REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 11, 2015, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church plant by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Batman is One of Us!”
Esther 10:1-2
King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.
Batman has been and will always be one of the greatest and well-loved superheroes. But the main reason Batman is so adored is not because he has super-human strength (he doesn’t), nor is it because he can fly (he can’t); he can’t turn invisible or shoot lasers from his eyes either. I think the thing about Batman that draws us to him is the fact that Batman is “one of us.” Yes, he fights for justice and defeats bad guys, but when it comes down to it, Batman is like us—fully human!
There is something about a powerful figure/leader being “one of us” that makes him trustworthy. No one really wants to trust a leader with whom we can’t relate to, who doesn’t really understand what it’s like to be one of us. Perhaps that is why having Mordecai at the right hand of the king was such a blessing to the Jewish people of that time. One of the most powerful people in the land was “one of them”! The Jewish people prospered because Mordecai sat at the right hand of the king.
In Jesus, we have a greater “Mordecai.” Seated at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus not only understands everything we go through, but also is Himself fully human! We have a Lord who is “one of us”! Have you ever thought to yourself, No one understands me? Today, let us draw near with confidence to our Lord who understands us completely.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being our sympathetic High Priest. Because of You, we can approach the presence of God confidently. Today, may we remember Your promise that You will be with us, even to the end of the age.
Bible Reading for Today: John 21
Lunch Break Study
Read Hebrews 4:12-16: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Questions to Consider
- According to the passage, can we hide our flaws, weaknesses, and sins from God?
- How can we approach God’s throne with confidence?
- How is Jesus able to sympathize with our weaknesses?
Notes
- According to this passage, no creature is able to hide from God, but all are naked and exposed before Him. This is a simple, yet sobering, and potentially frightening truth.
- We are able to approach God’s throne with confidence for one reason: Jesus Christ is our High Priest. He has made atonement for us and intercedes on our behalf.
- Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because He has been tempted in every respect! That means that any temptation you have felt, Jesus has felt it too. In Scripture, we only have a handful of explicit examples of Jesus being tempted. But this passage tells us that there isn’t a temptation that we’ve felt that Jesus hasn’t also felt Himself. Furthermore, Jesus overcame each of these temptations—without sinning. Looking to Jesus, we see a Lord who is familiar with our plight, and He also gives us the strength to overcome.
Evening Reflection
Imagine that your closest friend became the next President of the United States: How would your life change? What would your communication with him/her be like? Knowing that Jesus is not only the King of kings, but that He also calls you friend, how should we approach Him?