UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, prepared by Pastor Jason Sato who is currently serving in Japan as a missionary, is an updated version of his blog first posted on December 11, 2013. Jason is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Our Posture During Uncertain Times”
Psalm 125:1-5
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. 3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong. 4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts! 5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the Lord will lead away with evildoers! Peace be upon Israel!
We have known all too well that we live in a rapidly changing world where technology, culture, and even values are changing at a dizzying pace. What none of us really knew is how invisible virus can greatly disrupt our personal lives just as swiftly: our finances, relationships, and health, to name a few. In the midst of such uncertainty, who cannot be “moved,” that is, ready to give up on God? But those who trust in the Lord will not be moved!
We often try to find stability in money, power, and acceptance by others, but these things are shaky ground. Now, that is a gross understatement in view of all that has happened just in the past few months. Entrusting ourselves to them will only lead to disappointment and even despair, day to day, hour to hour. Only God and our faith in His goodness are a firm foundation, even if we don’t always understand what He is doing in our lives.
Why should we trust this God? Because He is the One who is near, who is faithful, who protects His people; He is holy and just who shuns evil.
Take a moment to meditate on the One who remains constant. Reflect on His character and His promises that remain the same even though everything else is continually changing.
Prayer: Father, You are my rock. You alone are ever faithful, unchanging in Your power, goodness, and love. Thank You for being my firm foundation in the midst of a world that is so unstable. Enable me to entrust myself to You today. May my joy, freedom, purpose, and life be firmly fixed regardless of my circumstances because of Your Son. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: 1 Corinthians 13
Lunch Break Study
Read Psalm 1:1-4: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Questions to Consider
- What is the path to blessings?
- Who is like a planted tree?
- What are the signs of a tree planted by the streams of water?
Notes
- Avoiding the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners, and the seat of scoffers. This may include advices given by experts that may sound humanly acceptable but are antithetical to God’s truth.
- The one who delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night, and then puts it to practice (Matt. 7:24-7).
- It certainly would include bearing good fruits and not withering. In the same way, those who dwell in Christ would be just as fruitful in their lives, bearing fruits such as love, peace, kindness, etc. (Gal. 5:22-3).
Evening Reflection
Reflect on your day in light of the signs of a tree planted by the streams of water. Does your life reflect these kinds of fruit? As your read Acts 20, ask the Lord to help you to delight in His Word.