December 29, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on May 7, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“How the Heart Gets Hardened”

2 Sam. 12:1-6 (ESV)

And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

What was once unthinkable has become a norm and we think everything is okay. No, I’m not talking about same-sex marriage or transgenderism, but our hearts in general and David’s heart in particular.

The prophet Nathan, having been told by God to confront David, knew better than to openly rebuke the king lest he might lose his head. Even the valiant prophet Samuel was concerned that King Saul might kill him (1 Sam. 16:2) if the latter found out that he was searching for the next king. So Nathan came up with a clever story of a rich man forcibly taking the only lamb belonging to a poor man, and then feeding that to his guest. Burning with anger, David’s reaction—“The man who did this deserves to die”—was worthy of an Emmy, except this time he wasn’t acting. He was being genuine only because nine months of seeming tranquility had numbed his guilt and made him feel as though he really was the caring king who looked after a poor widow (i.e., Bathsheba). Perhaps David was patting himself on the back for being such a swell guy. How David’s heart had hardened!

But the holy God is neither blind nor stupid. Nathan’s tactful approach, no doubt prompted by the Spirit, made David his own accuser: “You are the man!” said the prophet, adding, “Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?” (v. 7). This turn of event suggests that hidden and unrepented sin desensitizes the guilt, and soon we feel well enough to judge others for the same sin we have committed. Enjoy that while it lasts because that song and dance will soon end because, in time, “your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23); after that, there is only shame and misery. But here is the good news: Any time is always a good time to repent of our sins through Christ and get right with God, for He immediately grants forgiveness and new strength to make things right.

Hopefully, you aren’t anywhere near where David ended up descending; regardless, always confess your sins to God and ask Him to give you the strength to avoid the path toward where what was once unthinkable may become a norm to our own demise.

Prayer: Father in heaven, if truth be told, it is increasingly difficult to remain holy in this world. It seems like the guys who cut corners and are mean to people are the ones getting better grades or jobs—and have more clout and money! Remind me daily, O Lord, that my home is not this world, but that I am here to serve You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 21

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Jn. 1:9-10 (ESV): If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1 Jn. 2:1: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

1 Jn. 3:6: No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

Phil. 2:13: …for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Question to Consider

1. What does the apostle John assume about our penchant for sinning as believers?

2. We are told to confess when we sin, what should be involved in our confession? What is repentance?

3. We have the Lord’s promise to help us, but what does that help really look like? How are we being helped to avoid falling into a sin trap that WILL cost all that is important to us?

Notes

1. The apostle John was neither an idealist nor a romanticist; rather, he was a realist. This man who, in his younger days, was called “A son of thunder” for his hot temper, understood sin. He knew we weren’t going to bat 1.000, but he also expected the believers to avoid habitual and intentional sins.

2. Confession involves the following: “I am sorry for what I did” (penitence); then to “I regret what I did” (remorse); and finally, “I’ll turn back from what I did” (repentance). Anything less than this is not genuine; it’s a foolish game we play with God.

3. The first line of God’s help is his church—not just showing up on Sunday morning for an hour of service but getting help from decent, compassionate, and gifted people who are there to encourage, teach, and even rebuke you so that you will live for God’s pleasure. Don’t battle sin alone! It’s a lot more powerful than we may think.

Evening Reflection

As you look back to this day in all seriousness, did you tell any fibs? Did you make up stuff to avoid a moment of embarrassment? I join you in confessing that these things come to too easy and far too frequently. Before we make another vow to God, why don’t we just go to Him and ask for His mercy?

December 28, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 28, 2016, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim, formerly of the Church of Southland. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), has recently moved to Seattle, along with his wife Christina and two daughters Amelia and Hazel, to plant a new AMI church.

ami seattle (@ami.seattle) • Instagram photos and videos

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Perfect Timing”

2 Peter 3:14-18

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Having been involved with college ministry for close to 12 years, I have since transitioned and have seen many peers and students switch into working life. I’ve witnessed many people find jobs right out of college while other struggle for months, if not years, to find a vocation. Many know right off the bat what they want to do with their lives, while others are in a season of waiting and discovery of what career path God is calling them to pursue.

