March 8, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 6, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Should We Do When We Don’t Like the Sermon”

Acts 1:6

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Luke 24:19-21, 25

They replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. . . . 25 [Jesus] said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

A pastor’s worst nightmare is being told how ineffective his sermon is, and that’s what recently happened to a pastor to whom this college sophomore said, “I’ve gotten nothing out of your sermons.”  To him, the problem lies squarely with the pastor’s alleged inability to preach or teach well; but that may not necessarily be the case.  

Now, Jesus was called, “Rabbi” (teacher), for a reason: so exceptional was his teaching that “the people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching—and with authority!’” (Mk. 1:27).  What makes a good teacher shouldn’t be so much that he is charismatic or entertaining, but that the students actually learn.  To that end, Jesus was off the chart but even his teaching couldn’t change the long held Messianic expectation by the Jews that was simply wrong.   Seeing the resurrected Christ, the Israelites wondered whether Jesus would drive out the hated Romans from the holy land and then “restore the kingdom to Israel.”  They acted as though they never heard Jesus say, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation . . . because the kingdom of God is within you’” (Lk. 17:21).  

I’m not sure how my pastor friend responded to his critic, but Jesus certainly didn’t apologize; instead he said, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”  This is to say, when you aren’t getting much from a sermon, you shouldn’t automatically assume that the problem lies with the speaker; it could be your critical attitude or arbitrary criteria, or both. 

Once, a student asked a renowned seminary professor how he could get blessed by a sermon given by someone who knows far less than him.  His answer: “As long as he reads even one verse from the Scripture, that’s enough to be blessed.”   I would have told the sophomore, “While I work on my sermon, you should work on having a childlike heart, for Jesus said, “Father. . . you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children” (Matt. 11:25).  The next time you go to church, don’t leave home without a childlike heart—it will improve your hearing. 

Prayer: Mighty God, I lift up my voice and hands unto You in worship and adoration.  I love You with all my heart!  May your kingdom, which resides in my heart, grow and prosper in 2016 and let it be shown through my being more like childlike whenever I encounter your precious word.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 4:14-8: “The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Question to Consider

1. What is the gist of this parable?  When it comes to God’s word bearing fruits in our lives, what is the most significant factor?

2. What factors curtail or diminish our ability to listen, understand and then live by God’s word?

3. What do you think is meant by “good soil?”  Describe it.  Is that the kind of attitude you have? 

Notes

1. The “word” is fine; the problem is often the attitude we bring when we counter God’s word, whether it be reading the Bible or hearing someone teach or preach.  Our attitude makes a world of difference between being blessed or critical; being receptive or closed.

2. First, not having any root indicates someone who is in a perpetual state of having a shallow understanding of the Bible; when some inconvenient thing occurs, he bails out. Second, seed sown among thorns suggests an inability or unwillingness to adequately handle the worries of life and excessive desires for the things of the world.  So, when the pastor preaches against loving the world, it will be easy for someone with this problem to blame him for yelling or being boring.  

3. As it was said in the morning devotion, a childlike heart: someone who is willing to submit to the truth no matter who says it; someone who won’t reject the entire sermon on account of a few disagreements or dislikes.  

Evening Reflection

This is a test: Do you still remember any part of the sermon you heard this past Sunday (I am assuming that you went)?  What is it?  Hebrews 2:1 says, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”  When all the hours spent on listening to sermons are added at the end of our life, it may be a matter of years!  That’s some investment.  Shouldn’t you be a wise investor?  So improve your hearing.  Ask God for strength and discipline.

March 7, Tuesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 10, 2016, is provided by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church (Raleigh).  David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.) is married to Helen (“Pie”) and they have three beautiful daughters (Cara, Phoebe, and Ruth). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Defending Our Faith”

Acts 24:10-16

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. 11 You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, 12 and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. 13 Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. 14 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, 15 having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. 16 So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

One of the challenges of being a Christian today is learning how to defend your faith (often referred to as apologetics).  Being part of a pluralistic society, we often hear people in our schools and work places discredit the truths of Christianity.  The question I want to challenge us with today is: “Would you know how to defend your faith if someone tried to discredit or disprove Christianity?”

