June 23, Thursday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 29, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God and Progressive District Attorneys: Similarity and Difference” 

Psalm 10:1-4 (NIV)

Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?  2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. 4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Thanks to our ubiquitous gadgets, we are kept abreast of all the latest news that make us squirm.  These days it seems as though mass shooting is a weekly occurrence. The 8th century BC prophet Habakkuk, no stranger to looking at unmitigated injustice, wondered, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Why do you tolerate wrong?” (Hab. 1:1, 3b).  Ironically, that’s what we say these days upon seeing lenient district attorneys in big cities being more sympathetic to criminals than their victims (e.g., Los Angeles, Manhattan, San Francisco, etc.)

There is, of course, no simple answer to this age-old question of why evil seemingly go unpunished but this much we know: Sooner or later, the God of justice, unlike progressive district attorneys, will settle the score. You can count on that, as God told Habakkuk, “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.  I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people … [T]hey sweep past like the wind and go on …” (Hab. 1:6, 11).

Meanwhile, we look to Christ to inspire us to live on the side of justice regardless of whether that benefits us now. Even if we don’t fully understand what God is doing right now, we shall worship Him! The question is whether there is a room for Him in your crowded heart?  Not just any space but a spot right in the middle! 

Prayer: Dear God, I often wonder where You are in the midst of injustice and violence.  It’s so easy to worship You when all my questions are answered, but as soon as something defies my human logic, I begin doubting You.  LORD, forgive me and strengthen me to trust You more.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Lk. 13:1-5 (NIV): Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Question to Consider

  1. Why do think these people came to Jesus to tell him about what Pilate did? 
  2. What do you suppose Jesus meant by his response to them?
  3. Does wickedness around us affect our own sense of righteousness?  If yes, can that affect our spiritual lives (Lk. 18:9-12)?

Notes

  1. When we hear of calamities that fell on some people, we do wonder, however briefly, whether their sins have come back to haunt them. I think these Jews also wondered whether the victims of Pilate and the accident in Galilee got what they deserved.
  2. Jesus didn’t address that matter directly, for he was more concerned that those who told him this news wouldn’t assume that they were more righteous than those whom Pilate killed or the 18 people who died accidently. Once that was clarified did Jesus say that everyone deserves to perish due to their sins. If they are still alive, it’s by God’s mercy.
  3. Under such circumstances, I think it’s quite natural for humans to assume that they are more righteous (i.e., morally and ethically) than what they really are.  As the cultural standard for decency gets diluted, more people are erroneously led to believe that they are really decent!  This affects our spiritual life because we see no reason to repent.  That’s why the biblical standard, which is both transcendent and universal, must be upheld.  

Evening Reflection

Matt. 7:3-5: Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Are you overly judgmental of others, demanding apologies over minute matters while rarely seeing anything about you to apologize to others? These signs may point to someone who thinks more highly than he or she ought (Rom. 12:3).  Examine your heart in view of this. 

June 22, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 25, 2016, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, who 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).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“An Exasperated Father’s Understanding of Faith”

Hebrews 11:6

“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Being a father of “suspicious” children helps me, in some small measure, understand why faith pleases the Lord, and conversely, why lack of faith is so annoying.  I feel like I am constantly trying to convince my children that I am not completely incompetent, or that I have learned something in my life.  The other day, my seven-year-old looks at me like I’m from Mars because I tried to convince him that the platypus, despite laying eggs, is a mammal.  Apparently his first-grade teacher taught him that one of the characteristics of mammals is that they give birth to their young.  Sometimes, I want to shout, “Your dad is smart too!  I went to an Ivy League university!”  Pathetic I know.  

Another area in which my children’s distrust bugs me is whether I care for them.  Sometimes, all four of them think that I am out to get them or spoil their fun, when in reality (God is my witness), my desire truly is to see their best interest.  It could be something as simple as eating vegetables or doing homework, but my kids think that I force these things on them just to be mean.  Yet they cannot truly understand how much I love them, probably until they have their own kids.  

