February 20, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on April 4, 2019—was written by Pastor Phil Chen. The Pillar Church, under Phil’s leadership, will officially launch in Houston this Sunday. May the Lord bless this new church to bear much fruit and lead many to Christ.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Dangerous Ox”

Exodus 21:28-29, 35-36

When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death… When one man’s ox butts another’s, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and share its price, and the dead beast also they shall share. Or if it is known that the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not kept it in, he shall repay ox for ox, and the dead beast shall be his.

There is a verse in the book of Hebrews that scared the daylights out of me when I first read it. And I think it’s something that many of today’s Christians need to hear. “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26). To be clear, the author of Hebrews is not saying that there is a sin that’s too big for Jesus’ blood to cover. Of course not. Jesus’ blood is more than enough to cover any and all of our sins. However, what the author of Hebrews warns against is a spirit of rebellion. This is when someone knows the truth of the Gospel, understands the grace of God… and yet they willfully choose to live in sin. This type of behavior, according to the author of Hebrews, is not acceptable.

Today’s passage from Exodus 21 reflects a similar sentiment. In the passage, God explains the protocol for when an ox gores a person or another animal. Notice that if the owner had prior knowledge, the penalty becomes much more severe!  In a way, the passage is saying, ‘How can you, after coming to knowledge about the dangerous nature of your ox, refuse to do something about it? This type of mistake is not an accident, it’s rebellion.’ Although this passage seems to be about oxen (a subject that is hardly relevant to us today), it also reveals a deeper principle… that once we come to know something, God expects us to take action on it.

The question for this morning is this: Is there any willful sin in your life? Is there a dangerous ox in your life that you know about, but haven’t taken action on? If so, it is not something that should be taken lightly! Instead, we should bring it to our Lord with a heart of repentance.

Prayer: Father, may we not live in the immature ways of our past. Instead, as we grow in the knowledge of You, may our actions follow suit. Give us grace, courage, and clarity this morning to deal with any willful sin that has gone unchecked. We bring it to you in repentance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:26-29: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?

Questions to Consider

  • How did the Law of Moses treat those who deliberately rebelled against it?
  • According to the passage, what does the Mosaic Law tell us about deliberate rebellion against Jesus?
  • What exactly is the author of this passage warning against?

Notes

  • Read Numbers 15:27-28, 30-31 – “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven… But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.” In the Old Testament, the Mosaic Law ordered that anyone who committed willful sin be utterly cut off from the people.
  • The passage compares rebellion against the Mosaic Law to rebellion against Jesus. It highlights that a rebellion against the Son of God is worthy of much worse punishment.
  • If this passage has struck some fear into your heart. That is most likely a good thing. But it is important that we fear the correct things. The passage is not saying that we must live a perfect life, no is it saying that certain sins are too big in magnitude for Jesus’ blood to cover over. The passage starts off like this, “if we go on sinning deliberately…” The author is warning against living a lifestyle of willful sin after coming to knowledge of God’s saving grace. For such a person has already heard the Good News, and yet they still have chosen to live in rebellion to God. This is what we must be careful of! 

Evening Reflection

Spend some time tonight meditating on Psalm 32:1-7 

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah  

February 19, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 4, 2019, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“No, You Aren’t Sitting This One Out”

Exodus 18:13-23

The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?”15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”17 Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

In an exercise in management and organizational behavior worthy of Harvard Business Review, Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, saves his son-in-law from certain burnout. Not to mention, he also saves the Israelites from endless frustration, as there was no way one man could have addressed their myriad problems. Instituting a pyramid org chart, Jethro helps to “filter and funnel” Israel’s problems so that only the most difficult cases were placed before Moses. What’s the takeaway from this ancient episode for us? Simply this: We are all meant to partake in ministry.

