REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 21, 2016, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman—now a friend of AMI—who had served at Grace Covenant Church (Philadelphia) for a long time.   

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God’s Presence Amid Fear and Anxiety”

2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.  16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Recently, as I was preparing myself to go back to Taiwan, my “earthly home country,” I was overcome with a deep sense of overwhelming and paralyzing fear and anxiety. Yet I had to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually prepare myself to enter the mission field of my family. Past experiences have “trained” me to brace myself for the worst that maybe coming, and this time was no different.  Without exaggeration, each time I prepare to make the long journey home, I literally have to pinch and talk myself into accepting the reality—it is what it is.

This time, however, I experienced a perspective makeover, like the experience of Elisha’s servant.  As the Scriptures indicate, both Elisha and his servant were faced with the same hostile circumstance.  But Elisha, seeing through the eyes of faith, had a superior insight and confidence to face off the enemy that made absolutely no sense to Elisha’s servant—until God supernaturally opened his spiritual eye sight. Once he saw what Elisha saw, all fear vanished because a greater reality was in operation: their God had them covered in the midst of danger with the angelic army and chariots of fire!

When I arrived in Taiwan, I saw that the devastation of the people and the circumstances were not much different from my last visit.  However, I experienced an inner transformation that changed my perception of how I view and interpret the reality.  In the midst of difficult circumstances and the lostness of my family members, I saw God actively and powerfully at work.  He met me; He provided, protected, and used me every step of the way.  Instead of seeing despair and hopelessness, He opened my eyes to see a greater spiritual reality that was in operation—His great, ongoing salvation and redemptive work that is simply unstoppable.  Regardless of the situation and people’s response or lack of response, He remains true and faithful.  Nothing can change His love for the nations.  Jesus’ finished work on the cross and His resurrection is the ultimate reality of all time, and I am a part of that redemptive plan. 

What difficult circumstance or people are you facing today that cause you to feel alone, afraid, and overwhelmed?  Come to Jesus and ask Him to open your eyes and empower you to see your challenges in light of the ultimate spiritual reality—the reality that He is with you, He is mighty to save, He has overcome sin, death, and hell, and through Him you have the power to overcome.

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, Thank you for Your finished work of salvation and Your ongoing redemptive plan of the world.  Thank you that the powerful light of the gospel is able to penetrate through the darkest places through Your children, for Christ in us is the hope of glory.  Help me daily to have the faith and courage to keep shining Your light and hope into the world.  To You be all praise, honor and glory!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 25-26

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 29, 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

“Is It Because of the Messenger or Despite of Him?”

John 4:28-30

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

I think everyone, at least at once in their lives, has felt like they have ruined their witness for Christ.  Here are a few of mine:  In college, my hall mate confronted me about things I allegedly said behind her back (to this day, I still deny it).  At work, my boss called me out for goofing around when we had a project due (yup, I deserved that).  And at my son’s soccer game, I showed up with a less than healthy snack and got in a huge fight with that overly involved soccer mom, who is also the president of the PTA (okay, this hasn’t happened yet, but I feel it coming soon).  I confess that I may not be Christ’s best representative, and I’m not trying to come off sounding like Judgy McJudgerson, but here’s the deal:  at least I’ve never had five wives and a sixth “roommate,” like this Samaritan woman (she had husbands, but you get the point).  

What I find so fascinating about this account is that the townspeople actually listened to this woman about matters of faith.  She was the one who introduced them to Christ.  You know, this town was small and news travelled fast; everyone gossiped about her, warning their daughters not to become like her, and their sons not to associate with women like her. Talk about the most unlikely messenger of Christ!  But here we see that God used this woman to bring an entire village of Samaritans to Christ.  The purity of the message is clearly more important than the purity of the messenger.  