Yesterday we spent time reflecting on God’s perfect timing. And in some sense, what kind of job to seek seems so minor when compared to things like the second coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God’s promised new heavens and new earth. But what is common to both of these sorts of things is the kind of posture we are to have during seasons of waiting.

I’ve known many people who spend their days waiting for that “perfect job.” They often turn down or don’t pursue other opportunities because it isn’t that “perfect job.” For whatever reason, I have seen people who are unemployed for several years just waiting for it, while in the meantime they are racking up debt and burdening relationships.

What we read in today’s passage speaks of the kind of posture believers are to have during seasons of waiting. Peter writes, “Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” We often tie diligence with a certain goal in mind, and so if we are in a season of waiting for directions, how are we to be diligent? How can we be diligent if we don’t know what we are to be diligent concerning? Peter redirects our attention here. He uses the words “without spot or blemish,” words often associated with holiness and sin. And if we understand sin not just as violating an impersonal set of rules but as a relational offense, we come to understand this passage as a call to “diligently” work on our relationship with God.

Even in seasons of uncertainty or waiting, the passage today calls us to be diligent toward a right relationship with God. He calls us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And when we focus our lives on this, the promise found in Scripture is that “all these things will be added onto us.”

Prayer: Lord, thank You that despite whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, You are always in control. You do not call us to try and fix the problems ourselves; rather, You call us into a deeper, love relationship with You. Help me to focus on what is most important, especially in times of waiting. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 11.25-30: At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. 27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Questions to Consider

What does Jesus establish prior to His invitation?
Oftentimes we think of “rest” as not doing anything. What does this passage teach us about true rest?
What causes your life to be “heavy laden?” In light of this passage, what causes us to become tired and weary? What is Jesus calling you to do?

Notes

Before Jesus’ invitation, He establishes that all things have been “handed over to Him by the Father.” He establishes that He has the authority to secure our rest. These things are for those who have childlike faith and not the wise.
True rest is found in relationship with the right Master. Jesus invites us to the kind of rest that is being yoked with Him, a Master who is “gentle and lowly in heart.” There is still work to be done, but how we go about that work, how we learn to do that work is what makes all the difference.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As ones awaiting the true rest that will come when Jesus returns, how has the Holy Spirit challenged you of the manner in which you are awaiting His return? Take a moment to journal your thoughts. How might you live differently starting tomorrow? How might your perspective of life change?

December 27, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on July 22, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What We Can Learn from Jimmy Johnson about Family . . . and God”

1 King 19:19-21

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. ²⁰And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” ²¹And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Jimmy Johnson is the first coach to win both the Super Bowl and a college football championship. On the surface, he and the prophet Elisha share much in common: both severed ties to their former life in pursuit of a newer challenge in life. Johnson, before joining the Dallas Cowboys, divorced his wife (his word) in order to totally dedicate himself to build a winner. As for Elisha, he got rid of everything that once meant something to him in order to follow and be mentored by the prophet Elijah.

And it wouldn’t be too farfetched to imagine Jesus, who once commanded a dishonest manager for his shrewdness in preparing for his jobless future (Lk. 16:1-13), lauding Johnson for his “reckless abandonment” to pursue a goal. Christ certainly would have backed Elisha’s decision since he said that “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold . . .” (Matt. 19:29).

Ultimately, however, Jesus wouldn’t use Johnson as a poster child to show “what commitment to God” looks like since breaking one commandment (“I hate divorce” [Mal. 2:16]) to keep another is never acceptable to Him (Mk. 7:9-13). And to Elisha, Jesus would say what He told the apostle John while he hung on the cross: “‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home” (Jn. 19:27). Huh? Certainly, we must always follow God’s call in our lives even if it conflicts with our family obligations; that, however, does not release us from fulfilling them. The apostle Paul writes, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim. 5:8). We “should . . . “practice[] the latter, without neglecting the former” (Matt. 23:23).