It is no coincidence that this event takes place shortly after deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Come New Testament, we know that Egypt represented not physical bondage, but bondage to sin, and that Jesus was the one like Moses who would deliver His brothers from spiritual slavery. However, once He does so, He immediately turns His attention to getting us in the game:

Ephesians 4:10-12: He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

There will always be some in Christian leadership especially well-suited to tackling the “hard problem” – the elders, those with the gift of the word of wisdom, etc. – but this doesn’t mean that everyone else sits out while they do the “real ministry.” Christ has given us all gifts and abilities with which we can make a difference in the world for the kingdom of God. If we stick with the old 80/20 rule – that 80% of the work in the church is done by 20% of the people (or, worse yet, 90/10!), we will inevitably find burnt out leaders and a congregation, not to mention world, that’s not being ministered to. Whether as an influencer of “ten” or a “thousand,” there is a place of ministry for you alongside the true Moses, Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for delivering me from the bondage of sin. I acknowledge that You saved me, not so that I could sit on the sidelines, but so that I could serve others with the gifts and abilities that You have given me. May Your Spirit fill me with faith, boldness, and the security of knowing that I am a beloved child of God, so that I may walk in your will and be used to be a blessing to others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 10:17-22: And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Questions to Consider

  • If the rich young man was so good at keeping commandments, why didn’t he think that he was worthy of eternal life?
  • Does Jesus’ command to the young man mean that we also need to give away everything we have? How does this apply to us?
  • What was Jesus’ attitude towards the young man when He commanded him to sell everything? How should this encourage us?

Notes

  • There was another god in his life- money- and he could feel it weighing on his soul.
  • Whatever it is that we are not willing to give away is what Jesus would have us give away.
  • He loved him. Whatever it is that God is asking you to surrender, you can do so in faith because you know that His motivation towards you is love.

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to reflect upon your day. What were the moments of tension or conflict that you experienced in your heart? Do you notice a pattern that might reveal something that has mastery over your heart?

February 18, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—first posted on May 29, 2019—is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim, the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A People of Rest”

Exodus 31:13-14

“But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 14 Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 

You know you’re from Atlanta (pronounced At-lan-na) when Chick-fil-A isn’t just fast food; it’s a way of life. And you know that there’s no other day that you want Chick-fil-A more than on a Sunday—the day when this icon of delicious Southern hospitality is closed nationwide. This is what is said on their website in regards to their weekly Sunday closure:

“Having worked seven days a week in restaurants open 24 hours, Truett [Cathy, founder] saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose – a practice we uphold today.” And despite opening one day less than most of its competitors, we see that Chick-fil-A on average sales per restaurant is greater than the likes of McDonalds and KFC.

In today’s passage, God once again reiterates the importance of the Sabbath. We see how important the Sabbath is by looking at the language used: “you shall surely… it is holy… put to death… cut off from among his people.” And the ultimate reason why this commandment is given is so that in observing the Sabbath, the people may know God is the Lord that sanctifies them. It is recognizing that it is God alone who delivered the Israelites from Egypt, it is God alone who provides for them as they wandered in the desert, and it is God alone who shall lead them into the Promised Land. 

The Sabbath represents the relationship that God’s people enjoy with Him as they are able to rest from all labor and worship Him on this day. What is implied is that those who are not under this covenantal relationship with God cannot enjoy this kind of rest—they must continue to toil and struggle. It is an expression of trust—trusting that in our obedience, God will take care of the rest. Not that we believe that just because we observe the Sabbath, we will be rewarded with financial success like Chick-fil-A, but there is a peace and freedom that comes from knowing that He is our God and we are His people. 

In a society driven by grit and hustle, it is truly refreshing to believe that as God’s people, we can live with this sense of peace and rest, because we know who we truly are in Him. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for Jesus who is our peace. We thank You that because of the cross, that we no longer have to live based on our own righteousness, but we are able to live in the reality that we are Your children. Help us to observe the Sabbath as a testament of that truth, not just on Sundays, but everyday of our lives. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 19

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 6:25-27: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

John 1:12-13: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Questions to Consider

  • What lesson is Jesus drawing for the crowd as He directs their attention to the creation? If the argument is from lesser to greater, how are we to understand our relationship with God?
  • What does the John passage teach us in regards to who we are for those who have received Christ? What connections can we make with the Matthew passage?
  • When you think about the things you are anxious or fearful about, how might these things conflict with your identity as a child of God? How is the Spirit leading you toward peace?

Notes

  • When looking at creation, we see that the animals and plants are taken care of by the natural order of God. Unlike their human counterparts, we see that creation does not have an elaborate tactic of security. And if God cares for them, the rhetorical question asked is, how much more so does our Heavenly Father care for us?
  • John teaches us that through Christ alone have we been given the right to be called children of God. In connection to the Matthew passage, Christ’s offer of grace seals our right to be children of God; therefore, more than all of creation, our Heavenly Father will provide and protect His children. This security is given to us by something more precious than our blood-lineage; it is guaranteed by the righteousness of Jesus. 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Gratitude is a good thermometer of how we are doing in terms of casting our anxieties upon Him. As you end another day, take some time to recognize and give thanks for God’s many provisions for you, how you can live in true freedom rather than under the yoke of constantly seeking security that can only be held by ourselves.

