REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on April 23, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Mrs. Piggle-wiggle and Repentance”
Acts 19:17-19
When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
Mrs. Piggle-wiggle is a collection of funny short stories I used to read as a child. The main character, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, spends all of her time with the children of the neighborhood and cleverly instills various good habits in them. One such situation is called “The Radish Cure,” where one of the girls refuses to take baths. Mrs. Piggle-wiggle instructs the parents to let their daughter stop taking baths as she wishes. The daughter begins to get dirt and grime caked on her, and one night her parents secretly plant radish seeds on her. The next morning, the she is horrified to find little sprouts on her body and immediately begs her parents to let her take a bath.
Repentance, in many ways, is like the discipline of taking a daily shower, because it involves us going to God to purify and cleanse us. But just as children try to avoid baths by insisting that they are not so dirty, we might try to avoid this daily practice. Because we don’t always immediately feel the consequences of our sins, we fail to see how essential repentance is. If we keep on insisting that we don’t have to repent, it is possible that we will become so mired and trapped in our ways that only a very dangerous or scary situation will awaken our senses.
Here at Ephesus, a terrifying encounter with evil spirits stuck the fear of the Lord into the people’s hearts; what resulted was a massive outpouring of confession and repentance from sorcery. This was a great testimony, as it incited a large wave of repentance. But, we don’t have to wait for a traumatizing event to come clean before the Lord! He is at hand, so we can constantly approach Him to receive His grace.
Let’s go to Him now and ask Him to gently wash us clean again. As we humbly acknowledge that we are constantly sinning against Him and need forgiveness, we might find that repentance is a habit that can become more and more natural to us.
Prayer: Father, I am a sinner! I have so many disobedient thoughts and habits that go against Your holiness. Thank You for sending Your son, Jesus, so that I can be made righteous in Your sight and enjoy Your love forever. Remind me of Your grace all over again, and let me turn from my own ways to Your life-bringing habits.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on August 19, 2016. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“I AM”
John 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
This is the second of Jesus’ “I am” statements in the Gospel of John, and when the Great I Am starts explaining who He is, we had certainly better listen. There are many powerful layers to the important analogy Jesus makes between himself and light (and countless commentators have plumbed the depths of them). But what struck me most as I read this passage today was this question—“Do we even realize we are in the dark?”
One pastor told the following story of a friend’s experience with darkness: I remember a story told to me by a friend who flew combat choppers in Viet Nam. He was radioed to a secret mission one night which required him to fly in total darkness, totally by instruments. Hovering above a jungle under heavy cloud cover, he told me that it seemed you could cut the darkness with a knife. He radioed to his man on the ground and said “what can you give me?” The guy had not even a flashlight. The landing had to be so precise, in a small “postage” stamp in the middle of the jungle-an error of five feet could crash the chopper and kill them all. Finally the man on the ground said “I have a zippo [lighter]!” He said “Light it and hold it up.” So in the middle of the jungles of Southeast Asia, on a top secret warfare mission, a combat chopper pilot landed by the light of a zippo lighter that pierced the darkness. (John Jones)
What if this captain was oblivious to the fact that he was in the dark? What if he had relied on himself and what he could see instead of his comrade with the lighter? The story would have ended very differently.
Apart from God we wander around in blinding darkness. But in Christ we have light! Yet so many of us rely on ourselves, forgetting our condition and need for Him. Today, may we remember our utter dependence on Jesus. He is our guiding light, granting us sight and guiding our paths.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your forgiveness in Christ. May I take hold of it today and live anew through the power of your Spirit. In Jesus’ name.
Bible Reading for Today: Exodus 6
Lunch Break Study
Read Psalm 51:1-4, 10-13: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,and He will make your paths straight.7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord and turn away from evil.8 It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.9 Honor the Lord from your wealthand from the first of all your produce;10 So your barns will be filled with plentyand your vats will overflow with new wine.11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lordor loathe His reproof,12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves,even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Questions to Consider
According to verse 5, when we rely on our own ways of thinking, what are we also implicitly declaring?
What promise is given in verse 6? How should this encourage us all the more to trust in the Lord?
What are some areas where you “lean on your own understanding”? What would it look like for you to acknowledge God in those specific areas?
Notes
We are implicitly declaring that we do not trust God.
That the Lord himself with lead us in straight paths. All we have to do is trust in Him. This should give us great comfort because the burden is no longer on us to find the best way or to figure everything out. We simply trust and our heavenly Father does that work for us.