Faith is simple; it’s believing two things about God.  First, that God is really really smart, and He knows more about everything than you know about anything.  Second, God loves you, and He is for you, not against you.  Every time we act in faith, we are showing our beliefs in those truths.  Every time we display a lack of faith, we essentially deny His intelligence and/or His care.  And if that annoys a guy like me—a guy who got “C’s” in college and wasn’t the most caring person in the world—imagine how it would make the creator of the universe, the One who sacrificed His Son on the cross to demonstrate His love for us, feel.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to trust in Your wisdom and Your love.  If I lack belief, help me to overcome my unbelief.  Thank You for your patience with me.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 8:5-13: When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,[c] ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Questions to Consider

1.  What blessed the Lord about the centurion’s faith?

2.  How did the centurion’s life experiences impact his understanding of Christ?

3.  How do your life experiences encourage your faith?

Notes

1.  The centurion had the faith to take Jesus’ word as authoritative.  For him, there was no difference between Christ’s command and his presence to execute his commands.  That is another level of faith.  

2.  The centurion understood authority; he himself was an authority.  He knew Christ was of greater authority, so much so that sickness would have obeyed him.  

3.  Hopefully, you have seen the Lord’s faithfulness in the past.  This should fuel your faith to trust him more in the future.  

Evening Reflection

Are there areas in your life where God is asking you to take greater steps of faith?  If so, do you trust his wisdom over your life?  Do you trust his love for you?  How can you grow in each of these areas?  

June 21, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Jabez Yeo, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on May 19, 2015.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Sharing the Gospel with Someone Who Never Heard It … in America!”

Revelation 7:9

After this I {John} looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Being a young person, I may sound quite naïve, but I have come to realize at least this much about the purpose of life: somewhere along the way, we must be involved in God’s mission to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Allow me to share an experience that really drove that point home.  

Last year, I had the opportunity to meet Nancy, a Chinese student who began coming to our Bible study for international students.  Like many Chinese students, Nancy grew up an atheist and had never heard about Jesus. Thankfully, we had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with Nancy, and a few months later, one of our leaders enthusiastically shared some great news: the night before, Jesus had appeared in Nancy’s dreams and assured her of His love. As our leader described the joy that Nancy now displayed, I was overwhelmed by God’s amazing grace and power. 

Truly, Nancy’s testimony displays the biblical truth that God desires people from all nations to know and worship Him. God’s heart for the nations can be seen, not just in the Great Commission, but in the Abrahamic blessing (Gen. 12:1-3), and many of the Psalms (Psalm 67, 96, etc.).  In His sovereignty, God has not only sent some to the ends of the earth to share His love but has also brought some who do not know Him, including many international students, right to our doorsteps. Thus, we have the incredible opportunity in today’s globalized world to bring the Gospel to those who have not heard it.

Furthermore, sharing Christ with international students can also be strategically important.  According to Intervarsity, 40% of the world’s leaders have studied higher education in the U.S., including leaders such as Gandhi and Benjamin Netanyahu. Many international students also come from “closed” countries such as Saudi Arabia, where any non-Muslim activity, such as evangelism, is forbidden.  Yet in 2014, there were over 111,000 Saudi students in the U.S. (!) with more expected in the coming years. Indeed, just as Jesus declared, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matt. 9:37). 

While some of us will not be called to leave our homes to share the Gospel, are we even sharing it to those God has brought to us? Let’s pray for courage as we embody Christ to those who have never heard of Him. 

Prayer:Lord, thank You for blessing me with many things, but most of all, for blessing me with a relationship with You. Thank You for Your sovereignty in bringing many who do not know You into my midst.  May Your love compel me to live for You and to share about You with others. In Your Name I pray, Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study


Read Genesis 12:1-3 (ESV):  Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Gal. 3:7-8: Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the part that God promises to do for Abraham’s descendants in the Abrahamic Covenant?  

2. What is the part that Abraham’s descendents are expected to fulfill?

3. Ultimately, what does this mean to you and me?  What is the ultimate blessing from God for the nations?  Who is supposed to carry out that mission of God?

Notes

1. God promises to bless the descendants of Abraham, that is, the nation of Israel, by making it a great and prosperous nation.

2. Israel, having become prominent and prosperous by God, is to be the channel of His blessing among the nations. 

3. The ultimate blessing is the hearing and then believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (i.e., being justified before God by believing in the person and work of Christ).  The church, as the spiritual descendant of Abraham, is commissioned to carry out this task.

Evening Reflection

As you look back to this day, did you have an opportunity to share your faith with anyone?  How did you handle that situation?  Remember what Paul said in Philemon 1:6: “I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.”  Pray for opportunity as well as boldness. 