In his book On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision, William Lane Craig pointedly says: “If Christians could be trained to provide solid evidence for what they believe and good answers to unbelievers’ questions and objections, then the perception of Christians would slowly change. Christians would be seen as thoughtful people to be taken seriously rather than as emotional fanatics or buffoons. The gospel would be a real alternative for people to embrace.” 
As Paul faces Felix, he is allowed to defend the gospel that put him in prison.  He defends the accusations against him that he is a troublemaker and a leader of the Way – a Nazarene sect.  He actually ends up agreeing with the substance of the accusations and briefly shares that he does worship the one true God.  Paul defends his faith with much wisdom and boldness.

In order to grow in the area of apologetics, I want to suggest a few ideas: (1) Study the Word diligently: know what the Word says about major themes and doctrines of faith; (2) Read books on apologetics: There are many books written that will explain how to defend your faith.  Authors such as C.S. Lewis, Lee Strobel, and Tim Keller have all written excellent books on apologetics.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be people who know how to defend our faith in this unbelieving and hostile world.  We need Your guidance and wisdom to speak the truth when opportunities arise.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 4:5-6: Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Questions to Consider

  1. What do you think it means to walk in wisdom towards outsiders?
  2. How can our speech be gracious and seasoned with salt?
  3. How do these verses apply to you personally?

Notes

  1. The basic gospel message is easy to learn, but it takes wisdom to present it in a way that will not unnecessarily create obstacles to its truth in the hearts and minds of unbelievers.  To warn people of the judgment, due to their sin, with honesty, love, and humility can be difficult. We can fall into the trap either of being so concerned about sounding judgmental that we never talk about sin, or of being so self-righteous that we forget the grace shown to us—and treat people as if they are so unclean that Jesus could never forgive nor welcome them into His kingdom.
  2. The Greek words that are behind “speech,” “gracious,” and “salt” are used together in first-century literature to refer to speech that is gracious and attractive — winsome, even witty words that are also spoken in a humble manner. In other words, the apostle wants the presentation of the gospel to the outside world done in a manner that captures the gospel’s excitement, and that is able to answer the unbeliever’s legitimate questions.
  3. Reflect and apply.

Evening Reflection

Spend time in personal prayer.   Ask the Lord to speak to you on the things you have read and meditated on today. 

March 6, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 11, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The City Life”

Acts 1:12

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.

Genesis 4:16-8

Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. 17 Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.

No one extolled the virtue of city life better than erstwhile Harvard professor Harvey Cox, who argued in his seminal work Secular City (1965) that modern city life is preferable over rural (traditional) life.  Cox liked that in the city, “relationships are founded on free selection and common interest,” giving people a “wider range of alternatives,” unlike in rural life, where relationships are preset and any newcomer was held in suspicion unless one knew “where they came from and whether their family was any good.”  Undoubtedly, he would prefer Sex and the City over The Waltons, a popular TV show in the 1970s featuring a large rural family.

Of course, the 21st century city doesn’t look anything like its 1st century counterpart: cars and trucks have long replaced mules and carts; people who talk to themselves used to be call crazy, but now it just means that a Bluetooth mic is clipped to their ear.   But some aspects of city life have not changed: young people still flock to cities, seeking fame, fortune and love.  Contrary to Cox’s assertion, cities continued to be a place of broken dreams and shattered relationships.   No sooner do people come to cities than they find out that the competition is fierce and no one can be trusted.  

In a symbolic sense, it makes sense why more city dwellers are victims of crime than anyone else: Cain, who “belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother” (1 Jn. 3:11), built the first city. And a city was where Jesus, just before his ascension, commanded his disciples to go.  In Jerusalem, the disciples were to receive power through the Holy Spirit, after which they were to preach the gospel (Lk. 24:47) before venturing out to other nations.  