Spend some time in personal reflection.
Evening Reflection
We typically lean on our own understanding when (1) our wisdom and our way differs from the Lords (what we find in Scripture) – in other words, we think we know more than God – or (2) we find it too hard to surrender and to trust in a certain area of our lives (often accompanied by anxiety). We feel the stakes are too high to give control over to God. In the face of these realities, one helpful way to acknowledge the Lord is to meditate on any promises or teachings of scripture that speak to those specific areas, declaring God’s truth over and against our wisdom and fears.
What are some passages of Scripture that speak to the areas where you struggle to trust in God? Spend some time praying through them tonight, asking the Lord to help you surrender and trust in Him.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 28, 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
“Kevin Durant and John the Baptist”
John 3:27-30
John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
In my neck of the woods, a dominant sports story occurred earlier this month when Kevin Durant announced that he was joining the Golden State Warriors for the 2016-17 NBA season. For those of you who are unfamiliar with basketball, Kevin Durant, who is in the discussion for being one of top three players in the world, joined a team that was five points away from winning back-to-back NBA championships. And this team already has four all-stars, one of which is Stephen Curry, who is also in the discussion for being one of the top three players in the world.
After the shock of the formation of the “super team” wore off, the next question sports journalists began asking was: “How would this dynamic with all these stars, especially between Steph and Kevin, work? Who would defer to whom? Who would be the lead, and who would be sidekick? Who would be the ‘face of the franchise’?” You see, in basketball, when there are ten seconds left on the clock, and your team is down by one, there is still only one basketball and only one person who can take that final shot—and that person is often considered the alpha-dog of the team. Golden State now seems to have two alpha-quality players. If neither of them can concede alpha status, then the team will likely implode. I once heard preacher Tony Evans say, “Anything with two heads is a monster.” Most people outside of the Bay Area are hoping for such a result.
John the Baptist understood this truth well. He understood that there could not be two Saviors, and that his role was not to be the Savior but to point people to the Savior. Yet he was perfectly happy to become less, so that Jesus could more easily and readily become more. Sometimes, even as believers, we are guilty of making other things more, while making Christ less. Consider your careers, families, finances, dreams, or even your ambitions in ministry: In these trying times, some would have you believe that your race is more important than faith. But here is the important thing that we all need to remember: for the believer, there can only be one Alpha, and if we try to create more, our lives will implode. All other things, including self, need to become less as He becomes more.
Prayer: Lord, please become greater in my life. Please allow me to surrender my will and desires to You, trusting you, because you are good. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Exodus 5
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Kings 11:1-6: King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.
Questions to Consider
1. What was the Lord’s command about marriage? And what was the purpose of that command?
2. What was the result of Solomon’s disobedience?
3. What is the greater principle, and how can you apply it to your life?
Notes
1. The Lord’s command to Solomon was not to marry foreign women. This command was given to Israel as a whole in Ex. 34:16. The issue was not about race but religion. God knew that foreign spouses would turn His people’s hearts toward foreign gods (11:3).
2. As God predicted, Solomon’s heart turned away from God (11:4); he worshipped other gods (11:5); he did evil in the eyes of the Lord (11:6), and this eventually lead to the downfall of Israel (11:11).
3. The broader principle is that anything you love that is not of the Lord will diminish your heart for the Lord. Even things that seem less significant like hobbies can take from your heart for God, but the bigger problems arise when they are important idols—such as spouses.
Evening Reflection
Today’s theme was singular devotion. Take some time this evening to jot down the five to ten most important things in your life. Assuming that God is no. 1, ask yourself this: “Do items two through ten help me to love God more, or do they vie for my attention?”
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 28, 2016, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
“The Life of Faith and Love”
Colossians 1:3-5a
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”
One constant obstacle to living the Christian life is the desires of the flesh to opt for immediate gratification. Whether having to do with sexual desire, overeating, or all types of addictions (e.g., video games, drugs, gambling, etc.), persuading others and ourselves to abandon the banner that reads “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (Isaiah 22:13; 1 Corinthians 15:32) is a formidable task indeed.
“Well then, let us not be so shortsighted and instead let us think towards the future!” This, however, is not without pitfalls of their own. Others, while shunning the “foolishness” of the fleeting pleasures of the flesh and/or ill-gotten gains, fall into the trap of investing unhealthy amounts of our time, energy and resources toward the creation of a financially, physically and even relationally secure future. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to retire to Florida one day with a clean bill of health. However, if this “future” is what we have our sights on, we will fall well short of the biblical mark.