Obviously, I am not advocating that you all go out and act and do whatever you want, and then try to win over your non-Christian friends, because it worked for the Samaritan woman.  But what I am saying is that sometimes well-meaning Christians get stifled in their attempts to share the gospel, because they feel that they just haven’t been a good enough representative for Christ.  If that is you, then I encourage you to stop looking at yourself, stop listening to the enemy, and start looking and listening to Christ.  The next time you are hesitant about sharing Christ, because you feel like a hypocrite, don’t be— just share. Maybe God wants to use you—despite your shortcomings.  

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gospel.  Thank You that imperfect people can share and be a part of a perfect message.  Help me to honor You as best I can, but also help me to share about You boldly.  Please bring people in my life that need to hear about Your love.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Leviticus 24

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 7:1-6: Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Questions to Consider

1.  In your opinion, what does it mean “to judge”?  How do you distinguish between judging and speaking the truth?  

2.  What was Jesus condemning in this passage? 

3.  What do you think v. 6 means?  How does it apply to your life?  

Notes

1.  We are told to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and there are numerous passages encouraging us to correct each other, so we must not misunderstand this passage to mean, “Don’t ever say anything.”  Correction comes with love for the person and God; judgment is condemning and motivated by self-righteousness.

2.  If you read this passage carefully, you will see that Jesus wants us to correct each other.  What he was condemning was hypocrisy—meaning, don’t try to pull out a speck when you have a plank; remove your plank first, and then get the speck out.  

3.  Sometimes good and well-meaning words can fall on deaf ears, or the hearer will react negatively.  But remember, you could still be sharing “pearls.”  

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Evening Reflection

The theme of today was hypocrisy.  This morning, we glanced on the idea of not letting the fear of appearing like a hypocrite stand in the way of witnessing; and this afternoon, we talked about hypocrisy in correction.  Take a look at your life: Are there areas of your life in which you’d like to become more blameless?  Do you fear sharing your faith for personal reason?  What would the Lord have you do?    

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 28, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Fear of Death”

Acts 2:24-8 

[The apostle Peter’s sermon] But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’” 29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Perhaps no one ever feared death quite like Thomas Donaldson, then 46, who was afflicted with brain cancer in 1990.   Hoping that someday science would provide a cure for cancer, he sought for cryogenic (science of the effects of low temperature) specialists to freeze him, and then sever his frozen head to store it for the future.  At $35,000, freezing a head was cheaper than the cost of freezing an entire body for $100,000.   Wishing also for the development of brain transplantation, the plan called for his head to be implanted to another body.  “I am dying,” Donaldson said, adding, “I might later be revived and continue to live.”  Ironically, he beat the disease until finally succumbing to it in 2006.

Today’s psalm, which Peter attributes to Jesus, was actually written by King David regarding himself (Ps. 16:9-11).  We can see that David not only thought about death (who doesn’t?) but was terrified by it (like Donaldson).  The thought of being abandoned in the grave and left to decay certainly is not a pleasant thought.    

I disagree with most of what Richard Dawkins wrote in The God Delusion but not the following story.  He cites a clergy who told his dying colleague, “Congratulations! I wish I was coming with you.”  Noting that this clergy seemed like a sincere believer, the famed atheist says, “It is precisely because it’s so rare that his story catches our attention.  Could it be that [religious people] don’t believe all that stuff they pretend to believe?”  To some extent, this is true.  One reason is that believers are more enamored by the men of this world who are getting all their “rewards” now, than the rewards of being with God.  

But King David shows another way: Because Christ defeated death at resurrection, we can now look forward to “waking up” in heaven and being filled with joy in God’s presence.   In the meantime, we don’t need to be “shaken”; instead, our “heart is glad and [our] tongue rejoices; [our] body also will rest in hope.”   

So let’s be active in sharing the good news—that can “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:15).  But, let’s do it tactfully, lovingly and prayerfully.  

