July 14, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on July 23, 2016.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“How Can I Get to Heaven?”
John 17:1-3
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

How do I get to heaven? What is the secret to eternal life? What do I need to do!?
For many people seeking eternal life, their focus and attention is all wrong. They simply have a desire to live forever (i.e. not die), so they want to know the secret, the magic elixir. With this mindset, it’s like we are looking for the fountain of youth, thinking it is something we can attain once we know how. But eternal life is not about living forever, nor is it something that we simply can attain on our own.
This passage very clearly states what eternal life actually is. It’s not living forever, though that is a by-product of it, nor is it a fountain of youth that we can simply find—but eternal life is knowing God and His Son Jesus. Eternal life is about having a relationship with God through Jesus. Through this relationship we will live forever with Him, but the focus is not on us living forever; the focus is on being with Christ forever. He is our King who will reign in His Kingdom forever, and when we know Him, we enter into this eternal Kingdom.
Throughout the ages, people have been looking for the secret to everlasting life. Thankfully, the answer is not a secret; rather, it is good news to be shared with all people. Knowing Jesus Christ is eternal life and He wants to be known. Let’s dwell on Him and remember that our relationship with Him is the one thing that shall forever endure! And more than that, let’s make this good news known to all people!
Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You are eternal life. Thank You for making Yourself known to me. Without You, there is only death and despair, but with You, there is life—everlasting life! Help me to keep my focus on You, knowing You are the One constant, the One who will never change—neither in this life or the one to come!
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 21

Lunch Break Study  

Read 1 John 2:23-25: No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.
Questions to Consider

  1. What happens when we confess Jesus?
  2. What is the promise that God makes to us?
  3. How can you abide in Jesus?

Notes

  1. When we confess Jesus, we receive the Father, for Jesus is the only way to the Father (see John 14:6). Without knowing Jesus, we cannot know God, because God has made Himself known to us through Jesus. That is why knowing Jesus is necessary!
  2. Eternal life is the promise of God to us. Romans 6:23 tells us that eternal life is the gift of God in Christ. As we read in John earlier, Jesus is eternal life, so Jesus is the gift of God the Father to us, and He is the promise of God. Jesus is the One promised since the very beginning!
  3. Usually abiding means “to live or dwell” in something, so to abide in Jesus is to live in Him, to make your whole life about Him. As you abide in Jesus, you are abiding in eternal life now. People often think of eternal life as something experienced after death, but in reality, we abide in eternal life now as we abide in Jesus.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on Jesus being eternal life, that by having a relationship with Him right now, you are living eternal life right now. Let the peace of that reality give you rest tonight.

July 13, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 1, 2016, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason is a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Is Love?”
John 11:1-16 (ESV)
Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. [2] It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. [3] So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” [4] But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
 [5] Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. [7] Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” [8] The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” [9] Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. [10] But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” [11] After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” [12] The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” [13] Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. [14] Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, [15] and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” [16] So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”


Love can be described in many ways, but our culture tends to define it in terms of safety and pleasure.  A loving spouse will do everything in his power to provide security and positive emotions.  A loving parent will do everything in her power to reduce the risk of injury or pain.  Of course safety and pleasure are related to love, but they do not define love.  God does.
Lazarus is the one whom the Lord loves (v. 3), yet Jesus does not visit him when he is very ill.  Jesus loves Martha and Mary and Lazarus (v. 5), yet He allows the sisters to weep and grieve, and Lazarus to die.  Jesus loves His disciples, yet He risks their lives by traveling to Bethany.
Jesus knows that happy circumstances, safety, and pleasure bring only fleeting joy.  Eternal joy and eternal life cannot be found in such things.  In John 17:3, Jesus declares, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
As the story unfolds, Thomas realizes that being with Jesus is better than life itself.  Martha clings to her faith in Jesus and finds a hope in the resurrection that cannot be shaken, even by the death of her brother.  Lazarus is raised from the dead.  The disciples see that Jesus reigns even over life and death.  In His love, Jesus desires for His people to have more than safety and pleasure—He wants us to know Him.
The world, the flesh, and the devil would have us believe that we can only be happy if we live in a particular place, have a particular kind of family, or work at a particular kind of job.  We are led to believe that there is nothing greater than a lack of danger and a lack of pain—and this is not true.  Knowing and being known by the Lord of Glory is greater.  Jesus works all things for this ultimate good.
Prayer: Father, we thank You that Your glory shines brighter than the sun.  We are tempted to retreat from uncertainty and pain, but may we walk with You even through the valley of the shadow of death that we might know You in Your death and resurrection.
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV): Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Question to Consider
1. What can interfere with our joy in the Lord? 2. How can we fight for our joy? 3. As we fight for joy, what does God do?

