July 25, Monday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why We Come to Church”

Lk. 10:30-6 (ESV)

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. [32] So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. [33] But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. [34] He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ [36] Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

Lk. 10:25 (NIV): “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,” he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” 

Matt. 11:28 (NASB): “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

While some teenagers may come to church to meet cute boys or girls, and some grownups for business opportunities, this lawyer came to Jesus for an entirely different reason.  Here, the lawyer came “to test” Jesus, which the Greek word ekpeirazō is used; but the same Greek word is used when Jesus tells the devil, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matt. 4:7 KJV).  While testing measures a student’s progress, tempting is to seek his downfall; this lawyer “tempted Jesus” (KJV).  He probably belonged to a group of “Pharisees and Herodians” who tried “to catch [Jesus] in his words” (Mk. 12:13) to accuse him.

So is there any unacceptable motive for going to church or reading the Bible?  Absolutely none.  Simon Greenleaf, Professor of Law at Harvard in the middle of 19th century, believed the resurrection of Christ to be a hoax.  Ironically, after setting out to expose its “myth,” his research led to the exact opposite conclusion.   Greenleaf, then, wrote a book, Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice, in which he said, “It was impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead.”

The first film to win 11 Oscars is “Ben-Hur,” based on the bestselling novel, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, by Lew Wallace in 1880.  He began that project with “no convictions about God or Christ”; writing was only an outlet for his creativity.  But an unexpected thing happened.  Wallace said, “I need to do the research; I need to learn the Bible. . . . Long before I was through with my book, I became a believer in God and Christ.”  

This lawyer in the parable came with the worst motive possible, but Christ would soon place him where he may be a step away from salvation.   So what is keeping you from going to church or reading the Bible?  For whatever reason, go to church and read the Bible; and if you’re intellectually honest, you will find that Christ makes sense—you will find rest in him. 

Prayer: No motive is hidden before you, Lord; for You know what is in a man.  Regardless, You do not reject any person for coming to you, even one with the worst motive, like Judas and like this lawyer.   Your love is so unfathomable; so unlike anything this world has to offer.   I love and worship You!  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Is. 55:1-3 (ESV): “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.[3] Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live . . .” 

Jn. 6:35 (ESV): “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’”

Question to Consider

1. What is the irony of this contrast?  Give an example of what some people “buy” to be happy.

2. Is God talking about a balanced diet of meat and vegetables, or is it something else?  

3. How is your spiritual diet?  Are you eating healthy spiritually?  What is lacking in your present eating habit?

Notes

1. People don’t take advantage of the free things which are so good for them; rather, they pay for things of the world which are harmful for them.  A good example is plastic surgery: it may improve the outside but without the change inside, nothing really changes.

2. Bread refers to Jesus as well as the Word of God.   Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone,
 but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matt. 4:4).  Without eating for a long time, people die of hunger; without consuming spiritual food for a long, people die spiritually being alienated from God, others, and even self.   

3. Some people fill their spiritual diet with Christian music or books; those are good fillers but not the main staple—a biblical spiritual diet, consisting of a solid understanding of God’s Word (to be applied immediately) and a consistent prayer life that has depth and length. 

Evening Reflection

Did anything you did today make you feel distant from God?  Did you entertain some wrong motives in what you did or say?  We learned today that nothing should keep us from coming to Him.  Come to the Lord right now; buy from Him that which we can never buy from app stores or Amazon. 

July 24, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on November 8, 2015, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  Now a friend of AMI, Yohan in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Does Good Reputation Matter?”

Nehemiah 6:10-13

Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.

Back in the late-1990s, it was revealed that President Bill Clinton was having an affair with a White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.  Clinton was eventually impeached and then acquitted, not for the affair itself, but rather for lying about it.  Eventually, the biggest question that came out of this whole scandal was, “Does the American public care what the president does in his personal life, as long he is running our country efficiently?”  By in-large, most Americans answered that question with a “no”; and Clinton’s term in office has generally been regarded as a success.  

