REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, was first posted on June 1, 2015. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA), Yohan served as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Don’t Trivialize God’s Blessing in Your Life”
2 Sam 22:31-37
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 33 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great.
37 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.
For all intents and purposes, I consider myself a Philadelphian. One of the unique traits of Philly folks is that not only do we not mind being booed, we actually thrive on it. Now when you combine this trait with my Asian cultural upbringing of deferring compliments, you get a pretty quirky personality trait. Not only am I uncomfortable with compliments, I enjoy being criticized; and if no one is there to criticize me, I’ll put myself down. For example, the other day I fixed something in our house. My wife said to me something to the effect, “You did a really nice job fixing that. Thank you for doing it.” I responded with, “Well, it took me three tries, three hours, and $50, all of which I could have saved if I wasn’t so dumb to break it to begin with.”
I used to think that self-deprecation was a noble trait as it seems like a variant of humility, but I have come to realize that humility entails understanding what God is doing in you, and acknowledging Him for that—simply put, giving credit where credit is due, namely to God. Think about David’s life: We are introduced to the youngest son of Jesse as a shepherd who also serves as the family’s delivery boy. We watch this teenager kill a giant; then as a young man, he leads armies, and ascends to the throne. If anyone had a reason to become proud, it was he. However, instead of trivializing his accomplishments, David acknowledges that it was the Lord who “arms [him] with strength, causes [him] to stand on the heights, and trains [his] hands for battle.”
My guess is that there are many of you reading today’s devotional who have accomplished well for yourselves and your families. In light of all this, I hope that you have a proper perspective of your life, not trivializing the ways that God has blessed you and worked through you. But I also hope that you do not fall into the trap of believing that it was all your hard work and talents that got you to where you are. Let’s acknowledge as David did: “You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.”
Prayer: Lord, help me to see and acknowledge what you are doing in my life, and how you are using me. Help me to be sober-minded and humble, and also to be bold to know that there will be times when You want to use me. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 13
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Peter 4:7-11: The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Questions to Consider
- What do you think Peter means when he says “love covers over a multitude of sins”?
- How are stewarded gifts a demonstration of God’s grace (v. 10)?
- What gifts are specified in this passage? And are any of these gifts you should develop for your personal ministry?
Notes
- In this context, it would seem that the attribute of love that covers over a multitude of sins is forgiveness. In other words, by forgiving we can “cover” wrongs done to us and vice versa.
- When gifts such as hospitality and service are administered, we see and feel God’s love and grace demonstrated through his church. Anyone who has ever been in need of help can attest to this.
- Hospitality, speaking (probably teaching or prophesy), and serving are specifically mentioned here, but all of your God given gifts should be used to build up the church.
Evening Reflection
Did you serve anyone today in the grace of the Lord, through his power? Did you acknowledge or feel the Lord’s power on you? Even in your job, did you thank the Lord because it is He who enables you to work and gain wealth (Deut. 8:17-18). Take time to thank Him for your life.