Prayer: Dear God, I praise and honor You today.  Of all the things I need to be thankful for, not having to fear death certainly ranks on top.  Recalling the time when I was afflicted with the misery of dying without any hope for afterlife, I am truly blessed to no longer bear that burden—thank You , Lord Jesus!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Leviticus 23

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Lunch Break Study

Read Phil. 1:21-6:  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know  which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

2 Cor. 1:8: For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life;

Question to Consider

1. How would you summarize Paul’s take on death?   Why do think he felt that way?

2. Why did Paul feel that his continued stay on earth was justified or validated?

3. What was the tension Paul felt while living and serving the Lord on earth?  In light of that, what is suggested by its complete absence in our lives?

Notes

1. In short, Paul didn’t fear death; rather, he welcomed it because he longed to be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1-3).   As to why he felt that way, one obvious reason seems to be that he was having a hard life caused by the very ministry he was carrying out for God against oppositions.   

2. As long as he was in the world, Paul knew that it benefitted others by helping them to grow in faith.   Among the reasons why we want to live, that one should be on top.  That means, those who aren’t doing anything to help others to grow spiritually can never quite feel content in life. 

3. The tension was between wanting to be with the Lord in heaven and needing to stay on earth to minister to others.  The fact that most of us in the West do not experience that tension means we love the world and the things of the world too much.  We need to let go of the world (1 Jn. 2:15-7).

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Evening Reflection

As you wrap up this day, do you recall any opportunity in which you could’ve shared the good news?   If you didn’t, instead of being discouraged, imagine in your mind as to what you could’ve done differently so that the outcome would’ve been different.   Pray for another opportunity tomorrow.  As long as the world is clueless about dealing with death, we are in business.   

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 27, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Reading Some Scriptures Through the  Paradigm of Both/And”

Acts 2:22-3 (NASB) 

[The apostle Peter’s sermon] Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with]miracles and wonders and  signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of  godless men and put Him to death.

Which animal you see in the picture depends on where your focus is: a gaze to the left will show a duck, to the right, a rabbit; but as whole, this image contains both a duck and a rabbit.  I first saw this image in a book extolling postmodernism that, to ensure that Eurocentric thoughts no longer dominate the rest, has relativized all truth claims.  This is why religious pluralism— belief that all religions lead to the same God—emerges as a child of postmodernism.  

So, should we eschew seeing our reality, including the Bible, in terms of either/or?  Again, it depends.  Some matters are quite clear as to which position the Bible advocates.  For instance, it doesn’t say “God exists” and “God doesn’t exist” at the same time.  Whereas the writer of Hebrews says, “He exists” (11:6), the psalmist calls those who say, “There is no God,” a “fool” (Ps. 14:1).  God’s existence, then, is a matter of either/or.

Now, in church history, one of the fiercest theological battles has been fought between Calvinists and Arminians.  Regarding God’s election (that God predestines some to be saved), whereas Calvinists posit that its basis is His deliberative plan (Eph. 1:11) that has nothing to do men’s merit, Arminians say that the basis is God’s foreknowledge (1 Pet. 1:2).  That is, God, “having foreseen men’s potential faith” chose “those who would turn to Him when they heard the gospel” (Hammond). But they do agree on one thing: this is a matter of either/or, and that both positions cannot be right at the same time.  But Peter’s sermon suggests otherwise.  Talking about those who played a critical part in crucifying Jesus, he says that it was done based on God’s “predetermined plan” as well as His “foreknowledge” of men’s future action.  

Folks, accept that God’s sovereignty and human responsibility is always a matter of both/and—not either/or.  God, having long worked out His plan, has revealed His general will to us in the Scripture; therefore, it is our responsibility to know it and then obey.  So today, instead of torturing yourself to make sense of this theological mystery with an airtight logic, read Scripture and pray to discern what God is saying to you.  Then just do it.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I magnify Your majestic Name.  I worship You with all my heart and mind.  Thanks for Your magnificent Word.  Forgive me for having such a cavalier attitude and the arrogance with which I handle Your Word.  May the Spirit continue to illuminate its deep truths throughout 2023.  May I obey it.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Leviticus 22

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:33b: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.”

