July 23, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church in Raleigh, was originally posted on November 13, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Reminder to Us When We Are Going through a Trial”

Psalm 102:1-22 (NIV)

Hear my prayer, Lord; let my cry for help come to you. 2 Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. 3 For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. 4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. 5 In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones. 6 I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. 7 I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. 8 All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. 9 For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears 10 because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. 11 My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 12 But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. 13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. 14 For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. 15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. 16 For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. 17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. 18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: 19 “The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.” 21 So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem 22 when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord.

When we’re going through times of difficulty, particularly during this season of COVID-19 and social unrest, the last things we want to hear are the all-too-familiar platitudes like, “Everything happens for a reason!” or “God is working on you for your own good!” Not that those things aren’t true (because they are), but when we are lost in the thick darkness or parched in the wilderness of life, they bring little comfort.

The psalmist, having offered this prayer while going through a tough trial, shows us how to deal with hardships in our lives. First, the psalmist goes before God, and there, he honestly shares the awfulness of his circumstances and pleads for relief through a divine intervention. He doesn’t blame God for His problems, rather, he acknowledges God’s sovereignty over them. Second (and most importantly), the psalmist remembers who God is: a loving Father who cares for His children and the things that matter to them; He never leaves or abandons them. And this is not a mere platitude for the psalmist; it’s a conviction based on God’s very reliable track record.

Are you going through a tough time today? Let this Psalm encourage you. Go to God and tell Him exactly how you’re feeling. Plead for His intervention while acknowledging His great love and faithfulness. Subsequently, you may see that your difficult moment is more than bearable. It is also a great opportunity to store up fond memories of God’s care so that we will be encouraged even more the next time when trials come our way.

Prayer: Lord, our country is going through really a rough time right now. As our lives are being affected by it, may it change us for better by way of aligning ourselves to God’s will—His good, pleasing and prefect will. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 1

Lunch Break Study

Isaiah 40:27-31 (ESV): “Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God’? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not be faint.”

Questions to Consider

What do verses 27 and 28 tell you about our typical response to times of difficulty
What does Isaiah remind his readers in the remaining verses? How do his words encourage you?
What does Isaiah remind us when we are going through a trial?

Notes

When the going gets tough, we often overlook God’s control in our lives, forgetting that He knows everything and that His eyes are always upon us. Instead of being comforted from knowing that our sovereign God has a heart full of love for us, we often get worried or anxious. We complain about our circumstances while some of us even complain about our God.
In Isaiah’s day, God’s people responded to difficulties in quite the same way: complaining and losing sight of God. The prophet, therefore, reminds them of who God really is. First, the Lord, being omnipotent, doesn’t get tired or quit when the going gets tough. Second, being
omnipresent, God not only knows all things but is in control of them at all times. Lastly, the faithful Lord is committed to those who hope in Him; He strengthens and sustains them through even the fiercest storms of life.
It’s easy to lose sight of God when times are difficult, even forgetting just how good God is; occasionally, we feel as if He has forgotten us. But Isaiah reminds us to keep our hope in Him! Hebrews 10:23 tells us to told on without wavering in our hope because our God is faithful. Have you lost sight of God’s faithfulness? Take some time to declare the faithfulness of God and your hope in Him. Meditate on Isaiah’s declaration today and let it encourage you.

Evening Reflection

When I was in college, I watched a video of Pastor Louis Giglio talking about God’s glory as seen in the human body (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0-NPPIeeRk). I remember being so encouraged by the ways in which God truly holds all things together in my life and in this world. Romans 8:32 tells us that “He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things.” The cross is the greatest reminder that God has our back. Even when life is difficult, we know that God has already gone to the greatest length imaginable on our behalf (in sending His son to die for our sins). How much more will He hold us together in times of storm?

July 22, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on August 11, 2014, is provided by Jabez Yeo. He and his family are in Thailand as YWAM missionaries.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Who Are We Trying to Please?”

