REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 21, 2016, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Amazon Prime and King David”
Psalm 131:1-3
A Song of Ascents. Of David. O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forevermore.
Amazon Prime has been among the greatest technological advances of the 21st century. It’s amazing to be able to go online, look for something you want, buy it—and it shows up at your door in two days. We don’t even need to leave our houses. But have you ever bought something on Amazon Prime, and it didn’t get to you in time? It’s happened to me before. I bought a shiny new book, and instead of the expected two days, it took a FULL THREE DAYS to get to me. Oh, the outrage that I felt at this injustice!
We live in such a fast-paced, I-want-it-and-I-want-it-NOW kind of culture that we hate it when we’re made to wait for anything. Whether it’s waiting for a package to be delivered, waiting in line at the grocery store, or waiting for the traffic light to turn green—we don’t like waiting and the uncertainty it brings us. It’s not even just the small, mundane things that make us feel impatient. No one likes the uncertainty that life brings: waiting to find out where we’ll go to college, who we’ll marry, where we should live, what job we should take next, etc.
If David in Psalm 131 were to meet most of us, he would say that we are like “unweaned” children. To wean a child means to gradually move him or her off the breast milk or off the bottle onto solid food. The picture that David gives, though, is more than about food. The weaned child is calm and quiet because he knows that his next meal is coming to him. He’s content because he trusts in his mother or father to take care of him. On the other hand, unweaned children are fussy and demanding; they kick and scream and cry, because they’re hungry and they want food now.
As David has learned to be like a weaned child, he encourages us to do the same. He is able to be patient and say, “I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me,” because he trusts in his Heavenly Father to take care of him. We might not understand why or how or what is going on. We might not even know what life brings in the near or distant future. But we can be like a weaned child and be at peace as we trust in our loving Father. As we worship on this Lord’s day, let us strive for this heart of patience and contentment, trusting that our Father will take care of us.
Prayer: Father, I pray that I will truly worship You and trust You this day. I know I will not know or understand all that’s going on or all that is to come, but I pray that I will be content to know that you love me and will take care of me all of my days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on March 22, 2015. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“A False Security”
1 Samuel 26:1-2, 6-9
Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph… 6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.”9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?”
We are all familiar with the story of the Titanic – the massive ship that ended in a massive crash and a tragic loss of life. The Titanic is certainly famous for sinking after receiving a fatal blow from an iceberg, but one thing it’s less 0known for is the ad campaign that preceded its first and final voyage. The Titanic was marketed as a ship that could not sink. Can you imagine – an unsinkable ship? It seems silly to us now, but it was believed very much back then by not only the passengers aboard, but by those who produced and navigated the Titanic, so much so that they didn’t bother to supply it with enough lifeboats for every passenger. It just wouldn’t have been necessary on an unsinkable ship.
One thing we can learn from this tragedy is the danger of false security. And in our passage for today, Saul reminds us of that danger once again. He is encamped with 3000 men (v. 2) surrounding him for protection – a formidable army that had set out against David and his men, a group of merely 600. In comparison, Saul must have been assured of his safety. But when it was least expected (literally as Saul was asleep) David made his move and was given an opportunity to claim Saul’s life right in the midst of his fortified army. Saul was much more vulnerable than he knew.
David on the other hand, with his measly 600 men, was protected all along the way – both in this encounter with Saul and the one we read about a couple chapters prior. David was not protected because of his great skill and his great army and his great resources. He was protected because of the hand of God. And in the end, it was God’s hand that even protected Saul – as his life was only spared in David’s pursuit of righteousness before the Lord.
Any means through which we acquire security is vulnerable to attack of some kind and penetration when least expected if that means is not God himself. He is our only true and reliable source of security—not our financial security, our family stability, our skills and gifts, our opportunities and open doors, who we know and what we do, not our personal histories or who we are or where we come from. None of these things where we are so often prone to search for security can provide what we so desperately desire. No. Only God himself can secure us.
