NEW Today’s AMI QT blog is written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), currently serves associate pastor at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.
Devotional Thought for Today
“We Must See!”
2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
“2020 vision”
Companies rallied behind this overused mantra believing that 2020 would be the year of clarity and new breakthroughs. Yet no one could have anticipated the events unfolding today. Instead of a year of moving forward, it seems we haven’t moved very much. If anything, we have moved backwards as we have been inundated with tumultuous events no one saw coming. And in response, we can become, like the servant in our passage today, so fixated on the events themselves that we lose sight of God. Thus, more than ever before, we need to pray as Elisha prayed for his servant: “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.”
Matthew 6:22-23 describes the eye as the lamp of the body. Simply put, if your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light and vice versa. This is to say, how and what we see has a direct impact on the state of our being. For the servant, his circumstances compromised his vision because he could only see the looming threat of the Syrian army and this left him trapped in his own fear.
Likewise, when we see all the events happening around us, what do we see? For some, we would rather choose to look away blinded by our own apathy and distractions. Maybe for some, they are too near-sighted, thereby being lost in their own immediate needs; for others, they are too far-sighted, thereby focusing only on what’s to come. And in our passage this morning we see that a compromised vision can often lead us to fear; yet a vision clearly fixated on God always leads us to faith and hope.
This morning, we must pray as Elisha did, “O Lord, please open our eyes that we may see.” Before we hear what social and mainstream media has to say about our world, may we start each day by praying “O Lord, please open my eyes that I may see.” And as we pray, may we see the mountain full of horses and chariots of the Lord’s hand and how He is working even in the midst of this. May we not react to what we see but respond to what He reveals to us in faith.
Prayer: O Lord, please open our eyes that we may see. Forgive us that we often react to things out of fear and make decisions based on fear. Thank You that in the midst of all of us this You are in complete control. We put our trust and hope in You.
Bible Reading for Today: 1 Corinthians 8
Lunch Break Study
Read Philippians 3:7-11: But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Questions to Consider
- What does Paul mean “but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”?
- For Paul, losing everything, including his many accolades, was worth it. Why?
- During this time, what does it look like for us to know Christ?
Notes
- In the verses before, Paul outlines his many accolades that point to his legalistic righteousness. Paul reminds us our righteousness before God is not and cannot ever be based on our own doing but can only come through Christ.
- For the sake of knowing Christ. Notice here that Paul does not say for the sake of “doing” things for Christ, but simply knowing him. Paul experiences a relationship with Christ based on grace and this makes everything else he had done dim in comparison. For Paul, knowing Christ was far greater than doing things for Christ.
- Personal Reflection. Paul calls our attention to this relationship between knowing him and sharing in his sufferings. What does it mean for us to share in his sufferings as well?
Evening Reflection
Recently, I read an article about the burden leaders have to carry during this time. In addition to balancing their marriages and families, they must also lead the church and our members. More than ever, leaders are called to discern truth in the midst of all the noise happening around them. We need more Elishas who can pray for our leaders to have a clear vision focused on Him. Spend some time praying for your leaders. Pray they would continue to persevere to have eyes of faith.