that He will be God Almighty in your life!!

“Lord, as I rest in your great love, Almighty God, I am transformed to break strongholds of guilt, shame, and inferiority. In Your strength, I defeat the oppressor who offers fear, condemnation, and self-hatred. As I submit to You, I can live for your glory alone. I will rise up to see Your victorious view. When the enemy surrounds me with his frightening army, I will look to You, Almighty God, and see through Your lens. I will see Your magnificent angels, your horses, and chariots of fire with me, to protect, provide, and deliver me from evil. If You are for me, Almighty God, who can be against me? No one, nothing, for You are always triumphant. Amen.”

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 8

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Need for Rebuke” 

Proverbs 27:5-6 

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. [6] Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. 

If you were watching someone you love slowly walk toward a deadly trap, how would you respond? Would you stay silent for fear of offending them, gently try to steer them away, or do everything you could to stop them? Which response is the most loving?

One of my biggest frustrations within the Christian community comes when I confess a sin or acknowledge a fault rooted in my sinful nature, and the only response I receive is something like, “It’s okay, Jesus still loves you.” I understand and appreciate the sentiment. Of course, that statement is not wrong. The blood of Jesus is sufficient to cover every sin I commit. However, it is incomplete because I also need to hear, in that moment, a gentle voice encouraging me to address my sin and grow in Christ. 

And there is no better community than a community of believers in Jesus for that. No matter your background, you can be welcomed, encouraged, and loved because the source of that love and encouragement is the Holy Spirit rather than human effort alone. Yet, in our desire to be more welcoming, encouraging, and loving, we can sometimes lose sight of the importance of helping one another take sin seriously.

We often avoid confronting others because we fear they will feel rejected rather than loved or that we are seen as judging! That concern is understandable. Being rebuked rarely feels pleasant. Nevertheless, our desire to see our brothers and sisters walk faithfully with Christ should give us the courage to lovingly address sin when we see it—sooner rather than later but not never.

This is not a call to speak about someone’s wrongdoing behind their back, which would simply be gossip. Instead, we should cultivate a culture in which fellow believers can lovingly and directly correct one another, recognizing that such correction comes from a place of genuine care. I confess that I, too, often hesitate to confront sin when I see it. In fact, there are times when I fail to do so altogether. Yet that hesitation should not prevent me, or any of us, from practicing biblical accountability.

The next time you see a brother or sister caught in sin, speak with them lovingly and promptly. It is better to help pull someone away from sin than to stand by and allow them to remain in it, or as the apostle Paul puts it, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you may be tempted. Carry each other’s burden, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1-2).

Prayer

Father God, I know it is better to risk offending a fellow believer by lovingly pointing out their sin than to allow them to remain trapped in it. Give me the courage to lovingly confront my brothers and sisters when they fall into sin, and give me the humility and wisdom to receive correction when I fall short. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Mark 6-7