July 28, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on May 8, 2014.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Telling Sign of Someone Who Truly Knows God”

Titus 1:15-16

“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. [16] They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.” 

1 John 2:4-5

“Whoever says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. [5] But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them . . .” 

What does it mean to claim to know God but deny Him by one’s actions?  How can our actions reflect whether we truly know someone?  

One common theme among romantic comedies today has become the “fake marriage” or “contract relationship.”  Two people pretend to be in a relationship for mutually beneficial purposes, and a point of suspense for the rest of the movie becomes, “Will they be found out?”  The relationship is tested in various ways, often revolving around the question of how well these two people really know each other.  A girl claiming to be in love with the lead singer of a band (and therefore presumably his biggest fan), for example, begins to be suspected when she doesn’t seem to know the lyrics of one of his most popular songs.  Her actions belied her confession.

With us and God, the test of whether we really know Him may not come down to whether we know His favorite color (preferences) or have His number in our cell phones (communicate frequently), but the Bible does say there is a way to tell: our obedience.  But would obeying someone and knowing someone be connected?

Two thoughts come to mind:

  1. I would obey someone if I knew that person was in a position to reward or punish me based on my actions, and if I trusted that person to judge fairly. 
  2. I would obey someone if I knew that person loved me and knew that whenever that person asked me to do something, it was with my best interests at heart.  

God, in being perfectly righteous and perfectly loving, is all of these things and more, yet why is it that we still disobey Him?  Although we know those things about Him, perhaps there is a part of us that doesn’t really experientially know Him as this kind of God.

If we are having trouble obeying God, feeling frustrated in a struggle with a particular sin, could it be that the solution is not more willpower but more time with God, trying simply to truly know Him more?

Prayer: Lord, I want to know you more / Deep within my heart, I want to know you / Oh, I want to know you and / I would give my final breath / To know you in your death and resurrection / Lord, I want to know you more / Lord, I want to know you more, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Titus 1:1: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—”

Titus 1:16: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him . . .”

Titus 2:1-9: “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. [2] Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect . . . [3] Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live . . . [4] Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children . . . [6] Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled . . . [9] Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them . . .”

Questions to Consider

1. Titus 1:1 and 1:16 serve as bookends for this first chapter.  What common theme do you see? What should Christian “knowing” lead to?

2. In chapter two, what does Paul go on to talk about?  Look again for the running theme.  What do you think is the relationship between the “sound doctrine” he mentions in 2:1 and what follows in 2:2-9?

3. How do the above observations challenge you in terms of your own godliness?  How seriously do we try to apply the things we learn on Sundays, during Bible studies, or in our own quiet times?

Notes

1. When we know the truth, it should affect the way we live.  Knowledge of the truth should lead to godliness; knowing God should lead to obedience.

2. In chapter two, Paul expands on the theme he has introduced in chapter one by giving specific examples.  Sound doctrine is the “knowledge of the truth” from 1:1, and the specific instructions on living that follow are examples of the “godliness” that the sound doctrine should affect in people.

3. See number 1 above.

Evening Reflection

How were my actions today?  Did they reflect a denial of God or an acknowledgment of Him?  On a scale of 1-10, how obedient was I today?

July 27, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 1, 2020, is provided by Pastor Joseph Chung who heads Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Let the Justice Roll”

Amos 5:23-24 (ESV)

“Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Oh no, not again!

After watching what can only be described as hateful and senseless murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, I spent the day praying and mourning. Like many I felt deeply troubled.  As I prayed, having been reminded of Amos 5:24, I prayed that God’s justice will roll on like a river and his righteousness like a never-failing stream.  

What a broken, injustice-filled world we live in.  As I watched that horrible video—even with my heart pounding—I felt a piece of my soul dying.  So much pain.  So much anger.  The issue isn’t what Mr. Floyd allegedly did or did not do that made the police involvement necessary at the outset; rather it has everything to do with the self-evident fact that NO ONE BEARING GOD’S IMAGE DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT—NO ONE!  As God’s handiwork, we all are, despite being marred by sin, precious in His sight.  John 3:16 says so: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

When will this injustice and hatred end?  

Amos 5:24 starts out with a “BUT” because of what is said in previous verses: God’s condemnation of the nation of Israel—His people—for oppression and injustice.  “You trample on the poor,” said “the LORD to the house of Israel,” and “you exact taxes of grain from him . . .” (Amos 5:4, 11).  It is after that the LORD declares, “But let justice roll on like a river.”  

So, amid all the chaos and hate, let God’s justice flow. As His people, we must love His justice.  And as we worship Him, the way we live must demonstrate His justice!  Please note what verse 24 says: Worship without justice, to God, is a noise; He will not listen. 