Having said all that, I think having a good reputation still matters.  While many respect Clinton for the things he accomplished in office, how many of even his staunchest followers would put a lot of stock in any marriage advice he could possibly give?  You see, one of the more difficult things about being in ministry (all those in ministry, not just pastors) is maintaining, not just a good reputation, but a reputation that makes your voice matter to others.  For example, let’s say you are a small group leader; and while playing golf with a few of your members, you lose your temper and become childishly irritable (breaking clubs, yelling at the ball, crashing the cart, etc.), because you haven’t been able to hit a decent tee shot all day.  Do you think you will have the platform to lead these people and speak with them about their anger issues?  Same with things like drinking: Would you want to be told to curb your drinking by your small group leader who just went bar-hopping with you two weeks ago?  And this applies in the area of giving, honesty and integrity, as well as having daily devotions.  In the end, if you want to be an influencer in the kingdom of God, then you have to be careful to make sure your life and words are consistent, keeping an upright and respectable reputation.  

At first, you may look at today’s Bible passage, and ask, what’s was the big deal?  It appears that the issue involved one of two possible things: First, Nehemiah was not a priest, so he was not allowed in the temple, even to save his own life.  Or two, running into the temple would have made Nehemiah look like a coward, especially since everyone working on the wall was, to a certain extent, in danger.  Either way, Nehemiah found it more important to risk his own life than to discredit his own name with the people (see 6:13).  Today, let me ask you this: What are the things you have to “risk” to keep a good reputation among others?  Most of us don’t have to risk our lives like Nehemiah did, but I am guessing that we will have to sacrifice some forms of “fun.”  Is it worth to deny yourself in some way for the kingdom of God?

Prayer: Lord, help me to see the beauty and worth of doing Your work and paying the price in order to keep a good reputation with others.  If I have already broken that record, please give me the fortitude to win it back.  Ultimately, make me a person of true character—make me more like Jesus.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 8 

July 23, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on December  5, 2015.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of the UC site of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Do You Do When No One Recognizes You?”

Esther 6:1-3

On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

Have you ever done something, thinking you would earn recognition, only to find that no recognition or honor was given? That can often be quite painful. It feels good to be recognized, to get that high-five or pat on the back or that “good job.” But sometimes, no one notices what we do. We are left hanging, like an unreciprocated high-five.

In Esther 2, Mordecai helped stop a plot against the king’s life. He and Esther foiled this plot and thus saved the king from being murdered. Yet, no honor was seemingly given to Mordecai for helping the king; his hand was raised for that high-five, but none was given. But here in Esther 6, as the king was going through the book of memorable deeds, he found the good deed that Mordecai had done for the king. He learned that no honor had been given to Mordecai. Later in the chapter we see the king bestowing great honor on Mordecai, much to the humiliation of Haman.

In our own lives, we may feel like the good deeds we do go unnoticed. We may feel like there is no reason to keep serving or to continue loving others. Maybe we are close to giving up. But remember that verse in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” God has His own book of memorable deeds—and He knows everything we do. No good deed will go unnoticed by Him.

Though we may not see fruit today or may not receive recognition from others, let’s press on in the kingdom work, knowing that our God sees all. Let us look forward to that day when we shall stand before Him and hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He will surely not leave us hanging.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You see all we do. Help us to persevere in Your work knowing that we will reap a harvest in due time. And help us not give up but rather keep our eyes on You. Though the world may try to harden our hearts and stop us from loving others, give us strength to keep on going for Your glory.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 6-7

July 22, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Sam Lee who heads Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was first posted on May 18, 2015.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Clay in the Potter’s Hand”

Jeremiah 18:6

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” 

I would watch my children play with clay. The clay would get stretched, pulled, and dirtied. In other words, the clay would get abused, and eventually the poor clay would be thrown away because it cannot be used anymore. Clay in the hands of a child becomes a toy to be used and discarded; clay in the hands of a potter is similar yet very different in a profound way. This clay is also stretched and pulled, yet it is being stretched and pulled not to be discarded but to become something that is valued, useful, and beautiful. The greater the potter, greater the value of what the clay becomes.  A Ming Dynasty vase can cost over $10 million dollars today. You, in the hands of the Master, are worth infinitely more. 

Yet it is not easy to stay in the hands of the Master. Therefore, let’s cast off the things that make us move away from the Potter’s hand. I have learned that staying in the hands of God is not about being silent and just waiting; it is hard spiritual work. There are many different ways we knowingly and unknowingly move away from the hands of the Potter. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light on anything that makes us move away from the Potter’s hand. It might be worldly philosophies, wrong mindsets and belief system, lies, a temptation you are facing during this season, or it might be simple as a complaining spirit. 