Notes
1. Anxiety about our current needs and troubles.  2. We can fight for our joy through prayers of supplication and thanksgiving. 3. God will give us His peace that will guard our hearts and minds from the lies of the enemy.  When we dwell on God’s truth and promises, we will have peace and be able to consistently rejoice.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day.  How did God show His love to you?  Were you tempted to doubt God’s love today?  How could God be using the difficulties of the day to draw you closer to Him?

July 12, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 27, 2016, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Problem with Darkness”
John 3:19-21
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

In a recent commercial promoting the low-light camera feature on the Samsung Galaxy S7, advertisers made the claim that, “All the best stuff happens in the dark.”  They gave these examples: dancing happens in the dark, people are younger and better looking in the dark, food becomes more expensive and romantic in the dark, and my personal favorite, “If you are well below average-looking, your only chance of kissing an attractive person is in the dark.” Obviously, the commercial was meant to be comical, but it does hit on some truth; namely, that we enjoy the literal darkness because we can hide in it, and our imperfections are not as pronounced. 
But here is another problem with darkness (or lack of light) — it hides true beauty.  Think of all the beautiful places that you’ve been to: beaches, mountains, Hawaii, Yosemite, New England in the fall, the Grand Canyon, etc.  You want to visit these places in the daytime, because the light reveals their beauty.  In low lighting, you may see forms and shapes, but you cannot pick out the details that make these places breathtaking.  
Spiritually speaking, living in the fear of being exposed and hiding in the darkness is a terrible and disfiguring way to live; on the other hand, living in the light of the truth is beautiful and freeing.  People who live with a big secret—such as drug addiction, adultery, or involvement in an illegal business, etc.—are always weighed down by the fear of being caught.  And they cannot be healed or be free until they confess and disclose their sins.  The beauty of being made in the image of God and being a child of God is hidden by the darkness they are trying to hide their sins in.  Only after allowing the light to reign can their beauty be revealed. 
Is there something in your life that you are keeping in the dark?  Is that secret bringing you into the dark as well?  Does it need to be confessed and brought to life?  Won’t you consider sharing it with someone?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want to live in the complete radiance of Your light.  Help me to confess any hidden sins and seek forgiveness, restoration, and renewal.  Remind me that Your light is always good. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 121:1-8:Lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Questions to Consider
1.  What was the psalmist trying to convey about God in this Psalm?   2.  How does the psalmist highlight the characteristics of God’s protection? 3.  This Psalm (especially vv. 6-7) implies that no harm will befall a child of God.  What does that mean?  
Notes
1.  The psalmist praises the Lord as our guardian or protector.   2.  In verses 3-4, we see that God is ever-vigilant in His protection—there is never a time when we have escaped His watch, and He never sleeps.  God protects us from harm (vv. 6-7) and has a plan for us.  He watches over our lives, both our coming and going, now and forever (vv. 7-8). 3.   The psalmist is not saying that bad things will never happen to God’s children.  History tells us that many Christians are persecuted and have been killed for their faith.  But what we need to understand is that God’s protective hand and care does not leave His children; meaning, those who suffer are not abandoned by God or out of His loving will.  So we must see our sufferings as given by God and have the grace to ask, “What is God trying to accomplish in this suffering?”  