Hebrews 11:1, 6

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”

During my internship on Wall Street, I remember quite vividly that my only goal at work was to do whatever it took to please my boss. As he would be the one deciding whether I would be employed or not, I would do all that I could to ensure that I not only met, but exceeded, his expectations. While my experience is indicative of our performance-oriented culture, it is truly comforting to know that our Heavenly Father does not operate under the same guidelines. For if He did, we would all miss His standard: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Rather, it is faith that is required to please God; specifically, a faith that believes in a) God’s existence, and b) His reward for those who earnestly seek Him. Assuming that most of us reading this devotional are believers, we will most likely not struggle with believing that God exists. However, how many of us sincerely believe that God will reward those who earnestly seek Him? We may think that we do, but many of us take matters into our own hands instead of seeking God and ascribing to His ways.

Take a clear example: God’s gift of sexual intimacy. When we do not have faith that God will reward us for seeking Him in this area, we may misuse this gift in several ways, such as using it a) at the wrong time (e.g. premarital sex) b) in ways that God did not design (e.g. pornography, homosexuality, adultery, etc.) c) in unhealthy quantities (e.g. scarcity or overindulgence).

A lack of faith in God’s willingness to reward can occur for several reasons. One reason could be an unhealthy image of God that portrays Him as a Father who is unwilling to bless His children. Another reason could be an overdependence on our own abilities to reward ourselves; forgetting that it was God who gave us those abilities in the first place. Whatever our issue may be, let’s ask that God would help us develop a faith that is truly pleasing to Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am sorry for placing matters into my own hands instead of trusting You. I believe that You are there but for some reason, I do not believe that You will give me what I need as I follow You. Help me discern the reason for my lack of faith and correct my thoughts according to Your truth. Help me to truly surrender to You and ascribe to Your ways no matter the circumstance. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 66

Lunch Break Study

Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that He {God} who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Questions to Consider

What is the good work that God began in us?
What are the implications of the fact that God is bringing our faith to completion?
Are you allowing God to bring your faith to completion? Take some time to assess whether this is the case or not

Notes

1. God, not ourselves or our human reasoning, was the one who brought us to a saving knowledge of who He is. As Christ said; “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29).

2. This statement implies that our faith is not complete but still lacking in some way. As described above, our tendency to ascribe to our own ways and thinking instead of God’s ways is one way that our faith could be lacking.

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s discussion of faith, how did you place your trust in God? Were you able to grow your faith and surrender your wants and desires to Him in your daily circumstances? Let’s continue to go to Him and as our Lord Jesus commanded, to pray for our “daily bread,” among other things.

July 21, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 16, 2014 (updated on April 28, 2020), is provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Recommended Lifestyle for the Post COVID-19 World”

1 Timothy 4:1-5 (ESV)

…who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

It’s no coincidence that some of the most infamous cults in history have forbidden marriages or in the case of David Koresh, that all women belong to him. Most cults have dietary restrictions, not out of common sense or health reasons, but out of desire to be favored by the Lord.

Paul pulls no punches in calling the commands to abstain from marriage or certain foods “the teachings of demons” (v. 1). Why such harsh language? Because the root of avoiding sex in marriage and certain foods for holiness puts the Gospel message in reverse. It is no longer the grace of God that saves and sanctifies us, but it is now my ascetic practices, my self-denial that pleases God. These practices, which in themselves are not wrong, nevertheless become wrong because their motive (that of gaining God’s favor by self-denial) is wrong.

This is a good example of the subtlety by which error begins. When a deviation enters a stream of truth, at the first point of deviation, error looks like truth; it is very hard to see it as error. This is what has misled so many people. They never recognize error until they become engrossed in it.

Here’s the point. There is a distinction between self-denial and denying self. Jesus said, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). That is denying self. But that is easily confused with self-denial, which says, “I will give up this and that, so I can gain a special favor from God, so I can get something in return.” When our motivation ultimately is to achieve something for ourselves by our actions, we are no longer denying self but practicing self-denial. How subtle the differences are! This is dangerous. This is what Paul cautions us on. Live a life of self-denial! If you deny yourself of anything, do not do it to gain God’s favor, but because it’s a response to God’s favor in your life.

As we all navigate through the aftermath of COVID-19 in which many will live with far less than before, may I offer words of recommendation to those who are left unscathed economically by the pandemic: practice self-denial, that is, avoid ostentatious display of affluence; instead, live the life of modesty and generosity.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that I can enjoy the things You have created. Teach me the difference between self-denial and denying self. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 65

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-28: Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. [28] Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Questions to Consider

Could you say in light of this passage that you are following Christ?
What is the one thing you have tangibly denied to follow Christ today?
What is the one thing you have to deny yourself for the rest of this day? How are you doing with this? Convicted, ambivalent or different?