Let us, therefore, cry, cry out to God for His justice to reign.  Let us stand and mourn with those who are oppressed and treated unjustly.  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for “JUSTICE.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come to You heart-broken, deeply grieving as we have witnessed the murder of George Floyd.  We live in a deeply fragmented community where injustice and hatred run rampant. Lord, would You pour out Your mercy and compassion over us, that we may truly grieve and mourn with those who are hurting because of injustice.  Open our hearts so that we have the courage to include and stand with those who are victimized and oppressed.  May we find such joy in being vessels of Your justice. Help us to love as You have loved us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 1:11-14: May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does the apostle Paul pray that we may be strengthened for?
  2. What is the source of our joy?
  3. What is the inheritance of the saints?

Notes

  1. Endurance and patience with joy.  The fact that Paul was in prison at the time underscores the importance of these spiritual virtues.  How many people let go of their faith when difficult times come? 
  2. The inheritance of the saints.  This begs the question, “What is our inheritance?”
  3. The inheritance consists of two components: 

First, being redeemed and forgiven on account of the work of Christ, and as a result, freely receiving eternal life; second, rewards, which are based on what we did for the Lord while living on earth (2 Cor. 5:10).

Evening Reflection

What are the sins that seem to habitually entrap you?  Considering what was addressed this morning, it behooves me to ask, “How is your attitude towards people of other races?”  Pray that God would supernaturally grant you freedom from all that plagues.  Commit to confessing your sin to a close brother or sister who can pray for you and remind you of your inheritance in Christ.

*First posted on December 15, 2013, it was prepared by Pastor Jason Sato who now serves in Japan.  

July 26, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 26, 2019, is provided by Jennifer Kim. Jennifer faithfully served as a staff member in several AMI churches in the past.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Flagrant and Pleasing Aroma”

Exodus 30:22-38

Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the following fine spices: 500 shekel of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant calamus, 24 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26 Then use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. 30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. 31 Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.33 Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.’” 34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Take fragrant spices—gum resin, onycha and galbanum—and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, 35 and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred.36 Grind some of it to powder and place it in front of the ark of the covenant law in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. It shall be most holy to you. 37 Do not make any incense with this formula for yourselves; consider it holy to the Lord. 38 Whoever makes incense like it to enjoy its fragrance must be cut off from their people.”

Six years ago, while taking my last film class of my college career, I had the privilege of attending a guest lecture by an Oscar winning producer.  When she walked on stage, to our surprise, she had brought a special friend to stand next to her the entire lecture.  He was only 13.5 inches tall and weighed 8.5 pounds, but he caught the biggest attention and response from the crowd.  The moment we saw her friend, everyone stood a little taller, our eyes grew wider, we became more attentive, and you could sense that everyone wanted to show their very best version.  If you haven’t figured out who her friends was, it was the famous Oscar statuette.

Today we read the meticulous details of what it took to make the precious anointing oil that would be poured onto Aaron and his sons for their priestly work.  It was, in fact, such a delicate work that verse 25 describes it as “the work of a perfumer.”  Along with these instructions comes a clear command that the misuse of this oil would lead to their excommunication from the people (v.32-33).  This passage may seem like a contradiction to yesterday’s devotional where we talked about the heart being the most important thing.  However, the tabernacle was created for the unique purpose of offering worship to God.  Worship is the place where we are called to give our very best to God, and the distinct role of giving God our best worship still applies to us today.  We are called to exude worship that is holy and pleasing to God, like a pleasing and fragrant aroma.

I am confident that almost every aspiring filmmaker in that lecture hall wanted to give their very best when they saw the prized Oscar statuette.  Timothy Keller once said in his message about worship, “If you’re not worshipping God, you’re worshipping something else.”  God created every person to worship Him and the truth is, if God is not receiving the fullness of your worship, something else is.  Can I ask you, where is your affection and worship pointed to?  Is your desire to give God your very best or are you worshipping worldly idols?  Let’s bring these things to the Lord that we may be able to give God true and proper worship.  This is the heart that God has placed in us, to give our best to the things we love.  

Prayer: God may my worship today be a fragrant and pleasing offering to you.  Forgive me for the things that have taken your place and help me to lay down my idols to give you true and proper worship.  In Jesus name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

July 25, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on April 27, 2019, is provided by Joe Suh. Joe is the Leader Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“My Plan Sounded Really Good Until . . .” 

Psalm 121:1-3

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. 

I once heard a very interesting quote from the former boxing heavyweight champion of the world, “Iron” Mike Tyson.  In a prefight interview he stated, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth”.  In boxing this makes a lot of sense, but I feel this applies to our daily lives as well.  Basically, we all have a plan, but what happens to that plan when we are faced with adversity?