February 17, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional—originally posted on May 21, 2019—is provided by Jennifer Kim, who faithfully served on staff at several AMI churches in years past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Atoning Sacrifice”

Exodus 29:10-25

 “Bring the bull to the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head. 11 Slaughter it in the Lord’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 12 Take some of the bull’s blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour out the rest of it at the base of the altar. 13 Then take all the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, and both kidneys with the fat on them, and burn them on the altar. 14 But burn the bull’s flesh and its hide and its intestines outside the camp. It is a sin offering. 15 “Take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.16 Slaughter it and take the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar. 17 Cut the ram into pieces and wash the internal organs and the legs, putting them with the head and the other pieces. 18 Then burn the entire ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the Lord, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 19 “Take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on its head.20 Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then splash blood against the sides of the altar. 21 And take some blood from the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated. 22 “Take from this ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat on the internal organs, the long lobe of the liver, both kidneys with the fat on them, and the right thigh. 23 From the basket of bread made without yeast, which is before the Lord, take one round loaf, one thick loaf with olive oil mixed in, and one thin loaf. 24 Put all these in the hands of Aaron and his sons and have them wave them before the Lord as a wave offering. 25 Then take them from their hands and burn them on the altar along with the burnt offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord, a food offering presented to the Lord.”

Two months ago, my dog of 17 years passed away.  Although I had prepared myself for this sad day, the grief was one that I still cannot explain.  Most of it came, when looking back, from the realization that my dog had been with me for more years of my life than not.  She saw me through my rebellious, absent teenage years to my move to college that left me seeing her only a few times a year, until I moved back home during the last years of her life.  As I saw all the transitions that she had gone through to cater to my absent lifestyle, I realized her undying loyalty and faithfulness to me until the end.  It was precisely this realization that brought me so much grief as I regretted my choices to not be a better caretaker.

Today’s passage highlights the unusual process of laying hands on an animal’s head before slaughtering it before the Lord.  This process was meant to symbolize the transference of sin from a guilty person onto an animal that, then, is slaughtered as a substitutionary sacrifice.  We know that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23) and to approach a holy God we must be cleansed by an atoning sacrifice.  What a humbling experience: to put your hands on the head of an innocent animal as you confess the sins that you should die for, and then witness its innocent death in your place.

Although the death of my dog and the regret I felt in no way compares to witnessing something die in place of my sins, I can see the weightiness that God desired for all people to understand during this process.  We must recognize that the road to sin is death and it separates us from the God who desires to be in a relationship with us.  However, God does not leave us here; He gives us a gift – an ultimate sacrifice that will take our place forever.  “For the wages of sin [may be] death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).  

Today let us remember the cost of sin and the sacrifice it took, but may it not leave us in despair or regret, but thanksgiving for Jesus’ work on the cross.   And most of all, may it lead us to action to pursue a life of purity because we know, through the work of Christ, God does not just delight in sacrifice and takes no pleasure in burnt offerings, but a broken and contrite heart he does not despise (Ps. 51:16-17).

Prayer: God I thank You for Your love that moved You to stand in the place of my death.  And thank You that I may now freely approach Your throne.  Help me to never forget the cost of my sins, but may it lead me to a life of purity that seeks to honor You in all things.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 6:15-23:What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider 

  • What are the effects of living as a slave to sin compared to living as a slave to righteousness?
  • What is the mark that you are not a slave to sin but to righteousness?
  • This passage reveals that we are either a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness, for we cannot serve two masters.  Is there any sin in your life that is preventing you from living in righteousness?

Notes

  • Slaves of sin will reap death (v.16) while slaves of righteousness will live in holiness and eternal life (v.22).
  • A life of obedience (v.16).
  • Personal.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to reflect on the day.  Were you living in the righteousness given to you through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross?  Or were you living in sin?  If you find yourself discouraged at the sins of your life, remember we are living under grace because of Christ.  That does not mean we can continue living in sin, as we read in today’s lunch break study, but it does mean God’s mercies are new every morning. As you go in repentance, ask the Lord for strength to live in obedience and righteousness tomorrow.