Notes

Following Christ is the death of the self, and the rise of the new self. You can truly say you have come to follow Christ until you have come to the end of yourself.
Perhaps you resisted the urge to be right in a petty argument or you gave into your roommate’s preference. Whatever may be the case, dying to self is not a matter of theory, but practice.
It’s so easy to read through this famous passage dismissively, but the call to follow Christ is startling and radical. We need to sense its impact anew today.

Evening Reflection

Before we turn in for the night, ask these questions considering what we examined this morning. What is the difference between self-denial and denying self? Are we careful not to let subtle religious error lead us into a duplicitous faith apart from Christ’s righteousness? Were you able to deny yourself today?

Reflect on how you can mark your life with self-denial.

July 20, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on March 25, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Enamored by the Beauty, not the Functionality, of the Lord”

Psalm 27:4, 7-8 (ESV)

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

King David begins this psalm by talking about how God functions in his life, a God who would defend, protect, and fight for him, but he quickly realizes that there is something more important than the functional role of God in his life. He sees that above and beyond this, the one thing that is most important is to see the beauty of God.

Beauty is what captures the human heart and stirs it. Beauty gives birth to our passions and fulfills our longings. Beauty is what awakens the human spirit and separates us from the animals.

Now, animals in the wild have been known to make simple tools so that they can secure food and scare off predators. While they can create things for a functional purpose, only humans pursue beauty for the sake of beauty. Appreciating what God does is important but being captivated by His beauty is far more vital.

We know that the Gospel is the pinnacle of what God has done for us—that He gave His only Son as atonement for our sin and that faith in him leads to eternal life. But if our understanding of the gospel stops there, while we might live our lives in gratitude, we are unlikely to live our lives out of love. The gospel is not only an account of what God has done for us but it is also a window to who God is.

Moreover, as we look through the gospel, we see a God whose beauty is beyond description. We see the perfect symphony of love and justice, of humility and might, of mercy and holiness. Only when this beauty of God is captured in our hearts can we truly fall in love with Him.

This morning, reflect on the beauty of God. Make this psalm your prayer, that you may behold the beauty of God and fall deeper in love with Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, it is so easy to forget how beautiful You are. I pray that as I experience the ordinary things of life that I would be mindful of the extraordinary God who made all things possible. Help me to fall deeper and deeper in love with You, counting one day in Your presence as better than a thousand apart from You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 64

Lunch Break Study

John 8:12 (ESV): Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Questions to Consider

At what event in the Jewish religious calendar did Jesus speak these words? (John 7:2)
What did this event celebrate and bring remembrance of? (Exodus 40:36-38)
What is Jesus referring to when He calls himself the “light of the world”?

Notes

Jesus spoke these words at the Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Feast of Tabernacles was a celebration of God leading the people of Israel through the desert for 40 years. If you have watched the Ten Commandments or the Prince of Egypt, you will recall that God guided the nation of Israel using a cloud by day to protect them from the desert heat and then the cloud would be illuminated at night by fire so that they could make their way through the darkness.
When Jesus refers to himself as the “Light”, it has a very narrow range of meaning. He isn’t simply saying, “I am the source of enlightenment that will guide you through life like Buddha or a New Age guru.” He is literally saying, “I am the shekinah glory of God,” which is the dwelling of God’s presence in a specific location that makes it perceptible to the human senses. During the Feast of Tabernacles, as the people gathered each evening, the priest would light the candelabras for two reasons: first, as remembrance of how God’s glory led them through the darkness; second, as an expression of longing for the visible presence of God to fill the temple again.

St. Irenaeus, a leading theologian in the early church, is famous for stating that, “The glory of God is a man fully alive.” I would take that one-step further and say that the glory of God is what causes man to be fully alive. Without the light of God’s glory shining into the darkness of our hearts, there is no chance for true spiritual life.

Evening Reflection

As you start the week, think of ways to center your daily routine around the gospel. Write down how God has reminded you of His sacrificial love.