Where do you find your security? Surrender those areas to the Lord and ask him to remind you that He alone is our security. May we declare as David does in 2 Samuel 22, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation.” All other securities will indeed fail.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may my security always be anchored in your Son Christ. Amen.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on July 24 2015.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“People Whom We Will Be Surprised to See in Heaven”
1 King 20:20-8
Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord. 21 Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22 And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ 24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”25 (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel.) 27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”
Can we really grasp the following saying of Jesus, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk. 2:17)? Condemning the Pharisees comes easy to us, but wouldn’t we have joined their railings against Jesus for “eating with ‘sinners’ (read, prostitutes) and tax collectors” (v.16)?
Undoubtedly, once we arrive in heaven, we’ll be shocked to see those who made it there—such as Karla Faye Tucker, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Ted Bundy. Tucker, a convicted murderer, was the first woman to be executed in Texas (1998) since 1863; and of course, Dahmer and Bundy were notorious serial killers—the latter was executed (1989) while the former was killed in prison (1994). Now, these dubious characters might have lied about their conversions, but if they had trusted Jesus as the One who died to pay for all our sins, then they would’ve already joined the criminal hung next to Jesus to whom He said, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk. 23:43).
Today’s account certainly lends credence to that assertion. After all, “there was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD” (NIV). For instance, just prior to this pronouncement against Ahab, he had taken, with the help of Jezebel, a vineyard belonging to Naboth through a devious plot that resulted in his murder (1 King 21:1-11). Yet, it took a simple contrition by Ahab for an elated God to declare, “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me?” And for that, Ahab was spared of having to experience the destruction of Israel during his lifetime.
Of course this is unfair in the courts of man but not in God’s, because He had “made [Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21); that is, the finished work of Christ is infinitively weightier than any sins humans have committed, including the heinous kinds that the aforementioned three committed.
Are you still not sure whether you have eternal life? Believe in Jesus and His work already completed on the Cross for the salvation of your soul. Then live a life worthy of His grace and mercy. For starters, forgive those who wronged you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I often take my salvation for granted, but today I must confess how grateful I am to You for allowing me to be part of the redeemed family of God. Help me to live a life that is truly reflective of God’s grace and mercy toward those who don’t deserve any of it—like me. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 14
Lunch Break Study
Read Matt. 23:39-43: One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
2 Pet. 3:9: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Ezek. 18:23:Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
1 Jn. 1:9:If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Question to Consider
1. What does the Gospel account involving the penitent criminal truly reveal?
2. Describe God’s heart.
3. Pastor Joseph Prince of Singapore teaches that since all our sins—past, present and future—are already forgiven in the finished work of Christ, we no longer need to confess our daily sins to be forgiven. What is both true and false about that assertion?
Notes
1. No account in the four Gospels clarifies the gospel better than this one: this forlorn man had done nothing meritorious to deserve salvation. But it was his faith in Christ, expressed in his rebuke of the impenitent criminal and pleading for Christ to remember him, that saved him: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith . . .—not by works” (Eph. 2:8-9).
2. He yearns for all sinners to “not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16). He rejoices over “one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Lk. 15:7).
3. Prince is right in that all sins are already forgiven in Christ, but there is a condition attached to it: we must confess our sins for the finished work of Christ to be efficacious in our lives. Isn’t that how we became believers in the first place? Didn’t we have to believe and then confess (Rom. 10:9) that belief to be saved at the outset? So, why would that change for the sins that we commit thereafter? Prince’s assertion regarding 1 Jn. 1:9, that it was written to unbelieving Gnostics who needed to confess their sins to be saved, is false. 1 John was written to the believers (note the pronoun “we” that includes John), among other reasons, to warn against the false teachings of the Docetics, the precursor to the Gnostics (4:1-3).
Evening Reflection
The truth is that we make our lives too busy, along with being distracted and addicted to entertainment, to be in touch with the abiding presence of God in our daily lives. Perhaps today, you experienced at least one moment in which you truly sensed His gracious and merciful presence. Reflect on that as you thank the Lord for His unceasing love towards you.
