July 13, Wednesday

UPDATEDToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 1, 2017.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

Abortion? You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too!

1 Cor. 4:17

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

When “Jorge”—originally from Puerto Rico—saw me jogging in Chester Park this December (2016), he was happy to see me, since we hadn’t seen each other for over three years—I had moved away from that neighborhood. As we were chatting, my ears perked up when Jorge, a naturalized citizen who has long retired, said that he voted for Trump, since only a quarter of Hispanics voted for Trump. Seeing my surprised reaction, he added, “I was going to vote for Clinton, until the third debate made me realize that her position could make any abortion legal at any point during a pregnancy.” Then it dawned on me that most foreign-born Hispanics (i.e., immigrants), certainly more religious than the general population, are socially more conservative. About 60 percent of them (PEW Research Center 2014), perhaps still bearing the influence of Catholicism, continue to hold that what’s inside the womb is life.

On the one hand, the best defense for abortion is the consideration for life and health of the mother, which makes up for one to two percent of all the reasons given for abortion. On the other hand, the worst argument for abortion is unwanted pregnancy—meaning, adding a baby in one’s life will lead to disruption of its lifestyle. Once, my heart sank upon being told by my wife that she was pregnant, not long after our third child was born. While I was worrying about the cost and squeezing another person into our tiny house, my wife blurted out “April Fools!” Yes, I guess I momentarily grasped how unwanted pregnancy makes you feel, but that’s no reason to abort the life inside the womb.

I ask this question to Bible-believing Christians: When does life begin? If you say, “after the birth,” then, I fully understand why you support abortion; at least you are consistent, albeit you are blissfully ignorant of God’s word. However, if you agree with the psalmist who declares, “For [God] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:13-14), and yet support abortion, then, you are being greatly inconsistent, for belief that life begins at conception necessarily renders abortion a morally indefensible act. As today’s scripture insinuates, our private belief should match our public standing. No, you can’t have your cake and eat it too! If you believe the entity in the womb is life and you still support abortion, you are being downright hypocritical.

And even if abortion is permitted on account of life of the mother, it must meet stringent requirements (like in legal euthanasia), or otherwise not-so-critical medical conditions can readily become a justified ground for taking the life of another human being.

The apostle John’s statements, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did,” and “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar,”simply means that we be consistent—that our belief match our action. How about you? Are you consistent?

Prayer: Dear Lord, I praise You this morning for giving me life, both physical and spiritual. Though, at times, I may be dissatisfied with my life, teach me to be content and thankful, knowing that You gave me this life. Fill me with the Spirit, so that I may always find satisfaction in only You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11

Lunch Break Study

Re-read 1 Cor. 4:17 (NIV): For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Cor. 10:23-4: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Questions to Consider

1. What was so important to Paul that he sent Timothy to Corinth to inform this to the believers there?

2. Apply the answer to question 1 to abortion. In light of that, what is the point of the morning devotional?

3. The pro-choice advocates privilege women’s right to choose. Okay, going along with that language and logic for the moment, based on 1 Cor. 10:23-4, is there something more important than having the power to choose? Choosing between two socks is one thing but over life and death?

Note

1. What was so important to Paul was being consistent: he wanted the Corinthian believers to know that his way of life in Christ Jesus was congruent to what he taught publicly in every church.

2. The morning devotional wasn’t about whether abortion is wrong per se; it was about being consistent between what you say you believe about the Bible and what you believe about abortion. Be consistent.

3. What’s more important than the power to choose is making the right choice, since not every choice is as beneficial or constructive. The choice is made not from the standpoint of what is best for me but in consideration of what is good for others. If you believe that what’s inside the womb is a person, then you need to seek that person’s good, not just yours. Isn’t that why almost all public spaces do not permit smoking precisely because it seeks the good of non-smokers.

