REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on December 2, 2018, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. He is the Lead Pastor of Seattle Upper Room.
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“The Best Advice I Can Give”
James 5:13-18 (NASB)
Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.
As a young pastor still learning a lot about what it means to lead and care for others, I often find myself in situations where I am unsure what advice to give to people. I find myself often seeking the wise counsel of older, more experienced pastors. I ask them how they would handle certain situations or their thoughts on what I believe I’m receiving in prayer. But more times than not, our conversations end up in a place where there really is no other solution than this: they need to pray.
And I’m starting to realize how the best advice I could give as a pastor is really this—you need to pray. I would often feel the pressure of wanting to say the right thing or have that nugget of wisdom that will help them to see things more clearly. But in the end, I’m learning that there is no substitute, no alternative to someone humbling themselves before God and Him speaking to them.
James is often considered one of the most practical books found in scripture. And you can see this in his final exhortation to the believers. James speaks to those who are suffering, those who are cheerful, those who are sick, those in sin; in other words, in all circumstances of life, James’ practical direction is prayer. And the language here is not suggestive, that is, the verb tense used here is an imperative: He must pray.
The question I want to challenge all of us here today is how practical is prayer in your life? When we are sick, when we are stressed, or when we are confused, is prayer the practical next step for you? What about times when you are rejoicing or celebrating, is prayer or worship the immediate response?
As practical as the book of James is, it is also profoundly theological. For James, the idea that every good and perfect gift comes from God is not merely an ideal—it is a reality in which we are to live daily. Our everyday interactions are not just between two people; there is another Person involved, meaning the practical workings of our lives have a profound spiritual reality. Therefore, we must pray. And the promise is that prayer that is right before God can accomplish much.
Brothers and sisters, it’s already December. Another year is ending, and the question I want to ask is how’s your prayer life? In less religious words, basically what I want to ask is how’s your relationship with the Lord? The vibrancy of our relationship with God dictates our ability to see how interconnected and involved He is in our lives. So I pray that every moment and aspect of our lives would be in and through and for God.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of prayer. Thank You that when we humble ourselves and pray, You are a God who is there. Thank You that we have been given such a practical tool to build our relationship with You. Help us to use it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on December 15, 2018, is provided by Pastor Phillip Chen. Phil is spearheading the planting of Pillar Church in Houston, which is scheduled to launch on February 22, 2026. Praise the Lord!
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Transformed”
Ephesians 4:17-24 (ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[f] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Tim Keller says this: “You can take the people out of slavery, but you can’t take the slavery out of the people easily.” He gives the example of the Israelites, whom God delivered out of Egypt in a miraculous fashion from bondage to freedom—yet somehow, the Israelites were not completely free. Even though they were no longer under the bondage of Egypt, they were still operating out of a slave mentality. It took God perhaps a few months to take the people out of slavery, but it took 40 years to take the slave mentality out of the people.
Paul constantly reminds the Ephesian Church that they are no longer the people that they once were—the enemies of God. In fact, Paul describes their “old self” as having such hardened hearts that they would not even listen to rational logic, but they gave themselves to every sinful desire of their flesh. Now, they are no longer enemies of God, but sons and daughters of God—this is a drastic and immediate identity shift. Isn’t salvation such a profound miracle? It’s pretty crazy to think about how sudden that identity change is: We go from enemy of God to friend of God, from darkness into light, from sinners into saints, etc. So we see that deliverance out of bondage is a quick process that is done by God. But after that, we see the growing pains of sanctification—the process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ. This is not an easy process, and it will last the rest of our life until we stand face to face before God.
What is important to notice in this passage is that there is an active task of putting off our old self and putting on our new self. The language Paul uses reminds us of taking off our old clothes and putting on new clothes. One commentator explained it this way: Imagine you are a prisoner and have been released from prison. You are no longer in prison, yet you continue to wear your prison clothes. How ridiculous would it be if you decided to wear prison clothes for the rest of your life?