UPDATED Today’s AMI Devotional Quiet Time, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on April 21, 2016. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“The Bible Is Not for Dummies”
Acts 18:24-26
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
So little is written about Apollos, but it seems that he had great impact on the early church. His arrival was clearly very notable; and after he was joined up with Priscilla and Aquila, he went on to play a similar role as Paul, strengthening believers and defending the faith publicly. He clearly was so compelling and effective that people were tempted to break off into an Apollos camp in the Corinthian church.
There are a lot of worthy lessons to draw from this passage – the importance of proper teaching in our churches or staying teachable no matter how educated we might be. But what sticks out to me is that learning and teaching is a job that is not just reserved for the primary preacher here. We know that Priscilla and Aquila were also tentmakers like Paul and were trustworthy and capable enough to become partners with him. They were not the ones who regularly spoke up in the synagogue. However, they had also such thorough understanding of the Scriptures that they could not only keep up with well-educated Apollos but also know how to correct and guide him. Instead of just waiting around for someone of more authority like Paul to come with correction, they themselves guided Apollos.
I think we often let ourselves off the hook when it comes to thoroughly learning the Word and teaching others, making the excuse that it is a job reserved for the pastors. It is undeniable that God has called some to study His Word vocationally, and they hold great responsibility among us to educate the congregation. But He has also given His Word and His Spirit freely to each one of us! Let us take hold of the opportunities to all become humble, diligent students and teachers of the Word. Let’s read it and eat it, and as we are digesting, help someone else on how to study and understand it too. Remember, the Bible is not for dummies, meaning God has taken us seriously enough to give us a serious book to study, for life.
Prayer: Father, forgive me for not filling my life with Your Word more and more. Give me wisdom and understanding to read Your Word correctly, and give me the opportunity to bless others with what You give me. Help us increase the opportunity for Your Word to shape and transform our lives. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 13
Lunch Break Study
Read James 1:19-25: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Questions to Consider
1. What does James say having the Word planted in our lives do for us?
2. What is the consequence of just listening to the Word and not doing what it says?
3. How does this passage help us understand the importance of studying the Word? What is the ultimate purpose we want to achieve in studying and teaching the Word?
Notes
1. In verse 21, he writes if we humbly accept “the word planted in you,” it can save; also, verse 25 says that God’s Word is the “perfect law that gives freedom.” Knowing Scripture is not just an exercise for our minds, but it is the means by which we take hold of the salvation life Christ has given us.
2. Knowing the Word but not doing what it says shows that the Word does not have a place to transform our lives. Since having the Word give us freedom and saves us, the consequence of not taking it seriously is that we will find ourselves still mastered under the thumb of our old, evil self.
3. James writes that our study of the Word is worthless if we only look at the Word but never do what it says. The value that comes from looking at the Word is the type of fruit that comes from taking it seriously. So, we want to be good students of the Word and good teachers of the Word, but our priority must be having the Word applied to our lives.
Evening Reflection
How do you feel about studying God’s Word and teaching it to others? One of the biggest obstacles is that the task might seem a little boring. Martin Luther once said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me …“ Let’s reflect on our experience of God’s Word and ask Him to show us how it is alive and active in our lives. As we take steps to study it more, we will find that the idea of studying and teaching God’s Word becomes exciting.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on May 17, 2016. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“What Would You Say When Asked to Share Your Testimony?”
Acts 26:1-3 (NLT)
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.” So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: 2 “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, 3 for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!
What if one day you were given an opportunity to share your own story to an unchurched friend? Or your testimony to your unbelieving relatives? Or perhaps your “defense” of your faith to the seeking co-worker? How do you begin your story? At what point do you acquaint your listener with God’s work of saving grace? How does your interaction conclude? How comfortable are you sharing your story? And does it tell how the good news transformed your life?
Here in chapter 26, Paul shares his story that must have been told time and time again during his ministry and missionary journeys. As Paul now stands before King Agrippa, he is given a chance to speak in defense of his gospel.