Evening Reflection

Perhaps, you were angry reading this morning’s devotional or the lunch break study. It’s okay. The issue is a volatile one and passion can run high. Before you go to sleep, would you pray that our society would give more consideration to unborn babies than, in some cases, abused animals. I love dogs but none of them ranks higher in God’s sight than humans, which certainly should include the unborn. Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (Mk. 10:15-6). There is no ontological difference between this child and the unborn. If we really walk as Jesus did, then we would love and bless the unborn. Think about it. Really! And be consistent.

July 12, Tuesday

Today and yesterday’s AMI QT Devotionals, first posted on February 2-3, 2017, are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F. Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS, biology) , and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

An Inconvenient Truth about Abortion (2)

1 Corinthians 10:12^b, 24 (NIV)

But we do not use this right. . . . 24 “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. . . . Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others

2 Kings 16:2-3 (NIV)

Ahaz . . . followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire.

What conservative churches failed to accomplish, social liberals have done it—that is, making smoking an unconscionable act in public. Their main argument: smokers have no right to pollute the air that I breathe since second-hand smoke is hazardous to my health!

Ironically, one major argument for legalized abortion, advocated adamantly by this anti- smoking crowd, is that every woman has a right to control her own body. So, while social liberals will curb the “rights” of smokers to protect our lungs, most of them will do nothing to protect the whole person in the womb because women have the right to do whatever they want with their body.

This philosophy stems from the ideas of Margaret Sanger, who was the original founder of Planned Parenthood. Sanger wrote that women are enslaved through their reproductive powers by men who dictate and control the standards of sex and morality. “No woman” she said, “can call herself free who does not own and control her own body. No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously whether she will or will not be a mother.” This seems eerily close to the reasoning that Ahaz must of have had when deciding to sacrifice his own son. For power and control, there was no price he was not willing to pay.

As Christians, it is vitally important that we have the right perspective on the issue of abortion. In the early days of Christianity, a large part of its explosive growth was the fact that it was a haven for women who had given birth to baby girls or simply a baby that seemed weak. In Roman culture, infanticide was widespread and men forced women to kill unwanted babies through the practice of exposure. The church was a refuge for these mothers and their newborn children, because it recognized the value of life—no matter how small, weak, or helpless.

Today, Christians are again called to be the protectors of life and to help women see the wonderful gift that God has placed inside their womb. And those who are considering abortion should remember what God says about so-called “our rights”: “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others” (1 Cor. 12:25b).

Pray that our lawmakers and civil leaders regain their conscience and present viable laws that will, at least, make abortion “rare” (Hillary Clinton). May our churches respond to women in crisis by offering a real alternative in conjunction with Christian groups, such as National Right to Life, whose mission is to do just that.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for being preoccupied only with my life, my family and my church. Open my eyes not only to the matter of abortion but to other matters, such as poverty and slavery that destroy lives. Help me to care—beginning today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 8: 9-13: But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? 11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. 12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Ps. 22:10-11: Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help

Questions to Consider:

The Corinthian passage deals with former idol-worshipers who, now, as believers, became stumbled upon seeing Christians eating food that had been sacrificed to idols. What is Paul’s instruction to these “eaters?”
Extract the main principle from Paul’s inspired instruction and apply it to the argument that every woman has a right to control her own body.
Ultimately, why is that no one has the right to wipe out that which is in the womb of the mother?

Notes

1. “Yes, you have the right to eat whatever you want; I said elsewhere regarding food, ‘Nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim. 4:4). But there is something more important than eating: acting lovingly toward our brothers and sisters. Therefore, if what we do (in this case, eating certain foods) makes them stumble, then we shouldn’t do it.

2. The extracted principle is: I will curb my right to do that which is “permissible” (1 Cor. 10:23) for the good of others. In other words, seeking the good of others (something legitimate and reasonable, of course) triumphs over the exercise of my rights, particularly when others are affected.

3. The phrase, “From my mother’s womb you have been my God,” would make no sense if we are talking about a glob of tissues. There are two possible objective points from which life can be considered having begun: at conception or birth. All other alleged points are arbitrary and subjective, including so-called the “age of viability.” God’s word indicates at conception, and that’s why abortion cannot be morally defensible, because it is taking the life of another human being.