We have stepped into our new identity as co-heirs with Christ. But we need to actively shed our old self and actively adopt our new self. I’d like to give two encouragements to two types of people: Perhaps you are someone who has recognized that Jesus is your Savior and you’ve become a child of God, but you have not walked in this important aspect of shedding off your old self and putting on the new self. My encouragement to you is to heed the Apostle Paul’s advice to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Perhaps you are someone who struggles to put off the old self and put on the new self, and you are discouraged that old habits seem to die hard. Let me encourage you by telling you that sanctification and transformation is a process. Who you are in 10 years is not who you are now, and as long as you are actively putting on the new self, you will see that transformation in years to come. Don’t lose hope.
Prayer: Lord, thank You for doing all of the work on the Cross. You saved me when I could not save myself. Thank You for adopting me into this family of God. I know that I am no longer bound to my old self, but You have given me the right to put on the new self. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I may live out the promise of God in my life every single day. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on December 6, 2019, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Do You Hear What I Hear?”
John 10:1-6: “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Contrary to popular belief, sheep are extremely intelligent animals. According to the Department of Animal Sciences of Illinois University, sheep rank just below the pig and are on par with cattle among farm animals. They may have poor eyesight and herd mentality, but they have excellent hearing. In fact, sheep can distinguish their shepherd’s voice among 100 voices.
In this passage, Jesus uses the relationship of a shepherd and sheep as a metaphor to describe His relationship with us. Because Israel was an agrarian society, they fully understood the importance of this relationship. And since sheep have poor eyesight, they rely on the shepherd’s voice for protection. They rely on the shepherd’s voice to guide them to greener pastures, to call them back if they wander too far, and to lead them back to safety at night.
Like sheep, we need to rely on our Good Shepherd to guide us through life, which means we must know His voice. However, this can be extremely difficult because we live in a culture where there are hundreds of voices simultaneously shouting at us. So how do we hear His voice?
Because we live in such a busy culture, we need to learn how to block out these voices in our hearts. Oftentimes, this requires us to physically block out these voices. I am reminded of Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
While this verse is about practicing spiritual disciplines for the secret reward, there is truth to finding a quiet spot to temporarily block out the noise. For some, it means waking up 30 minutes earlier in the morning to pray. For others, it means finding a quiet place during lunch to pray.
Hearing God’s voice is crucial to being a disciple of Jesus. Like a shepherd, His voice protects us and guides us in this noisy world. Let’s strive to make hearing His voice an important part of our lives.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 21
Lunch Break Study
Read Psalm 23:1-6: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Questions to Consider
For David, how does the Lord act as a shepherd?
How does the Lord guide us along the right path?
Based on the notes for question one, what are some ways the Lord has acted as shepherd towards you?
Notes
The Lord provides (v.1), refreshes (v. 3), guides (v. 3), and He comforts His people (v. 4).
God guides us along the right path because it brings Him glory. When we follow His commandments, that in itself brings glory to God, but it also is a testimony for our friends, co-workers, and family members!
Personal reflection.
Evening Reflection
This evening, take a moment to find a quiet and comfortable space to spend time with God. During your prayer time, make sure you set aside time to be silent and hear from the Lord. Remember, prayer is a conversation with Him!
REPOST Today’s AMI QT devotional, originally posted on June 20, 2019, is provided Joe Suh. Joe is the Leader Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Father’s Love”
Matthew 7:9-11
Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
I think some of you may know of a group called BTS. To say my 10-year daughter is a huge fan would be an understatement. If you saw all the posters in her room you would understand. Recently, I had the opportunity to take my daughter to their concert at the Rose Bowl with 80,000 other screaming fans. Believe me when I say this – it was not my 1st, 2nd, or even 50th choice of things I wanted to do on a Saturday evening. However, because I was “lucky” enough to be asked by a good friend if my daughter would like to go, I had a choice to make. I choose to put a smile on my daughter’s face and went with her to the concert. It’s a memory she will never forget and I was able to earn some solid points in the “good dad” column.