Time and time again, I’ve sat in Sunday services, retreats, small groups, and Starbucks listening to the testimonies of brothers and sisters. While everyone’s stories contain a different backdrop, an assortment of individuals and diverse stages of life, there is always a common thread in all of them: God is the main character they all encounter. There is a sense that God is the One who is writing and shaping the story.
In one sense, it’s the same story. It’s the story of God’s love for His children who finally acknowledge their need for a Savior. They finally encounter God and come to a place where they are followers of Jesus. But in another sense, the stories are all told through a variety of diverse experiences. Some are as dramatic as Paul’s conversion story (Acts 9)—others less dramatic and rather ordinary. Nevertheless, there is a testimony to be told. A testimony that tells of God’s love for us and how while we were still sinners, He saved us.
So what’s your story? What is the testimony you might share when given the chance when told, “You may speak”? In that moment, take a nice calming breath and say, “Now, please listen to me patiently!”
Prayer: Lord, as I reflect on what You’ve done in my life, I am filled with gratitude for saving me and calling me Your child. Grant to me opportunities to share my testimonies to others, so that I can tell of your wonderful deeds in and through my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 12
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Peter 3:15-16: But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Questions to Consider
What is the answer that you are to be prepared to give when asked?
What kind of attitude should you maintain as you give your answer?
What will result in your answer and your attitude?
Notes
Peter writes that one is to be prepared with a reason for their hope (1 Peter 1:3). Consider how your faith has brought hope.
The right attitude is “with gentleness and respect.” This comes from a good conscience which removes from us the fear of what other people may know about us, say against us, or do to us.
The results of such a defense are that those who slander believers will be put to shame.
REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on March 27, 2015. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“God’s, Not People’s, Best”
1 Samuel 31:8-13
The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.
We find ourselves at the end of our journey with King Saul. It is certainly a tragic end and one marked by missed opportunity. Think about it: Saul was a man anointed with the Spirit of the living God to lead His people, a people given a special relationship with the God himself. Think of the amazing ways God could have worked through Saul in this position. More so than the tragic manner in which Saul died, I’m reminded again of the tragic manner in which he lived, squandering away such an amazing opportunity.
When God called David to become king in place of Saul, he described David as “a man after my own heart.” This is usually understood to mean a man who was like the Lord (in the same way we’d use the phrase “like father like son”). There is certainly validity in this interpretation. But another way to understand this phrase is as “a man after my own choosing” – in other words, someone whom God selected, God’s best for His people, not his people’s best for themselves. It is common knowledge that Saul was named King as a concession to the people of God who insisted on having a King (and prematurely so). And the legacy of Saul is what their own efforts accomplished for them.
I wonder how often we miss God’s best because we’re in too much of a rush to secure what we think is best for ourselves. And we do all of this forgetting that what God can do is far greater than what we could ever imagine. As Paul said, God is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” (Eph. 3:20). If God’s best is far better than our wildest dreams (and I have some pretty lofty dreams), doesn’t it seem better to wait out for His best… even if we’re not exactly sure what it is just yet? I sure think so!
Prayer: Gracious Father, help me to wait for Your best in my life. All my needs and desires will be satisfied in the very best way by You. Heal my short-sightedness and give me Your perspective for my life through Your Word and my daily communion with You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 11
Lunch Break Study
Read Galatians 6:7-10: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Questions to Consider
In what ways might we mock God in our actions?
What are some ways you find yourself sowing to the flesh? What are some ways you can sow to the Spirit?
How does verse 9 encourage you? How does verse 10 challenge you?
Notes
In the context of this passage, if we live for the world and for our flesh but expect that as “Christians” we will reap something other than corruption, we deceive ourselves and mock the Lord. Each of us may do this in varying ways.
We sow to our flesh when we follow our own way. This can manifest in countless ways in our lives. We sow to the Spirit when we submit ourselves to the Lord and follow Him (obeying the things of God).
Paul expects that we will get tired from sowing to the Spirit, but encourages us to keep at it because it’s well worth it in the end. Doing good to everyone whenever we have opportunity seems like a tall order, but it should challenge us to make the most of every opportunity in our relationships and sow to the Spirit by doing good.