June 20, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 3, 2016, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun who pastors Radiance Christian Church in S. F.   He studied biology at University California, San Diego and completed his Master of Divinity at Talbot School of Theology.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Great Equalizer of All Humans Regardless of Their Pedigrees”

Acts 5:17-32 (ESV)

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 

As Christians, our courage was meant to come from our identity in Christ.  So much of the timidity that we experience in life comes because we feel like we are not good enough.  When we get a job that is well beyond our qualifications, we struggle with being unsure of ourselves.  When we fall for someone who seems to be out of our league, we find ourselves stumbling over our words trying to communicate.  In fact, whenever we are in the presence of people who seem smarter, richer, or more talented than we are, we feel our insecurities rising to the surface and all of our confidence leaking out.  

But when you truly come to believe in Christ, your sense of identity doesn’t come from yourself— it comes from the One who died for you.   And when you begin to see the world from the perspective that everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior, a wonderful thing happens:  you find yourself free from crippling self-consciousness.  

Every one of us knows the glaring weaknesses in our lives.  Maybe you didn’t go to the best college or have a prestigious career or have the right pedigree.  In today’s passage, we see that the disparity between the apostles and the men putting them on trial is greater than the difference between the average person in our churches and a supreme court judge.  Yet we can see that they didn’t fumble for words, they showed no signs of nerves, fear, or doubt.  It’s possible that these religious leaders had never been addressed in this way by the lower class.  The gospel does something astounding in those who truly believe.   When you identify yourself with the resurrected Christ, you no longer measure yourself on the sliding scale of relative status. In other words, your worth and sense of significance isn’t from your career, your degrees, your bank account, or your talents.  

The gospel puts everyone on the same level playing field—sinners in need of a Savior.  Whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, President of the United States or a janitor, the gospel looks at every individual as equal in the eyes of God.  There is something about putting our faith into Christ and leveling out this playing field that gives every person the opportunity to live the life that God intended for them.   Peter and the apostles were simply following the lead of their Master, because though He was born in poverty, He lived like He had possession of the treasures of heaven; though He was uneducated, He confounded the philosophy of the wise; though He had no earthly power, He spoke of a kingdom that has no end.  Ultimately, it is this ability to fully identify with Christ that allows us to obey God as opposed to fearing man.  

Prayer: Father, give us a courageous faith that allows us to live in obedience to You, no matter what the world says.  Help us to fight against the temptation to be timid or to compromise our beliefs in the name of political correctness or even fear.  In all circumstances, may we choose obedience to You as opposed to the approval of people.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today:  Acts 28

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 1:6-12 (ESV): For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do.

Questions to Consider

  1. What gift is Paul commanding Timothy to fan into flame?
  2. Why does Timothy appear to be struggling with fear?
  3. What solution does Paul give as the answer to Timothy’s timidity?

Notes:

  1. Paul is exhorting Timothy to fan into flame the spiritual gifts of ministry, especially the gifts of leadership and faith.  Timothy’s calling as a pastor was confirmed by the laying on of Paul’s hands, and he is now reminding his young protégé of his need to exercise the calling with power, love, and self-control.     
  2. Timothy is generally pictured as a reluctant leader who is unsure of himself because of his age and lack of experience.  Perhaps due to confrontations with older men in the church, he was hesitant to exert his own leadership and utilize his spiritual gifts.     
  3. As a seasoned minister of the gospel, Paul points Timothy to the power of God as the basis for his calling.  The solution to our fears is not simply trying harder to overcome them but by our confidence in the purpose and grace of God.  Paul reminds Timothy gently that just as he was given his calling in Christ Jesus before the ages began, Timothy, too, shared in that same glorious calling.  

Evening Reflection

Do you recognize your personal tendency towards timidity and fear regarding your faith?  Is there someone in your life that will challenge and remind you of your calling to live boldly and courageously?   Take some time to ask God to fan into flame your own spiritual gifts, and consider ways that you can serve God more faithfully and more fruitfully. 

June 19, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on August 30, 2015.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A History of Relationship with God”

2 Kings 13:18-19

“Then he said, ‘Take the arrows,’ and the king took them.  Elisha told him, ‘Strike the ground.’ He struck it three times and stopped.  The man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it.  But now you will defeat it only three times.’”

When two people are on the same wavelength, communication doesn’t happen in so many words.  It’s almost not even communication; they’re just thinking the same way.  We see this happen particularly among awesome teams playing Pictionary or Guesstures: They draw one line and their team guesses “Flagpole!”, make one motion and it’s “Periscope!”  We think, How do they do that?” since not much communication seemed to have taken place. But what is actually happening is a history of relationship coming into play–all the shared experiences, inside jokes –and at a critical moment, it all comes together.