As I reflect upon today’s passage I am reminded of how much our Heavenly Father truly loves us. His love for us is unconditional and He does not hold back anything back. Because He loves us so, He not only gives, He knows how to give to us. A father would not give his children something that is harmful; he gives his children what they ask for. How much more would our Heavenly Father do for us? It cannot even be compared. In His time and in His way, our Heavenly Father pours out His love for us and gives us what we need. The ultimate proof of His love is found in John 3:16. He sent His one and only son so that we may have eternal life.
I was so willing to give my daughter something that would make her happy, even though it was something I really did not want to do. However, that fails in comparison to what our Heaven Father gave and gives us. In Him, we find the truest expression of unconditional love. In His love for us He gives us what we ask for—but not everything we ask for. Just like little children who ask for foolish things, sometimes our requests can be foolish. In the “no” we see God’s wisdom and love for us. As His children, He delights in giving us all that is good and all that is lasting. In His wisdom He does not give us our foolish requests. That, my friends, is a true demonstration of love.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me the way You do. In Your love I find comfort, security and peace. I pray that I would be reminded of that love today and that I would be mindful that in Your “no” Your love truly shines through because You know what is best for me. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 20
Lunch Break Study
Read Luke 15:20-24: So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Questions to Consider
What is significant about his father running to him?
Why did his father put on his best robe, give him a ring, and have him where sandals?
Really consider how much your Heavenly Father loves you. How does that make you feel?
Notes
It is important to know that once the son decided to return the father, the father’s actions took over. It is the father’s love that covers all. He waited for his son to return and when his son returned, it was the father that ran to him, hugged him, kissed him. It truly a demonstration of the Father’s heart.
The robe signifies the son’s cleansing from his life while he was away, the ring symbolizes the covenant relationship between the father and son, and the sandals represent that he is free to come and go with no strings attached. His is once again the father’s son and not a slave in the house.
Personal reflection.
Evening Refection
To fully grasp how much our Heavenly Father truly loves can be beyond our scope of understanding. Take some time to put it into perspective and recall moments when you experienced the full love of our Heavenly Father.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 26, 2019. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“About What You Do at Work . . .”
Exodus 39:42-43
“According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.”
The Western church has been operating from a sacred and secular divide for some time. We place more value to work that is directly related to those things that we’ve deemed as spiritual- like going on missions, prayer, or reading the Bible. As a result, at times pastors or missionaries are placed on a pedestal. They are deemed as those who are doing the real work of God. For this reason, “ordinary” work outside of the church (i.e., vocations) like business, medicine, or construction is almost given second class status on the spiritual scale. We say that these jobs are important but pales in comparison to work done in the church.
In our passage for today, we see the Israelites finishing up the work of building the tabernacle. One thing that struck me as I read through the detailed description of the building, is that God values ordinary work like construction, design, and other seemingly non-spiritual labor. Imagine how many different types of people, workers, and materials were needed to organize and construct the tent of meeting. Every person- whether it was the priests, the construction workers, or Moses himself- was needed for the completion of this project; and Moses blessed them for it. God’s favor was proclaimed over all people involved because it was in obedience to God, and it created for them a place to witness God’s glory and respond in worship. Both the “spiritual” work of the priest was just as important as the architects who brought God’s designs to life.
Whether you are a church leader or someone with a career out in the world, if your work reflects God’s glory and brings flourishing to those around you, God blesses that work. It is not less because it might not fit into what we have characterized as “spiritual” work. But God is pleased by all work when it is done in obedience to Him; therefore, remember that all our work matters. Nevertheless, watch out that the priority of the Body life (i.e., our spiritual community)—in which we worship (proskuneō) God, fellowship with and serve others—is not relegated to play second fiddle to our vocational calling. When and if that happens, any godly intention behind our career will quickly morph into the advancement of self-interest (See Note 2 below). With that in mind, let us work for the glory of God in all that we do, whether in the church or our workplaces!
