REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 4, 2015.

Food for Spiritual Thought for the Weekend

“The Only True Satisfaction in Life”

Luke 15:13-15 (NIV)

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. [14] After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.”

What was the younger son thinking?  Did he think that the inheritance money from his father was going to last forever?  Of course, when a person is preoccupied with seeking pleasure, he rarely thinks about the future, much less prepare for it.  

I know this all too well from my wild college days.  With three weeks left in school, I had no permanent place to sleep because my roommates and I had been evicted from the rented house near the campus—because of too many loud parties.  Being worldly and immature, I kept partying every day, without having secured a place to sleep on some evenings, only to realize at 12 p.m. that I had no place to go.  So on several occasions, I snuck into my old, vacant house and slept in the cold basement with newspapers as my blanket.  A few weeks later, when I read this parable for the first time after becoming a Christian, I readily saw myself in this younger son who lived the life of a fool.   

There are a lot of things overrated in our trend- and viral-happy society—one of them is pleasure, whether physical, emotional or material.  But nothing lasts; it gets mundane and boring.   King Solomon who once declared, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desire; I refused my heart no pleasure,” had this to say at the end of his days: “Everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind” (Eccles. 2:11).  And anyone (not named Solomon or Bill Gates) “who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich” (Prov. 21:17).

So what is your pleasure?  Accumulation of wealth, moving up the corporate ladder, being seen with the right people, or wearing trendy, name brand clothes?  Or is it still living a life of a party animal with lots of booze and drugs, and chasing after members of the opposite sex?  Enjoy these moments, that is, if you can, because nothing in life apart from God brings lasting and permanent satisfaction.   The great Church Father St. Augustine, whose earlier lifestyle would rival that of a modern gigolo, confessed, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”  

Take a moment right now to reconnect to your Creator who “has . . . set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccles. 3:11); that longing for everlasting life as well as a meaningful life here-and-now can only be filled by the One who has made us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are the only true satisfaction in life.  In Christ your Son, I have all that my heart yearns.  Thank You.  

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 17

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is an updated version of AMI QT Devotional first posted on August 27, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend 

“The Train of His Robe”

Luke 8:42b-48

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,[f] she could not be healed by anyone. 44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

What made the woman touch Jesus in faith?  Was it a common belief that a sick person could be cured by touching someone who is thought to have the power of God?  Or was there more to it than that?  At the risk of reading slightly into the text, recall the prophet Isaiah who “saw the Lord… the train of his robe fill[ing] the temple” (Isa. 6:1).  What Isaiah saw was God’s glory.  

Could it be that the woman, along with many others in Israel, was familiar with the train of God’s robe and believed that it was another expression of God’s glory?  Could it be that when the woman was touching the edge of Jesus’ cloak, she believed that the carpenter’s son was more than a healer of sick bodies, but the long-awaited Messiah?  Was she getting a glimpse of God’s glory?  

The moment she encountered God’s glory, immediately she was healed!  She experienced the truth of Malachi 4:2: “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.”  The “train of His robe”, “healing in its wings”, and “the edge of His cloak” not only present a similar imagery, but they also describe one common theme: God’s glory.  

Pray for God’s healing wing to touch you and others.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may Your magnificent glory fill my life so that my whole self may be restored and redeemed in Your Son Christ.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 15-16

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 9, 2016.  Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Seeking Help”

John 5:7

“’Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

One of my favorite books growing up was Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. If you’ve never read it (and I highly recommend you do), it tells the story of a pig, Wilbur, and how his spider friend Charlotte helps him avoid getting turned into bacon. When Wilbur first finds out what he is doomed for, he goes into a series of hysterics and is utterly helpless. If not for the calm and steady intervention of Charlotte and other friends, he would have had no fighting chance.

I find it very interesting that one of the reasons (or excuses) made by the man at the pool is that there has been no one around to help him. It might make you wonder whether this man was truly desperate to be healed. After all, with thirty-eight years in this condition and these stakes, one might expect him to take a little more initiative. He could have stayed closer to the pool and clambered in as soon as there was a chance to get healed.

But on the other hand, we can also identify strongly with his condition. When we are stuck in our weaknesses or completely helpless, what we want more than anything is for a friend to be right there alongside us. Whether or not that friend can actually restore us, we receive comfort and strengthening from others who wait along with us in our condition.