July 19, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 12, 2019, is provided by Pastor David Kwon. David leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The God of Holiness”

Exodus 26:31-35

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

The word “holy” is one of those words that most Americans find offensive and unattractive. When we label someone as holy, we often associated with words like “self-righteous, weirdly religious, or judgmental”. But when we look at Scripture, holiness is something we cannot avoid especially when we look at the character of God. So what is holiness? John Piper defines it like this:

“When we say that God is holy we mean that, along with the immeasurableness of his greatness, his character is unimpeachable. He cannot be charged with any wrong. He has an infinite love for what is infinitely valuable and an infinite hate for what opposes the infinitely valuable. His delight in praiseworthy things is unbounded, and his abhorrence of what is blameworthy is perfect.”

Today, as we look at the Tabernacle in detail, we are introduced to the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was to be placed. One main thing God wanted His people to see was that the tabernacle was a piece of Heaven on earth. Heaven is where God is; so when God came to live with His people, He brought Heaven down with Him. The tabernacle was the one place in the entire world where people could enter God’s presence; however, there was no way for them to get into the Holy Place! Only priests were allowed to enter because of the holiness of God. This was designed to show the supreme holiness of God – that there is none other and that He is set apart. And because of God’s holiness, He has to punish sin, which is why the Israelites had to be separated from Him in order to spare them of additional punishments they so deserved. In this sense, separation was an act of God’s mercy!

What does this mean for us? First, it means that we should “fear the Lord” (Deut. 6:2). A healthy fear of the Lord means that we are in awe of Him and that we desire to live our lives to please Him. Our God is a loving God, but He is also holy, and certainly not like us. It means having a high view of God, which results in not sinning against Him.

Second, it means we should be “holy has He is holy” (Leviticus 11:44). Our desire is to be like Him in character, purity, and righteousness. We are not called to blend into world but live set apart. Our lives should look distinct and counter-cultural from our co-workers, neighbors and non-believing family members. It does not mean we isolate ourselves from the world, but, as we engage with the world, we should look different in light of God’s holiness.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You that through the Cross, we can now have access to our Heavenly Father. Help us to live holy lives that honor You and make a difference in our world. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 63

July 18, Saturday

NEW Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is provided by Charmer Pratt, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. Charmer has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Body of Christ during Missions”

Acts 6:1-6

“Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.”

In 2016, I went on my first mission trip to North Philadelphia where we helped run a summer camp at a local school. On the second day of the camp, I helped with the games portion of the camp where I spent so much time playing with the kids that I don’t remember mentioning Jesus once the entire day. As we got ready as a team that night to share how the day went for us, I was ashamed to speak because I believed I had nothing significant to say. That shame melted away when my teammate who ran the games with me that day shared that because I was there, she found an opportunity to speak with one of the children one-on-one and share Jesus with her.

If you’ve never been on missions before, you may think the daily life of a missionary, short-term or long term, is a “sleep, pray, eat, evangelize, repeat” cycle. Yes, all of that happens, but so much more happens than that! You’re living life in boldness for Christ, but a lot of living life involves mundane tasks or things that otherwise may not feel like you’re contributing to the Kingdom. Remember that missionaries are not working alone, so sometimes those mundane tasks open the door for others to evangelize in ways they otherwise wouldn’t.

We see that here in Acts 6, where seven brothers are tasked with serving food and drink to the widows of the church. It seems like a mundane task that everyone could do, but the apostles thought it to be so important that they paused to pray for the men before they went out to do it. It’s also interesting to note Stephen, who would become the first martyr, was equipped with a fulfilling of the Holy Spirit to lead this task!

There is no such thing as mundane or useless work in the Kingdom of God. Just like in our physical bodies, there are parts whose work seems insignificant until they no longer fulfill their tasks. We are all called to preach the Gospel to someone. My exhortation to you is to not assume that you can only spread the Gospel by being the one who speaks. Being used by God to set the stage for His truth to be heard is just as important as being used by Him to speak it.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You have created the church to be a body instead of a bunch of individuals. Please show me what You want me to do to build Your Kingdom so that I may do it joyfully. More importantly, please protect me from the temptation to compare the role You’ve given me in Your body with roles You’ve given to others. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 61-62

July 17, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT blog, originally posted on September 2, 2014, was written by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark has recently planted a new church called Radiance Christian Church, East Bay.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Nothing New Under the Sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 (ESV)

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.