February 16, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 3, 2019.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Guidance Today”

Exodus 23:20-21 (NIV)

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. 21 Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him. 

In every season and iteration of doing life with God, in biblical times and today, the people of God are given God’s guidance for life’s journey. For the Israelites after the exodus, a visible manifestation of God’s presence was given. A pillar of smoke by night and fire by day guided their journey through the wilderness. God promised, in the verses above, to send a heavenly messenger ahead of them for the purposes of both guidance and protection. All the people had to do was pay attention to God’s messenger, listen and obey. 

It almost seems silly that God would command them to listen and not rebel against the angel. After all, they are in the wilderness with no clue how to get to the place they are going. God brought them out of the place they left and God alone could lead them to wherever they are headed. Furthermore, God is promising both guidance and protection. Why on earth would they rebel against that!? Well, we know how the story goes. The journey through the wilderness was long and hard and the hearts of the people were far from formed in righteousness. And, thus, rebellion was swift and sure. 

I often wish we had physical manifestations of God’s presence today. A clear, audible voice to say do this or that and a visible manifestation of Godself guiding and protecting us every day. But even with those things in place, we too would rebel. And although we are without smoke and fire, God has not left us alone—we have the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is our help, who comes alongside us to guide our steps and guard our way. God’s Spirit within us forms our heart so that we are able to not rebel and so are positioned to experience the fullness of God’s promises, the abundant afforded in Christ. But sometimes, at least for me, it’s hard to know when the Spirit is speaking and how God is calling me to obey. 

I’ve picked up a few tools over the years that have been helpful: 

(1) Time in God’s word (Scripture), time with God’s people (fellowship), and time in God’s presence (prayer): God has revealed Godself in Scripture, God’s presence resides in God’s people, and God has promised to meet us in prayer. 

(2) Contemplative practices and Sabbath rest: In contemplation, the heart and mind are able to slow down and become aware of oneself, one’s surrounds, and God’s presence (which is always near). Likewise, rhythms that honor Sabbath leave margin for us to sense God’s movements. 

Regardless of your preferred practice, we must each find ways to sense the movement and hear the voice of God’s Spirit. 

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Prayer: Dear Lord, guide me toward Your path, toward Your will, toward Your Son.  Thank You for the Word and the Spirit through which I’m guided by You daily.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-12 (NIV):You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Question to Consider

  • In the first few verses, what is the psalmist (David) emphasizing about God? Why is this such mind-blowing truth? 
  • How does David respond to God’s intimate knowledge of and constant nearness to him?
  • How does God’s intimate knowledge of you make you feel? Does it encourage you or make you feel “hemmed in”? How does knowing God is always near make you feel? Fearful or safe? Why might you feel this way? 

Notes

  • David is focusing on God’s intimate knowledge of him. God knows the intricacies of his heart and all the facts of his life. God knows his daily movements and is aware of his mundane activities and even his travel plans. Even when David thinks he’s far from God, God is so near as to know David’s thoughts. God knows his words and everything about him. 

Because theology teaches us that God is all-knowing, the awesomeness of these statements may be lost upon us. God is infinite and has no reason or need to be so actively mindful of you or me. God chooses this. Just imagine what it would take for you to exist in the kind of relationship with another person that was so intimate that you could make these statements about them. 

  • Not positively… David feels trapped or hemmed in by God. Even if he wanted to escape, he feels like he couldn’t. That’s a fearsome thought. This is of course David’s initial response. Later in the Psalm he is thankful for God’s presence and invites God to “search and know” him. 
  • Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)

Two questions, informed by Romans 12:1-2, have come in clutch for me as I seek to discern the leading of the Spirit in my life. The first is, “God, what do you want me to do for you?” or, to put it a different way, “How can I offer myself to You in worship in this specific situation?” The second is, “What do I want to do for and with God?” or, “In light of my resources (time, talent, treasure) and the sort of person God has formed in me, how can I intentionally and strategically orient and direct the whole of my life toward the end of maximum Kingdom impact?” The first question is a micro kind of question and has been helpful in all the little decisions that come my way on any given day. The second approaches Spiritual guidance on a more macro level and has help me keep the end goal in mind. 