As the Holy Spirit shines His light into your heart, turn away and renounce those things that hinder you from drawing close to God. And spend the rest of the day submitting yourself to the Lord. The world tempts us with comfort and riches, but God wants to do much more for you—a life that is much more worthwhile. But to do this work, He is looking for clay that is compliant and moldable—clay that trusts and is completely yielded to Jesus.

Prayer:  You know my going in and my going out. You know my innermost thoughts. Sovereign Lord, You have the best plan for my life. I submit to your agenda and for you to shape me into the person You want me to be, for I am clay in Your hands.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-8: “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

Questions to Consider

1. David mentions several areas of his personal life that God has “searched and known.”  List many as you can where God has searched and known your life. 

2. Does God know your thoughts?  If yes, should we be afraid?

3. Meditate on how God knows about your life.

Note

1. It could be your thought life, prayer life, relationships, entertainment choices, etc.

2. Of course, God knows our thoughts but we don’t need to be afraid because our God is a good and kind deity.

3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on God’s sovereignty. Did you experience that today?  

Share your story.

July 21, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on August 13, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Getting Even With the Enemy?”

2 Kings 6:18-23

When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria. 20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.

I can only remember two times in my life having what I would describe as an enemy. The most memorable was a boy in my 5th grade class who just wouldn’t leave me alone. Finally, at the end of the school year, I’d had enough – when he took his teasing too far, I chased him all the way to the playground, socked him a good one, and shoved his head in the sand underneath the tire swings. Needless to say, he stopped bothering me after that. And now we can look back on the whole thing and laugh. 

In our story for today, Elisha and the people of Israel have an opportunity to get even with their enemies. Through God’s power at work in Elisha, Israel’s enemies, the Arameans, are struck blind and led right into the middle of Israel’s camp. At this point (blind and in their enemy’s camp), the Arameans could easily have been captured and killed. But Elisha chooses a different way. Not only does Israel not put the Aramean army to death – they show them great hospitality and bless them before sending them on their way. 

It’s not often that the average person has enemies in the conventional sense – but we all have people who are far from “friends” in our lives. Whether it’s an annoying person at work or the relative who always has something negative to say or even institutions that make life more difficult – for all of us a name or two likely comes to mind. 

In dealing with these people, we stand to learn much from the prophet Elisha. Not only did he not get even when he had the chance, but he went so far as to be a blessing to those who opposed him. Why? Because through his kind and righteous behavior, his enemies were able to see the power of God at work, the result of which is much more valuable than vengeance. His enemies ceased to pursue him anymore and, even more importantly, quit opposing the sovereign work of God which was at work through His people Israel. 

I remember reading a prayer by Scotty Smith that said, “Lord, I am certain that I want to honor you more than I want to feel vindicated.” That’s not an easy prayer to pray, but it is one that can both free us from those who oppose us and open their eyes to see God at work in one fell swoop. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to honor you more than I want to feel vindicated. In every relationship or area of opposition in my life, make this prayer genuine in my heart. Help me to truly believe that loving my enemies is always the best way.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:14-21: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to bless and not curse our enemies? How might that practically play out in your life? 
  2. How might our actions in taking revenge fail to leave room for God’s vengeance? 
  3. Why are God’s instructions to us in verse 20 so important? What is He ultimately asking us to do? 

Notes

  1. Our tendency when someone opposes us is to speak negatively against them and wish ill towards them (and understandably so). But instead of doing this, we are called to bless them – not only with our words but also with our actions. This could take many forms, none of which will likely be easy to do. 
  2. When we seek revenge, we always are in sin. This is the first problem Paul instructions seek to help us avoid. But even further, God can enter into situations where we’ve been wronged and make things right in ways we often can’t imagine. Even more, He is able to change the heart of our oppressors. This is the greater victory. 
  3. Where our natural response to opposition is to destroy the source, God calls us to not only resist that impulse but to respond with actions that bring life. Feeding the hungry and giving a drink to the thirsty are all life preserving actions. As people of God, we are called to bring life, even to the one who seeks our destruction. In so doing, we both preserve our life and theirs as well. 

Evening Reflection

In what ways can you “over come evil with good” in your life right now? Who are the people around you whom God is calling you to bless even as they oppose you? Spend some time seeking the Lord about these things. Ask Him to show you practical ways to be a blessing. Ask Him to forgive you for ways you’ve breathed curses and for His love to fill your heart for your enemies. Spend some time reflecting on the cross and Jesus’ willingness to come for us when we were God’s enemies. 