Evening Reflection

This morning we talked about getting out of the darkness; and in the afternoon Psalm 121 talked about the ever-vigilant care of the Lord.  Believe it or not, these two ideas are not unrelated, for the statement that “God sees everything about me,” is true.  In Psalm 121, we see that this is a beautiful and comforting idea (if you generally live in the light).  However, if we are trying to hide in the darkness, this can be a terribly uncomfortable idea for us.  In your life, how do you react to the idea that God sees everything about you?  

July 11, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 8, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Can You Pass Through the Narrow Gate?”

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 John 5:19

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.


Christiana is a slim, healthy woman who was raised on nutritious meals. When she goes off to college, however, she encounters the university dining scene. She had never eaten french fries before, but, boy, are they so tasty! Unlimited ice cream! Buffet lines of fried chicken and burgers!  The first few weeks of this new diet has caused a little waistline tightness, but she thinks, It’s no big deal; I still eat my salads, she reassures herself. Then, after the semester is over, her parents are mortified to see their now hefty daughter plodding down the airport return gate.  
This is my fear for the Christian church in America. Once we leave the doors of the church steeple, we soak in the influences of the secular world, a world whose mind is ultimately directed not by God but by his enemy. Little by little, our Christian character becomes unhealthier, bloating and bloating until one day, we find we can no longer pass through the narrow gate.  It is not without reason that the narrow gate parable is followed by a very unsettling declaration by Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21).   While they certainly profess to have faith, the object of their faith is not the God of the Bible who commands that we “do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15).   We must remember that our ultimate authority is to Christ, to His teachings and call of obedience! We must “see to it that no one takes [us] captive by” the influences of the world that are not guided by Christ but by some other authority.  This doesn’t mean that we wear strange clothes and do even stranger things in public to ensure that we appear weird before the world.  Be fashionable, if you would like, but within reason and budget, but stand up for God’s truth with integrity and love.  Study the Word, understand the issues, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then engage!  

Prayer: Father, I praise and exalt You this morning.  Once again I am in need of repentance for fooling myself into thinking that I am somehow spiritual because of what I do inside the church—praying loud and praising even louder.  Lord, help me to praise You in the world as well through how I live and think.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Numbers 18

Lunch Break Study

Read James 2:14-9, 24, 26: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.20 You foolish person, . . . faith without deeds is useless. . .. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. . .. 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Question to Consider

1. According to James, do demons have faith in God?  If yes, is this a faith that can save?  If not, what is it about the faith that demons have that make it a dead and useless faith? 2. In light of that, what is the problem that James was seeing and addressing? 3. Examine your life: based on what you actually do outside the church, does your faith resemble that of the demons (i.e., intellectual assent that changes nothing) or Abraham?

Notes

1. Yes, demons do have faith, but it is not a saving faith; otherwise, we should expect to see them in heaven.  What makes their faith useless and dead is that it doesn’t change them; their condition remains the same.  What the demons have is intellectual assent that doesn’t change the heart. 2. Though it may seem harsh, James is saying that people who say they believe but are the same as before, without any affirmative changes and good fruits, are not saved at all.  Their faith is that of demons.  In other words, their faith is too wide for the narrow gate. 3. Don’t look at just one thing or how you did today; instead, examine your body of work—a general pattern of your life.  We are looking for consistency, with gaps here and there (because we are, after all, humans)—not perfection; for that, we need to wait until we reach the abode of God.    

Evening Reflection

Be honest: In what ways is your life any different from those who do not confess Christ?  If someone who doesn’t know you saw you throughout the day, would that person think that you are different for the right reasons?  Can people tell that we are different for reasons other than praying before lunch?  1 Peter 1:15 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”  That is tantamount to saying, “Be different from the world, because I am not of the world.”  Would you take this seriously and start being intentional about living with integrity, love, and in truth?