Prayer: Father, thank You for the skills and abilities you have given me. Help me to see everything I do as an opportunity to worship You and to see your purpose in all that I do!
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 19
Lunch Break Study
Read Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”
Questions to Consider
What do you think it means to work heartily?
How do we know if we are working “as for the Lord” or “for men?
How are you navigating between responsibilities at your work and your church? What about your time alone with the Lord?
Notes
It is to put your entire life force, energy, and determination to whatever work God has laid before you in terms of work and responsibilities. In God’s kingdom, as Dallas Willard says, grace is not opposed to effort (Prov. 14:23; 2 Tim. 2:6).
What is the driving motivation for your work? Is it the approval of man, the building up of your own status and kingdom, or is it God’s will? We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking that we are working for God. We only know by honestly assessing our own motivations.
Personal response.
Evening Reflection
Take some time to think through the work and responsibilities God has given you in this season. How are you working in those areas to bring God glory? In what ways might you be motivated by something besides God’s kingdom?
REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 9, 2019, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Consecrate Yourselves”
Exodus 19:9-15
The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”
Evidently, several professional athletes partake in elaborate pre-game rituals. For example, Rafael Nadal, the famed Spanish tennis-player, first walks onto the tennis court with just one racket in his hand. After the coin toss to decide who serves first, Rafael always sprints back to the base-line. During change-overs, he eats an energy gel in the exact same way each time, and he drinks his water and recovery drinks in a certain order, placing them in the exact same position and location each time. Nadal is not the only one with rituals; other athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, and Cristiano Ronaldo all partake in their own pre-game rituals.
To an ordinary person, these rituals may seem superstitious and quirky. However, rituals are tools to help professional athletes to focus on preparing for the game by blocking out unnecessary distractions.
In this passage, the Lord tells Moses that, on the third day He will appear before the Israelites as a thick cloud, so that they may hear the Lord speak to Moses. I can imagine the Israelite camp feeling both nervous and excited. At this point, they had only received messages from the Lord through Moses, but now they were going to have the privilege of audibly hearing the voice of God.
Before appearing to them, the Lord commands the Israelites to consecrate themselves by washing their clothes (v.10), not touching the mountain (v. 12), and abstaining from sexual intercourse (v. 15).
Why does the Lord ask them to consecrate themselves? First, God is Holy and requiring the Israelites to consecrate themselves reveals that He is separate from them. In order for them to be in His presence, they must cleanse themselves of all sin through these rituals. Second, like the athletes mentioned above, God wanted them to be not only spiritually prepared, but also mentally prepared. The physical act of washing themselves, abstaining from women, and not touching the mountain reminds them that they are going to be in the presence of the creator of the universe.
Many Christians, especially me, have forgotten the importance of consecration. There is a lack of preparation when it comes to meeting with the creator of the universe on Sundays. Some of us treat our Sunday mornings like any other day—often scrambling to just make it on time. Yet, this passage reminds us of the importance of having rituals to help us focus on Sunday worship.
While I am not advocating for us to be like the Israelites, I am encouraging us to find certain activities that may prepare us for our meeting with the Lord. It may be sleeping earlier on Saturdays, so that we may wake up earlier for service. It may be playing a worship CD or Bible mp3 on the way to church. Or, as a family, pray together in the car. Whatever it may be, these actives will help shift our focus from all the distractions around us unto the Lord.
This morning, what are some ways that you may better prepare yourself for Sunday worship? After you have thought of certain ways, make a commitment to the Lord that you will better prepare yourself this year. Remember, it is a great privilege to be in the presence of God, and we must give Him our best.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are a God who has made a way for us to enter into your presence. Help me not to take this privilege lightly. If there are adjustments that I need to make to better prepare my heart, please remind me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 18
Lunch Break Study
Read Joshua 3:1-17:Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Questions to consider
Why did Joshua tell the Israelites to consecrate themselves?