July 20, Wednesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Raw Deal from God”

2 King 14:23-29

In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, began to reign in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin. 25 He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter, for there was none left, bond or free, and there was none to help Israel. 27 But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. 28 Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he restored Damascus and Hamath to Judah in Israel, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers . . .

Jeremiah (12:1) once complained to God, saying, “Why does the way of the wicked prosper?” Perhaps, he thought of Jeroboam II whose penchant for evil rivaled that of his predecessor Jeroboam I who, to avoid losing his power, introduced a counterfeit religion to Israel (i.e., worshiping golden calves, non-levitical priesthood) “that led to . . . its destruction” (1 Ki. 13:34).  And for that, God rightfully punished him (14:10-13).  

When compared to how God treated Jeroboam II, however, maybe Jeroboam I got a raw deal because God, instead of punishing Jeroboam II, blessed him like no other kings before or after him.  Under his regime, Israel enlarged its territory like never before, extending it border as far as the Sea of Arabah near Jordon and Damascus.  And according to Amos (1:1) who prophesied during this period, it was a time of unprecedented economic prosperity.  People had winter as well as summer mansions adorned with ivory (3:15); they “dine[d] on choice lambs and fattened calves” (6:4). As for the king himself, unlike other evil kings who suffered a tragic ending, he died peacefully (2 Ki. 14:29).  

So, why did God bless Jeroboam II and Israel despite their continued rebellion?  He was calling them to repent!  Now, this may come as a surprise to those who equate God’s call to repentance to warnings of dire consequences if not complied to.  While that is not untrue, we mustn’t forget that God is always “kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Lk. 6:35), thereby giving them an opportunity to experience His unmerited favor (i.e., grace) that would elicit the kind of response the fisherman Peter had upon realizing that the man responsible for his large haul of fish was the Christ: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (5:8).  

Unfortunately, Israel’s response was just the opposite: Thinking that they deserved everything they got, they fell into pride and callousness.  And that’s when God came with a sword: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and detest his fortresses; I will deliver up the city and everything in it” (Amos 6:8).

One word of advice: Respond to God when He is being “nice” to us!  Repent. Today.

Prayer: God, how awesome it is to be given this privilege of knowing and worshiping You.  How amazing it is that You show the best of Your grace when I deserve it the least.  I am in awe of your unfathomable ways in which You continue to favor me on account of your Son Jesus Christ.  Thank you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 3

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 2:3-4: Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

2 Cor. 6:1: Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Jude 1:4: For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Question to Consider

1. What is the spiritual logic behind God’s kindness leading us to repentance?

2. Describe what God was doing for Jeroboam II and Israel by blessing them in accordance to Romans 2:3-4?

3. What is the worst thing we can do with God’s grace? How are you handling it at the moment?

Notes

1. When we do wrong, our conscience (unless it has been desensitized) is bothered and we expect to be caught and then punished.  Let’s assume that a policeman stopped you for a traffic violation.  But instead of issuing the ticket, he gives you a pep talk about safe driving and a piece of bubble gum to boot—now, that’s kindness!  And when the officer is leaving and says, “Drive safely,”  we say, “Yes sir!”

2. God was forbearing, being kind and patient with Jeroboam II and Israel so that they would repent.

3. The worst thing we can do with God’s grace is to receive it in vain and then abuse it with this type of thinking: “Since He is not willing to punish me for my sins, I’m going to continue in them.” Don’t forget: “You may be sure that sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23).

Evening Reflection

In the same way that fish may not be conscious of water that surrounds it, we may not be all that conscious of God’s grace and mercy which we receive from Him daily.  Look back to this day and recall the times when it was evident that God was being gracious and merciful to you.  Thank Him.  

July 19, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 12, 2016, is written by Tina Hsu who serves as AMI missions coordinator.  Tina, a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.) and is married to Anthony.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Obeying Our Loving God”

Mark 12:28-34 

One of the scribes came and heard them arguing, and recognizing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “What commandment is the foremost of all?”29 Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; 30and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to Him, “Right, Teacher; You have truly stated that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as himself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

I grew up with a pretty good record of being an obedient daughter towards my earthly father. I obeyed and listened to him, but I didn’t obey because I loved him. I obeyed primarily because I was afraid of him—his temper and the idea of disappointing him. God has held my hand to overcome fear and to begin obeying my father because I love him. Even though my dad’s response is not in my control, this change in my heart has helped me to overcome fear.  This has also revealed to me how God wants me to relate to Him. He desires that I obey His word because I love and adore Him. God calls us to obey Him because we love Him, for love is the channel through which He relates to us and desires us to relate to Him. He loved us first by sending His beloved Son to defeat sin and death, so that we could be reconciled to Him. He whole-heartedly loved us and calls us to whole-heartedly love Him in a relationship.