What enables us to live the life of faith and love that Paul ascribes to the Colossians? The Colossians had become “famous” for their way of life, as Paul says that he had “heard of” the way in which they lived. The answer lies in where they had placed their hope: “in heaven.” While looking to the future is precisely what we ought to do, the problem is, we don’t look far enough. The more we place our hope in heaven and all that it entails, the more we will become empowered to live a life of faith and love, now. This is the whole point of Hebrews 11 – the ancients lived by faith because they were “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (11:10). This morning, let us examine our hearts to see whether our faith is in God alone or in something else.
Prayer: God, forgive me for placing my hope in anything in this world, whether money or people or career. Help me to see heaven as the ancients did. Open the eyes of my spirit that I may be captivated by the coming kingdom, and live as a citizen thereof. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Exodus 4
Lunch Break Study
Read Hebrews 11:1-2: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Questions to Consider
1. We are not talking about having faith in faith. What then is the object of our faith?
2. What can you do to live more by faith?
3. In what ways do you find yourself exercising faith according to the definition of faith given in these two verses?
Notes
1. We place our faith in God’s Word and His promises. Thus, we are talking about having
a reasonable, not blind, faith.
2. One suggestion: make a decision because it is the right thing to do according to God’s Word—even if it appears costly and unprofitable at the moment.
3. Personal response
Evening Reflection
Before going to bed, reflect on Hebrews 11:24-27:By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Perhaps, you are facing a similar decision that Moses faced: having to choose between the pleasures offered by the world and pleasing God? Seek God’s guidance; pray for the Spirit’s empowerment.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 19, 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
“What You Should Expect If You Accept the Mission”
John 1:4-5
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Take one quick look at the headlines, and you will find yourself wondering how to take in all the things that are going on in the world today. As a Christian, where are you to stand on things like who to vote for in the elections, how we are to view the various “_______ lives matter” movements, and the list goes on. It’s often hard to find proper methods of measuring whether or not you are being faithful to what the Lord commands of us.
But one thing that is clear from today’s devotional passage is that darkness does not comprehend the Light. In this introductory section of the Gospel of John, one of the themes being developed is that the Word that became flesh will ultimately be rejected. John is preparing his readers for what is to come—the reality that we took the life of the very One who came to give us life.
As followers of the Light, we too must accept this reality: the darkness does not comprehend the Light. We will face rejection. Not that we go out searching for conflict or rejection, but in our striving to be faithful to the Light, this will naturally lead us to butt heads with those who do not know Him.
I often find myself complaining about why life seems to go in two opposing directions, or why my thoughts and words are sometimes met with contempt. Obviously, there are times, due to my immaturity or tactlessness, that it is deserved. However, there are times in my attempt to be faithful to who Jesus is and what He desires for my life (i.e., if you accept his mission) that conflict should be expected. Rejection should be expected. Mockery should be expected.
As you wrestle with what it means to live for Him on this day, be sensitive to the ways that your faithfulness to Him might lead you to dissonance with those who do not know Him. Be comforted in those moments that you might be more on the right path than if everyone in the world accepts you.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for coming in flesh to be betrayed by the very people You came to save. Thank You for facing my rejection. Thank You for being the Light that overcame my darkness. As I seek to follow You, may I remember that no student is above his teacher. May Your acceptance be so much greater than the world’s rejection. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Exodus 3
Lunch Break Study
Read Matthew 10:26-33 (Context: This passage is found within Jesus’ commissioning of the twelve apostles. He warns them of the impending rejection and persecution that they are to face.)
So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Questions to Consider
How does Jesus describe the reality in which we live when we follow Him?
What is Jesus’ command to us in the midst of such opposition?
How are you responding to Jesus’ words? Do you find them comforting or disturbing? Why do you think that is?
Notes
Jesus describes a reality in which His disciples are sheep sent out among wolves who will persecute, mock, bring false witness against them, hated by all for His Name’s sake. Jesus says that this should be expected for believers who go out in obedience.
Two commands can be taken from this passage. One, be wise and blameless (v.16), and two, do not fear (v. 19, 26). However, both reveal the same reality: the Holy Spirit is with you, both for wisdom and for courage.
Personal response.