Matt. 19:34: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Matt. 23:23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

Question to Consider

1. What apparent problem emerges as a result of reading John 16:33 and Matt. 19:34?

2. What logic is found underneath what Jesus tells the Pharisees in Matt. 23:23?

3. So, should we choose between John 16:33 and Matt. 19:34?  If not, then how can we reconcile these apparently contradicting verse?

Notes

1. The apparent problem is contradiction:  Jesus seems to be talking from both sides of the mouth. He says He came to give peace, and then He says its exact opposite—not peace but a sword.

2. The logic found in Matt. 23:23 is both/and.   Jesus tells the Pharisees to practice justice, mercy and faithfulness, something they had neglected for a long time. But they shouldn’t stop tithing, which they had been doing.  (Practice this and not neglect that, not practice this or not neglect that.)

3. We should accept the propositions of both John 16:33 and Matt. 19:34.   As for reconciling this,  Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for the penalty of our sins, broke the barrier standing between God and men.  So, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).  As for the sword, this happens when “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 5:6). This also occurs when our desire to obey God conflicts with the will of our loved ones (Mk. 3:33-4).

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Evening Reflection

How was your day?  The paradigm of both/and is also very useful in reconciling relationship conflicts.  When we just interpret the conflict according “my” perspective, it actually gets worse.  Think of a relationship problem that you are experiencing presently.  Meditate on 1 John 1:8 (“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us”) and ask the Lord to empower you to see the other person’s side as well.  Then, reconcile with that person by making that call or writing to him/her. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on September 13, 2016.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Miscommunication”

John 14:8-9

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?  The words I say to you are not just my own.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”

Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you had been communicating something to someone, only to find out later that they hadn’t actually been getting it the whole time?  

It is strangely reassuring to see that even the Son of God was not immune to the challenges of communication.  For three years He had been with His disciples, day in, day out, and one of the things He was thinking they would have picked up on was that through His words and actions (vv. 10-11), He was showing them the Father.  When Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father, when this was exactly what He had been trying to do the whole time He had been with them, our Lord can hardly believe what He is hearing, and His response here is so human: “Don’t you know me? . . . How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

I remember once asking one of our young leaders what they thought of moving closer to a certain location on the outskirts of the city to be able to serve students there more effectively, and this person answered, “It’s kind of far.” My heart sank a little at that moment because one of the principles I thought I had been communicating this whole time, in words and with my own life, was that when we see God moving, we adjust and re-orient our lives around what He is doing, even if it made other things in life inconvenient.  I thought I had been communicating this so clearly and consistently, but it seemed the message somehow hadn’t gotten through.

Seeing this exchange between Jesus and Philip, though, I was comforted as I realized that this is just what discipleship is like sometimes.   And just as after his initial incredulous response, Jesus went on with infinite patience to explain things to Philip so he could understand, because it was so important to Jesus that Philip understood; likewise, we can make the decision to do the same.  Is there anyone we need to make efforts to patiently explain something to today?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help me today not to be discouraged if others haven’t understood my efforts to point to You and Your ways.  If even You experienced this kind of gap in communication, it must mean that sometimes it truly is just a process, so help me to persevere and not give up.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 21

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Lunch Break Study 

Read John 14:10-12: 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

Questions to Consider

1. In verses 10-11, the word “believe” is repeated three times.  What specifically did Jesus want His disciples to believe here?

2. How is the kind of belief in Him that Jesus was talking about in verse 12 different from, let’s say, “believing in” Santa Claus (i.e., that he exists and his story is true)?  (Hint: Jesus has just described it in the previous verses 10-11.)

3. What, then, specifically is the kind of belief in Jesus (v. 12) that will enable a believer to do what He did and even greater?  Do you have this kind of belief in Jesus?