What kinds of questions help you discern God’s guidance in your life? Spend time reflecting on Romans 12:1-2. What would it look like for you to offer yourself (your time, talent, and treasures) in worship to God in your present context? In light of your personality, gifts, resources, passions and experiences, what might strategic Kingdom building look like in your life long term? 

February 15, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on October 21, 2018.  Andrew, a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Christ Has to Do With Our Digitalized Life”

Jeremiah 46:27-28

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord,
for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Sociologists have suggested that 2007 changed the course of history. It was the year that Steve Jobs released the first iPhone and Facebook opened up its platform to anyone who wanted to connect to the new digital age. With the advent of these technological advances, we have seen the world progress in ways we could have never imagined—accomplishing things at a much faster pace. However, it does not come without its downfalls. Nonstop connection to our smartphones and social media has made this the age of anxiety. There are many reasons for this. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others through Facebook or Instagram, always feeling as if our lives are not as fun or meaningful as the ones we see on our screens. Furthermore, the smartphone has allowed us to take our work home and we have become a generation of workaholics. Devices that were supposed to save us time has only increased our work. Due to these things, our souls are tired and restless—weighed down by the pressure to succeed, produce, and live a life worth posting on social media. 

In today’s passage we see a word of hope given to Israel. Even with their exile inevitably coming to them, there will come a time when “Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease.” In other words, there will be rest from their enemies and they would no longer have to fight for their promised land. The Jews called this Sabbath rest, where all threats to their existence would be dissipated because of God’s deliverance and love for them. They would no longer have to be restless, always on guard to make sure their enemies don’t destroy them. 

And in the same way, this is the hope given to us through Jesus Christ. We live in a restless world where we are constantly fighting to embrace our identity in Christ—different factors perpetually trying to lure us away from God’s truth and tempting us to measure who we are with the standard of the world. And this is a tiring fight. However, there will come a day when Jesus comes back, where these temptations will no longer fight for our identity. We will find true rest in who we are in Christ when the world is renewed for all eternity. Let us continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing that we will find the rest our hearts are looking for when Christ comes back! 

Prayer: Father, I confess that my soul is tired from the pressures of this world. I pray that You would give rest for my soul as I find my worth and identity in who You are. Help me to continue to fight the good fight as I find hope and strength from the promise of Your return! 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 16

February 14, Saturday

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was originally posted on February 14, 2013

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Love Beyond Valentine’s Day”

Psalm 17:6-9

“I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of  your wings 9 from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.”

On this Valentine’s Day, many will express their love for that special someone with a box of chocolates and a bouquet of roses. Sweet to the palate and pleasing to the senses, these gifts are delightful—but they quickly fade. 

Here, David asks God to show the wonder of His great love by protecting him from those who seek to harm him. Yet if we base God’s love solely on how often He rescues us in the ways we imagine, disappointment will eventually follow. God does not always deliver us according to our script.

There is, however, one unfailing way to know that we are the apple of God’s eye. Paul puts it like this: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). That love will never perish; it is eternally secure.

Remember that billions of people on this earth don’t believe in Christ—but you do. That’s special. Why you? For now, simply enjoy the wonder of it.

Prayer: Dear God, before I begin this day, I confess my tendency to take Your love for granted. As if the gift of faith—the grace to believe in Your Son—were not enough, I often complain about my circumstances, especially when I compare myself to others. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to recognize each day that the love You have shown in Christ is more than sufficient for me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 14-15

February 13, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on March 8, 2019. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Resilient Faith”

Exodus 10:1, 3 

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them!’… So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh…”

I recently applied to business school programs. It took a lot of preparation – studying for exams, getting recommendations, and writing essays. I was short-sighted to think that the hardest part was applying. The hardest part has been waiting to hear back from these schools. At the time of writing, I have only received rejections so far. While I felt led by Him entering this process, I’ve noticed that my hopefulness has still taken a hit with these decisions. It becomes increasingly hard to start each day wondering whether I will receive news, and sometimes I even go as far as to avoid checking my email. Though this process is far from over, I find that sustaining my hope has been difficult.

If you are tracking with the narrative, you know that we are now between the seventh and eighth plagues. This means that Moses has gone before Pharaoh, stated his case, and received rejection seven times! Yet when God calls him to go again, Moses does so without any recorded hesitation or frustration. Each time, Moses continues to present Himself to Pharaoh – this time could be the last time! The resilience of Moses’ faith and hope to continue seeking out Pharaoh are just as astonishing as the plagues themselves.