Johnson came to see the importance of family later on while coaching another NFL team when he couldn’t attend the wake of his mother in order to prepare for a playoff game, this, after his father had been diagnosed with cancer as well. Johnson said, “It opened up my eyes. . . . There are times when you pull back and say, ‘Be with the people that you care about. Don’t shortchange them.'” Well, don’t shortchange God either.

Prayer: God, I marvel at Your goodness, especially in light of my heart’s inclination toward always doing what pleases and satisfies me. For my precious Lord of grace and mercy, I ought to follow You with “reckless abandonment.” But why am I so hesitant to follow You? Please allow events to occur in my life so that I will always keep You as my top priority in all things. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 1:30-1: Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

John 2:4-5: When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Rom. 2:24: For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Mark 3:31-5: And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Question to Consider

1. What is clearly addressed in 1 Tim. 5:8 (cited in the morning devotion), Mk. 1:30-1 and Jn. 2:4-5?

2. What is Paul’s ultimate concern expressed in 1 Tim. 5:8?

3. What is the point Jesus is making in Mk. 3:31-5? What is one danger of misunderstanding that?

Notes

1. Even as you seek to do God’s will (which may require being away from your family), you need to be careful not to become negligent in providing for their economic needs, being there when they need you, and meeting the needs of your parents.

2. The world will put Christians down for being irresponsible and ungrateful people, as well as neglecting their family obligations. Ultimately, that would bring dishonor to the Lord.

3. We also have an obligation to God which is greater than our family obligation. When this is read in view of other related passages, we must practice one without neglecting the other. This is much harder to do than choosing one side while ignoring the other.

Evening Reflection

Reflecting back to today, what tough choices did you face that pitted your family obligations “against” your obligations to God and His cause? How did you handle it? This isn’t an easy issue for all of us. Unless we cultivate an intimate relationship with God, we will continue to prioritize our earthly interests, however legitimate, over God’s. Pray. Ask God for discernment, encouragement and even creativity to fulfill both obligations.

December 26, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on December 9, 2015. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Facing Adversity in the Lord”

Esther 8:15-17
Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

There are moments in life when God’s faithfulness comes into focus, when we go past trusting in God’s promises to experiencing them in their fullness in our personal lives. Those are precious moments. Mordecai and the people of God are having one such moment. They have walked through hardship and persecution, through fear and uncertainty, they’ve fasted and prayed, hoped and depended upon the Lord; and now they are delighting in the fruit of God’s faithfulness. And moreover, because of their dependence upon God through difficulties, many others have come to know the Lord as well – they saw that God’s blessing was upon the Jews and wanted in.

In John 12:32, Jesus says, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” In this, of course, Jesus was predicting the manner in which He would die and the pervasive salvation that would be made available to all people as a result. And in a small way, when God’s people walk faithfully through adversity, we are used by God to make Him known (lift Him up) and draw others into a relationship with Him. This should encourage us whenever we face adversity – knowing that the work God is doing in and through us is more than worth the sacrifice. But even more so than encouragement to persevere, our passage for today should elate us at the possibilities of what the end result will be for those who trust in the Lord. God is truly able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, and His track record shows that He is not only able, but He is willing.

Though we may find ourselves walking through difficulties and facing obstacles, may we be encouraged by the story of Mordecai, Queen Esther, and the people of God! Let us remind our hearts of God’s faithfulness and celebrate not only what He will do for us, but what He is able to do in the hearts of others through us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness. You are a promise keeper and I trust in You. Help me to walk faithfully through the storms of life, for I know they will come, and to wait upon You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 23:1-6: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Questions to Consider

What keeps David from fearing evil in verse 4? How have you experienced the truth of his words when you walked through valleys?
What do you think it means that goodness and mercy shall follow (v. 6)? How have you experienced this in your life?