Notes

1. That God the Father was with Jesus and that it was because of this that Jesus could speak and do all that He did.

2. Believing in Jesus is not just about believing in His existence and that the gospel story is true (i.e., He really died and rose again).  Here, it is about believing that a human being who was one with God, who had an intimate relationship with God, could do amazing things.

3. Believing that it was not because Jesus had superpowers but rather an intimate relationship with God the Father that He could do God’s work, including perform miracles; this kind of believing makes what Jesus did accessible to us, too.  If we believe this was the dynamic at work, we can believe that if we have an intimate relationship with God through Jesus, we can also do what Jesus did and greater.

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Evening Reflection

Why was it so important to Jesus that Philip, His disciple, understand this truth, this dynamic, that the Father was working in and through Him?  So that His disciple could go on to do the same and greater.  As a believer of Jesus, did I do anything today that could count as doing the same work that Jesus had been doing, or even greater?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 25, 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

“Falling Away”

John 3:8

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

In high school and college, I never had periods where I “fell away,” nor do I have fantastic stories of my BC (before Christ) days.  Even in college, I didn’t drink, never went to frat parties, smoked or used drugs; and because girls were not that interested in me, I didn’t get into too much trouble there, either.  I’m pleased to report that from my teenage years through my twenties—and even now—I   was/am pretty boring.  Of course, I didn’t start that way.  I know it sounds silly, but even young kids can be bad, and that was me.  Before my twelfth birthday, I had already been in multiple fights, busted for shoplifting (twice), and set the record for cumulative hours of detention at school (I’m not even sharing the stuff I’m truly ashamed of either).  I didn’t know it at the time, but the trajectory of my life was pointing the wrong way. I truly believe that I was only a few years away from getting into drugs and a slew of bigger problems.  Thankfully, the grace of God was (and is) upon me, as I moved to a different neighborhood, state, school, and eventually started going to church regularly.  Every once in a while, I will search for some of my old teachers from elementary school on Facebook.  I’d love to connect with them and tell them that I turned out all right—I’m sure they’d be shocked to learn that I am a pastor.  

When Jesus said that the Spirit of God was like the wind—that  you feel it’s effects, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going—He was talking about people.  More specifically, God’s work in people.  I think we all have people in our lives who have surprised and blessed us by how God has changed their lives.  Unfortunately, we also all have people who we wish would “wake up” and get their faith and lives in order.  Truth be told, we are saddened because when we think about such people, we doubt if they will ever accept Christ into their lives.  If that is you and if you are on the verge of giving up on someone, please remember there are hundreds of thousands of people who were “further away from God” than twelve- year-old me.  Remember the fantastic testimonies about how Jesus came into their lives, some of which border on the unbelievable.  So don’t lose heart, because the Spirit may be moving now; and like the wind, you don’t know where it comes from or where (or when) it will go.  

This morning, let Jesus’ truth remind you to hope in God for others again.  Please do not stop hoping for that sibling or parent; please do not stop loving that co-worker; please do not stop sharing with that childhood friend; and most importantly, please do not stop praying to our merciful Savior.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, this morning I pray for __________ (fill in the blank).  I know he/she feels hopeless in my eyes; forgive my lack of faith.  Please show him/her Your love and sacrifice.  Show him/her the truth.  Help me to be a witness and to hope. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Leviticus 20

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Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 55:8-13: For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.

Questions to Consider

1.  What truth can we gather from verses 8-9?  How does such an understanding impact your life?  

2.  What truth can we gather from verses 10-11?  How does such an understanding impact your life? 

3.  What can we learn about God from this piece of prophecy?  Does this encourage you?  

Notes

1.  Sometimes we forget that God isn’t just a little smarter than us or just slightly more insightful than us—He is infinitely smarter and has infinite understanding.  This thought should encourage us to trust Him, especially in times when we are clueless.  