One purpose of living in community is so that we can carry each other to places of healing. If you’re currently waiting for the Lord to answer, don’t be ashamed to place yourself in a position of needing others. And if you are well, pray for God to open your eyes to opportunities to help others along. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that we have communities to bear burdens with. Help us to be people who are present in each another’s sufferings. Teach us to bring others to You, for You are our greatest and ultimate source of healing.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 14

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 12:21-26: The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Questions to Consider

1. According to this passage, God has created individuals in different capacities. Why should the members bother getting along in the first place?
2. What is significant that God Himself put “presentable” and “unpresentable” parts together to form the body?
3. Many parts in the body can function independently of one another (think: your left foot doesn’t need your ear to work). Why then, should each part have “concern for one another”? What would it look like for us to take this to heart?

Notes

1. Because the church is made up of brothers and sisters with different giftings and purposes, we understand that each person is significant in the eyes of God. While the ”eye” is very distinct from the ”ear,” brothers and sisters in the church teach us different facets of God’s grace and His character. They also fill up what is lacking with our blind spots and weaknesses.
2. “Presentability” is a value that we have made up with our own human frame of reference – we lift up or downplay certain parts, depending on whether we want them to attract attention. However, even if we deemed gifts or others “less honorable,” God has a special care for the overlooked. He puts them in the body so that they will all share in the honor that He bestows.
3. Even though the members can work independently, God made all essential to completing the body – the overall health of the body is the most important consideration. If one part is unhealthy, it affects the quality of life for all the other members.
   

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Evening Reflection

What are your feelings about caring for others in the community? Has God opened your heart to certain individuals that you could take an active role in loving? Let’s pray for God to show us how we can be sources of encouragement and life to one another.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 12, 2015

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Absurdity of Argument”

Matt. 12:24-9 (ESV) 

“But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.’ [25] Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [26] And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.’”

To someone who says, “There are no absolute truths; everything is relative,” ask him whether he holds to that absolutely.  If he says yes, then say, “You’re inconsistent and arrogant; if he answers no, ask him, “Then, why do you oppose what I believe?”     

Here, Jesus, likewise, shows the absurdity of an argument aimed to discredit him.  The Pharisees, jealous that “the whole world has gone after [Jesus]” (Jn. 12:19), accuses him of being on the same team as the head of demons.  Jesus’ logic is simple: “If the devil and I are partners, why am I casting out his demons?   Isn’t that like shooting yourself in the foot?”

 After silencing them, Jesus explains the spiritual world through this odd parable.  The strong man is the devil, “the prince of this world” (Jn. 12:31); his house, then, is the world.  The goods in the house are people in the world over whom the devil “holds the power of death” (Heb. 2:14).  How did this happen?  When the devil was tempting Jesus, it wasn’t a lie when he said, “All the kingdoms of the world . . . [had] been given to me” (Lk. 4:5-6).  The first man Adam, whom God had put in charge of governing the world, gave it away when he capitulated to the devil’s ploy, “for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him” (2 Pet. 2:19).  Since “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23), the devil bullies the descendants of Adam with fear of death.   

So Christ, coming into this world as an intruder to take back what was taken by the devil, must first bind the strong man.  He succeeded when his substitutionary death on our behalf “rendered powerless [the devil] who had the power of death” (Heb. 2:14 NASB) since the penalty of sin has been paid. 

Now, Christ through the church is plundering the house, meaning telling people that they are now free.  But many choose not to believe that; as a result, they continue to live in “slavery by their fear of death.”  Are you one of them?  Christ has already finished everything to free you; all you need to do is believe.  

Prayer: I praise You, Jesus, for coming into this world that had rebelled against God and chose the devil as its god.  Seeing that we are miserable in our sins, You voluntarily took the penalty of our sins to destroy the work of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8), thereby freeing us.  Thank You, Jesus, for your love, kindness and grace.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 13

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Jn. 5:18 (NIV): “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”

James 4:7 (NASB): “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Acts 16:16-8 (ESV): “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. [17] She followed Paul and us, crying out, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.’ [18] And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And it came out that very hour.” 

Question to Consider

1. What are some benefits of Christ’s victory over the devil?

2. Is there a part that we need contribute in order to experience Christ’s victory over the devil?

3. The Bible talks about not giving the devil a foothold (Eph. 4:27).  What are some casual habits or “harmless” sins in our lives that give the enemy a bigger hold to latch on to enslave us?

Notes

1. The devil cannot harm those who are in Christ; he will even flee from us; he can be driven out from someone or even from us in the name of Jesus.

2. We cannot continue to sin (habitual and unrepentant sins); we must resist the devil for him to flee; we must pray with the authority of Jesus by praying in His name.