We all make plans for any number of things.  We plan to have a daily quiet time; we plan to reach out to our family and friends to share the gospel; we plan to get our kids into a great college; or we plan to marry the person of our dreams.  The plans go on and on.  Some plans are more detailed than others, but to some degree we have thoughts of how things will go in our lives.  Having a plan is a good thing; however, what happens when life throws us a curve ball or as Mike Tyson stated, “When we get punched in the mouth”?   Does adversity or an unexpected life event derail us?  Do we lose all hope?  Where do we truly put our trust when things get rough?

I think about my life and the hardships I have had to endure.  Not that my life has been some great struggle, but I would say I faced my share of challenges along the way.  I had always thought that when the struggles came, I would be able to lean upon my Heavenly Father.  In theory, that was what I would do.  However, when challenges came, I would turn to my own strength or knowledge to get me through.  My first thought would be, “what can I do”, rather than look to God.  Sadly, this would generally cause even more struggle and strife. 

Here, the Psalmist asks where does my help come from?  We are reminded that our help comes from our Heavenly Father, the creator of everything.  The psalmist is not stating that we will not struggle or fail; rather, he is sharing the promise that our God will be there for us.  He is the one who has never left us and will catch us when we fall.  The degree to which we fall may vary, however the promise is that our Heavenly Father will be there for us.  He is our keeper and will not forsake us.

No matter what trials we may be facing or what plans have gone astray, remember that God’s hand is big enough to cover us all.  There will be a time when we are punched in the mouth; but when that time comes, we have to make sure the wheels don’t come off the wagon.  We need not solely on our own strength but be mindful to look to our Father.  It is a choice that we must actively make.  Let us all choose to know and believe that through it all, our Father is always there for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, once again I come to You in need of confessing that You have been an afterthought, a footnote, in my life far too long. Lord, when trials come, instead of calling another human being for comfort or counsel, remind me to get on my knees and cry out to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 3-4

July 24, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church in Raleigh, was originally posted on December 17, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Missing Cookies and a Breached Wall”

Proverbs 25:28

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

My children love all kinds of dessert: ice cream, cookies, cakes, etc.  A few months ago, my wife made a batch of cookies, so I told my kids that they were not allowed to have any until after dinner.  But right before dinner, I saw that several cookies were missing, along with a mess of crumbs all over the table.  I realized that the gratification of cookies was too much to handle and as a result my kids gave into temptation.

Solomon, the writer of this proverb, compares a person without self-control to a breached wall.  The city walls protect the people from all sorts of attacks from surrounding enemies.   So the picture the writer gives is that of a city whose walls have been so nearly destroyed as to be without defense against the enemy;  likewise, the man who has no restraint over his spirit is also defenseless and exposed to temptations, which eventually leads to sin.  He has no defense against anger, lust, and the other unrestrained emotions that are harmful for the soul, as well as to others. Solomon reminds us that we should see self-control as a wall for defense and protection from the appetites of our flesh.

What area in your life do you need to ask for greater self-control?  It could be lust, anger, shopping, your speech or something else. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can change us and give us the self-control we need to live a godly lifestyle.  Spend some time this morning asking the Lord to search your heart and surrender the areas you need more self-control in.   

Prayer: Dear God, only You can change my heart that lacks self-control at times in various areas of my life.  Through the power of the Spirit, change me and fill me with more of You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 2

Lunch Study Break

2 Timothy 1:6-8: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is Paul telling Timothy concerning the Holy Spirit?
  2. Why do you think Paul is reminding him of this truth?
  3. How is this applicable in our daily lives?

Notes

  1. The effective Christian worker must have the power of the Holy Spirit, but that power must be expressed in a loving spirit. The Spirit also gives us self-discipline to flee from temptations and to live a God-centered lifestyle.
  2. We tend to forget the power that is available to us in our everyday lives.  The Holy Spirit gives us the power to change as we abide in Christ (John 15) and is not an act of self-will.  
  3. We need to be filled with more of Jesus so that we can experience His power and love, and to better minister to others.

Evening Reflection

What are some areas you need to surrender to the Lord so that you would be “protected” by self-control?   We need to allow the Spirit to continue to work in our lives so that we would experience his transforming power and grace.  Spend some time in prayer.   

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

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

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. What is the good work that God began in us?
  2. What are the implications of the fact that God is bringing our faith to completion?
  3. 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

  1. Could you say in light of this passage that you are following Christ? 
  2. What is the one thing you have tangibly denied to follow Christ today? 
  3. 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 

  1. 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. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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

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

Notes

  1. Jesus spoke these words at the Feast of Booths, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.     
  2. 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. 
  3. 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