2.  God has a purpose in everything He does and commands.  Moreover, His plans and purposes do not fail.  Once again, this should encourage us to trust God.  

3.  Isaiah 55 represents the Lord’s invitation for His people to repent and come back to Him.  Ultimately, we see a God who would rather display mercy than judgement.  God’s desire is to bless, not punish.  

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Evening Reflection

The theme for today is that God is working, even when we do not see it or understand it.  Have there been events or people in your life that have caused discouragement, because you cannot understand or see God in them?  If so, don’t look at yourself; look to God.  See His infinite wisdom, power, and goodness.    

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Jabez Yeo who is now a friend of AMI, was first posted on June 5, 2016.  He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (B.S.) and Columbia International University where he studied Islam (M.A.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I Want You to Surpass Me!”

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John the Baptist, when told that his younger cousin Jesus, whose ministry began later than him, was baptizing more people, said, “He must become greater; I must become less” (Jn. 3:30).  It is always heartwarming when you see a teacher or a coach who sincerely wants his student and player to surpass him.  That’s also what happened with respect to the main actors who dealt with another heresy in the early church. 

As the church entered the 4^th century A.D., it continued to fight against heresies that were similar but subtler than adoptionism (i.e., the belief that Christ was adopted as God’s son at His baptism).  One such heresy was Arianism, which proposed that while the Trinity was made of three “divine beings,” only one, the Father, was without beginning and truly God. Arianism relied heavily on Greek philosophy, which believed that any change for God was improper, for to change is always for better or worse. Thus, Arius did not believe that Jesus was fully divine because “if Jesus is the incarnation of the Logos and if the Logos is divine, then God’s nature would be changed by the human life of Jesus.” 

In response, Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, noted that if Arianism was true, true divinity did not unite with humanity in Jesus and, thus, humanity is not saved. Furthermore, Alexander used Arianism’s arguments against itself, stating that Arianism denied the “immutability of the Father by saying that He was not always Father but only became so by creating a son after some time.”  Through the efforts of Alexander and other theologians, the Nicene Creed was formed to guard orthodox belief against Arianism. 

Surprisingly, Alexander’s main contribution to fighting Arianism was not through his words but through his lifestyle of discipleship. Church history details that Alexander once saw children imitating certain church rites and that the “baptizing bishop” amongst them was a young boy named Athanasius. Alexander decided to take Athanasius under his wing, and a life-long friendship began that was filled with godly instruction.  Athanasius would soon become the theological superior of his mentor and was used by God to hammer the final nails in the coffin of Arianism. 

As Christians today, we must never forget the importance of discipleship. Let’s pray that God would use us to impact those younger than us so that they will do even greater things for His glory. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the people You placed in my life who helped me to know You. Thank You for sharing Your wisdom and guidance with me through them. Lord, use me in a similar way with the brothers and sisters younger than I. May they do even greater things for Your kingdom as a result. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 19

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 28, 2016, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Tell Me More About This Jesus”

Acts 28:25-27

And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

One of the greatest privileges I’ve had in my Christian journey was to share the gospel with a friend. The conversation initially started philosophically, centering on the evil of mankind. We explored some of the worst events in history along with those happening today and found no hope for mankind. I don’t know how or why, but we changed topics to the Bible—thank You, Jesus!  I conjured up as many Bible stories a churched kid could remember, starting from the Gospels, sharing the accounts of Jesus and the manner in which He loved people. He was in utter disbelief and his only response was, “Tell me more. Tell me more about this Jesus.” These were the same stories that I heard repeatedly growing up, yet his reaction amazed me—it was as if he found a new treasure. He expressed great interest in the person of Jesus, his culture, and how Jesus talked to certain people—everything. If only every member in church could listen as attentively as my friend did, the church would have revival! It was then I realized just how dull my heart had become to God’s truth. 