Evening Reflection

Some advocates of abortion are really cleaver. They say to those who oppose them, “Whereas you are concerned over those who are yet born, you don’t care in the least for those children who have been born.” They may have a point. What can we do to authentically demonstrate that we care for the living as well? Perhaps, one powerful expression is adopting orphaned and unwanted children. I know several Christian families who have provided a loving home for these children, and by doing so, they have made the most powerful statement against abortion. Another way is to sponsor children living in poverty with a monthly support through Christian organizations such as Compassion International or World Vision. Pray about it.

“And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me” (Matt. 18:5).

July 11, Monday

Editor’s note: In view of the recent Supreme Court ruling that placed the matter of abortion in the hands of each state, we are reposting a two-part series on the issue presented by Pastor Mark Chun on February 2-3, 2017. Mark, a voracious reader, is 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.).

Also, be sure to check out Pastor Keith’s message given yesterday at Church of Southland, partly in response to the court’s ruling. Acts Ministries International – Sermons (amichurches.com)

Devotional Thought for This Morning

An Inconvenient Truth about Abortion (1)

2 Kings 16: 1-6 (NIV)

In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. 2 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree. 5 Then Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. 6 At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

While I squirmed over having to present a morning devotional based on a passage dealing with infanticide, we, as followers of a holy God, need to deal with the horrifying nature of sin head on.

In reading about the reign of King Ahaz, I think most of us would agree with the biblical assessment that this man did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Faced with the threat of being conquered by his political enemies, Ahaz committed the unthinkable act of sacrificing his son to pagan idols in the hope that they would deliver him from this situation. His desire to maintain power and control overrode any remnant of moral conscience that this man may have had and became his excuse to commit the inexcusable sin of sacrificing his child. And it appears that Ahaz’s idols gave him exactly what he desired: he withstood the attack of the armies of Aram and Israel. However, in the annals of biblical history, this was a victory that felt more like a defeat.

In 1973, there was another victory that seemed rather hollow, because it, too, involved the sacrifice of children: the landmark Supreme Court case known as Roe v. Wade. Ironically, some who oppose infanticide do an about-face over feticide, which actually is infanticide unless the humanness of the one in the womb, whether 12 or 32 weeks old, is categorically denied.

This morning, I want to be sensitive to those women who have endured the shame of abortion and offer the forgiveness and healing of Christ. Yet, at the same time, I would like to shed light on this issue. The advocates for on-demand legalized abortion celebrated the decision as a victory for all women, but they forgot to mention the countless children lost as a result of the verdict. And since that decision in 1973, over 50 million abortions have been performed in the United States. Planned Parenthood, an organization that performs most of these abortions, plainly states that one of out of three babies conceived in the United States is deliberately aborted. Over 1 million abortions will be reported in this country this year alone. These aren’t just numbers but real people who could have been our brothers or sisters, brilliant scientists or outstanding theologians.

Maybe you have had an abortion? Confess that sin to Christ and receive His forgiveness and healing. There is no sin that God won’t or can’t forgive.

Prayer: Lord, Your word tells us that You have known us from the very moment we were conceived, and that we were wonderfully and fearfully formed in our mother’s womb. Help us to understand the sanctity of life and the awesome privilege of having children who bear Your image. May You protect our marriages, our families, and especially our children as we live against the tides of this culture. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 9

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV)

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

Questions to Consider

Why did the disciples rebuke people for bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus?
What is Jesus’ attitude towards the children?
What does it mean that the kingdom of heaven belongs to children?

Notes

Ancient cultures held children in low-esteem and did not see it worthwhile to go out of their way for them. In addition, the disciples were intent on getting to the next place of ministry and saw this interruption as a hindrance.
Jesus’ attitude is completely opposite of the disciples. He gladly takes the time to lay hands and to pray for each child. As believers, we should treat all children with the same attitude that Jesus did—as special recipients of God’s love, even prior to their personal commitment to Christ.
Childlike dependence and innocent faith are the hallmarks of an authentic relationship with our heavenly Father. Although there may be room for doubt, cynicism, and a critical heart, these things can easily poison our walk with God. What this verse does not mean is that all children go to heaven.