Notes

One Bible translation renders “valley of the shadow of death” as “darkest valley” – this accurately describes the feeling of suffering. It’s hard to make sense of what’s going on around us; we can’t see very far ahead of us, and we definitely can see all the way to the end of the struggle. But David does not fear because the Lord walks through the valley with him. Not only does David have the comfort of not going alone in the dark, but he has the reassurance of knowing that He is with the One who knows all and holds all power in His hands.
What is translated as “follow” can easily be translated “pursue” – and I think the latter paints a better picture of God’s care for us. God’s goodness and mercy (loyal-love) are so great and so persistent that they hunt us down, no matter what dark valley we’ve stumbled into. His love will find us and care for us.

Evening Reflection

Lamentations 3:21-26

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Spend some time meditating on these truths tonight (read, then reread – slowly and thoughtfully – and contemplate with the Lord). Allow the Holy Spirit to use them to minister to you in whatever you may be facing.

December 25, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on December 25, 2015. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Hagar and the Christmas Story”

Genesis 16:13

“[Hagar] gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ “

Every year, TV advertisements seem to be funnier and cleverer during the holiday season. However, this is also the season for my least favorite ad, the animal cruelty commercial with the forlorn animals. While I don’t disagree with its necessity, I find myself annoyed every time it comes on because my mood is ruined –the heaviness is not what I am looking for during my Christmas programming.

During Christmas, every greeting we have echoes an expectation of celebration: the holidays are happy; Christmas is supposed to be merry. However, our over-emphasis on celebration can leave the impression that it is inappropriate to have any grief, sadness, or longing. We might find ourselves at a loss to reconcile our inner struggles with the call to rejoice, though many of us have wounds and pains that simple “Christmas cheer” cannot heal.

Here, we can find great help from Hagar’s story. In her grief, she had run away, but in the desert, God met her. By speaking directly to her and giving her a promise of hope, God showed Hagar that He was with her – that He was, in her words, “the God who sees.” In that revelation, she was able to return to her mistress, not because God had changed her situation, but because she had met Him and knew that His eye was upon her.

At Christmas, we can remember that the same God is present with us. We can take comfort in this secure and firm hope, that into a broken and dark world, the living Word of God, Jesus Himself, came to us. His eye is always upon us and He sees our every circumstance. He came to bring us near to Him, and He has promised to be with us until the end of the age. Surely, He will also give us His comfort and peace for all eternity.

Prayer: Father, thank You for sending Your son to rescue us from the darkness, and thank You for bringing us near to You. Thank You for the reminder in Christmas that You are with us always and that You triumph over all darkness in our lives. Help us to worship You in every season. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 9

December 24, Saturday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on December 24, 2016. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal. He and his wife Jessie are the proud parents of two young boys.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Christmas Surprise: ‘You Said That to Who?’”

Luke 2:8-20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. [10] And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. [11] For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” [15] When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” [16] And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. [17] And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. [18] And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. [20] And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

In order to fully understand the meaning of Christmas, we have to become familiar with Israel’s story. Around the time of Jesus’ birth, the people of Israel had been in a posture of waiting for some time—looking forward to the day when God would liberate them from pagan oppression through a show of military might. It would be a time where sinners would be judged and the righteous saved. To put it in another way, they were expecting God to usher in a kingdom characterized by judgment and power. But what the story of Christmas teaches us is that these expectations needed to be reshaped and realigned.

Here in our passage, we read a story that we usually glance over without giving it a second thought. But if read carefully, we find something profound happening here. Isn’t it interesting that the news of the coming Messiah is given to a group of shepherds and not the religious leaders? You see, shepherds were people of ill-repute who were known as thieves who belonged at the bottom of society’s totem pole. For this reason, they were extremely despised by others. And yet, they are the first ones, outside of Jesus’ family, to receive the good news about Jesus from the angel. Think about this for a second. This is like Jesus coming back into our world and sending angels first to a brothel or the slums before going to your church. This was entirely unexpected and shocking!