In thinking of how to acquire such emotional and spiritual stamina, I wonder if Moses acquired such resilience and perseverance because he understood that hopefulness was not about the reward of what he wished to gain but about the God He believed in. Maintaining hope was not about his ability to drum up positive thoughts. It was possible only because he wanted to demonstrate, for as long as it took, that God is faithful to His people and always delivers them.

Walking in step with God does not always prove to be an efficient or easy path. For Moses, each step of obedience and each ensuing plague further revealed one more aspect of God’s power and glory. So, we can take heart that no matter what the path looks like, it will be paved with His glory. Until He shows us the ending, let’s ask for Him to make our hope resilient in the meantime so we may witness to the world that we have a God who is worthy of our trust. 

Prayer: Father, I desire to honor You in everything that I do. Help me to honor You even when I wait for Your answers, and in times when I doubt Your unfailing goodness and kindness in my life. Be near, Lord, to show me Your goodness and remind me of your faithfulness. May Your character be the foundation for my trust and confidence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:19-25:“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Questions to Consider

  • What is the hope that we profess to have as believers?
  • What provides the confidence for us to go before God and hold onto His promises?
  • As people who take hold of the hope in Christ, what should our natural response be?

Notes

  • Our hope is that we have relationship and communion with a loving and holy God. As believers, we profess that this is our greatest treasure and reward, that it brings us the greatest satisfaction, and that this is promised for every single moment of our lives from now to eternity. 
  • The crux of our confidence in every situation is that Christ has already opened a way for us to come near to God by His death and resurrection. He has already accomplished the impossible: for sinners to draw near to a holy God. Therefore, we have assurance that we can absolutely draw close. Additionally, God’s faithfulness gives us the assurance that this promise and hope will never be withheld from us.
  • Holding onto our hope (vertical relationship) flows naturally into our horizontal relationships. When we cling to our hope and enjoy this promised fellowship with God, our response will be to urge others to continue in their love and good deeds and to draw close to each other as well.

Evening Reflection

Oftentimes, thinking of enduring long stretches of time makes us weary before we have even started. Let’s thank God that He provided grace for us to stay faithful today, and let’s ask Him to provide grace for tomorrow. Our God is the God of all hope; He will bring us along as He shows us what is worth hoping for.

February 12, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on May 30, 2019, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Rhythm of Life”

Exodus 31:17

“It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”

A major part of my life was spent in the pool. Elementary, junior high, high school, and even one year of college, I swam competitively and played water polo, and the people on my swim team were some of my closest friends. You could say, swimming was life for me. But swimming is also a source of one of my regrets in life. 

There is a part of me that believes that I could have given more—you know that thought in your mind where you’re really trying but at the same time, you know you’re still holding back a little bit. Whether it be fear or what not, you know there is something holding you back. And I finished my swimming career with that thought lingering in my head, that I could have pushed a little harder, achieved a faster time or accomplished more. This caused me to vow that I wouldn’t make the same mistake in life. 

I think I carried some of that mentality into ministry—the idea that if you give more, more will result from it, the more input will result in more output. But I soon discovered as God begin to work through my heart, addressing the insecurities and fears, that ministry—let alone life— doesn’t work that way. Yes, we are called to be diligent, but there is no formula or mechanism that guarantees success. 

In today’s passage, we see how the idea of the Sabbath is deeply rooted in the Divine life. A commentator notes that just as God created for six days, resting on the seventh, there is a rhythm to life that is exemplified by God. As we know from the creation account, the work is not fully done—God invites Adam to join Him in the work of naming all the creatures (Genesis 2:20). And yet God sets the seventh day apart for rest. 

I think the greater spiritual lesson we can draw from this is not just the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy through rest and worship, but it is a reminder that our lives are meant to become more in sync with God. Just as a musician doesn’t make more or better music by increasing the tempo, we too must remember that in God’s Kingdom, success does not work that way. We are never meant to get in front of God or fall too far behind. 