Through parting the Jordan River, what was God revealing to the Israelites about Joshua?
How was the Lord going to guide Israel through the Promised Land?
Notes
Joshua told the Israelites to consecrate themselves because the Lord was going to do amazing things among them, namely, parting the Jordan River. (v. 5 & 14-17)
Through parting the Jordan River, the Lord wanted to reveal to the Israelites that Joshua was the chosen leader after Moses. Just as God parted the Red Sea during Moses’ time, God was going to part the Jordan River during Joshua’s time. (v. 7)
The Lord gives Joshua strict commands that when the Ark of the Covenant begins to move, all of Israel must “move out from their positions and follow it.” The Promised Land was a new territory, and the Israelites had no idea which direction to go. Therefore, the Lord commanded the Israelites to follow the Ark of the Covenant.
Evening Reflection
Consecration is important because it prepares our heart, spirit, and mind to meet with the Lord. He is the creator of the universe, and He deserves our best. What are some reasons why you forget to prepare yourself before meeting the Lord? Take a moment to meditate on this question.
REPOST Today’s AMI QT devotional, originally posted on June 16, 2019, is provided Joe Suh. Joe is the Leader Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Forged in Fire”
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Being “forged in fire” means that you have been battle-tested and have come out stronger because of what you have been through. The ability to withstand the pressure of difficult situations and come out the other side generally makes us stronger. This is why in sports it is better to have a proven veteran lead your team rather than a rookie fresh out of college. The experience that comes from adversity and struggle is invaluable, and cannot be taught. It is something you have to go through and actually experience. Reading about it or hearing it in a lecture may give you some head knowledge; however, until you struggle through and then process pressure, there can be no true understanding or strengthening.
Job was a person that truly understood suffering. However, he understood that he would be tested, he would endure, and in the end, come out as gold. Job 23:10 Job was patient, he showed perseverance and in the end God blessed him with twice as much as he had before.
It seems counterintuitive to “rejoice in our sufferings”. Why would anyone celebrate the difficulties of life? Generally, I think the human instinct is to avoid suffering and to try to live a life free from it. However, as Apostle Paul writes, we should rejoice in it! It is a good thing when we go through suffering. When we are in the midst of suffering, it is definitely a perspective that we do not see.
But Paul reminds us that through the suffering we are forged in the fire. Our suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. This is a process that we will all go through and we must all endure to get to hope, a hope which does not shame because of the love that is poured into us. We all need hope in our lives. Hope keeps us going and hope lifts us when we have nothing left.
It is never easy to go through suffering. However, we must keep the right perspective and know that God has a plan for our lives. Through the most difficult times, the most tragic sufferings, our loving Father carries us through and uses all that is challenging and difficult to plant seeds in our lives that produce the sweetest of fruit. I am a better man because of the suffering I have endured, and to suffer for Christ is truly a blessing…even if we do not immediately see it.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to have the right perspective on life and not deviate from the right path towards You. When pain and suffering come in my life, remind me of the sufferings of Christ and be grateful that I don’t have to face the consequences of my sin because of Jesus. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 17
Lunch Break Study
Read 1 Peter 4:12-19: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
Questions to Consider
What is the “fiery ordeal” they are experiencing?
How do we truly suffer with Jesus?
What suffering(s) have you had to endure for the sake of Jesus?
Notes
The “fiery ordeal” is imagery for the refiner’s fire. It is to be tested, refined, strengthened and purified. This is not something that is unusual or strange, but is part of being a believer. In order to draw closer to Jesus and live a life that glorifies Him, we ought to experience the “fiery ordeal” and become more Christ-like. The more we are purified, the more we draw closer to Him.
We suffer without shame. The interesting thing is that the world may see it as foolish to suffer with Jesus; however, to suffer with Jesus is what we all should be doing. We live our lives by the world’s standards and we seek to chase its dreams with our flesh. However, it should be the other way around. To suffer with Jesus is to surrender to His will and way.