But this story tells us something very important about God and the type of kingdom He was ushering in through the birth of Jesus. It was not a kingdom only reserved for the righteous or the morally upright, but a kingdom that came for people just like the shepherds—those who were lowly and readily aware of their brokenness and sin. And this is undeniable. We see Jesus running after these types of people all throughout His ministry—prostitutes, tax collectors, every type of sinner you can imagine. You see, it was a kingdom of grace and mercy—not one of military might and condemnation. This is precisely why the angels announced the coming of Christ to the shepherds. God sent His Son for people just like them. Today, as we wait for Christmas morning, let us reflect on this truth and thank God that He has shown mercy to sinners like us!

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You are full of mercy and grace. Help me to gain a deeper understanding of Your grace in my life and to rejoice in that I am loved despite my brokenness and sins. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 1-2

December 23, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 16, 2016, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What is Your Mind Filled With?”

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

What do you fill your mind with? When I was in high school, there was a season where my friends and I would play Tetris all the time. Any free time I had would be occupied with this game. Even when I closed my eyes, I could see Tetris blocks descending into place—I just could not get my mind off of it. When I had surgery a few years ago and was bedridden, I binge-watched a television show called Friday Night Lights. Even when I wasn’t watching it, my mind would drift into reimagining scenes and wondering what else would happen in the show—this show was all I could think about. The power of the mind is both exciting and frightening. On the one hand, when we set our minds on things that are honoring to the Lord, it can lead to much good; but on the other hand, when we set our minds on things that are not honoring to the Lord, it can be led to catastrophic sin.

In a world that is increasing in content that is not pure, not lovely nor honorable, not true, are we taking this passage seriously regarding what we allow into our mind? Paul writes this in an imperative mood—meaning, it is a command, not merely a suggestion. When Paul reminds us how important it is to fill our minds with things that are honorable and things that are worthy of praise, I see how it is an equal argument for guarding our minds against things that are dishonorable and impure. In order for this to happen, it requires aggressive action! When we choose to think about things that are good, we are also actively choosing to weed out things that are not good.

Paul continues with another imperative: He says, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things….” The translation for “practice these things” is from the Greek verb prasso, which has a connotation of doing repeatedly, as a habitual act. There is value in repetition and discipline. Even the act of filtering what we allow into our minds is a discipline that we need to establish through practice and repetition. Although some translations would have this next statement, “and the God of peace will be with you,” as a separate unit of thought, I tend to think that it follows this same stream. When we set our minds on things characterized by Paul’s list, then the God who is the source of true peace will be with us; in other words, we will be filled with peace if we set our minds on these things. May the God of peace be with us as we learn to filter the things we allow into our minds.

Prayer: Father God, I commit my thoughts and my mind to You. Help me discern what I should and should not allow in my mind. May my thoughts be honoring and pleasing to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:1-10 (ESV): If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Question to Consider

What is the reason that we are to set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth?
What is the outcome of setting our minds on things that are above?
What are some things that are on this list that you need to put to death?

Notes

Since we are a new creation in Christ, our primary identity has shifted from belonging to the god of this age and the things of this age, to the eternal God and eternal things.
Paul seems to indicate that setting your mind on things that are above is congruent with putting to death what is earthly in you. The more we set our minds on things that are above, the more capable we are of putting to death what is earthly in us.
Reflection question.

Evening Reflection

These days it seems harder and harder to filter the content that we allow into our minds. Whether they are TV shows that have crude jokes, games that promote violence, or even horror movies that may have deeply spiritual implications, there are so many things that flood our mind and our thoughts. Let’s be careful and commit our minds to the Lord in this new year. Perhaps you need to fast from the media and unplug to detox. Whatever you decide to do, commit it unto the Lord by setting your mind on things that are worthy of our attention.

December 22, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on July 2, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Leadership”

1 King 12:3-7

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away. 6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

The oft-repeated saying, “He who thinketh he leadeth and has no one following him is only taking a walk,” is attributed to John Maxwell, the author of several books on leadership, such as Developing the Leader within You and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. His unmistakable assumption: a leader is the one who leads those who follow or serve him and his vision.