Evening Reflection

I recently read a post from a person, who I thought was a committed follower of Christ, stating that he was indifferent to the subject of abortion. This deeply saddened me because I don’t believe this espouses the heart of God. Although we don’t want to make hot button topics bigger than they are in relation to the Gospel of Christ, at the same time, we must hold unwavering to a Christian worldview and ethic. It is important that we think through our position on many cultural and societal matters and hold fast to the Scriptures as our guide. Take time tonight to ask the Lord to give you clarity on the controversial issues that Christians face and the courage to stand for the truth.

July 10, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on September 6, 2015. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“An Unpleasant But Necessary Diagnosis”

Revelation 3:17-19

You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.

Of all health checkups that I should get once a year, the appointment I loathe scheduling is with the eye doctor. When growing up, my yearly exams were accompanied by big jumps in my worsening vision. Even though I have maintained the same prescription for years, sometimes I wish I could avoid checkups and the reminder of my poor eyesight. But no matter how unpleasant bad news about my vision may be, proper assessment and correction is still more essential.

Jesus’ condemnation of the church in Laodicea was that the members had such poor vision that they were completely wrong about their spiritual condition. Satisfied by the work of their hands, they thought they were well-off and, as a result, had no hunger to seek God. They were content to carry on without His input, but they remained unaware of how blind and miserable they truly were.

Don’t we, too, do the same thing? Believing that “ignorance is bliss,” we would rather avoid His scrutiny so that we can continue living as we currently do. It is easier to settle for being a “good-enough” Christian and be apathetic to our spiritual condition; however, a heart that wants holiness and God’s standards should be more desirable to us. We need Him to give us an eager heart that discovers and repents of the sin in our lives.

God’s purpose here, of course, is not to give us a hard time or a take-away that our condition is deplorable. Christ reminds us that we can ask for and receive the very things we lack – heavenly riches and robes that cover our shame. He does not intend to correct our vision so we only see our humiliatingly needy souls; our eyes will fall upon the gracious gift of righteousness He provides.

While it can be hard to voluntarily submit ourselves for an examination, let’s trust that this is a joyful opportunity to experience His immeasurable mercy. As we approach Him today, may we ask Him to correct our vision so we can discover His generous love over and over again.

Prayer: Father, I want to see clearly! Keep me from being wise in my own eyes and unaware of my true spiritual state. Help me to encounter You, and let the mercy and grace I receive from You be more precious than the comforts of my tepid, “good-enough” living. Restore in me a heart that fervently seeks You all my days. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 8

July 9, Saturday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 3, 2015, is provided by Joanna Tzen (who had served faithfully at an AMI church for a long time).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What’s the Big Deal with Trees with No Fruits?

Matt 21:18

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry.19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered

My mother-in-law has a fig tree in her backyard that has been growing for years. She cares for it by picking the fruit daily so that birds do not get to it. The figs are especially sweet because they are ripened on the vine, as opposed to after they are picked. I had never seen a fig tree before and when I ventured out specifically to take a closer look, I was amazed by the amount of fruit on the tree.

This is a familiar passage to many of us, but sometimes when we read this passage, indignation may still be the first emotion that comes to mind. What’s the big deal that the tree has no fruit? Does it really have to wither? What Jesus wants to teach us is that it is not about not having fruit—but pretending that we do. Fig trees do not produce fruit until they have leaves. Jesus expected to see fruit because of the leaves.

In the same way, Jesus does not want us go through the routine of religion: going to church, showing up at family group (or cell group), clocking in a certain number of hours at church activities—meanwhile our hearts are far from Him. In other words, are we looking to our own performance in these religious tasks as some form of alternate savior? This performance-oriented mindset will make us not much different than a person who states they do not believe in Jesus as Savior, as it can be just another form of seeking to keep control of our lives.