A city was where the apostles first preached the gospel, and even today cities are often the seminal grounds for mission work around the world.  In the 2000s, I served in Chihuahua, Mexico, a city of a 1 million people.  I walked to stores, jogged daily (crossing 42 streets) and train urban pastors.  And it was fun and rewarding ten years of our lives.  How about you?  Is God calling you to a city?  There are still a lot of needs out there.   

Prayer: God, on this day reserved for you, I thank You for the opportunity to serve you, which I often take for granted.  Whether I live in the suburb or city, there is no shortage of people who need You. Help me to share what I’ve received from You: hope, meaning and eternal life in Christ.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 8

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:24-5: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Jn. 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Prov. 18:24: One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Question to Consider

1. Imagine a lonely city dweller.  Based on these passages and our need to belong, how can we make her feel better?

2. Define a good friend.

3. What are some good ways to encourage a discouraged friend or acquaintance? 

Notes

1. A safe and secure place where she can interact with others; a meaningful friendship

2. A good friend is someone who sacrifices himself to seek your good; someone who will stay with you through good and bad times 

3. We should begin with reminding them of God’s love, care and concern for them; and then we should invite them to our meetings while reaffirming your love for them.

Evening Reflection

Do you live and work in the city?  Or do you live in a suburb but work in the city? Each day might be busier than the last for you. But we should do more than just spend the whole day in front of the computer and talk on the phone.  Reach out!  A simple yet sincere “How are you” can mean a world of different to your lonely coworker or fellow student.  Do something unique for someone tomorrow.  Pray about it.

March 5, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 27, 2016, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), moved to Tokyo in 2022 where he plans to, the Lord willing, plant a church. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Who Gets the Glory in Your Life?”

Acts 12:20-24 (ESV)

Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. [21] On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. [22] And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” [23] Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. [24] But the word of God increased and multiplied.

In our passage this morning, Herod, a persecutor of the church, is judged by God.  The people flatter him in a blasphemous way, he receives the glory due to God, and he is subsequently struck down.

Herod’s desire for and enjoyment of glory is not unique.  The desire for glory has been the source of conflict with God from the very beginning.  Satan was not satisfied by simply reflecting the glory of God; he wanted to take God’s place.  Adam and Eve were tempted by the prospect of becoming like God.

Glory is something like fame.  Of course, we understand that God deserves His glory (or fame), but we would not mind if we got some for ourselves too.  Perhaps we don’t want to be famous in a TMZ celebrity kind of way, but we would like others to speak well of us and for the right people to know how wonderful or talented we are.  

Even in ministry, we are not free from this temptation.  I am a pastor, and I am committed to spreading the fame of God to the whole world, yet I also want people to recognize my gifts and my competence.  

Thankfully, there will be a day when you and I will be free from this desire for self-glory, and we will be blessed to wholeheartedly give God everything He deserves.  All of human history is marching forward to the day when Jesus will get all the glory.  

May our Risen King receive the reward of His death and resurrection! “And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

Prayer: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are the One True God and You deserve all the glory!  I hate my sin and long to be free of all my self-love so that I may give You my whole heart, soul, and mind.  Maranatha—come Lord Jesus—and take Your rightful place as King! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 7

March 4, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on March 12, 2016.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Ego Larger Than Life”

Acts 8:9-13; 18-24

Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention . . . . 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”  20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”  24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

What can we tell about someone who chooses sorcery as his occupation in life?  At the very least, he isn’t normal.  In Acts chapter 8, we see an interesting portrait of this funny, unusual man.  He enjoyed the attention of people, boasted that he was someone great, but when someone greater came along, he fell into line and started following this person everywhere.  His character seems almost recognizable, like the man in the movies who boasts in a bar of his arm-wrestling ability only to make a quick about-face when the real champion walks in.  The comedy is in how shamelessly he humbles himself in the blink of an eye – a seeming defeat – but in that moment, if he does it charmingly enough, he wins over the heart of the audience.

