REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on December 1, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Just Greet First”

Esther 5:9

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 

(Esther 3:2, 5: And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman . . . but Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. . . . And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.)

In 597, Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine of Canterbury (not St. Augustine of Hippo), along with forty monks, to Great Britain in hopes of evangelizing the Anglo-Saxons who lived there.  But upon arrival, after seeing buildings with crosses, they realized that someone had already beaten them to it.  No one knows who first evangelized the Anglo-Saxons, but their church was known as the “Celtic Church” (which earlier produced the great missionary St. Patrick in the 5^th century).  In time, Augustine, after learning about this church, insisted that the Celtic Christians adopt the Catholic way (e.g., celebrating Easter on the Sunday following Passover instead of on the day of Passover).  In an important meeting in which the two sides were to talk, it is believed that Augustine—the pope’s deputy no less—greatly offended the Celtic delegation when he refused to get up to greet them.  Suffice it to say, they got off to a rocky start.

That being said, it is still stunning to find that what triggered Haman the Amalekite (1 Sam. 15:20; Esther 3:1) to plot an empire-wide genocide (from Ethiopia to India) was the feeling of being slighted by Mordecai because he didn’t greet Haman. Subsequently, “having learned who Mordecai’s people were, [Haman] scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai.  Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all . . . Jews” (Esther 3:6).   Haman’s over-the-top reaction certainly gives a new meaning to the notion of punishment-not-fitting-the-crime.

So what drives people like Haman and Augustine to act so entitled?  Certainly, pride is a factor.  Can you imagine Donald Trump greeting anyone first?  For others, it may be an extreme case of shyness or fear that the other person won’t reciprocate the greeting.   Personally, my favorite excuse is, “I don’t know that person very well.”

What is often overlooked in our reading of Paul’s epistles is how he begins them with a hearty greeting: “To the churches in ______: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  It is such a simple, courteous gesture that can mean so much—particularly to those feeling lonely.  So, let us “greet the brothers with a holy kiss” (like in Mexico).   Now, if no one greets you first, don’t get mad; instead, you greet them first.  Shalom.     

Prayer: Father, I exalt and magnify Your wonderful Name.  Forgive me for my prideful attitude of expecting others to greet me and thank me first. Lord, help me to be authentic and humble. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 19

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Matt. 23:5-7: They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

Luke 18:11: The Pharisees stood up and prayed about himself:  “God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evil doers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

Phil. 2:4b: . . . in humility consider others better than yourselves. 

Question to Consider

1. Why do you suppose the Pharisees expected to be greeted first?

2. What is the greatest antidote for the kind of bad attitude embodied by the Pharisees?

3. Think about three people whom you can greet right now, whether through e-mail, text, or phone.

Notes

1. They truly believed that they were better than everyone else; that is, God loved and approved of them more because of their many religious activities. That became part of their entitled mentality which led them to expect and demand respect from people

2. Considering others better than ourselves is a lot easier said than done since, on paper, some are better than others.  How do we do this?  In 1 Cor. 8:11, Paul says, “…this weak brother, for whom Christ died.”  Isn’t that enough of a reason?  But if you are a boss, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you hire or promote individuals who aren’t as prepared or competent as others; rather, it would mean that you would treat them with dignity and courtesy. 

3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

Was it another busy day today and did you run into a lot of people?  How was your greeting?  Did you greet first, or did you wait for the other person to greet you first?  Ask the Lord to give you the strength and motivation to say “Shalom” to everyone you meet and that Christ’s love will shine through you. Though it may seem like a small matter, it can make a world of difference to someone feeling down, alone, and unappreciated. 

REPOSTToday’s AMI Devotional QT, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI,  was first posted on December 7, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Bold Prayers Before the King”

Esther 7:1-6

Now the king and Haman came to drink wine with Esther the queen. 2 And the king said to Esther on the second day alsoas they drank their wine at the banquet, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be done.” 3 Then Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; 4 for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he who would presume to do thus?” 6 Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen.

The story of queen Esther is a familiar one. Esther, with fear and trembling, goes before the king to make a request that could cost her life. Yet she does so knowing that it was what she must do to save her people, believing the potential sacrifice to be more than worth the potential outcome. Her confidence, as we learned yesterday, came from the Lord her God, whom she knew was at work in the unseen to protect and defend His people. And we see today that her boldness and courage paid off. She was granted her request before a king with whom she found favor – and many were saved as a result. What an amazing opportunity and immense power available to Esther. And what a worthy way to utilize it! 

As I read through this familiar story again, I was reminded that believers today are far more like queen Esther than we might think. We too have the opportunity to approach the throne of a King who holds enough power in his hand to incite fear and trembling in all who dare to draw near. Yet, much like the response of King Ahasuerus to Esther’s request, our King, the King of Kings, has a compassionate disposition toward each of us and delights in giving us the things for which we ask (see John 14:14). Yet, how many of us realize the power made available to us because of our ability to approach God’s throne and ask of the Lord? Moreover, when we do come before God with our requests, what is it that we ask for? Most of us ask for things for ourselves and for our loved ones and maybe for a few good friends. But Esther made a request that would save a whole nation. She offered her life and asked for something great. What will we ask for? What are we willing to offer? We can ask for the pedestrian and the possible (success and wealth and comfort) or we can ask for the Kingdom… we can ask for the nations… and our God delights in giving them to us. 

“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God.” (Mark Batterson, Circle Maker) 

Prayer: Almighty God, thank you for your compassion toward me and your willingness to listen to my prayers and move on my behalf. Give me the courage to pray bold prayers. Give me the vision to pray impactful prayers. Give me the conviction to pray according to your will for the world. May you accomplish great things through me as I offer you my life and my requests.   Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:14-16: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Questions to Consider

1. What does the writer of Hebrews encourage believers to do in this passage? What hinders you from doing this in your life?  
2. What should motivate us to do what the writer of Hebrews is calling us to do in this passage? How does this encourage you? 
3. Are there some areas in your life that are in need of God’s mercy and grace to help in a time of need? Spend some time offering those things to the Lord with boldness and confidence. 

Notes

1. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to come to God with confidence (boldness) and ask for his help (grace and mercy) in our times of need. Many of us are hindered from doing this for a number of reasons.  We may not feel worthy of God. We may not fully believe he will help us if we ask. We may be self-reliant and think we can take care of things on our own. Some of us are just plain lazy when it comes to prayer. Whatever it may be, anything that hinders us from approaching God in times of needs, prevents us from receiving the grace and mercy He’s made available to us. 
2. We should be motivated to come to God for help in times of need by our knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Jesus became one of us and walked on this earth and lived a life just like we do. And while He was without sin, he does very much empathize with our struggles and our needs. This should give us all the more confidence when we come to Him. 
3. Spend some time in personal prayer. 

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Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on this morning’s quotation: 

“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God.” (Mark Batterson, Circle Maker) 

What are the situations around the world most in need of God’s help? Who are the people around you most in need of God’s grace and mercy at this time? Are there any bold prayers God is calling you to pray in response to these needs? Spend some time listening to the Holy Spirit and seeking God’s courage and vision for these areas. Then end in prayer accordingly. 

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