Jesus warns us that the Lord will see the heart; He cannot be fooled. Let us not delay in coming to our Heavenly Father with honesty and sincerity. Do not be afraid to show Him what is in your heart. Bring all of it—anger, bitterness, sadness, doubt. He is Comforter, Redeemer, Savior and Lord.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me when I put on the robe of religiosity and withhold my heart from You. The truth is, there is no place I can go that is away from You (Ps. 139). Let me remain humble before You. Lord, I want to be authentic and honest with You about where my heart is. I desire any goodness on the outside to be a reflection of what the Holy Spirit has done on the inside. Thank you that You are faithful to complete the good work You have begun in me (Phil. 1:6). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6-7

July 8, Friday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on June 29, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Our Spending Really Suggests”

1 King 11:1-4

Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

How many pairs of shoes do you need to keep your feet warm? Imelda Marcos, the wife of the former president of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos (and also the mother of the just sworn in Philippine president), once owned 2,700 pairs! How many championship rings do you need to adorn your fingers? Michael Jordan was quite content with three, after which he left the glory of NBA to toil in the minor league baseball. When that pursuit didn’t work out, he “unretired” to win three more rings.

Moving along, how many wives do you need to satisfy you? King Solomon, a man known for possessing keen wisdom, ended up with 700 wives and 300 concubines! Somehow, a man who once asked God for “a discerning heart to . . . distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Ki. 3:9) became the mother of all fools! Look, the writer of 1 Kings is being gracious to Solomon by saying, “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women”. It was more like lusting after an army of women.

And the reason “his heart was not wholly true to the Lord” wasn’t so much because his wives introduced Solomon to foreign gods, which certainly exacerbated his prior spiritual condition. Rather, the moment the king looked elsewhere to fill the desire of his heart, he began a long slide towards becoming a cheating spouse to God (Jer. 3:14; Ez. 16:32). Yes, Solomon was miles away from what Augustine eventually discovered after his own escapade with a bevy of women: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Evidently, Solomon did come back to his senses in his old age, realizing the futility of his life pursuits. While writing, “[God] has set . . . eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccles. 3:11), perhaps the king said to himself, “I had been a fool for trying to fill my yearning for God with accumulation of knowledge, wealth and women” (Eccles. 2:4-9).

One concept that eluded Solomon in antiquity and continues to elude Americans in the 21^st century, who typically spend 110% of their income, is the idea of “enough.” I have a feeling that the current inflation does not change such spending habits. Underneath of what appears to be a mere financial foolishness is found a profound disconnection between God and us. Put it differently, the way we spend money suggests a spiritual problem; somehow God is not enough!

While God does “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 617), we must never replace God with many wonderful things given to us by Him. If and when that happens, we begin the spiritual slide towards one day becoming a cheating spouse to Christ. Say “enough” when you have more than enough, and then focus on being “rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:18).

Maybe your present struggle is over money, lust, or power. If so, then, start talking to God about this today.

Prayer: Lord, I praise and exalt You this morning, for You are the most important Entity in my life. Help me this day to put You first before all things. Give me the heart and the character to do what is right before your eyes—no matter the cost—in my family, career or finances. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 24:15: And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Song of Songs 2:15: Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.

Eph. 4:27: Do not give the devil a foothold.

Question to Consider

1. What is one lesson you can learn from the life of King Solomon from the standpoint that this wise man led a very unwise life for the better part of his adult life?

2. What does living a wise life ultimately come down to, seeing that God’s wisdom doesn’t automatically makes us live wisely?

3. What should we remember when we notice that we are beginning to lust after things?

Notes

1. Just having a lot of wisdom or knowledge doesn’t automatically make us live wisely or maturely. In other words, there is more to living wisely than just having wisdom.

2. What Joshua said to his people before his passing is as true then as it is today: When we are tempted to give into our lust—over another material thing or accomplishment that we don’t need or sexual temptation—we should CHOOSE God!

3. Giving into a small temptation here and there will add up, ultimately ruining the whole garden or life. And that’s how the enemy works: he will begin with a toehold and end up with a body slam. For example, the 30 pounds we gained over a period of 6 months didn’t suddenly happen, but it began by gaining one pound at a time.