3. Sin is much like a snowball rolling downhill: it gets bigger and bigger unless it is stopped.  An attempt to cover a little lie produces more lies; watching soft-porn leads to hard-porn; unforgiveness, in time, turns into a bitter personality; hoarding money always turns into loving it. 

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Evening Reflection

As you review this day, did you face any situation where you felt uncomfortable because of the presence of some people?  Why do you think that happened?  The path to freedom in many cases is honesty and humility.  Pray to the Lord for wisdom and courage to live fully in the freedom that Christ has won for us.  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on September 14, 2016.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“He Loved Us First”

John 14:21

“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Matthew 22:36-38

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.” 

One day this past spring, one of the college students in our church came up to me and told me that several weeks ago, she had seen a particularly vivid vision of a plane with many Asian passengers fall out of the sky and into the ocean.  At the time, she could only make out the letters “–” and “–” in blue painted on the plane and wondered what they meant; but a few days ago, a teacher in one of her classes mentioned that “—–“ was a Japanese airline.  Knowing that I was flying to Japan in a few days, she made a connection and begged me not to go.

I was in a quandary because what this sister saw was usually accurate and meaningful, but I also felt that in this case her interpretation may not be.  In the end, I decided to still go, and she decided that she would fast and pray.  When I arrived in Japan safely, she was relieved that her fasting and prayer had “worked” and shared that she’d never been able to fast for a whole day before this, but this time she could, and she was glad I was safe.

It was the first time anyone had ever done anything like this for me, and I was surprised and touched.  At that moment, I realized that what God desires of us as His children, more than anything, is that we simply love him.  

“Nothing we ever do could make God love us any more or any less.” “He loved us first.”  These are all true enough.  But when Jesus says, “The one who loves me will be loved by my Father,” what does He mean?  I don’t know if I love this young sister any more or any less because of what she did, but I do know that when I received her expression of love, there was a response in my heart to the love that she gave.  Perhaps this is all it means – that we have the capacity to touch our Father’s heart.

Prayer:  Dear God, help me to have a more pure heart of love today, one that simply says, “I love you. You are important to me.  I’d miss you if you were gone.”  May my service and obedience today all just be an expression of this love for You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 12

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Exodus 34:1-4, 15: 1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments . . . 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” 

Exodus 34:17-20: 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. 

John 14:21b:  “ . . . The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Questions to Consider

1. If God did not go with the people, would they still have been able to claim the Promised Land (vv. 1-2)? 

2. What does Moses’ response to God’s offer tell us about his relationship with God (v. 15)?

3. In what ways are Jesus’ words in John 14:21 illustrated by this event in Exodus?  How much do we long to see God’s glory (v.18)?  For Jesus to reveal himself to us (v. 21)?  

Notes

1. Yes; He says that He will send an angel to help them.

2. To Moses, God’s very presence was more important than what God could help him achieve.  His heart’s cry was, “Lord, if you’re not going to be there, I don’t want to go.”  He could live without the achievement, but he couldn’t live without God.

3. Moses loved God, and he was loved by God in return (God was pleased with him).  The heart’s desire of the one who loves God is to see His glory; therefore, the greatest reward God could give such a one would be to reveal more of Himself to that person.

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Evening Reflection

When a child sees his father and runs in for a hug, because his arms are smaller, he will end up hugging the father first.  The father’s arms will then wrap around his child.  As the child expresses love, the father responds to that expression of love.  A picture of how the one who loves God will be loved by God.  A picture of a love relationship that is mutual.

Of course it is the father who loved first; the child is just responding to that love, but the father can also respond to the child’s love, and the circle of love keeps going round.  Take a moment this evening just to say from the heart, “I love you, God.  With my whole heart, I love you.  I love you, I love you, I love you.”  And then wait for His response–His revelation of Himself.

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 6, 2016, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  He is  a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS, biology), and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“His Majesty Found in His Humility”

John 12:9-19 (ESV)

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. 12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” 

The Triumphal Entry is a fulfillment of a prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9, which reads, “Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion.  Shout in triumph, o daughter of Jerusalem.  Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, humble and mounted on a donkey.”  It is significant that Jesus chose to ride into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  It’s a declaration that He is king, but unlike the kings of this world, His robe of royalty is in humility.  In a strange paradox, the majesty of Christ is found in His humility, and it is this divine humility that makes Him so worthy of our worship.  

