UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 26, 2013.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Who is the Real Fool?”
Psalm 19:1-4
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun.
A chapter in Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion is entitled, “Why there almost certainly is no God,” which seems to suggest that even if God were looking right at Dawkins, he would deny Him. Perhaps, that is why David declared, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’ (Ps. 14:1a).
But “through the researchers of anthropologists, we now know that almost all the races of men have some knowledge and belief in one Supreme God” (Neill 1986:13). Why? As the Psalmist declared, the most natural response to observing the symmetry of the universe is to acknowledge that it was created. Mathematical physicist Paul Davies, then an agnostic, quipped, “It looks like somebody made the universe. I don’t think it was made, but it sure looks that way.” What Davies didn’t want to admit then was the existence of an infinite and personal God, who not only created the universe for us, but wants to have a relationship with us through His Son Jesus Christ! Why would this God do this for us finite beings? It’s because God loves us. God loves you!
So, if you are still doubting God’s existence, stop being a fool and follow the trail of evidence—it will lead you to the One who created you and loves you. As those who already believe, how big is your God? Perhaps you made Him too small! Mediate on His amazing power and start trusting God more.
Prayer: Heavenly Father who created the universe, no words can adequately capture this amazing fact that You want to get to know me and that I matter to You. Important people in our society wouldn’t give me the time of day, but You created the universe so that I can know that You exist. And finally, You sent Jesus so that I can know You personally! I praise and glorify You for that. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 37
Lunch Break Study
Read Romans 1:18-23: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
Questions to Consider
- From a Scriptural standpoint, why are those who refuse to believe in God’s existence deemed as fools (Rom. 1:18-23)?
- Why do they do this? Is it mostly intellectual or personal?
- What’s needed to acknowledge the existence of God? Blind faith or reasonable faith (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 1:18, Ps. 19:1-4)?
Notes
- Atheists are deemed fools because they refuse to acknowledge that which is knowable about God. For instance, even though they admit that the universe is fine-tuned to make intelligent life possible (i.e., anthropic principle), they rather believe that it was a result of chance than the work of a designer (God).
- Suppressing the truth by their wickedness” means it is personal, denying God’s existence and His laws, so they can live any way they want.
- One needs faith to believe in God, for Hebrew 11:6 states “anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists.” But this isn’t a blind faith that posits: Even if there is no good reason to suppose that God exists, I believe it anyway due to my desperate desire to live eternally. No, the Scripture asks us to have a reasonable faith, meaning there are enough credible signs (plausible evidence) to warrant that this road will lead to God.
Evening Reflection
Go out and look up to see the symmetry that adorns the night sky. Then come back to review your day in view of God’s grandeur. And if you are willing, consider these questions:
We all have had doubts about our faith. While intellectual answers are adequate, the most meaningful answer will come from our personal relationship with God. For instance, what makes you believe that God exists from your personal experiences with Him?
If we believe in the God of the Bible, that belief ought to affect the way we think and behave, transforming us, however gradually. Have you allowed God to really transform every facet of your life (business, family, finance, recreation, etc.)?