My point is this: in Hebrews, we read that the Word of God is living and active. So when we read it, does God’s truth convict us, resulting in actual changes? It is not that we need to be on the edge of our seats as we read through the book of Numbers, but the question remains: are our hearts alive to his Word? In this passage, Apostle Paul shows us that the hearts of the Roman Jews were dull to the truth. Charles Spurgeon warns us that “if this hardening work goes on, the day comes at last to such a man that the Word of God loses all effect upon him—whether he reads it or hears it, it ceases to be an accusing voice any longer; he rather finds a song of lullaby in it, and rocked in the cradle of his sin, he sleeps on to his own eternal ruin.” Yet we have reversed this reality by placing blame on boring preaching or lack of creativity of the Word. We end up pushing preachers to become story-filled entertainers rather than spirit-filled shepherds. The truth is that the preaching has not become mundane, but our hearts have. 

Reflect back to the first time you encountered God. Remember when the Word spoke to you as opposed to you merely reading words on a page. My conversation with my friend climaxed when I told him that Jesus was inviting him into a relationship. He couldn’t believe that a God so good could love someone so capable of evil. He was amazed that it wasn’t too late. In the same way, it is never too late for us to return to our first love. May the words we hear, read, and sing revive our souls once again. 

Prayer: Lord, we repent and confess that our hearts have become dull. We confess that Your truth has in many ways lost its power and conviction over our lives. Please soften our hearts so that Your truth may speak life to our deadened hearts and point us toward the cross. Father, we thank You that Your grace always brings us back to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 17-18

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 29, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What’s the Point of the Virgin Birth?”

Acts 2:29-30 

[The apostle Peter’s sermon] Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.

Jeremiah 36:29-30

Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, “This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, ‘Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both man and beast?’” 30 Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: “He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night.”

What’s the point of the virgin birth?  Some say that since the original sin is transmitted through the father, if Jesus had been conceived in a natural manner, He could’ve been neither perfect nor sinless.  Paul probably would have disagreed since he wrote, “Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner” (1 Tim. 2:14).  While we can debate this point to no end, there is another compelling reason why the virgin birth was absolutely necessary. 

God’s promise to place one of David’s descendants on his throne—that is, Jesus, the final king of Israel—meant that Christ had to come from the royal lineage of David; King Jehoiakim, who came later, bore that lineage.  Now, when Jehoiakim burned the scroll containing God’s word (Jer. 36:27), God swore that none of his descendents “will sit on the throne of David.”  The problem with that is, while Jesus, the king of Israel, must come from the royal linage of David, He cannot come from Jehoiakim, who is part of that royal lineage.  

God resolved that quandary in the following manner.  Evidently, the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and Luke are different.  Matthew states that Jacob was the father of Joseph (1:16), while Luke says that it was Heli (Lk. 3:23).  Actually, both genealogies are similar up to David.  Matthew lists Solomon after David after which all the succeeding kings of Judah are mentioned; Joseph is of this royal line.  Luke, on the other hand, mentions Nathan after David, who was Solomon’s brother; this is Mary’s line.   So, through Matthew’s royal genealogy, Jesus is declared as the legal heir of David; but since it was a virgin birth, Jesus was not a literal descendent of David or Jehoiakim.  In that manner, God’s curse against Jehoiakim was kept.  But by making Mary—a descendent of David—the mother of Jesus, God made sure that Jesus is from David’s line.  That’s how God kept both promises at the same time—through the virgin birth.

Remember, God is faithful and His words and promises are to be trusted.  If you have been discouraged, the road to recovery begins with recognizing this very truth.  Be patient and trust in our God.   