Evening Reflection

Looking back, what were some temptations that you faced today? Why were you so tempted? How did you handle them? If you fell into one, confess your sin and ask God for power to choose that which is wise. Remember, God does not leave us to fend off these luring temptations alone. Apostle Paul states, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Take the “way of escape” that He provides!

July 7, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on May 2, 2016. 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.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Three Easy Steps to Public Speaking or Just Listen to Paul”

Acts 22:1-3

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.”

In thinking about public speaking, I came up with a framework of three levels: The first level is to know your content; a presentation needs content or else there really isn’t anything to present. The second level is to know your audience and tailoring your message to them; a message could have great content but if it’s not relatable, it will fall flat. The third and final level is to enter into the lives of the audience; great speakers are not great just because they have great content or have great personalities, but they can actually enter into our reality and speak as if they know us—there is something powerful when people speak as if they are one of us.

In this passage, Paul addresses a group of Jews concerning his calling to the Gentiles. However, he first explains who he is, but more than just explaining with content, he meets them where they are, in the language they speak—Aramaic. And what happened when the Jews heard Paul speaking in Aramaic? The passage tells us that “they became very quiet.” He got their attention.

When we can speak someone’s language, know their culture and their ways, we can speak into their lives more effectively and be heard, rather than seeming like some distant outsider. This gets people’s attention and opens the door to real impact and influence. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a public speaking setting; this can be in everyday conversations as well. And, really, isn’t that what God did for us in Jesus? He is Immanuel—God with us! And more than just being with us, He became like one of us—taking on our flesh and blood—and lived like us and among us.

There is something powerful about meeting someone where they are. You become more relatable, more real, just like what Jesus did for us: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Heb. 4:15). As Christians, we are called to be in the world as God’s ambassadors. However, if we speak down to people or speak only “Christianese” or do not relate in any way, how can we make an impact? However, if we “take on the flesh” of those whom we are trying to reach and understand, we can become powerful influencers for Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You took on our flesh so that we could be set free. Thank You for taking our burdens and our sins so that we no longer need to bear it. Help us to be ambassadors of You to this broken world, to not take ourselves out of the world but rather be used by You to be salt and light. Use us where we are for Your Kingdom’s sake.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21: From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Questions to Consider

What is the ministry of reconciliation?
What does it mean to be an “ambassador for Christ”?
How can you be an ambassador in your own life and context?

Notes

The ministry of reconciliation is pointing to the truth that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself.” Ministers of reconciliation are not the ones who do the reconciliation, but rather they point to the truth that reconciliation with God is possible and available through Christ.
Being an ambassador for Christ means we allow God to make “his appeal through us.” I like the use of the word “allow”; this is a passive word, meaning we simply allow ourselves to be used by God to reconcile others to Himself. We are not the reconcilers—only God is. Also, the use of the word “ambassador” is key to understanding our role. Ambassadors represent their country to a foreign nation; likewise, our home is with God, but we live in the world as His image, pointing others to Him.
Think about your workplace, where you go to school, the people you interact with, or any other context you are currently in: how can you “take on their flesh” so that you can relate effectively with them, all the while pointing back to your true home in God?

Evening Reflection

Tonight, thank God for being the true Reconciler. Also, invite His Spirit to give you the strength to be His ambassador, so that through us others may be reconciled to Him. Perhaps you can pray for one or two people whom you are currently trying to reach for Jesus.

July 6, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church in Raleigh, was originally posted on May 11, 2016. He is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Sense of Urgency”

Acts 24:22-24

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” 23 Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

One of the most popular team-building group games today is called “escape room.” An escape room is an adventure game in which players are locked in a room and have to use elements of the room to solve a series of puzzles and escape within a set time limit. What makes this experience exhilarating and stressful is that there is a sense of urgency to finish before time runs out. As the players are frantically trying to find a way of out the room, the participants are scrambling, yelling, and in a hurry before it becomes too late.