July 10, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 4, 2016, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Pessimism Really Shows”
John 20:6-10
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.


I am, by nature, a pessimistic person.  My theology about humans can be summed up by two truths: First, we are all tainted by a sinful nature, which will generally cause us to act selfishly; and second, we are all made in the image of God, who is love.  Unfortunately, I think the first truth wins out more often than the second.  When it comes to life and ministry, pessimism can be very damaging.  For example, when I look at this upcoming election, I am tempted to think, Clinton, Trump, why does it matter? Regarding racial tension in our country, it’s tempting to lose hope because overcoming hatred in the human heart seems insurmountable.  And even on a smaller scale, when people struggle in a particular area, it’s tempting to wonder how much change and victory is possible.  
Honestly, my outlook is something that I am working on, and often repent about, because I don’t think it is a very godly characteristic.  Pessimism shows a lack of faith in the power of God.  It’s somewhat incongruent that one can believe in the power of God to resurrect the dead, but lack the faith that He can (or will) heal a nation or dramatically change an individual.  Similarly, I find it funny when people say that they trust God for their eternal souls, yet don’t demonstrate a trust in Him for the day-to-day things like finances, taking care of children, and other matters.  
When the term “believe” is used in the Bible, many times it concerns other things than the traditional gospel understanding of Christ’s death and resurrection.  In other words, there are other aspects to faith than simply trusting in Christ for eternal life—there is trusting in Him to do anything.  Case in point: In v. 8 of today’s passage, it says that something about the empty tomb scene made Peter and John “believe,” but the very next verse says that they had not yet understood what the Scriptures said about the resurrection.  So what did Peter and John actually believe at that moment?  The truth is, I don’t know.  But that is not the point: The point is, you have to believe in the power of God to do anything in this life and the next.  You have to believe that there is no person too far gone for the Spirit to reach, no circumstance too far out of reach, or no miracle beyond prayer.  What are things you are pessimistic about?  What does it mean for you to “believe?”
Prayer: Lord, like the man in Mark 9, help me to overcome my unbelief.  Help me to hope, even in the last days, that the Kingdom of God is a present reality.  Let me face this day believing it is full of opportunities, not trouble. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 4:16-19: And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Questions to Consider
1.  According to this passage of Scripture (Isaiah 61), what aspects of the Kingdom of God did Christ usher in?   2.  Do you think these aspects are important today? 3.  Have you lost sight in how God wants to work in the here and now?  
Notes
1.  From the passage, we see that the Kingdom of God ushered in by Christ would include proclamation of Good News (v. 18), as well as freedom and healing (power of God).  2.  We often talk about the Kingdom of God as both a present AND future reality (or already here BUT not yet completed).  As believers we need to keep both aspects in mind; we need to win souls for Christ and bring peace, justice, healing to people now.  It’s important not to overemphasize the present at the expense of the future, or vice versa.  The bottom line is, that God wants to work now, bring justice now, heal now—and save souls.   3.  Application question. 

Evening Reflection

This morning we talked about overcoming pessimism and not believing that anything is hopeless.  This afternoon, we studied about the Kingdom of God being a present reality.  God wants to liberate and heal now.  As we connect these thoughts tonight, ask yourself these questions: Are there are things that I’ve lost faith or hope in?  If so, what does God want me to do about this?  Do I believe that the power of God is available for these things now?

July 9, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 10, 2016, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston.  Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God’s Grace Revisited”

Colossians 4:18
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.   

As Paul began his letter, so he ends—with a blessing of grace.  It is the most important thing he has to offer; it is the most important thing any of us have been given.  Grace.  This grace underlies, overflows, and seeps through Paul’s entire letter.   