Jesus affirms that loving God with our heart, mind, soul, and strength is the greatest commandment, next to loving our neighbor, because the love command is the preface for the whole Law. Every command and every prohibition that comes from God teaches and guides us how to express our love for God. He is not saying all other statutes are less important, or that we should pay less attention to other laws. But He is saying that the love command is the most important, because it sums up the spirit of the Law. For this reason, Jesus was pleased to hear the scribe’s response, because he seems to have understood that God delights in obedience that comes from a person’s love for him. On the contrary, he does not delight in acts of obedience that are empty of love.

There comes a point in our walk with God in which we have to ask ourselves, “Why do I obey and serve God?” May God work in you and me so that the reason we obey Him is because we love Him.

Prayer: Dear God, let my obedience and sacrifice for You be an overflow of my love for You and out of a joy of being Your servant. Thank You for loving me first, so that I could experience what true and unconditional love is. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 2

Lunch Break Study

Read John 14:19-24 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him. 24 He who does not love me does not keep my words; and the word, which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

Questions to Consider

1. What is Jesus preparing the disciples to face?

2. How should the disciples expect to see Jesus after He leaves them?

3. What does this passage teach you about discipleship? What does it mean that you are a disciple of Jesus?

Notes

1. Jesus is about to leave the world by dying on the cross, rising again, and ascending to be with the Father. Jesus is preparing the disciples to trust that they will still continue to see Him.

2. They will receive guidance and instruction from the Holy Spirit. They can expect to experience the love of God by pursuing a mutual love relationship with Him. Jesus calls them to express their love for Him by keeping His words.

3. Personal Response. 

Evening Reflection

Mark 12:32-33 “…He is One, and there is no one else besides Him…” Before we can offer God anything, we must remember and absorb the truth that He is One, and there is no one else besides Him. Reflect on an area in your life that competes with honoring God and spend time praying for your relationship with God to be renewed and restored. 

July 18, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 18, 2016, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim of Church of Southland.  Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.). Since he is about to plant a church in Seattle, please pray for him and his family.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus the Logos”

John 1.1-3, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. . . . 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

It was freshman year, first semester Philosophy 100 class. I was sitting there half nervous/half curious about what was in store for me, because I had heard countless stories of people denouncing their faith while studying philosophy. It was in the midst of this tension that an unexpected connection was made: logos. Many know that logos is the Greek word for word. What we may not realize is that this term represents more than the words that we read or speak. It describes a transcendent wisdom that orders the world accordingly. When these philosophers looked out in the world and saw how everything was ordered, to them, the only rational explanation was a Divine Wisdom that held all things together.

In the beginning was the Logos… are the first words John writes to both hellenized Jews and Gentiles who are familiar with the weightiness of this word. It describes a Jesus that not only is concurrent with God but is God. And much like the held beliefs of the ancients, all things came about through Him and nothing came about apart from Him. John is claiming that Jesus is that Divine Wisdom that holds all things together, the Logos. 

Even if we may not fully grasp this concept of the Logos, ask yourself, “Is Jesus this transcendent in my life?” We often think of the pictures we see hung up in church, the gorgeous Jesus with the nicely trimmed beard and flowing hair, holding a little lamb in His arms. We love those old songs that claim Jesus as our best friend. And although these things are true, perhaps we’ve lost a sense of the transcendence of Jesus? Even the pagan philosophers of old who did not know Jehovah knew that there was something out there who was greater than what our minds could ever comprehend.

Is Jesus transcendent in your life? Take a moment and allow the greatness of Jesus to flood your heart with awe and wonder. He is the answer, the beginning of all things.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You that you are indeed our greatest friend who laid down Your life for us. I also thank You that You are so much greater than anything I could ever comprehend—greater than my wisdom, my perspective, my strength. Allow my perspective of life on this day to be transformed by gazing at a God that is truly great. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 1.15-20:  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Questions to Consider

  1. Highlight or jot down all the words that are used to describe Christ in this passage. What kind of picture of Christ is Paul drawing?
  2. What does it mean when Paul writes that in everything [Christ] might be preeminent (verse 18, ESV)?
  3. Having established the greatness of Christ, Paul writes that it is through this Christ that we have our reconciliation with God. How does understanding Christ’s preeminence enrich your understanding of salvation?