Personal reflection.
Evening Reflection
I do not believe that suffering is something we would intentionally embark upon in our lives. Yet, at some point, because of the circumstances of our lives, we all go through it. Take a moment to reflect on a time in your life when you were truly struggling and suffering. Pray through it and identify how our Heavenly Father carried you through it. It is always a good reminder to know that through it all, He is there for us.
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on September 30, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“Forgiven to Forgive”
Matthew 18:21-35
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.[h] 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
Forgiveness is one of those topics easier talked about than actually done. That’s why C.S. Lewis once said; “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until he has something to forgive.” In today’s passage, Jesus talks about the nature of forgiveness and that we should extend forgiveness to those who have hurt us.
Peter starts by asking the question, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”Peter thought he was being so generous, as it was taught by rabbis in those days that they should forgive up to three times. So Peter doubles it and adds one for good measure. But Jesus responds in a typical fashion: “not seven times but seventy-seven times.” His point: If you are counting, you are not really forgiving.
Jesus is showing us a new kind of forgiveness that should be radical in nature. It’s a kind of forgiveness that takes away grudges and all kinds of record keeping of those who have offended us. He then tells a parable of what forgiveness should look like: The king cancels a debt of a servant worth 10,000 talents; if you add up that amount, it would be about 200,000 years of accumulated debt. This servant turns around and demands money from a fellow servant owing about 100 denariis, which is worth about three months wage. Just think about that comparison! It is absurd to think about the small amount of debt this servant is asking for when he had been forgiven of an unpayable debt.
The point is this: our forgiveness of others has to start by recognizing how much our King – Jesus Christ – has forgiven us of our own sin and debt. We could never repay Him with our good works or our own righteousness. It was our disobedience and rebellion that sent Him to the Cross so that He could freely forgive us. If we do not recognize our own need for forgiveness, it makes forgiving others nearly impossible.
Is there anyone you need for forgive? Jesus knows and understands the wrongs that have been done to us, but He asks us to choose to forgive, regardless of our emotions. We need to understand that forgiveness starts with a choice, not with an emotion.
We need to experience the power of the gospel to forgive in this way. I want to challenge us to take the courageous step of forgiving those who have hurt us—out of obedience to Him. May He show you His grace to enable us to show that grace towards others.
Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to forgive people in my life who have hurt me. Help me to walk in obedience in taking the necessary steps to do that. I ask for Your guidance in this area of my life. Amen!
REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Though, originally posted on December 8, 2018, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco. Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend
“The Burden”
Acts 21:11-14
And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ 12 When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
A few weeks ago, an American Christian missionary John Allen Chau was brutally killed by islanders off the coast of India. The story captured the hearts of many Americans and news channels on what seemed like a suicide mission. The islanders, unreached by any civilization for over 50,000 years, were well known for their hostility toward outsiders; and so, some have accused Chau of “cultural imperialism and insane arrogance” while others have heralded his attempts. Sadly, I too found myself in some ways questioning his wisdom and tact. However, after reading about his last few journal entries and his motivations as to why he went, I was both humbled and convicted. It was clear that Chau had a burden for these unreached people—a burden that gave him the boldness to risk his life to share the gospel with them.
And this is what we see in our passage today. Though Paul knew and heard from others the persecution awaiting him, he refused to be swayed. He was determined to go and reach the people in Jerusalem for the Name of the Lord. By no means is this a call for us to go and risk our lives, although a few of us may actually be called to do so. It is a reminder that all of us have been called to reach the lost. Even thinking about this can be daunting, especially if it means reaching out to people who are close to us. Sometimes our courage to reach out can get lost in our own methods and excuses. But before we ask for such boldness, may we pray that God would start with giving us a burden for them. It is a burden rooted in the desire for people to know the love of Christ as we have experienced. And may this love give us the same boldness to overcome our own fears and doubts.
Spend a few moments praying that God would give us a burden for those who have yet to know Him.