Evening Reflection
As you have thought about how much this world stands in opposition to the ways of God, in what ways are you drawn to pray for this world? In what ways—family, occupation, ministry, etc.—do you feel like you are more like the world than like Jesus? As you journal your thoughts, lift up a prayer of repentance, asking the Lord to purify your heart.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 29, 2016, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church plant by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/
Devotional Thought For This Morning
“Don’t Believe the Lie”
Acts 13:5-12
When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar- Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
One of the most powerful scenes in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy is the deliverance of Theoden, king of Rohan. Though he was a fine king, a man of respectable character in a powerful position, he sat amidst poor counsel—that of Grima Wormtongue. As a result, Theoden’s reign was reduced to a powerless, feeble, puppet-king, ceding to Wormtongue’s every lie. But Theoden’s freedom finally came when the liar was cast out.
In our passage, we find that Sergius Paulus had many things going for him: he had influence, he was a man of intelligence, and even sought to hear the word of God. But what he really needed was to kick out that liar who sat next to him, Bar-Jesus (which means “son of Jesus”). Paul quickly identifies him and calls him for who he really is—“you son of the devil”!
For years, I also dealt with a lie that said, “David, no one actually cares about you…” It seems silly to let a thought like that govern my life, but it did. During that time, every thought/word/action went through the lens of this lie. But I remember one particular night of victory, when, by the grace of God, I recognized this as a lie from the enemy. Lying in my bed that night, I called out the truth, and rejected the lie. From that moment on, it has never had power over me as it once had.
We can’t fight lies with our status, our experience, or our intelligence. We need to kick out the liar himself! If you have been living under the weight of a lie(s), call it out! In Jesus’ name, reject the lies of the enemy!
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that You are more powerful than any other thing and that we belong to You. Protect us from the schemes of the enemy. Holy Spirit, help us to identify the ways that the enemy might be attacking us and to see lies for what they are. We repent for lending an ear to the enemy; instead, fill us with your truth today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today:Exodus 2
Lunch Break Study
Read Mark 13:14-29: And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”
Questions to Consider
Why couldn’t the disciples drive out this evil spirit?
Jesus says, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Where in this passage do you see a prayer happening?
What does this teach us about the power of prayer?
Notes
We don’t know what the disciples were doing before, but we know there was no prayer. Perhaps the disciples were just commanding the evil spirit to leave. Jesus makes it clear that “this kind of spirit can only be driven out by prayer.”
Although Jesus mentions that only prayer can drive out this demon, at first glance, there doesn’t seem to be any prayer happening. One of two things may be happening. It may be that Jesus is praying to God the Father, silently. But actually, there is another prayer in this passage, the prayer of the father of the child: “I believe; help my unbelief!” This is not usually the kind of prayer that we think about when we think of powerful prayer.
Prayer is our most powerful weapon against the enemy. It is not a light thing when we pray for protection or deliverance. Because of Jesus, every prayer prayed in faith has weight in the realm of spiritual warfare.
Evening Reflection
“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:11-13).
Tonight, let’s meditate on this promise, and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us pray with the faith that our heavenly Father is a good Father!
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on April 24, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Having All the Answers Misses the Point”
Acts 19:21-22
After all this had happened, Paul decided[d] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” 22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.
For the last couple Christmas vacations, my younger brother and I have passed away our time by buying ourselves at least one new video game to play together. This past year, we bought our game with very little time left, so we used a walk-through manual to help us. The manual gave us all the tactics to solve different puzzles and to prepare against different enemies. After playing the game for a couple of days, I felt oddly dissatisfied with the experience. We were beating the game, but having all the answers completely detracted from the joy of actually playing and experiencing it.
Isn’t it common that we also endlessly seek clarity for our steps in life? We think: “What degree should I get?” “What city should I move to?” “What ministry should I be a part of?” Sometimes, we think that it will be easier if God just lays out the steps in front of us. We might, after all, feel more in-control or assured if we just have the directions.
Good thing God knows our hearts and that, if we had all the answers, we would completely miss out on the entire process of exploring this world with Him. Even the Apostle Paul didn’t always know where He was going; even as a seasoned itinerant preacher, he still relied on the Spirit to give him direction – the phrase used here in Greek is “determined in the Spirit.” Paul could never have anticipated what would come with each day – jail, riots, beatings, or the occasional good reception. But from all accounts, he was always led by God’s Spirit and testified in joy of God’s goodness.