Ego larger than life on the one hand, able to follow someone around like a devoted fan on the other, Simon could have been one such person.  Despite all the outrageous things he says and does, we can still somehow see the humanity of the new believer and former sorcerer.  Because of his newfound faith, he’d had to abandon the career which had been his whole identity and source of affirmation.  As he tries to figure out a new life for himself, all he knows is that this ministry of the Holy Spirit attracts him; it seems similar to but at the same time so much better than what he’d been doing in the past.  He had a heart that longed for more and the faith to believe in God for the extraordinary, but in seeking to gain some kind of access to all this himself, he goes about things in a clumsy way, offering money, and his request is denied.

Peter says that his heart wasn’t right before God, that it was full of bitterness and captive to sin. Was it out of bitterness that he had worked all his life in the past?  A desire to make people recognize him born out of past experiences of their rejection or disrespect?  If Simon wanted to engage in God’s work, he needed to have his heart renewed; he couldn’t bring the same heart he’d done sorcery and magic with before into the Holy Spirit ministry now.  If he truly wanted to engage in this ministry, he needed to be operating from a deep love for people and a desire to see Jesus glorified, not himself.

It is admirable to seek the power of the Holy Spirit in ministry; it means we’re not content with life as usual when we know we serve an extraordinary God.  As we seek God’s power, however, let us also pursue purity of heart.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, what is in my heart today?  Do I desire people’s attention or affirmation?  Am I motivated at all by any bitterness that I am nursing in my heart?  Help me to lay all less than noble motives down.  This day, as I seek Your power to serve Your people, would You purify my heart?  For Your glory, in Your name I pray.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 5-6

March 3, Friday 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on March 3, 2016.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Be Careful with Traditions”

Acts 10:9-33 

10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.  

Having served a number of churches, I’ve come to see that every church has its traditions. Everything from cultural to denominational, I have seen people have strong feelings for certain forms of spirituality or church practices that they are even willing to fight and divide over them.  

Traditions are not bad; they can be very good and be a way to remember what God has done in the past—a way to relive those important moments. But we can also become enslaved to them. Instead of serving as a bridge to lead to truth and life, it can also be used to build a box to keep God inside and others out. 

In our passage, Peter is with Simon the tanner in the city of Joppa. But while Peter was praying on the rooftop, where meals were often served, he enters into a trance and sees a vision of a sheet descending from the heavens with all kinds of animals on it and an accompanying voice with the words “kill and eat.” Peter refused to violate the dietary laws as prescribed in Deuteronomy 14, where ceremonially unclean animals—like pigs and birds—were forbidden for consumption. But the clear message for Peter, and for all Jews thereafter, was to partake of it, because “what God has made clean, do not call common.”

Consider why it was so difficult for Peter to comprehend God’s message. It comes down to building a life on traditions. The Jews were defined by the traditions of their dietary restrictions, and of course, it served its purpose for its time. But when God was ready to do a new thing, Peter found himself initially unwilling to believe—the old wineskin was keeping him from the new wine.  

God speaks through the ordinary things of life as well as through the great visions of the heavens. We are called today to pay attention to see how God is doing a new thing in our lives. Am I listening? Am I paying attention? Consider what traditions, habits or past teachings that might be keeping you from hearing afresh the voice of God in your life today. 

Prayer: God, help me to see You today. Help me not to take for granted how You speak through ordinary things in life. Allow my ears to listen attentively to Your voice. Don’t allow distractions or traditions to keep me from loving You today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:Nehemiah 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 5:16-26: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Questions to Consider 

1. What are the works of the flesh? According to Paul, what will keep us from gratifying the desires of the flesh?   

2. What is the fruit of the Spirit? 

3. What particular fruit of the Spirit do you need to work on? 

Notes 

1. “The works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (verses 19-21). When we allow the Spirit to lead us, we will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

2. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (verses 22-23). 

3. Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

“Fruit is always the miraculous, the created; it is never the result of willing, but always a growth. The fruit of the Spirit is a gift of God, and only He can produce it. They who bear it know as little about it as the tree knows of its fruit. They know only the power of Him on whom their life depends” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

March 2, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional Thought, first posted on April 12, 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 University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Don’t Be a Know-It-All”

Acts 17:11-12

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

My wife teaches advanced nursing at UCSF, so most of her students have been practicing as registered nurses for several years. Generally, she likes her job and her students, but every so often, she will tell me about a few who try her nerves.  The commonality among these students is that when the class gets to topics that they are familiar with –because they have years of experience in these areas—they become know-it-alls and quite opinionated about what is being taught.  I have found this experience common in a lot of settings.  Some classes in seminary were difficult to get through, simply because everyone had an opinion or criticism about the book we were reading.  The point I am trying to make is, that many want to be teachers (or critics), but few are willing to be students. 

If you’ve been in the church for a while, you’ve probably heard preachers praise the practices of the Berean Jews.  These Bereans, upon hearing Paul’s message, examined the Old Testament to confirm the truth of what was being taught.  So the common exhortation is that everyone should study the Word and make sure the preacher is teaching soundly.  While I obviously don’t want to discourage this practice, I do want to point out one important detail:  In v. 11, we read that the Bereans received the Word with great eagerness.  Because the Bereans loved Paul’s message, they eagerly searched the Scriptures, hoping that he and the gospel message were correct and trustworthy.  In other words, the reason they searched the Scriptures so intently was that they were genuinely interested in learning more than teaching.  

As we get older and more seasoned, we become less teachable, don’t we?  And as we become less teachable, things become more mundane and dull, don’t they?  One of the signs that you are still teachable is eagerness and excitement.  Are you eager to read the Bible or go to church?  In your heart of hearts, do you feel like you’ve read that or heard that before—“same old, same old”?  This morning, let’s remind ourselves that the infinite God has more than enough tricks for our finite selves to keep us from getting bored; let’s be eager for God’s presence and being!    

Prayer: Lord, give me excitement in getting to know You.  Let me never feel like I’ve heard it all or read it all or experienced it all.  Give me a teachable spirit and an open heart.  Let me fall in love with You anew. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 2: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break[b] them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear,  and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Questions to Consider

Generally ascribed to David, Psalm 2 is a royal Psalm that speaks about the Lord’s sovereign rule and His volition to establish David’s monarchy.  This Psalm will find its fullest ministry in the reign of Christ. 

1.  How do the “nations” respond to the Lord’s rule in vv. 1-3?  How are you sometimes like them?

2.  What is the Lord’s response in vv. 4-6?  And whose rule is established in vv. 7-9?

3.  How does the psalmist’s exhortation in vv.10-12 apply to you?  

Notes

1.  The nations rebel against the Lord and His anointed One.  Sometimes, it is helpful to take the Psalms personally: Ask yourself, “Do you ever rebel, or desire to rebel, against the Lord’s rule?”

2.  Ultimately, the nations’ rebellion has insignificant impact on the Lord; He laughs at these attempts (v. 3).  The Psalm may have originally been about David’s reign; however, it is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.  Jesus’ reign is firmly and unshakably established.  

3.  Question:  Are you fully satisfied under the Lord’s rule?  Do you embrace His lordship over your life and strive to serve Him faithfully? Or, do you desire to rebel?  

Evening Reflection

Today, we discussed two themes: This morning, it was about having a teachable heart and being eager to know and love God more; while this afternoon, it was about living joyfully under the Lord’s sovereign rule.  These themes are somewhat related, as they both require faith— faith to believe that God’s rule is good and trustworthy, and faith to believe that God knows more than you and you have much to learn about Him.  As you reflect on these ideas, pray for whatever may be lacking in your faith.  

March 1, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on May 4, 2016.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“As You Wish”

Acts 22:8-10

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’”

In the movie The Princess Bride, the male protagonist Westley is in love with the female protagonist Buttercup. Whenever Buttercup asks Westley to do anything, his immediate response is: “as you wish”; this line becomes a theme throughout the story as Westley shows his devotion and love to Buttercup.

Though Paul does not say “as you wish” to Jesus in this testimony Paul is sharing, he does say something that expresses a similar attitude: Paul asks, “What shall I do, Lord?” Just like “as you wish,” this line expresses devotion and a desire to please the other. Paul was basically saying to the Lord, “Have Your way with my life.”