We live in a time of amazing technological breakthroughs. Things that seemed like the fantasy of science fiction are now becoming a reality: Self-driving cars, computerized drones that drop off your mail, and even clones of your pets are all within the realm of possibility in the not too distant future.

But even as we fill our lives with the latest gadgets and advancements, many of us still wrestle with the monotonous drudgery of life. Even in the face of so much innovation, nothing seems new to the human condition because we know deep inside that everything new will end up in the same pile as our old discarded VCRs, floppy discs, and cassette tapes. At the end of the day, we still wrestle with the same problems that humanity has been struggling with for hundreds of generations. Loneliness, depression, anxiety, and fear are still an ever-persistent problem that no new invention can help us with.

Like the sun that rises in the morning, sets in the evening, and then runs back to where it has to rise again, we can go through life as though we were on a perpetual treadmill; always in motion but never getting anywhere. Pink Floyd in their famous album “Dark Side of the Moon” sings about the futility of life.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking,

Racing around to come up behind you again,

The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older,

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

How can we escape the inherent frustration of living in a world that is doomed to repeat itself? The key is in our understanding of the statement that “there is nothing new under the sun.”

As long as we limit our lives to existence under the sun, we will never escape the monotonous cycle of life. The only way we can break free is to live for the God who exists and reigns far above the sun. This is the God who promises us that He is making all things new, including our very lives along with the heavens and the earth. In Him, we can live in the hope that everything we do will ultimately matter.

Prayer: Father, help us to break through the feelings of discontentment and frustration that are a part of our existence. Open our eyes, so that we can see that there is a reality beyond what is under the sun. Enable our ears to hear your voice over the daily commotion of our busy lives. Teach us how to depend on your mercy that is new every morning. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 60

Lunch Break Study

Lamentations 3:22-33: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; 29 let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope; 30 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.

Questions to Consider

How can we reconcile the steadfast love of God with the grief that we sometimes go through?
What is the source of our hope?
How can you practically experience the newness of God’s mercy on a daily basis?

Notes

Though God does not willingly afflict his children, there are times when He deems it necessary for our spiritual growth. Whether it is discipline against sin or simply a test of our faith, God often speaks most clearly and powerfully in our pain. During those seasons, it is important to hold onto the truth that God is good to those who wait upon him.
The source of our hope is in the fact that God is our portion forever. In the Old Testament, a portion is synonymous with an inheritance or a gift that is irrevocable. The greatest gift of God is not the many blessings we receive in this life, but the promise that He is our God and we are His people. In the Hebrew, the steadfast love of God is another way of describing the covenant love that He has bestowed upon us.
There are many ways to daily experience God’s mercy anew: not taking His mercy for granted, repenting of sins, and fixing your eyes on the cross.

Evening Reflection

Are you excited about your relationship with God? If not, why not? What are some new things that God is doing in your life or wants to do in your life? Pray that you would be obedient to the call of God and seek times of refreshing in His presence.

July 16, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on October 19, 2020, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Intro 101 to Jesus”

John 1:1-8 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. [6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

When we are learning something new, we tend to go through stages. Let’s use physics as an example. In Stage 1, I don’t understand physics and I know I don’t understand physics. In Stage 2, I take a few physics courses and learn a few things but in reality, I still don’t understand physics. Only now, I don’t realize I don’t understand physics. In Stage 3, I learn enough physics to realize how little I understand and while I am growing in competence, I know I have a vast amount to learn.

These stages of learning may unfold when we learn about a new topic like health care or crime or when we are learning a new skill like playing the guitar or programming. They can also occur in the context of relationships. We can begin to imagine that we have figured out a friend, colleague, or parent and stop listening when in fact we are really in Stage 2, unaware of our ignorance.

Tragically, this can also happen with our relationship with Jesus. According to John 20:31, the Gospel of John was written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life in His name. With this in mind, the apostle John begins his gospel introducing Jesus, and he essentially says, “You do not know who I am talking about.”

John tells us that in the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word is the Creator of all things. He is Life itself. He is the Light that is not overcome by the darkness.