In the Sabbath is a beautiful picture of God and His people, moving through life in synchrony. It is a paradigm shift where the abundant life is not about achieving more but being rooted and in sync with He who is life. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that You know us so well. You know our tendencies to want to move ahead of You or behind You. We want to live according to the beat of our own drum. But thank You for the reminder that true abundant life comes from a life that is in sync with You. Help us to live like this. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 12

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 11:25-30: At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Questions to Consider

  • Before He gets to the section on what our relationship looks like with Him, what does Jesus first establish in verses 25-27? How does this become an anchor to what He teaches us in the remainder of the passage?
  • If you’ve never seen what a yoke is, take some time to look on Google. Seeing how a yoke works, what insights can you draw upon how this is to be a picture of our relationship with God, especially in light of our reflection today?
    How is your co-laboring with Christ? Are you experiencing the kind of rest Jesus promises? What should your response be?

Notes

  • Before Jesus offers this relationship with us, He reiterates His relationships with the Father and to whom these things have been revealed. It also establishes Jesus’ authority as all things have been handed to Him. This thus becomes the foundation upon Jesus’ offer of rest to us is established. 
  • One of the insights we can draw upon the imagery used by Jesus is about pace. As a yoke ties two animals together to work together in tilling the field, one animal cannot move in front or fall back behind the other animal without the yoke becoming ineffective. The lightness and restfulness of being yoked with Christ comes with not only learning from Him, but walking in the pace that He establishes for us. 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As you close off another day, take a moment to “take your pulse.” How is your sense of rest? How might this be a reflection in terms of living according to God’s pace of life? As you reflect, lift up a prayer to the Lord asking Him to help you in calibrating your life to His.

February 11, Wednesday

UPDATED Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on February 23, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Two-Headed Enemy: Prayerlessness and Spiritual Exhibitionism”

Psalm 5:1-3

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Matthew 6:5a

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

As the head of Israel, King David was an extraordinarily busy man. Yet his mornings were devoted to seeking God. He understood that once the day began, uninterrupted time with the Lord would be hard to come by. And this wasn’t a brief, hurried encounter—David pleaded, cried out, and waited on the LORD.

How do you typically spend your morning hours? Could they be better used to nurture spiritual growth? As a new day begins, is there anything tugging at your heart, stirring worry or restlessness? Take a moment to lay that burden before God. Ultimately, prayerlessness reveals that we neither trust nor rely on Him.

But there is something even worse than prayerlessness: praying in order to be seen by others and appear spiritual—a kind of spiritual exhibitionism. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day perfected this practice. Yet the temptation is hardly unique to them. Many of us slip into similar patterns through other “spiritual” displays—biblical knowledge, ministry involvement, or public acts of devotion—made all the easier in an age shaped by constant socialmedia visibility. Beneath it all lies a deeper question: What truly anchors our sense of security—our performance or God’s unconditional acceptance of us in Christ?

What’s the trap when we try to earn people’s approval through our performance? It becomes addictive. Those intoxicated by it will do almost anything—tell lies, spread gossip, even stage events—to keep their audience. In the 1980s, before mobile phones became common, some people installed fake carphone antennas just to appear important. What a vivid picture of insecurity.

So how do we break free from living like that? Paul points us toward a surprising path in 2 Corinthians 12:9: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” One way to confront insecurity is to practice vulnerability—to acknowledge our weaknesses honestly and then testify to how Christ continues to heal, strengthen, and transform those very areas. Another way is to resist the impulse to showcase every act of devotion on social media. Paul puts it this way: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). Choose the life of hiddenness.

Try it today.

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom and discipline  to seek You first in the morning. I lay before You all my burden, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and Your yoke is easy and burden is light. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:1-5: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was this said (Mt. 5:1)?

2. Why was this taught2 (Mt. 16:5-6, 11, 23:2-3)?

3. What was in it for the Pharisees to behave like this?  What were they willing to do to get what they wanted (Mt. 23:5-6; Mk. 11:18; Jn. 7:31-32)?

Notes

1. Jesus said this to a large crowd that had followed him to a mountainside to listen to him.

2. He was concerned that they may learn to act like the Pharisees, their hypocritical leaders (“Don’t do what they do”).  Bad spiritual leadership can really affect people; thus, we need to be judicious in choosing our spiritual leader.

3. Having gotten used to receiving approval from the audience, the Pharisees craved for more and were willing to do anything, like praying ostentatiously before people to impress them (thus, making spirituality a means to a carnal end), or conspiring to eliminate their competition, that is, Jesus (thus, breaking the very commandments they had taught the people to obey).

Evening Reflection

Were you busy today?  Too busy to pray or too busy not to pray? Write out a prayer asking God for strength to trust Him amid your trials and those things that make you feel insecure.