However, the advice given to King Rehoboam by those elders who had served his father Solomon, was antithetical to that thesis: “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever” (v.7). What a revolutionary concept— particularly in view of the fact that Israel was monarchy in which the kings held absolute power over everything!

In effect, the elders inverted Maxwell’s saying: “He who thinks he’s only taking a walk but has people following him, is leading.” Their advice was for Rehoboam to think less about leading but more on serving the people who, upon seeing his example, would then gladly follow him. It’s amazing that the concept of servant leadership, the one that Christ expounded on the night of his betrayal—“I have set you an example that you should de as I have done for you” (Jn. 13:15)—was ably articulated by the ancients operating under monarchy.

In response, Rehoboam, showing that he was more interested in being a leader than leading (through serving), “rejected the advice” (v.8). Opting to follow a different advice given by those “young men who had grown up with him” (v.10), the king said to the people, “My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions” (v.14). This didn’t end well: the nation of Israel was now irreparably divided.

How is your leadership at work, home or church? Don’t be like this elder whose opening remark to the youths at an informal meeting was, “Be quiet, I need respect right now.” Instead, serve the people first. Before telling others what to do, do it yourself. Some may take advantage of it, but others may want to imitate you. Lead by examples of servanthood.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, how often I forget that You came to serve, not to be served. On the contrary, how often I seek to lead by words but rarely by my actions. Lord, please change me so that my lifestyle truly reflects the One who gave “his life as a ransom for many.” Thank You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 20:20-8: Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Question to Consider

1. What do you think Mrs. Zebedee was thinking while making the request on her sons’ behalf?

2. Why do you think the rest of the disciples were upset upon finding out this request?

3. What is the unmistakable message of Jesus to his men? What about to you?

Notes

1. Like most mothers, she thought the world of her sons, which naturally led her to believe that John and James were best qualified for the top cabinet position in what she believed was going to be the restored and autonomous kingdom of Israel.

2. They were probably indignant for two reasons: first, feeling slighted that those three thought that they were somehow better than the rest; two, John and James might have gotten ahead of them in being considered for the top position.

3. Jesus’ message: “My kingdom, because it isn’t like that of the world, doesn’t operate by the same principles. The people of the world lead by power and authority; but in my kingdom, those who seek to lead do so through yielding, serving and self-sacrifice.

Evening Reflection

Every day, we are being confronted by many situations that call for leadership—including seeing trash on the side of road. What sort of situations did you face today? How did you respond? Did you heed to the advice of the “elders” or the “young men”? Wrap up this day through reflecting on the example set for us by Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to help you to emulate him daily.

December 21, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on December 22, 2016. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal. He and his wife Jessie are the proud parents of two young boys.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Worthy of Our Trust”

1 Peter 1:12-2:3

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, [14] since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. “[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” [18] we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. [19] And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, [20] knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [3:1] But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

In his first letter, Peter writes to guide and encourage those under his care as they deal with persecution from outside the church. In this second letter, Peter instructs them on how to faithfully cling to the word of God as false teachers have come into the church, leading many of them astray to places of destruction. For Peter, this is an especially dire situation. He knows that the “putting off” of his body is coming soon; he cannot be there to protect and guide his sheep for much longer. So before he dies, he needs to make sure that the church does not deviate from the testimony of Scripture brought to them by his ministry.

In light of this, Peter provides two reasons as to why they should not be lured by the false teachers but trust in his testimony about Christ. First, he is an eyewitness. His teachings are not built on secondary sources, but he witnessed first-hand the majesty and glory of Christ. His testimony is not a result of “cleverly devised myths” or his creative imagination. He is only conveying what he saw with his own eyes. Second, the prophecies of Scripture are trustworthy, because they didn’t originate from the will of man but the prophets were “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” In other words, the prophetic Scriptures of the OT, which Peter employs to validate his own testimony, were not brought about by man but by divine inspiration—meaning, on a fundamental level, it is God who wrote them and God, above all, can be trusted. For these reasons, the church can rest assure that Peter’s testimony about Christ is true.