Then the apostle John goes on a strange tangent. He says, “There was a man…” This man is not the light. His name is John the Baptist. Now we must understand that John the Baptist is not only the prophet who came before Jesus. He is the greatest prophet in human history. In fact, according to Matthew 11:11, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.

No one greater! Consider great people of human history. Great conquerors like Genghis Khan and Napoleon. Great geniuses like Einstein and Newton. Great spiritual leaders like Mother Theresa and Gandhi. John the Baptist is greater than all of them, but he is most certainly NOT the light!

The greatest person in human history is nothing compared to the true light who was coming into the world. This true light is not only worthy of affection but of all-consuming devotion. He deserves not only respect, but reverent, everlasting worship. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, and the Savior of the World.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I never grow familiar with You in such a way that I lose my sense of awe and wonder. There is no one like You. You are above and beyond what words can express. Thank You that You receive my worship. You are worthy. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 59

Lunch Break Study

Isaiah 6:1–7 (ESV): In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. [2] Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. [3] And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” [4] And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. [5] And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. [7] And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Questions to Consider

How do the seraphim demonstrate their reverence toward the Lord?
What is Isaiah’s response to the glory of God?
How is Isaiah able to remain in the presence of the Lord?

Notes

The seraphim cover their faces and feet before the Lord and they continually declare God’s holiness.
Isaiah is terrified and calls down curses upon himself, aware that as a sinner he cannot be in the presence of a holy God and live.
One of the seraphim touches Isaiah’s unclean lips with a burning coal to take away Isaiah’s guilt and atone for his sin. Likewise, we are only able to come into the presence of God by the cleansing and atoning blood of Jesus.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. Were there thoughts or circumstances that made Jesus appear small and ordinary? Were there moments when Jesus’s glory began to shine? Ask the Lord that He might reveal Himself to You and thank Him that He is eager to do so.

July 15, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on November 23, 2020, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Divine Artist”

Colossians 3:12-14

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

For all of us, at one time or another, we encounter someone that rubs us the wrong way for whatever reason. Maybe it’s how they talk or the views they have. I remember hearing someone complain to me about how loudly his roommate chewed his food and how that drove him crazy. Whether it’s petty pet peeves or stark and serious differences in personality or ideology, we can easily find ourselves irked by others.

When we are faced with such people, what do we do? Many of us tend towards avoidance. We see that particular person when we walk into a gathering and then we go towards the other side of the room. Or if we get a text from them, we respond curtly. Or, even if we can push ourselves to not avoid, we likely just bear with it. Deal with it. Grit our teeth and suffer through our annoyances.

St. Thérèse, a French Catholic nun in the 19th Century, shows us that these kinds of differences can even happen in a convent. In her autobiography, she shared about a fellow nun who would irritate her in whatever she did or said. But instead of avoiding her sister or gritting her teeth through it, this is what St. Thérèse said, “I set myself to do for this sister just what I should have done for someone I loved most dearly. Every time I met her, I prayed for her and offered God all her virtues and her merits. I was sure this would greatly delight Jesus, for every artist likes to have his works praised and the divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not halt outside the exterior of the sanctuary where He has chosen to dwell but go inside and admire its beauty.”

What if this was our heart and attitude towards every person we encounter, especially those we find it hard to love or get along with? Even the most irritating or infuriating person is the artwork of our Divine Artist, Jesus, and with each of His masterpieces, Jesus wants us to see and to admire their beauty.

Let us seek to have this kind of heart for our brothers, sisters and neighbors today. If there’s someone in particular who you find it hard to love or get along with, set your heart to love them as someone you love most dearly. Let bring delight to our Divine Artist by loving those He has beautifully created.

Prayer: Jesus, remind us today of your patient and enduring love for us. Show us how we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and help us to see the beauty of your creation in others around us. Especially with those with whom we find it hard to love, may we set our hearts to loving them as you love them. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 58

Lunch Bible Study

Acts 9:10-19: Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

Questions to Consider

What reasons does Ananias have for not going to Saul?
What moves Ananias to go to Saul?
What happens as a result of Ananias’ ministry to Saul? What can happen if we love those we find it hard to love?