So, it is important that we understand what this grace is.  Grace is the offer of God’s unending presence and love.  Grace is not just the forgiveness of sins.  We can get a little confused about this.  Sometimes we think of grace as God seeing our sins, but He sighs and says, “Okay, never mind. I forgive you because of Jesus.”  If we think of grace in that way—as God’s passive response to our active sins—then of course grace will not have the power to transform us.  
Now grace does include the promise of forgiveness, but it is not just that.   John Ortberg puts it like this: “Grace is the flow of God’s power and presence and favor in your life from one moment to the next moment to the next moment to enable you to do whatever it is that God wants for you to do.”  It is given to us through the active work of Jesus Christ in His incarnation, cross, and resurrection.  

It is through grace that Paul was sustained, even as he was in prison.  It is through grace that the prayers of the Colossians for Paul were heard.  It is through grace that we believe, are baptized, incorporated into the body, and serve.  It is by God’s grace that we live, breathe and have life.  It is by God’s grace that we receive power through his Holy Spirit and overcome trials.  We did not deserve any of it.  We can never earn it.  But it’s here, and it’s for you. 
Grace be with you.

Prayer: Father, thank You for this grace.  Thank You that You love us so much that You pour this undeserved gift upon us—the gift of Yourself.  Thank You that we will never be separated from You by Your grace.  Thank you.  Help us to become more aware of this grace.  We so often fall into the trap of thinking that we have somehow merited Your favor by our good behavior and choices.  Forgive us that our relationship with You can be so transactional.  We want to grow in our love for You and grow in our desire for the desires of Your heart.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 16

July 8, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on June 18, 2016, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What To Do When We Are Weary”
Galatians 6:9-10
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.


 As you can see from the introduction above, my wife and I have an incredibly cute newborn baby named Tyler who is almost three months old.  It has been an amazing and wonderful three months taking care of this little boy, but I’ll let you all in on a little secret… My wife and I are really tired.  Again it’s been a great and rewarding experience raising him, but with all the work it takes to take care of a baby, we grow weary.  To confess even more, there are times where I would rather sleep or relax or watch TV than wake up at 3am every day and change Tyler’s diaper and feed him.  Even though I love my son, it’s not easy to keep on doing good.
I share this illustration because sometimes we have this picture of Christian life and ministry and being a part of kingdom work as being awesome, rewarding, and fulfilling without recognizing that it can also be difficult, laborious and wearying. I find that some people think that serving God out of the overflow of our hearts means that doing good to everyone is easy.  Paul clearly knew otherwise when he wrote this passage.  He exhorts the Galatians to not grow weary and to not give up for no other reason than that we can easily grow weary and we will want to give up!
In our service to God and to the body of Christ, we need perseverance and endurance because we will grow weary.  Like the seed that falls on rocky ground in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, it’s easy to spring up quickly because it can be so fun and exciting to serve the Lord at the start, but when the excitement wears off and weariness sets in, we can find ourselves like those plants that withered because of the sun, and we stop doing the work of the Lord.
How do we endure then?  Paul encouraged the Galatians to press on and endure because there is a harvest to come and that should be our motivation as well.  If we persevere and keep on doing good, we will have the privilege to see people coming to know the Lord.  Beyond the harvest though, to endure we must remember to do this good work together and strive to bless and encourage one another to endure.  If we grit our teeth and press on as individuals, we will all grow weary and give up, but we can press on when we strive to serve and bless one another in the household of God.
If today you’re feeling weary of doing good, remember that there is a harvest to come and find encouragement from the body of Christ.  If you’re not feeling weary, praise God and find a way to encourage your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who might be feeling weary.  Let us strive to endure to do good together.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for considering us worthy to die on the cross.  Forgive me for wanting man’s approval and boasting about myself.  Help me when I am wearied and want to give up.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Bible Reading for Today:  Numbers 14-15

July 7, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on August 15, 2016.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for Today

“Making Who Famous?”