Evening Reflection
Are you a man or woman after God’s own heart? Can those around you look at God and then at your life and say, “Like father like son/daughter”? Furthermore, what specific ways has God chosen you to do His work (in your family, workplace, church community, etc.)? Spend some time reflecting on these things and ask the Lord to enable you to do good to all as He leads and to make you more like Jesus
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 23, 2016, is provided by Andy Kim who is an associate pastor at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), will be ordained next Sunday (January 15). Congratulations.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Who Are We Listening To?”
Acts 27:9-12
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
Apparently, according to this one article, through his endorsements and other sources, Michael Jordan makes over $150,000 a day working or not. That means in the time you spend reading this devotional, he’s already made over $500 by doing nothing. I mean he is the greatest basketball player to have ever lived. Yet, in the same article, it says that if Jordan were to save 100% of his income for the next 300 years, he’d still have less than Bill Gates today. The nerds have indeed won. Today, we value knowledge and expertise, over physical strength and dominance. Living in the tech world, we treat engineers like gods and everybody else as another headcount.
In this passage, Paul advises the centurion and the crew to stall their journey, yet they choose to listen to the pilot and owner of the ship. Who wouldn’t? Paul is an ex-Pharisee on trial for some outrageous claims with little knowledge of the sea conditions. It only made logical sense to trust the pilot and owner, especially if the harbor was not going to be suitable. It was either leave now or never. Granted, in this situation we cannot see Paul’s logic of why he feels the way he does. My guess is that such a man of God is most likely being led by the Spirit. But I think about the times in which I look to what’s logical and within my bounds. Some of us discern a situation by selectively asking those who may have had similar experiences or even the more educated, hoping to find the right answer. Many times our answers coincide with what we want to hear.
With that being said, I do not want to discredit knowledge because it is too easy to make emotion- based decisions. Actions based solely on emotions can have consequences, if not more than pure logic itself. The point is that in this journey of faith, we are not to trust in the ways of man but to trust in the Lord (Psalm 118:8-9). Sometimes, what the Lord has for us may not make sense and even difficult to follow. It may go beyond the bounds of our own logic and understanding, only to make sense in the most unpredictable ways. Yet, remember His thoughts are higher and His ways are greater, for only He knows what’s best for us.
Prayer: Father, I confess that Your thoughts and Your ways are greater than my own. May I not lean on my own understanding or even in the understanding of others, but trust only in Your truth. Holy Spirit, lead me in the path that leads to Your glory. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 10
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: 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.”
Questions to Consider
What is Paul’s accusation against the Corinthians?
Why does God choose the weak and “foolish” people?
How has your knowledge of God affected your relationship with Him?
Notes
When they were called, they had no basis from which to assert superiority over one another—they believed in the simple gospel, and that was their baseline. Paul accused the Corinthians of forgetting this truth and seeking after human wisdom (Corinthians were prone to the latest philosophy and science, etc.) to exalt themselves over one another. Paul was calling for the Corinthians to humble themselves again and repent of allowing their wisdom to turn to pride.
So that no one may boast before the Lord. In other words, these are Gentiles who ultimately had no place or right to be welcomed into the kingdom of God, yet only by His grace did God choose to reveal Himself to them. By no means does this minimize the gospel in its simplicity; rather, it highlights the wisdom of God. His people would live and operate by His grace.
Many times we seek knowledge simply to know more, and in some cases to make up for our lack of faith. A true understanding and knowledge of Him should fuel our love for Him.
Evening Reflection
How is God speaking to you today? Do you feel that God is or has been leading you to do something? Have you allowed your own thoughts and reasons to convince you otherwise? If so, pray that God would give you greater faith and discernment to listen and obey Him.
UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 28, 2013. It has been updated.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Do Not Idealize the Early Church or Any Church”
Acts 6:1
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
When Jesus said that He will build His church (Matt. 16:18), surely He was not referring to some kind of movement or organization; but rather, He was talking about the New Covenant community—a family of God in Christ.