One analogy to help us remember this type of lifestyle is that our journey of following God is not one with the map showing all the twists and turns; rather, the journey is like following the GPS, step by step. God has a good journey planned for us. Is it the one you want to travel on? Let us give up our desire to control our paths or know all the answers. Instead, let’s continue to seek His presence and His leading at every juncture.
Prayer: Father, You know that I don’t always enjoy the unseen and unknown. It is sometimes hard to trust that You know where You are leading me and that the path is good. Help me give up on needing to have all the answers in front of me and enjoy the journey You have before me. Remind me that my good Father is working everything out for me today! Amen.
REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on April 3, 2016, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church plant by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Relax, It Won’t Crash Because I am in It”
Acts 14:19-22
But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
A pastor was aboard a plane on an international flight on his way to speak at a mission’s conference. Seated next to him was a woman with whom he quickly made acquaintance. During the flight, the plane underwent an intense bout of turbulence, and the pastor could see out of the corner of his eye that every time the plane shook, the woman tensed up. As the turbulence got worse, the woman began to break out in cold sweat as she exhaled anxious groans. Noticing her increasing distress, the pastor turned to her and said, “Don’t worry, we will not die today!” “How can you be sure?” she replied in a shaky voice. With a small grin the pastor responded, “Because I’m on the plane.”
While the above may have been a humorous statement primarily intended to loosen nerves, there is some truth to that notion. God has a purpose for each of us that nothing, not even death, can deter. In our passage today, Paul should have died. When a crowd gathers around you, hurls stones at you, and then drags you outside the city, you’re supposed to be dead. In fact, the crowds thought Paul was dead! Yet when the disciples came, “he rose up and entered the city!” Then the next day, he continued on to preach the gospel and made many disciples. Subsequently, he RETURNS to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch. This is either the behavior of a madman—or a man on a mission.
Once in a while, especially during stressful times, I think to myself, I wish I could just be in heaven now. What I’m really saying is, I’m tired of the mundane, burdensome, seemingly meaningless stuff that I’m doing. Perhaps you’ve said this or thought this to yourself at times. But the truth is, if God didn’t have a plan to use you here on this earth, you’d already be in heaven! As heaven-bound Christians, what purpose would there be to remain on this earth, other than to be used by God in some way while we’re here? Whether you’re in an exciting season of your life, or in a mundane one, or a downright stressful one, take some time today to remind yourself of this truth: God still wants to do something through you here on this earth. The fact that you still have breath in your lungs is the proof of it!
Prayer: Lord, I am Your vessel. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and awaken a kingdom-minded vision within me. Help me to see my actions as they fit into Your purposes. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on June 3, 2016. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“People Whom God is Calling You to Correct’
Galatians 2:11-14
When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
When I first became a Christian, Paul was one of the few major Bible characters it took me a really long time to warm up to (I’m actually still working on it). This is one of the passages that contributed to that. It just seems harsh (and a little bit arrogant). However, with every passing year and greater maturity (hopefully), I’ve come to see the wisdom in Paul’s actions and the importance of what we stand to learn from them.
No one enjoys having to correct someone who is in the wrong (well, no normal person) because it’s uncomfortable. Pastor Steven J. Cole, listed several reasons why… I’ll give you his top three: (1) fear – we don’t want to upset or be rejected by the person; (2) a misunderstanding of Matthew 7:1 – we think Jesus is saying all judgments are judgmental; (3) an awareness of our own sinfulness – this is where the phrase “who am I to judge?” often come into play. Regardless of the slew of reasons we don’t offer correction when we see a brother or sister in error, the one reason we should is that we are commanded to do it. Not only this, but it’s the most loving thing we can do for them.
When Paul describes his correction of Peter in verse 11, the reason he gives for doing it is that Peter “stood condemned.” Not only was Peter wrong and leading those who followed him astray, but he himself stood condemned before the Lord for his sin. That’s a big deal! When we see our brothers and sisters in error, we should be mindful that their sin ruptures their relationship with God and, if we love them at all, we should feel compelled to come alongside them in mending it. And we should appreciate others who do the same for us as well. Are there people in your life God is calling you to correct? May you do so by speaking the truth in love. Is there correction God is calling you to receive? May you do so with humility and appreciation.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant me the courage and love to offer a word of correction to those around me who need to hear it. Help me to have a heart of humility that receives correction from others with an open and humble heart. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Amos 7
Lunch Break Study
Read 2 Timothy 2:22-26: So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Questions to Consider
According to verse 22, what should we as believers be constantly pursuing? Think about your typical day – how much of your energy and attention is devoted to the pursuit of these things?