John 7:3-5

Therefore His brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go into Judea, so that Your disciples also may see Your works which You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For not even His brothers 

The impulse to be known is undeniable in every person. And most of us not only want to be know, but we’d love to be known and adored by a lot of people – the more the better. If you told the average person that tomorrow (s)he could be famous for being great at something, it would take a lot of discipline not to jump at the opportunity, often times regardless of the cost. While fame is an unrealistic aspiration for most, the desire still exists within us. We see it in little ways when we insist on getting credit for something we did, unnecessarily mention our connections/ talents/ accomplishments (or those of our kids) in conversation, acquiesce to our environment so we can get ahead with the “in” crowd (whomever they may be), compare ourselves to show how we’re stacking up against others, or put on labels and brand names just to “stunt” (as they say where I come from) or show off. In all of these we feed this desire. A little while back I started to feel really ordinary I guess and I found myself, subconsciously, sharing about how not-so-ordinary I was during my high school days. Reliving the glory days of juvenile popularity… I caught myself eventually and shook my head at how silly it all was. 

One thing I learned quickly when I became a Christian in college is that my mission in this world is to make God famous… not me, but God. Our fame and popularity are willingly submitted to the greater mission of making God’s name known. That’s a pretty humbling reality. And not in the fake way – you know when people give God credit for things they really feel like they did themselves as they soak in all the accolades – but in a genuine way, leveraging all we have, even at the expense of our own reputation, our own opportunities to shine, for God’s mission and God’s fame. 

Who are you making famous in through life? Jesus chose to make His Heavenly Father famous and as a result was greatly exalted. What will we choose? 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for all the gifts and talents and opportunities you have given me. Help me choose today to leverage all I have to make You famous. Help me surrender my reputation and my opportunities to be known to You. Use all I am for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen, 

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:1-6: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the danger of practicing righteousness before men?  
  2. What is the promise that Jesus gives to those who give in secret? How does this encourage us? 
  3. What are some ways you’re tempted to practice righteousness before men (do good for the praise of others)? What are some specific ways Jesus’ teaching can help you combat that temptation. What’s one practical step you can take to that end? 

Notes

  1. Jesus warns not against all public expressions of righteousness, but instead he warns against expressions of righteousness motivated by a desire to be seen and praised by others. If we do good solely to garner the praise of other people, that praise will be our full reward. But if we do good to please our Heavenly Father, He himself will reward us greatly. 
  2. Jesus promises that God sees and will reward. This encourages us because we know that nothing done is done in vain because God, the giver of all good gifts, is watching and responding to all that we do for Him. 
  3. Spend some time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:10)

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30)

Spend some time reflecting on the promises from scripture above. In light of our time in the word today, how do these verses challenge and encourage you to leverage your life for God’s fame? Spend some time praying about these things with the Lord.  

July 6, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on August 30, 2016, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason is a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Your Option is That Simple”

John 10:17-21 (ESV)

There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” [21] Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Whenever anyone makes a statement, we have two choices—either we believe them or we don’t.  Whether it’s me telling you I can fly, or Jesus saying He is the Good Shepherd, our options are that simple.

The Jews in John 10 are sharply divided.  After Jesus claims to be the Good Shepherd, some do not believe Him.  His claims are so incredible that they call Him demon-possessed and crazy, but others are not so sure.

We may be tempted to scoff at their unbelief, but are we so different?  God consistently declares things that are difficult to understand, hard to believe, or outright outrageous. Let’s look at some examples: Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Is this a “reasonable” advice in the midst of financial crisis? Luke 9:24 says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Is this true when we face physical—not only metaphorical—danger? Is the life Jesus offers us in John 10:10 (“I came that that may have life and have it abundantly”) actually possible or just a pipe dream? Is Romans 8:28 (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”) true all the time?

Jesus’ opponents were proud, selfish, and greedy, but they understood that Jesus meant what He said.  At times, we find ourselves rationalizing or spiritualizing to make it seem like Jesus did not mean what He said.  Fear, doubt, and selfishness can drive us to this.  Of course there are extenuating circumstances and gray areas, but often we are given two simple options – to believe Him or not.