Just as it was a timely reminder for the recipients of Peter’s letter, this is also timely for us. As we spend each morning meditating on the words of Scripture, we can be confident that they are worthy of our trust. We don’t have to second guess its validity or accuracy. We can be sure that these words give us true life, wisdom, and most importantly, they lead us to a deeper and truer picture of God. Let us take some time this morning to thank God for His word!

Prayer: God, I thank You for revealing Yourself through the Scriptures. I pray that as I meditate on Your word each morning, that You will continue to reveal more of Yourself and shape me in a manner that reflects the truth of Your words. Help me to trust in Your word! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 15

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Questions to consider

What purpose does Scripture serve?
What role has the word of God played in your life?

Notes

God has given us the Scriptures for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that we can be equipped to do His work. Oftentimes, we stop at filling our minds with more biblical knowledge. However, a true understanding and reading of Scripture leads to a life of greater righteousness and an increase of good works for God’s glory.
Personal.

Evening Reflection

“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word.”

– Charles Spurgeon

December 20, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on July 21, 2015.

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“No Church? No Problem”

Hebrews 10:24-25

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

This year’s Christmas falls on a Sunday; therefore, some churches are planning to cancel their Sunday service because, among other reasons, only a few people may show up for the service since many congregants will be travelling. In response, George Barna, the renowned Christian pollster, may say, “No worries.”

“No Church? No Problem,” said the heading of an article appearing in a 2006 Christianity Today, which dealt with Barna’s book Revolution. According to Barna, there were “some 20 million people . . . who live ‘a first-century lifestyle based on faith, goodness, love, generosity, kindness, and simplicity’ and who ‘zealously pursue an intimate relationship with God.’” But these folks no longer attend church—which was just fine with Barna because, to him, the “meeting-in-a-building” model is a social construct (i.e., man-made) that can be deconstructed for a more relevant model.

Barna is right if you believe that the Church is a Church only if you congregate inside of a building with a pulpit in the front, surround by stained glass windows. But Barna is wrong if he believes that a lone individual seeking God constitutes the Church that God had in mind. While individuals ought to constantly seek God, our communion with Him isn’t complete until “two or three [believers] are gathered in [His] name” (Matt. 18:20) to praise, pray, partake of His word and share the sacraments. In that collective moment, the sense that God is “among us” is truly enhanced. We worship God when we gather as a body of Christ, however small or large. The church is not like retail business in which it may make sense to close the store early or not open at all for a day or two, that is, if not doing so will result in a financial loss because of few customers.

So don’t just go to church out of habit. Worship God with others (whether a few or many), and then encourage one another to strive for God’s honor in this increasingly secular and rudderless society.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I exalt You today because it was by the blood shed on the Cross that the Church was constituted through the Spirit. Forgive me for my spiritual negligence in missing the corporate meetings of my church over frivolous reasons. Help me to be the Church as well to seek you daily and to encourage others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 14

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 2:46-7: And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 12:12-3: When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.

Question to Consider

1. In what sense did these gatherings constitute a Church?

2. Note where these believers met: What does that say about what constitutes the Church?

3. How can we incorporate Barna’s comments in our walk with God without giving up on the Church? How is your commitment to your local church?

Notes

1. A collective group of believers was gathered to praise God, pray together and break bread (i.e., sharing sacraments and a meal afterwards).

2. They met at homes as well as at the temple. Either way, it was a place where a group of believers gathered to worship and pray together—that’s the Church.

3. While we meet as a corporate body at a designated time and place, individually we should seek God and do good deeds on our own—it doesn’t have to be aneither/or.

Evening Reflection

Have you ever seen yourself as a Church—a place where the Spirit dwells? That makes you a temple of the Holy Spirit. So when you go to your secular workplace, in a sense, you are bringing the Church there. In that light, how did your coworkers, fellow students, or family members benefit by your presence today? Can you think of one thing that you did or said that made someone think about God and His goodness? Pray for a more meaningful day tomorrow.