But in a family, there are bound to be some problems. This may come as a surprise to those who tend to idealize the early church, as if she were a perfect institution, but there were issues like the one mentioned in today’s passage. While the church was handing out daily sustenance to Jewish widows in need, the old prejudice resurfaced: apparently, the Hebraic widows got more food than those who were not. That’s a serious problem! This ugly situation developing in otherwise a fine early church suggests that inasmuch as we want to avoid conflicts and problem-makers in our churches, one undeniable fact is that it cannot be completely avoided.
May the Lord bless our churches in such a way that we will be a family that would overcome our differences to be one in Christ, to heal the sick and refresh the weary, and everyone in need being treated fairly. Consider Revelation 3:15 that says: “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!” This is referring to churches needing to be useful (i.e., hot spring water to soothe the body and cold water to quench thirst). Pray that our churches would be useful in God’s kingdom.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be useful in your kingdom work. Help me to be a problem-solver rather than a problem-maker for my church. Lord, help me to really love your church and protect her unity. Amen.
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on March 21, 2015. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“What to Watch Out When Aspiring to Greatness”
1 Samuel 25:39-44:
When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, “Praised be the Lord who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! The Lord has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.” Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife. 40 So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, “David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife.” 41 She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said, “Your female servant, like a lowly servant, will wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” 42 Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife.43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them became his wives.44 (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)
Most of us aspire to greatness of some form or another. Whether it’s in our professional field, in our family life, in our social spheres – we want to be great. The dictionary defines “great” in a number of ways, all of which contain something to the effect of being better than what is perceived as average. I mean really, who wants to be average? We all want to be memorable, significant, and noteworthy. Some of us have learned (from society or from our own failures) that greatness is out of our reach; therefore, we may have long given up on this yearning within us. But, I believe all of us can find a hunger for significance somewhere inside.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with a desire for greatness and significance. But I am absolutely convinced that, if we were left to ourselves, we would pursue it in all the wrong ways and for all the wrong reasons. Not only this, but also our sin-diseased eyes often have a hard time even spotting what is truly great when we see it.
Saul wanted to be great; he wanted to remain king and ruler over Israel. However, Saul was threatened by David, initially because his constant disobedience to God led the LORD to reject him. Instead of repenting, Saul did everything in his power to remove David from the picture. But what do Saul’s efforts, his pursuit of greatness, accomplish? Well in our chapter for today (of which we’ve just read the very end), Saul is literally reduced to a footnote in David’s life story – a parenthetical addition for background and context. It’s quite the opposite of greatness.
In the life of Saul we see the result of our own selfish ambitions and vein conceit. Instead of seeking the will of God and the glory of God (as David did), Saul was so blinded by his own quest for greatness that he squandered away his rule over Israel – the calling of God on his life and his true shot at being great. Human nature is to pursue greatness through selfishness and for self-exaltation. We beg, borrow, and steal; we slander, murder, and manipulate; we hold tightly to our lives and lean on our own understanding – this, all in pursuit of significance and abundant life.
But the truth is, all people are like the moon – our light is only as great as that which we reflect. If we are merely reflecting ourselves, then the greatness we can achieve is quite limited and temporary. And at the end we will be but a footnote in God’s great story. But if we instead seek the kingdom of God and seek to reflect the glory of our Heavenly Father, then we can achieve greatness beyond our wildest imagination – and shine bright enough of light the night sky.
What does “greatness” mean to you? What would it look like in your life? Take some time to reflect on your person pursuit of greatness – the means, motives, and ends. Remind yourself of our great and awesome savior, who said that the first is last and the greatest is servant of all, and modeled for us (in his life of self sacrifice) the true road to eternal greatness. May we spend our lives in pursuit of what is truly great, seeking to be a reflection of the glory of our great God.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to truly understand what greatness means to You and, therefore, what it should mean to me. May the new year 2023 be a year in which I truly aspire to be like the Son of God in his love and humility. Amen.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches, is an updated version of his blog first posted on April 15, 2016. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Why I Hate Apple Products and What THAT Tells About Us”
Acts 17:21
Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.