Notes

  1. “image of the invisible God” “firstborn of all creation” “by him all things were created” “all things were created through him and for him” “before all things” “in him all things hold together” “the head of the body, the church” “the beginning” “firstborn from the dead” “preeminent””all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” “reconcile to himself all things” / [answers may vary] Paul is painting a picture of Christ where not only is He above all things, but He is at the center of all things; all things are by Him and for Him.
  2. The dictionary defines the word preeminent as surpassing all others; very distinguished in some way. Looking at the language closely, there is a sense of intentionality, that Christ’s preeminence in all things is how God has established things, and in this, all other things are made right. 
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As today’s theme was about the transcendence of Christ, in what ways were you reminded of Christ’s greatness today? In what ways have you seen the negative consequences of situations (whether in your life or in the life of others) where Christ is not preeminent? Take some time to journal your tho

July 17, Sunday

REPOSTToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on October 17, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Mountain Moving Faith” (A true story)

Ezra 6:8-12

“I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work. 9 Whatever is needed–whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by the priests who are in Jerusalem–must be given to them daily without any neglect, 10 so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.” 11 “I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled on it, and his house is to be reduced to a rubbish heapfor this indiscretion. 12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation who reaches outto cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!” 

One of my favorite words in Scripture is that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20). After reading the passage above, I’m sure Israel was blown away by God’s provision for them!  

A local pastor tells the following story: 

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate forthe size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of theparking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had “mountain moving faith.” They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service thefollowing week. At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation’s 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o’clock the pastor said the final “Amen.” “We’ll open next Sunday as scheduled,” he assured everyone. “God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too.”The next morning, as he was working in his study, there came a loud knock at the pastor’s door. When he called, “Come in,” a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.“Excuse me, Reverend. I’m from Acme Construction Company overin the next county. We’re building a huge new shopping mall overthere and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us achunk of that mountain behind the church? We’ll pay you for thedirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if wecan have it right away. We can’t do anything else until we get thedirt in and allow it to settle properly.”

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned, and there were far more members with “mountain moving faith” on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be glory” (Eph. 3:20, 21).

Prayer: Lord, may we remember today that we, with mustard seed faith and the Holy Sprit’s power within, can become mountain movers.  Help us to continue to trust in You and expect You to move in ways far beyond our wildest dreams in the face of our present struggles.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 16

July 16, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Jabez Yeo, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on May 30, 2015.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Stewardship”

Matthews 25:24-28

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, “Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” 26 But his master answered him, “You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

During my college years, God blessed me through my parents who promised to financially support me. Knowing how hard my parents worked to provide for my education, I was careful of how I spent the money they gave me.  At times this meant making some tough decisions, but realizing that the money was ultimately not mine but theirs made the decisions easier as time progressed.  

Oftentimes, we unconsciously act as if the blessings in our lives are our possessions and for us only. In contrast, King David describes reality when he declares, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). Thus, we are not actually the true owners of what we possess. Rather, we are stewards and caretakers of the blessings and resources that God, the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17), has graciously provided. 

Like any good owner, God wants to see His resources being put to good use. Our handling of this is called stewardship.  He wants to see a return; a multiplication of His Kingdom as a result of His gifts. But like the servant, we can be afraid to step out in faith and use our talents for His glory. For some of us, this could manifest in not tithing and choosing to use “our” money solely for ourselves. For others, it could be not serving in certain ministries despite brothers and sisters affirming the fit based on God-given abilities. Whatever the situation may be, it can be easy for us to be like the servant and hide our talent in the ground, ignoring the day that God will hold us accountable for what He gave us.

While others may have more talent or more resources, all of us have the privilege of furthering God’s kingdom through what He has given us. Let’s pray that God would give us the strength to step out in faith and use His blessings to bless others (Gen. 12:1-3). And let’s live in light of the fact that God is holding us accountable. 

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to be selfish with what You have given me. At times, I may feel afraid of stepping out in faith and using Your blessings for Your glory. Please help me to be a good steward and to further Your Kingdom through Your gifts. May You increase and I decrease as a result. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 14-15