Ultimately, these two expressions “as you wish” and “What shall I do, Lord?” express obedience – an obedience and commitment to the one being spoken to. And obedience is ultimately a reflection of love: 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” You cannot love God but not be obedient—that’s a contradiction.

In your own life, are you feeling a lack of love for God? Or perhaps dryness in your faith? Check your obedience, your willingness to say “as you wish” to God when He speaks to You. Oftentimes our love runs dry when we say “as I wish” instead of “as You wish” to God. Perhaps there is no day better than today to say to God “as you wish.”

Prayer: What shall I do, Lord? Today, help me to hear Your voice and follow You as You lead me. Give me the strength to say “as you wish” and to be obedient to all Your ways. Forgive me for my disobedience and have Your way in me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study 

Read 1 John 5:2-3: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to this passage, what does it mean to love God?
  2. Why does John mention that God’s commands should not be burdensome?
  3. What areas of disobedience do you need to bring to God today?

Notes

  1. According to John in this passage, loving God means obeying His commands. Though loving God is not only about obeying His commands, but we can easily tell if we do not love God if we are not obeying Him.
  2. Love gives no room for bitterness. But when we allow God’s commands to become burdensome, bitterness sets in. Eventually, though we may be “obedient” to the letter of the law, our hearts will drift from God. This is what legalism is: when we obey commands without love.
  3. Has God been calling you to do something that you have pushed off, or something you have said to God, “Not now”? Perhaps write these things down and ask God for the strength to say “yes” to Him today.

Evening Reflection

Reflect back on your obedience today. Were you saying “as you wish” or “as I wish”? Repent of the ways you have been disobedient and ask God for strength to always say.

February 28, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 12, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Would You Pick These Guys to be On Your Team?”

Acts 1:13

When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

1 Corinthians 1:26

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

This past December, I got to see an NBA game between San Antonio Spurs, a five-time champion, and Philadelphia 76ers, the league’s worst. Predictably, the game got of control fast and the Spurs won by 51 points!  

Upon examining each roster, Jesus’ disciples would be more like the overmatched 76ers than the Spurs.   It is said that, besides a handful of Philadelphia players with raw potential, the rest don’t belong in the league.  And that’s who the disciples were.  Being described by their detractors as “unschooled [and] ordinary” (Acts 4:5, 13) was merely scratching the surface. The disciples were initially divided not only from the rest of society but even among themselves. Simon belonged to a militant group called Zealots who violently opposed the Romans and those who worked for them, like tax collectors, among whom Matthew was one.   The disciples’ favorite pastime was arguing about “who was the greatest” (Mk. 9:34); once, John and James sought to kill an inhospitable Samaritan (Lk. 9:51-5).

Let’s suppose that you’re assembling a roster to begin a new company.  Would you start with these men?   Are you crazy? No! Instead, you would recruit kinder, humbler and more educated people; but Jesus, purposely avoiding them, chose just the opposite for his institution aimed at changing the world.

Now, for the past three years Philadelphia 76ers purposely gathered its outmatched players to lose; but there is method to their madness.  Being the worst team in the league increases their chance to pick the best player in the upcoming draft of college players.  And there was also method in the “madness” of Jesus in selecting his men.   To that end Paul wrote, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things to nullify the things that are not, 29 so that no one may boast before him” (1 Cor. 1:27-9).

This criterion is both encouraging and sobering because this means that God can use the “unschooled and ordinary” but it also means that we shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously since God is the one who does all the heavy lifting.  Cheer up—God can use you: work hard (Col. 1:29), stay humble and be faithful.   

Prayer: Father, I confess my willful forgetfulness: now that I am better, thanks to your provision, I am deluded into thinking think that I wasn’t all that bad when You saved me.  No, I wasn’t okay then and I won’t be okay the moment I fall into this self-deception.  Lord, I cannot do anything apart from you (Jn. 15:5).  I absolutely and completely depend on You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 1:26: Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

1 Cor. 6:9-11: Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were.

1 Cor. 4:7-8: For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8 Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

Question to Consider

1. The apostle Paul referred to the Corinthians as not having been wise, influential or of noble birth.  What were they like before God saved them?  