Does it make me un-American to say that I hate Apple, Inc.? Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate their products. Whenever I play on an iPhone or iPad or Macbook, I generally feel this sense of, “Wow, this thing is smooth!” However, what I hate about Apple, Inc. is—how I feel six months after I buy one of their products. The last Apple product I bought was the iPad 3, and for about five months, I enjoyed it. But in the sixth month, iPad 4 (or more correctly iPad with Retina Display) came out, and then overnight, I felt like I was using a stone tablet with a hammer and chisel. Though I am not a gadget guy by any stretch, I hate that I am one of the people who have been suckered by their marketing strategy. I wish I didn’t care—but I do.
When it comes new and trendy, we all have our soft spots, don’t we? For some of you, it is clothes; you have to be in the latest fashion. For some of you it is tech; you upgrade your phone quarterly, you have every piece of wearable technology, and you will be the first in line to get digital implants when they become available. Others of you are foodies; you have to try the newest restaurants. Now, I do not want to sound like one of those old people pining for the “good old days,” but let’s be real here—not all that is new or trendy is good. You want proof? Dig up some photos during the mid to late 90’s; women, who were not farmers, wore overalls! You may laugh, but I know that if overalls came back in style today, more than just a few of our readers would be wearing them tomorrow.
All joking aside, trends are not just confined to tech or fashion. As we read in today’s passage, there were intellectual trends. People in Athens spent all their time discussing new ideas. The church is not immune to new trends either (think music styles, service styles, preaching styles, etc.). While I don’t want to disparage these methods or new ideas, I don’t want us to forget that some things are tried and true. I know of only one way to grow in Christ, and that is the old fashioned way of spending time with and obeying Him; and I know of only one way to grow a ministry—sacrifice.
Are you trying to innovate your way to godliness? It took former generations their lifetime to develop character: Are you trying to bypass it for something quicker or more “impactful”? Do you think your church will grow if it adopts a better business strategy? Are you trying to find something new for the community because meeting together is too impractical for today’s world? Don’t sit around discussing new ideas when the old ways are the best ways.
Prayer: Lord, help me to wade through all the new ideas out there. Let me see the new things that You are doing and understand all that You have done in the past. Do not let me run after new ideas or new trends that lead to nowhere. When it comes to spirituality and character, let me never try to skip patience, endurance, and diligence. In all things, give me wisdom and discernment. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Acts 6
Lunch Break Study
Read Psalm 5:1-12: Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider my groaning.2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,for to you do I pray. 3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;evil may not dwell with you.5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.6 You destroy those who speak lies;the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love will enter your house.I will bow down toward your holy templein the fear of you.8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousnessbecause of my enemies;make your way straight before me.9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction;their throat is an open grave;they flatter with their tongue.10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;let them fall by their own counsels;because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out for they have rebelled against you.11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;let them ever sing for joy,and spread your protection over them,that those who love your name may exult in you.12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Questions to Consider
1. What is the general idea of this Psalm? What was David requesting?
2. Why do you suppose justice is such a big theme in the Psalms?
3. Are there people who are recipients of injustice whom you should pray for and possibly help?
Notes
1. David’s prayer in Psalm 5 can be summarized in vv. 10 and 11: In v. 10, he asks that the wicked would have to “bear their guilt”; and in v. 11, he asks that the Lord would exult the righteous.
2. Many Psalms, such as Psalm 5, remind us that God has not closed His eyes to the deeds of the wicked or the righteous. Of course, while the gospel reminds us that we are saved by the blood of Christ only, we must not forget that the Lord does promise to give each what his deeds deserve (Rom. 2:6). This should be an encouragement, knowing that all the wrongs will be made right and that our good work will be rewarded.
3. Personal application question.
Evening Reflection
Romans 12:2 says that we should renew our minds and not conform to the patterns of this world. When was the last time you thought about things like politics, justice, policy, liberalism, or our culture. Do you truly have a biblical worldview? When it comes to the basic disciplines of growing in Christ—such as word, prayer, fellowship, service, evangelism—how are you doing? In your constant search for efficiency, have you swiped over these things?