Prayer: Father, Your burden for us sinners was so great that You sent Your one and only Son to die for us. Jesus, Your love is too great for us not to share. Birth in us a desire to reach the lost, and may we have the boldness to go. Amen.
REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on October 11, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Stir Up One Another”
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
When I’ve read these verses before, this exhortation to “stir up one another to love and good works” would often stand out to me. I always thought about it as a beautiful picture of a community or a group of faithful followers of Jesus coming together to motivate and encourage one another to love Jesus and love others. I’d imagine this exhortation to be like an inspirational or motivational speech that we see in movies, like the halftime speech of a sports movie or a speech from a general to his troops before they go in battle: “Let’s go and win one for Jesus everyone!”
Yet if you look up this word for “stir up” in the original language (παροξυσμὸν), it means “a provocation which literally jabs (cuts) someone so they must respond.” The implication here is that stirring up one another isn’t just a motivational or inspirational thing, but it involves provoking, jabbing, and cutting one another—meaning, it can bring discomfort or pain. It doesn’t really sound very inspirational or motivational, does it? Why should there be any discomfort or pain?
When the author of Hebrews exhorts the church to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, it implies something very important: that on our own, as individuals, without the prompting or provoking of others, we won’t make decisions or choices that lead us to love and good works. If we were perfectly capable of growing in Christ individually, we wouldn’t need others to stir us up. We need to be stirred up because otherwise, we wouldn’t love others or do good works.
In our communities then, we need to cultivate relationships and friendships for ourselves where others can stir us up to love Jesus and others, even if that means discomfort or pain, even if that means our friends rebuke or challenge us. No one really looks forwards to being rebuked or challenged. None of us really want to be told that we’re headed down a wrong or unhealthy path. But I believe all of us should desire to be pointed to Jesus by our brothers and sisters in Christ; and one of the most crucial ways this happens is when we allow others to speak truth in love into our lives. Today, let us consider how we can allow others to stir us up towards love and good works.
Prayer: Jesus, I think you for the community that you have provided for me. I pray that you will use my brothers and sisters to speak truth into my life. Stir me up towards loving You, Jesus, and others through Your body. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 13
Lunch Break Study
Read Galatians 2:11-14: But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Questions to Consider
Why did Paul confront Cephas (Peter) in this passage?
What do you think would have happened if Paul never confronted Peter?
Why would it have been difficult for Paul to rebuke Peter?
Why is it difficult for us to rebuke and confront others too? How can we grow in this?
Notes
Peter was at one point eating and fellowshipping with Gentiles, but when the circumcision party came, Peter changed his behavior out of fear of them and stopped being present with Gentiles. Paul calls him out on this, because Peter was giving into fear of man and helping to create division over bad theology.
If Paul didn’t confront Peter, the church itself would have been divided, people would have been led astray by the bad theology of the circumcision party, and perhaps, many people would have been deeply discouraged or even led away from faith in Jesus.
Paul could have easily felt awkward or uneasy rebuking Peter, because of Peter’s stature within the church. He had been one of Jesus’ key disciples, and he was one of the primary leaders of the early church. I think no matter our age or position, most of us would find it difficult to confront people who are older than us or more accomplished than us. There could have been fear on Paul’s part of speaking out of place or as the idiom says, going above his pay grade.
Reflect on this for yourself, but I think, generally speaking, we all fear confronting because we worry about what people will think about us or ruining a friendship in some way. At the same time though, rebuking and confronting should be something that we do for our brothers and sisters in Christ. How do we grow in it then? We must remember that we speak truth in love. Our motivation is love for our friends and love for Jesus. If we truly love our friends, we should be willing to rebuke them if it means that they will love Jesus.
Evening Reflection
A church community is necessary and crucial for growing in love for Jesus and others, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy. Take some time and thank God for the church community that you’re in. If you’re struggling to be thankful for your church, pray for your heart first. Pray that you will love the church like Jesus does. And then, pray that God will grow His church in love and good works.