2. It is important to note in what tone Paul was writing what he wrote in 1 Cor. 4:7-8.  It is decisively a sarcastic tone: “Already you have become rich and begun to reign.”  What happened to these once hapless Corinthians?  What was worrying Paul?

3. So, why is Paul writing all this?  What do we need to watch out for as we become wiser, stronger and wealthier?   

Notes

1. The key phrase is 1 Cor. 6:11, “And that is what some of you were”, meaning many of the Corinthians used to be thieves, drunkards and sexually immoral. 

2. Evidently, these Corinthians were forgetting their former, miserable state before God saved them and were acting “cool” as if they were always wise, strong and influential.  Alarmed, Paul was reminding them what it was really like from the outset—“Not many of you were . . .”

3. He wrote this before their spiritual amnesia turns into a full-blown spiritual pride, which would bring about their fall (Prov. 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall) as well as God’s discipline (1 Pet. 5:5: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”).

Evening Reflection

Looking back to all that happened today, did you face a situation where you ended up embellishing your accomplishment and/or pedigree?  If so, why did you give in to that?  Take a moment and ask the Lord how he can help you with this weakness that makes you feel even less secure the next day.    

“‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’  For it is not the one who commends 

himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (2 Cor. 10:17-8).

February 27, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 21, 2016, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), moved to Tokyo in 2022 where he plans to, the Lord willing, plant a church. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Frank Talk on Grace”

Acts 11:1-3 (ESV)

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. [2] So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, [3] “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

After the household of Cornelius receives the Holy Spirit, the circumcision party is deeply offended.  This is ridiculous.  People were saved and the circumcision party is worried about the quality of Peter’s dinner guests?

Now, the problem is not simply that Peter has eaten with sinners.  Everyone knew that Jesus frequently ate with tax collectors and prostitutes, though these sinners were presumably Jewish.  So, is the circumcision party guilty of blatant racism?  I don’t think the issue is so simple.  Essentially, the circumcision party believes that Gentiles must become Jews before they can become Christians.  After all, Jesus did say, “Salvation is from the Jews.”

The circumcision party assumes that there is something inherently valuable about being Jewish apart from the grace of God.  They have forgotten where they came from.  Of course, the Israelites have a special place in God’s heart and in His redemptive plan, but God chose them, not because they were special, but because they were small and insignificant.

The prerequisite for becoming a child of God, whether for Jewish sinners or Gentile sinners, is not circumcision or even baptism, but repentance and faith.  And this is good news for people who need the grace of God.

At the Living Water Church, I work with teenage boys from the inner city.  I know boys who aspire to be drug dealers.  I know boys who are in juvenile detention for their violence.   I know boys who spent their nights robbing their neighbors.  And there is good news for them.  

They do not need to become middle class to be saved.  They do not need to adopt another culture or race.  No, God can wash away their sins as they are and give them a completely new life if they would simply trust in Jesus.

Now it may sound romantic when we apply this good news to others, but are we astounded or insulted when we are told that we need the same, exact kind of grace?  Do we want the grace that is extended to criminals?  Do we know we need it?

Prayer: Father, I thank that the grace You offer to me is real for my sin and my need is real.  May I never forget that I am nothing more than a sinner in need of a Savior and You are a wonderful Savior to me.

Bible Reading for Today: Nahum 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV): For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. [30] And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, [31] so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Question to Consider

  1. What kind of people belong to the church of Corinth?
  2. Why does God choose such people?
  3. What kind of boasting is appropriate?

Notes

  1. People who are not wise, powerful, or of noble birth by worldly standards.  In fact they are foolish, low, and despised.
  2. In order to shame the wise and the strong and so that no person may boast in the presence of God.
  3. Boasting in the Lord, who is our wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption.

Evening Reflection

In what ways were you aware of your need of the grace of God today?  In what ways were you tempted to think you had no need of grace?  Take a moment to thank God for His grace that addresses your sin as well as your pride.