Paul lists several characteristics that should be present in the person who is offering correction to others. What are they?
What should be our motivation for correcting those in the wrong?
Notes
We should be pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Paul encourages Timothy (and each of us by extension) to be kind, able to teach (both possessing knowledge and an ability to communicate it), patient, and gentle in our correction of others.
That they may escape the snare of the devil. We want to protect them from the schemes of the enemy so they are free to live the abundant life God offers.
Evening Reflection
How do you typically respond to correction by others? Are you defensive and dismissive or are you thankful and thoughtful? How do you respond to situations where you have to offer correction to others? What, if anything, keeps you from challenging a brother or sister when you see them in the wrong? Spend some time reflecting on these things with the Lord.
UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, which was first posted on January 14 , 2016, is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who serves as AMI Teaching Pastor.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Don’t Take What’s Not Yours”
Acts 1:15-6
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
Matt. 26:14-6
Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
The TV show 48 Hours deals with murders involving middle-class Americans who have good jobs and live in nice houses. Viewing just a few episodes is all it would take to notice two repetitive themes regarding whodunit and why. As to who, likely your spouse; as to why, money! In one episode, a young professional with an M.B.A. kills his beautiful wife, even shooting himself 4 times to make the police believe that it was a robbery gone bad. But once the police discovered the $2 million life insurance on the wife, they had the motive to go with his inconsistent testimony.
So, why did Judas really betray Jesus? Some say that Judas the revolutionary hoped that Jesus would use his incredible power to drive out the Romans from the Holy Land. How disappointed Judas must have been when “Jesus, knowing that [the Jews] intended to . . . make him king by force, withdrew . . . to a mountain” (Jn. 6:15). So, the frustrated Judas tried to force Jesus’ hand by getting him to react so that it would begin a chain reaction to overthrow the Romans.
The Bible, however, gives a simpler reason why Judas “served as guide for those who arrested Jesus”: greed. After all, Judas said to Jesus’ enemy, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you.” By all account, “thirty pieces of silver” was a large sum of money then (as much as $15,000 today). An older John, recalling the events that occurred some 50 years earlier, wrote, “. . . [Judas] was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it” (Jn. 12:6). In other words, betraying Jesus for a small fortune was too good of an opportunity for this small-time thief to pass up.
One Korean proverb says, “One who steals needles will one day steal cows.” The story of Judas, as well as many episodes of 48Hours, is a powerful reminder to cut the cord to our greed before it begins to control us. Some suggestions: first, don’t take what’s not yours; second, be generous; and third, tithe, which is one effective way to rein in your appetite for more.
Prayer: Father, I’m so amazed by how Your Son Christ dealt with Judas until the very end. It encourages me to no end, seeing that Christ loved his betrayer, even calling him friend. I know that You have done the same for me. So help me to be more generous toward your work. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Amos 6
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Tim. 6:10:For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
James 1:14-5: but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Question to Consider
1. What is a root of all kinds of evil: money or the love of money? Why is this distinction important?
2. How does greed work? How does a needle robber grow to be someone who steals cows?
3. Recently, God laid on my heart to send a check to someone to encourage that person; but I hesitated. Then a close relative sent me a check as a gift and that amount was larger than what I planned to give. What would you do in that situation and why?
Notes
1. Money itself is not the root of all evil but the love of money is. It is an important distinction because there is nothing wrong with trying to make money as long as it is done ethnically and without neglecting important responsibilities of life. Without money we cannot pay our bills, buy needed things, or support missionaries. But when we love it, we hoard it, becoming stingy and preoccupied with making more, which means little or no time for other things like doing God’s work.
2. The component to greed that can turn into a lethal weapon is the feeling that no matter how muchyou have, you always feel like you don’t have enough. That feeling, given time, grows to become a force of its own and motivation behind all kinds of evil, such as impulsive investments, cutthroat business practices, and according to 48Hours, even murder.
3. I sent out the check right away after receiving the gift from my relative. The reason: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). A lesson learned: what God gives you is more than what you give back to Him or others in need (Mal. 3:6-12).
Evening Reflection
Since we aren’t living in an Islamic or communist state, we aren’t likely to face a situation where we have to choose between death or denying Jesus; but instead, our denial of Jesus is more subtle. Perhaps only you and God know what really happened. What are these ways? Did it happen today? What makes us such weak witnesses? How can we be more bold and authentic witnesses for God? Reflect. Pray. Change.