The apostle Paul always had a sense of urgency when it came to sharing Christ. He never wasted an opportunity to share about his Savior’s great love and wonderful salvation. Even as he was under trial and in prison, he took the opportunity to be a witness to Governor Felix by sharing his faith (v. 24). He did not know whether he would be let go or killed, but regardless of his circumstances, Paul always lived life with sense of urgency to preach the gospel. It is evident as we read today’s text.

Do you live with a sense of urgency for Jesus? Do you see a world that desperately needs to know the love of Christ because of the reality of eternal judgment? Paul did, and as believers we should also be challenged to live with that kind of mindset as well.

As we examine our lives, maybe we have been too consumed with our own lives and agendas that it has dulled our sense of urgency for the gospel. Take some time to pray this morning, and ask the Lord to bring conviction and change.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Peter 3:8-10: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, anda thousand years as one day.9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promiseas some count slowness, butis patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, butthat all should reach repentance.10 Butthe day of the Lord will come like a thief, and thenthe heavens will pass away with a roar, andthe heavenly bodieswill be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Questions to Consider

What does Peter teach us about the Lord’s timing?
How should the reality of the “Day of the Lord” give us a sense of urgency in our lives?
How does this passage show us how we should live?

Notes

Peter is reminding us that the Lord’s timing is not like ours. He is in control of all time and space, and when it comes to the “Day of the Lord” (translated “Day of Judgment”), He is patient because He desires all to come to repentance and salvation
We simply do not know when Jesus will return or when our lives will end. It should give us an eternal perspective when it comes to viewing our own lives, and also give us urgency for others to know Him.
We should not only just be concerned with temporary, earthly concerns, but rather seek His kingdom first. We also are called to live with urgency and boldness.

Evening Reflection

What has the Lord reminded you of today? In prayer, ask for greater surrender and joy as we continue to live for Him.

July 5, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on October 15, 2015. Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Tapestry of Circumstances”

Ezra 5:6-12

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent to him was written as follows: “To King Darius: All greetings! 8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. 9 We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’ 10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.11 They responded to us in the following way: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king of Israel built it and completed it. 12 But after our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.

Maria Augusta von Trapp, the woman whose story inspired The Sound of Music, once said, “It will be very interesting one day to follow the pattern of our life as it is spread out like a beautiful tapestry. As long as we live here we see only the reverse side of the weaving, and very often the pattern, with its threads running wildly, doesn’t seem to make sense. Some day, however, we shall understand. In looking back over the years we can discover how a red thread goes through the pattern of our life: the Will of God.”

One thing that is always easy to see in the stories of the Old Testament is God’s hand in the circumstances of His people. They don’t attribute their rise and fall, successes and failures, plenty and want, merely to their own efforts or to chance. They are able to see God’s hand at work through it all (or at least the writers of the narratives are able to point it out retrospectively). When the Israelite rulers recounted their story to those inquiring of them in the passage above, it’s interesting that they mention God’s work in it all. Their being conquered by the Babylonian empire wasn’t mere coincidence or misfortune or even their lack of military prowess, but it was God at work to punish them for their rebellion (in His infinite love He was disciplining them).

So often we attribute our circumstances merely to things that can be seen or causes and effects that we can calculate and measure in human terms. But as we learned yesterday regarding spiritual battle, there is a spiritual realm where God is at work in and through our lives. And as His people, we are part of a greater story He is writing – the redemption of the world. May this give us great encouragement today as we live our lives, remembering God is at work in every moment and writing an amazing story not only for us, but for the world.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge You as the sovereign Lord who, in ways I cannot always see or understand, is at work in my life and in the world. Thank You for Your will, which is good and perfect. Thank You for Your work in my life and Your plan of redemption for the world. May I have eyes to see Your movements today and everyday. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 121:1-8: This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Questions to Consider:

Jeremiah 29:11 is a well known verse, but what does today’s passage teach us about the context surrounding God’s word in verse 11? What might this teach us about God’s activity in our lives?
What are God’s promises to His people in these verses? How might they encourage us today as we think about His will and plans for our lives?