May He give us grace that we might believe, and when we walk in faith, may He prove His Word is true.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are always faithful and true.  I try to complicate things so I can hide my doubts and my selfishness, but I want to simply believe Your Word and live in light of it.  Fill me with Your Spirit that I might reject the lies of the enemy.  Thank You that You promise me more than I imagine is possible. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 12

Lunch Break Study

Read John 14:1-6 (ESV): “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Question to Consider

1. Why are the disciples troubled?

2. How can the disciples be free from their troubled hearts?

3. What are the disciples to believe?

Notes

1. They do not know where Jesus is going or how to get there (v. 5).

2. By believing in the Father and the Son.

3. They are to believe in who Jesus is (the way, the truth and the life), and what He has promised (a room in the Father’s house).

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  What lies were you tempted to believe?  What truths did God impress upon your heart?  Receive the Lord’s forgiveness for your unbelief, and ask for greater faith in His Word.

July 5, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional Quiet Time, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 8, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Being Overlooked”

John 5:2-6 

“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie — the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.  5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

The last time I was at a basketball game, my family and I had a good time laughing at the Dance Cams and Kiss Cams. Part of the fun comes from watching the people on the big screen; another part is half-hoping and half-dreading that you might get picked. There are always people wildly participating, all with hopes that the cameraman will notice and broadcast them. But in a crowd of so many people, chances are that they will slip his notice. 

Shifting now to a completely different environment, we might be able to imagine the same type of chaos at Bethesda. Can you imagine dozens of people showing up day after day, publicly acknowledging their needs? Not only would someone have to find some personal space in that kind of crowd, but they would also have had to jostle for attention to get a shot at healing. How discouraging it would be to get passed over day after day. When would it finally be their turn? 

Sometimes it seems like we are similarly lost in a crowd of many people. Even among Christians, we might feel that our concerns are overlooked or on-hold. We know with our minds that God is with us, but it feels as though He is busy with everybody else’s lives. We tend to project human limitations onto God and live as if He’s passed over or lost track of us. 

As this story shows us, our God is neither short-sighted nor unaware. Instead, our God sees us even when we are in a throng of people. He knows our condition and comes to meet us directly! No matter what type of chaos you find yourself starting off with this week, let’s remind ourselves that He is near. His eye is on you, He is wholly attentive to what you are going through, and He Himself draws near to you.

Prayer: Father, I know You are with me. You do not pass over or forget me, even if I am one of billions on this Earth. Remind me that You are a perfect shepherd with an eye on me. Help me to trust and see that You are present in every circumstance I face.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 28:10-17: Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Jacob encounters God on this journey fleeing from home. What type of encounter did Jacob have (versus one he may have expected)?
  2. What is the significance of God’s blessing for Jacob in verses 13-14?
  3. In addition to the blessing of abundance, what are the additional promises God gives Jacob? Is this a promise that we can partake in?

Notes

  1. Jacob, as a fugitive and having stolen the blessing from Esau, might have dreaded punishment in the presence of God. However, God does not condemn him but, in mercy, reveals Himself to Jacob.
  2. Jacob receives promises for future hope: numerous descendants, land for those descendants, and the opportunity to be a source of blessing to the earth. This is the favor that he tried to secure through deception; however, God Himself now confers the blessing onto Jacob. God has confirmed that it belongs to him.
  3. Isaac could only bless Jacob’s propserity and future descendants. However, God ups the ante by promising His continued presence through the fulfilling of the the blessing. God’s promise extends through generations. Since we are spiritual descendants of Jacob, we get to partake in the  promises of God’s provision and presence

Evening Reflection

Today’s passages were about trusting that God is present in (and attentive to) our lives. Did you sense His presence or His hand in your daily living? Look towards tomorrow – let’s ask that He will impress upon us greater awareness of where He is.