Prayer: Lord, I sing praises unto Your holy and wonderful Name.  How marvelous are the precious words and promises of GodD!  They never fail.  I put my trust and hope in You and Your eternal truth.  May I never depart from reading, studying and meditating on the Scripture!  I love You Lord.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  Leviticus 16

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 10:13: “No temptationhas overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be temptedbeyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

2 Thess. 3:2-4: “And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 

2 Cor. 5:7: “For we live by faith, not by sight.”

Question to Consider

1. In what ways does God demonstrate His faithfulness toward us?

2. What is the biggest obstacle that keeps us from trusting God? 

3. If we really believe in God’s faithfulness (I hope so), then, how would we live differently?

Notes

1. God shows his faithfulness by providing the means so that we do not fall into temptations.  Whether we take advantage of it is up to us.  The Lord also promises to strengthen and protect us when the enemy and his cohorts attack us.

2. I think one critical factor is our unwillingness to be patient and allow God to move according to His time.  Since we want something instantaneous and quick, we move by sight, not by faith. 

3. We would be more daring and risk-taking (i.e., Peter walking out of the boat while the rest stayed in it). We would patiently wait until God moves according to His time instead of us taking actions.

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Evening Reflection

We learned this morning that the virgin birth is really about God’s faithfulness to His promises.  Often we find ourselves in difficult situations where we desperately need hope.  But instead of turning to God, we turn to people, substances and/or mindless entertainment.  Before we wrap up this day, let us turn to the Lord.  Be silent and meditate on His goodness, faithfulness and amazing love towards us.  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 21, 2016, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.) just planted a church in Seattle called “Seattle Upper Room”.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual Asperger’s Syndrome”

John 1:45-46

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

In a recent episode of the podcast Invisibilia, a woman recollects on her life where she struggled in relating with others. Although she was a highly successful physician, she had issues when it came to reading people’s emotions, body language, or other social cues. It wasn’t until at the age of 54 that she realized she had been living with Asperger’s Syndrome, a disorder that prevents someone from recognizing emotions or cues within a social context. She recounts how she underwent an experimental treatment that temporarily stimulates a part of her brain, allowing her to pick up on these senses that she had been missing. “This is so much more alive, so much more real… so much deeper, more meaningful. It’s like black-and-white to color,” were her words describing the experience. 

I wonder if Nathanael’s encounter with Jesus was like that of this woman. He had lived his whole life with a particular way of understanding the world, a frame of reference if you will. And then all of a sudden, this frame is shattered in an encounter with Christ. You see his reference point: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” reflecting a commonly held tribalism and prejudice of the Galileans. Philip simply answers, “Come and see.” And when you continue on in the passage, you see how Jesus breaks through Nathanael’s sense of norm on multiple levels, ultimately inviting him to experience even more.

The words of Philip are the words that Jesus speaks to us today. In your life that is very much full of mundanity, in a world so divided by hatred and violence that has come to be so “normal” to us, Jesus invites you and me to experience a life that is so abundant, so otherworldly, and so meaningful that you will never wish to come back from it. But this can’t be explained to you. It requires you to “come and see.” How will God show you the greater reality of things today? May God open your eyes to the incredible reality of His Kingdom here on earth.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You that You have come to give us life and life abundant. Thank You that You have come to bring light into a dark world and hope into a hopeless world. Open my eyes this day to see You at work all around me. May I accept Your invitation today to “come and see.” Thank You for inviting me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Leviticus 15

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 11:1-6:  When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is odd about Jesus’ response to John’s disciples?
2. Based on Jesus’ response, what insight can you draw concerning the time when the Expected One comes?
3. How does this challenge your sense of what is the norm, knowing that Christ has completed the work on the cross?

Notes

1. What’s odd is that Jesus never really answers their question directly—is He the Expected One? Rather, He gives what seems to be a tangential report of what’s happening around Him.
2. We can learn that the evidence of the Christ can be found in the reversal of what people have come to accept as the norm—miraculous healing and renewal. This is the evidence of the Christ. These diseases and circumstances that seemed impossible to change, Jesus changed them.
3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

In what ways has the Holy Spirit challenged your sense of what is the norm? How have you come to expect more from life as God invited you to come and see? If there are things that you did see, jot them down in a journal as reminders of how God is at work around you.