As we think about the virtue of humility, it is admittedly something that is hard to define and something even harder to achieve.  Many have called it the first foundation of all virtues, and I would agree with that assessment.   Humility can be defined as a loss of one’s self, a disregard of our reputation, our dignity, and whatever respect we think we are deserving of.  This definition also gives us the barometer of how we can measure humility.  The distance between our true state and the lowest level that we are willing to genuinely identify ourselves with is the correct measure of humility.  For Christ, the measure of His humility is immeasurable because though He is God by nature, He didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped, so He humbled himself to the point of death as a bondservant to the world.  There are simply no human categories that can help us to explain the humility of Christ.  

In light of this fact, it’s amazing to me how much we as Christians struggle in the area of humility.    Sociologists tell us that people become like the gods they worship, but that leaves us with this unavoidable question: What god we are worshipping? Are we worshipping the humble king that we see here in this passage or a god of our own design?  There is a narcissistic spirit that pervades our world and which has even crept into the church.  We are too busy staring at our own reflection instead of the reflection of Christ.  You cannot be abandoned for the gospel if you are worried about your reputation, your dignity, and what you think life owes you.  The Cross is a testimony to the humility of Christ, and this humility is one of the attributes that make Him infinitely worthy of our worship and our imitation.  

Prayer: Lord, teach me the way of humility, to die to myself and to pick up my cross daily.  Help me to see the pride that keeps me from experiencing Your blessing and becoming more and more like You.   Show me that I must decrease in order that You may increase.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 11

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Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:1-11 (ESV): So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in Christian unity?
2. How is humility displayed in the context of the Christian community?
3. What is the connection between humility and obedience to God?  

Notes

1. Among many things, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to shed abroad God’s love in our hearts and to unite the believer to Christ, and in turn unite believers to one other.  It is only through active participation in the ministry of the Holy Spirit that the church can experience the type of unity that Paul is calling for. 
2. In the context of Christian community, humility is displayed by the freedom from selfish ambition and the consideration of the greater significance of others.   Dr. Gordon Fee reminds us that “selfish ambition” stands at the heart of human fallenness, where self-interest and self-aggrandizement at the expense of others primarily dictate values and behavior.  Humility frees us from this trap and brings us into real fellowship with one another.  
3. Obedience to God is primarily a matter of humility.  You cannot obey God unless you are first willing to humble yourself to His will just as Jesus submitted to the will of the Father.  

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Evening Reflection

In what ways did pride affect your day?  Were you quick to defend yourself or to react in anger towards criticism?  How can you grow in humility?  Take time to confess the areas of pride in your life and to ask for the grace of Christ to cover you.

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 23, 2015

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What I’ve Learned from My Basset Hound”

Lk. 11:5-9 (ESV)

Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; [6] for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; [7] and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ [8] I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. [9] So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.”

When my basset hound thinks it’s time to walk, she whimpers without ceasing.  This annoys me a lot when I am busy, but I still walk her so that she won’t bother me with her persistent whimpering.  That’s what I’ve learned from my basset: the power of persistent prayer. And once we’re out, I make sure that she has a good walk. 

So, do we get anything we want from God as long we pray persistently?  No.  Paul, while suffering from “a thorn in the flesh”—likely a physical illness (Gal. 4:14-6)—“pleaded with the Lord to take it away from [him]” three times (2 Cor. 12:8).  God said, “No.”  David “fasted and . . . and spent the nights lying on the ground” for his sick child.  “The child died” (2 Sam. 12:16, 18).

 Keep this in mind before praying: “If you remain in [Christ] and [his] words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (Jn. 15:7).  Those abiding in Christ won’t ask for things that contradict God’s general will revealed in the Scripture.  In Mexico where Catholicism reigns, it isn’t uncommon for drug cartels to demand that a priest bless them.  God will never answer prayers that go contrary to His general will; some may experience what may look like an answered prayer, but God has nothing to do with it. 

The prayers of deliverance by Paul and David were according to God’s general will (James 5:15); unbeknownst to them, however, they were praying earnestly against God’s specific will.  There is no shame in that; in fact, we should pray like this persistently.  If we happen to be praying according to God’s specific will, then, in time, we’ll see it answered.   Even if our prayer isn’t answered according to how we prayed, we might still encounter God in a special way: a disappointed Paul heard God say, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9); a sad David “went into the house of the LORD and worshiped” (2 Sam. 12:20). 

Before you pray, make sure your petitions align with God’s general will and that you abide in Christ.  Then pray, persistently!  If it is answered, praise God; if he doesn’t, the consolation prize isn’t bad!