Notes

In verse 13, Ananias said that he had heard of Saul and about “how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.” As a disciple of Jesus, Ananias in his mind thought that going to Saul at this point in time would be putting his own life at risk. For Ananias, it could have felt like a suicide mission.
Ananias ultimately goes because God tells him to go. Going a little deeper than that though, God tells Ananias that Saul would be His chosen instrument to share the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles. In going to Saul, Ananias was trusting that Jesus was working in Saul’s heart and life. Note that in verse 17, Ananias doesn’t just call him Saul, he says “Brother Saul”
In the short term, Saul is healed from his blindness and is baptized, but in the bigger picture, Saul would go on to be Apostle Paul who planted churches and wrote half of the books of the New Testament. Let us consider the impact our love for our neighbors can have!

Evening Reflection

More than ever with social distancing and quarantining and virtual relationships, it is easy for us to avoid being in relationship with people who we find it hard to love. Consider again if there’s someone that Jesus is calling you to love and bless. Pray for a heart of love and compassion and also pray for your actions towards them to reflect Jesus’ love for them.

July 14, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on March 11, 2020, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Courageous”

Joshua 1:1-9

Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

A God of History.

Perhaps one of the biggest things to happen in the box office in the last 12 years is the emergence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From kids to adults alike, we are fascinated with this universe of superheroes who courageously risk their lives to save the world. Part of the appeal is not only the recognition that this world needs more heroes, but there is in all of us a longing for us to be that courageous.

The passage we’ll be looking at for the next two days recounts the story of the Israelite who have finally arrived at the Jordan River after 40 years of wandering. And as they are preparing to finally enter the Promised Land, Joshua and the people receive these words from the Lord: Be strong and courageous.

But how? The people were facing real, fearful circumstances. If you remember from the narrative, the Promised Land was filled with strong, trained soldiers, fortified cities, and what is understood to be giants (Numbers 13, the Nephilim). The Israelites were children of slaves who knew nothing about combat. In a situation where they were commanded to wipe out the people and take possession of the land, how could they find the courage to do so?

We see how God builds this courage in their hearts. God points to the history He has had with these people. Not just with them, but from the days of Moses. Just as I have been with Moses… and the Israelites knew what had happened because God was with Moses. All the things that led to their freedom from Egypt, their survival in the desert, it was because God had been with Moses. And in this moment, in the face of utter fear, God reminds them of the history of His faithfulness in their lives.

Brothers and sisters, this world needs to witness the Bride of Christ, that is, the Church, living with this kind of courage. The truth is that if you are reading this, God has been writing an incredible, unique history with you. A history of HIs faithfulness in your life. As you take a moment to reflect, I pray that you will be reminded of all the things that have happened in your life because of the faithful orchestration of your Heavenly Father. Just as He was with Moses, just as He was with Joshua, God promises that He is with you. May this history serve as the rich soil from which courage will come to fruition in your life.

Prayer: Father, we take this moment to remind ourselves of how faithful You have been in our lives, and we thank You. There is nothing we have done to deserve it—it is entirely by Your grace. And as we reflect upon our history with You, may courage arise in us to do what is right before You. Help us Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 57

Lunch Break Study

Romans 5:6-8: For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Questions to Consider

What kind of picture do words like “helpless” or “sinners” paint in regard to our status before Christ’s redemption?
What is the surprising truth of the gospel that Paul talks about in verse 7? What does this teach us in regard to the nature of our redemption and relationship with God?
The reason for God doing all of this according to Paul is to demonstrate His own love towards us. What does this constancy of God’s love mean to you?

Notes

These words describe a state of our being where we could not do anything to change or to earn what we have received from God. To be a sinner means that we are completely spiritually dead. It is a picture of a relationship that is entirely one-sided: God is faithful towards us.
The surprising truth of the gospel is that there is no logical reasoning for why God should do this. Even in the best of human scenarios, people would hardly give of their lives for a righteous person—let alone, an unrighteous person. And yet this Holy God willingly gave His life for the unrighteous, and there’s nothing we could have done to earn or prevent this from happening.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

How faithful has God been to you? In the hurriedness of our lives, we too often forget to stop and reflect upon how faithful our Heavenly Father is towards us. It is no wonder we do not live with much courage—we are lacking the foundation upon which our courage grows. Take a moment tonight to remind yourself of all the ways that God has been faithful to you, and may this fuel you tomorrow to be courageous.