Notes:

This famous promise of God is given in the context of punishment. He has allowed His people to be taken captive by Babylon to discipline them in response to their sin and rebellion. This teaches us that sometimes God uses difficult things to chasten us. Not to suggest that every bad situation is God punishing us for wrong. Absolutely not. But in every season, good and bad, God is certainly at work, and sometimes it’s to discipline us as a loving Father.
First, God has a plan. That in itself should be a great encouragement. Our lives are not random or haphazard – God has thought about us and planned for us. Second, His plans are good. We don’t have to worry whether God will give us the best – He wills good for us and will give us nothing less. He longs to prosper us, give us hope, and give us a glorious future. Finally, God promises to listen to us when we call Him and to be found by us when we seek Him. With all of this in mind we should be encouraged to persist in the things of God knowing that He is bringing forth His good plan for us through every circumstance in our lives.

Evening Reflection

Henry Blackaby, in his famous workbook Experiencing God, says that God is always at work around us. By this he means that God is always up to something in the world, and as believers, we are called to get involved in what He’s doing. In a similar way, God is always at work in our lives – in each circumstance we face, God’s will is laced through our lives like a thread, weaving together a beautiful story and abundant life for each of us. What are some ways you can connect the dots of God’s movements in your life in the past. What are some ways He is at work right now? Spend some time looking at the story God is writing in and through your life. Thank Him for the good plans He has for you and the hope and future He is preparing for you.

July 4, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 4, 2016, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, who heads Symphony Church in Boston. Barry is a graduate of Stanford University (B.S.), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Gordon Conwell Seminary (D.Min.).

Devotional Thought for Today

“If Then We Have Been Raised With Christ, Seek the Things that Are Above”

Colossians 3:1-4

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Some people (beginning with the Monastics in the early church) see ascetism as a response to the challenge of our flesh, but Paul writes in Colossians 2 that denying the flesh has “no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.” So how then can we find freedom from fleshly, earthly things?

Let me ask a different question: Where do you live? Pause for a moment and take time to answer. No, not your address. Where do you live? What is your reality?

How you answer this question will determine how you live your life. If we view our reality primarily in terms of what we see around us, then we will live according to the values of that reality. Afterall, our life is conditioned by the reality we perceive: relationships, work, meals, money, etc.

Paul tells us that when we live for those things, we are living in an earthly way. But when we live as though those things are evil and to be avoided, ironically, we are still being conditioned by that earthly reality. We are just rebelling against it. Neither is the way to go. Freedom doesn’t come as we seek to avoid the earthly reality; rather, we need to live in a new reality.

When Paul tells us to seek the “things that are above,” he is asking that we intentionally commit to living the values of heaven. Heaven is where everything is happening just as God wills. You see that is where we live now. If you have received Christ’s work on the cross, you have died to your old reality, and you have been raised with Christ into His heavenly reality. Yes, we are still living on earth, but we also live in the reality that God is real, loving, and with us. That’s why Jesus’s death and resurrection is Good News. It’s also our only hope for freedom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an amazing truth this is! Thank You that my reality is not defined by what I see around me but by Your presence, goodness, love and grace. Help me to become more aware of this new reality. I ask that Your nearness would be tangible to us. As this happens, help me to let go of earthly desires and be captivated by the desires of Your heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 1

Lunch Break Study

Read the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Questions to Consider

What do we learn about God the Father from this prayer?
This prayer begins with a concern for God’s reputation and His kingdom rather than our own desires. How is this reflected in your prayers?
In what ways has the Holy Spirit been revealing God’s will to you?

Notes

1. We learn from this prayer that God is hallowed (aka, holy), that He is a King whose Kingdom is coming, that he gives us daily bread, forgives and delivers.

2. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Are you growing in the knowledge of Jesus – His death and resurrection? Many times we begin our relationship with Christ in grace but then turn to the flesh. Our hope for growth lies in continuing to fix our eyes on Christ and His reality. Journal today about some ways you desire to grow in your awareness of the heavenly reality.