Prayer: Father, how I adore You and delight myself in Your presence.  Thank You that you want me to be persistent in prayer so that I can experience answered prayers; better yet, thank You that you want me to pray persistently so that even if my prayer will not be answered in the way I expect it, I’ll still encounter You in a special way.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Lk. 5:16, 9:18 (NASB): But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness* and pray. . . .

[18] And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”                                  *Desolate (ESV)

Mk. 1:35 (ESV): And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Acts 10:9 (NIV), 16:13 (ESV): About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. . . . [13] And on the Sabbath day [Paul and Luke] went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

Question to Consider

1. What common practice did Jesus, Paul and Peter share with respect to praying?
2. Why is that so important?
3. What adjustment s do you need to make in order to pray instead of talking about praying?

Notes

1. They all sought out a quiet place to pray alone, whether it be the wilderness (or perhaps the desert), beach or rooftop.  When I am travelling and have to share a room with someone, I get up early and pray in the bathroom.  (Hey, some hotel bathrooms are cleaner than my living room.)
2. Have you tried communicating on the phone when there you’re in a room with a lot of people talking?  Likewise, if anyone who is serious about praying to God, one must find a quiet place where there won’t be any distractions during this prayer time.  
3. Is there something you usually do, that if you don’t it, you don’t feel as good? Make praying a habit until it feels like something is missing when you don’t pray.  I feel that way toward the following three things that I do every morning after I get up: pray at least an hour, read 5 chapters of the Bible, and then go jogging! 

Evening Reflection

“Pray continually” (1 Thess. 5:17).  Pray for yourself, your family, friends and coworkers.  Pray that America’s moral slide will hit a bump so that it will, at least, slow down.  Pray for AMI to prosper so that God’s kingdom will continue to expand around the globe.

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on July 12, 2015.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Doing the Right Thing”

1 Kings 15:1-5, 9-14

Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam the son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah. 2 He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 3 And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. 4 Nevertheless, for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, 5 because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite… 9 In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah,10 and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. 11 And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. 12 He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. 13 He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. 14 But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. 

A local pastor told the following story: Ducking into confession with a turkey under his arms, a man said, “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. I stole this turkey to feed my family. Would you take it and settle my guilt?” “Certainly not,” said the priest. “As penance, you must return it to the one from whom you stole it.” “I tried,” the man sobbed, “but he refused. Oh, Father, what should I do?” “If what you say is true, then it is all right for you to keep it for your family.” Thanking the priest, the visitor hurried off. When confession was over, the priest returned to his residence. When he walked into the kitchen, he exclaimed, “Where’s my turkey?!”

In our Scripture passage for today, we see two examples of sons who grew up under wicked fathers. One chose to repeat patterns of wickedness and the other did not – he chose instead to be a reformer and leverage his life to accomplish God’s will instead of his own. When I look at the world around me, I see just how easy it is for us to repeat patterns of sin we grew up seeing. Parents make tons of mistakes and children often learn more from the mistakes than the successes. Even further, the Church in America is dealing with a lot of its mistakes at this point in history. Christianity has a reputation of bigotry when dealing with those who are different and a lack of compassion when dealing with those in need. But be it our earthly parents or Christians who’ve gone before us, our passage for today reminds us that we can choose. We can repeat the patterns of sins practiced over us or we can choose another way.  

And at the end of the day it comes down to desire. How much do we honestly want to follow in the ways of the Lord? It has been said many times that if someone really wants to sin, he’ll find a way to do it. Like in the illustration above, we can maneuver our way out of doing the right thing when we want to. But I think the opposite is true. If we truly desire to honor the Lord, we will find that God provides ways for us, even as broken people with a tarnished history, to do just that. And like King Asa, if we look far back enough into our history or look hard enough at the world around us, we will find examples of believers to follow who walked in the way of righteousness. But ultimately the choice to do the right thing is ours.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for Your eagerness and willingness to lead me in the way of righteousness. I’ve learned a lot of bad habits from those who’ve gone before me, but my sincere desire is to honor You with my life. Please teach me the way I should go. Help me walk in a manner worthy of the calling of Christ in my life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 9

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is an updated version of AMI QT Devotional first posted on August 25, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Who Is Jesus to Me?”

Luke 7:18-35

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written,. “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you. 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just,[c] having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.) 31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,  “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

As great as John the Baptist was (of whom Jesus once said in Luke 7:28, “Among those born of woman there is no one greater than John”), here we see him doubting or questioning or being confused about the identity of Jesus Christ based on his own expectation and situation (vv. 18-20). For John, if Jesus were to be the Christ, then why was there still injustice in his days and he put in prison?  In response to such enigma, Jesus said, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (v. 23).  Jesus is the very cornerstone on which we need to build our lives according to Him.  But for some, Jesus actually is a stumbling block to their success in life (1 Pet 2:8).  Is Jesus a precious cornerstone or stumbling block?  Have I gotten Jesus wrong because He does not meet my expectation? 

What do I really want God to do in my life?  Is it about seeing people being healed, disarming the kingdom of darkness, and the gospel message being heard all over the world (vv. 21-22)?  Or am I waiting for God to meet my own needs and expectations?  John was a prophet, and also “more than a prophet” (v. 26). John was more than a prophet in a sense that he was the last and greatest prophet under the Old Covenant. Unlike the other prophets who witnessed from a far distance (time-wise), John had the privilege to witness and testify God’s Son in humanity (John 1:19ff.).  Yet even John the greatest prophet was least in God’s kingdom under the New Covenant (v. 28) since the measure of greatness in the prophetic ministry lies in clarity and conviction of the prophetic message mainly Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, John was beheaded in injustice before he experienced Christ’s death and resurrection and glorification.  

For us living under the New Covenant, God’s redemptive work through His Son Jesus Christ is no longer what God would someday accomplish; it is a historical fact.  How much am I excited about the gospel ministry?  Is the eagerness there to witness Jesus Christ?  What would it take for me to proclaim the gospel to others than remain silent?

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for treating you like my personal Jeannie. You are always my Lord and Savior. I shall always worship and obey you, and serve your kingdom interest here on earth. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 7-8

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 30, 2013

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Remembering the Helpless and the Fatherless”

Psalm 10:12, 14, 17

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.  Do not forget the helpless. 14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.  The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 17 You hear, O Lord, the desire  of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry …

Living in affluence, we often forget that “God has chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith” (James 2:5). Even worse, since most of us are too focused on our wants and needs, we often neglect the poor around us, even disdaining them. In fact, spoiled by Bless-Me-Here-&-Now theology, we often complain at the slightest inconvenience to our comfortable living. We think we are the pobrecitos!  How can we wake up from the stupor of our soul? 

Today we are reminded that our troubles can be an opportunity to experience the comforting presence of God. It can also wake us up!  So if you feel afflicted for whatever reasons, thank the LORD for it and seek His presence. Be “poor in the spirit” so that you can experience “the kingdom of heaven” on earth (Matt. 5:5). 

And it is in such state of our soul that we can truly commit ourselves to God. It is there that we can truly remember the helpless, help the fatherless, and listen to the cry of the afflicted.  Before leaving home today, spend a moment in Him

Prayer: Dear Jesus, despite Your beatitude of “Blessed are the poor in the spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” I confess that I dislike being poor in any-thing.  Thus, help me to see and accept that when I feel poor, whether financial, emotional or spiritual, I can truly experience You, which is a good thing. Amen

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 6

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 21:1-4: “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

James 2:5: “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Question to Consider

1. Ultimately what really matters is how God assesses our lives and whether He sees it fit to use our stories for His work.  In light of James 2:5, the question here is who (or whose action) was praised by Jesus at the expense of whom? 

2. Why does God favor the poor? (1 Cor. 1:27-9)

3. Most of us wouldn’t take a literal vow of poverty in hopes of being used by God.  So then, what can we do to embody a heart that uniquely belongs to those who are poor, naturally inclining them toward dependency on God? (e.g., 1 Cor. 7:29-31).

Notes

1. A poor widow was praised over wealthy people for giving all that she had to live on.

2. God simply won’t share His glory with anyone. While the weak and the lowly don’t have much in themselves to aid God’s work, the wise and the strong typically think that they do. Thus, God prefers to use the weak and despised in His work so that no one can take credit for something He did. This shows that making ourselves available to God’s work with humility is more important than showing up with our talents, pedigree and gadgets.

3. Based on the logic of 1 Cor. 7:29-31, we live as if we were poor, that is, not rich. Paul states, “And those who buy as though they had no goods, ³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.” This means that we don’t flaunt our wealth to impress people; we don’t look down on people for whatever reasons, we use our resources to do God’s kingdom work. 

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Evening Reflection

As you look back to today, were you aware of God’s presence? Too busy to notice Him? Write about it, prayerfully think about ways to make improvements, and do better tomorrow.  Ask the Lord for help.