In the passage above we can imagine the king saying, “Why didn’t you tell me it took five or six times?”  He seems to have a point.  How could Elisha expect the king to know?  This wasn’t something you asked someone to do every day; there was no precedent to go by.  Elisha would have had no grounds to reply, “Who strikes the ground only three times and stops?”  Yet somehow he had just expected the king to know.  

Earlier we see that the king probably didn’t have the greatest relationship with God (v.11) – most likely no regular communication or life experiences where he got a sense of who God was, how God spoke to him, how He worked in certain situations, and what were His ways.  He had no experiential knowledge of God.  Neither would Bible knowledge have helped the king to know how many times was enough.  The culmination of a history of doing what was right in God’s eyes—this was what had been required at that moment. But he couldn’t sense the Spirit’s nudging, “Keep striking the ground, keep striking . . . no, not yet, don’t stop, yet,” because he hadn’t had a regular practice of listening and obeying. And in the end, he could not fully step into God’s true desire for him and the nation, which was the complete and total victory over Aram (v.17).

Directions for how to handle many things we face in life are not spelled out explicitly in the Bible, and often when God asks us to do something rather big, there are no precedents.  Yet if we’ve cultivated our relationship with God, when the moment comes, we’ll find that we’ll know just what is required.  It will be because we’re in tune with Him, because hearing His voice and responding to it in obedience has become a habit of ours—almost reflex.  So take heart and continue to make building your relationship with God the highest priority; at a critical moment, it is what will help you make the right choice and step into all that He has for you.

Prayer: Lord, I determine to make You my highest priority in life.  Even though I may be busy, help me to persevere in building my relationship with You by having a regular time of reading Your word, praying, and obeying Your voice. And give me wisdom to make the choices that honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 27

June 18, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 8, 2015, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church for a long time.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Discontented Heart”

Jude 1:12

These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. 14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Charles Spurgeon, a British preacher in the 1800’s, describes those who are never content, in a funny and even slightly irreverent way: “They are discontented even with the gospel. The bread of heaven must be cut into three pieces, and served on dainty napkins, or else they cannot eat it; and very soon their soul hates even this light bread. There is no way by which a Christian man can serve God so as to please them. They will pick holes in every preacher’s coat; and if the great High Priest himself were here, they would find fault with the color of the stones of his breastplate.”

We probably can all think of someone like this in our lives and they are not much fun to be around. (No doubt this would include you and me at one time or another.) Jude is saying that discontent is just one way we can tell that we have begun to drift away from intimacy with the Lord and are more caught up in the motions of religion. This passage is directed to those who are already in the Church, not outside of it. He warns the early Church of those among them who only have a “form of godliness” (2 Tim 3:5). These people may have had a great walk with the Lord at one point but have come to a place of self-centeredness and entitlement, thereby not bearing fruit and not trusting the Lord, as reflected in their actions and their beliefs. Jude calls them “clouds without rain,” “trees without fruit,” and “stars that do not guide.”  What was once very promising at the outset ended up producing little or nothing.  Jude goes on to stress that the Lord will hold those who embody this kind of heart and attitude accountable.

Humbly examine your heart and ask if you are just going through the motions or have a genuine relationship with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Does the way you live reflect that you put your trust in Jesus? Or does it not look much different from the rest of the world that relies on the self? It’s never too late to come humbly before the Father and ask that He help you stop doing religion and start abiding in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me when I only go through the motions of religion and am actually relying on myself. Help me to lay down my pride, fear, self-sufficiency and trust in you instead. I know you are a trustworthy Heavenly Father. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 25-26

June 17, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 6, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Loving Our Unlikable Neighbors” 

Lk. 10:33-7 (NIV)

“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. [34] He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. [35] The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’”

Following the aftermath of the L. A. riots in 1992, our church, consisting mostly of Korean Americans, donated food to a Black church in L.A.  To that, a close relative commented, “Why would you do that?  So that they can beat up some more Koreans?”  Some years later, as our church decided to adopt a Japanese unreached group to support the missions work there, a church member who grew up in Korea loudly complained, “No, not Japan!”   

The Jews listening to this parable in which a Samaritan becomes a hero, probably felt uncomfortable.  This man, upon seeing a Jew whose people have taunted him for years, does not pass by him in glee; instead he attends to his desperate need.  Meanwhile, other Jews who should’ve helped him completely ignored him. 

My relative was upset because he felt resentful towards the African-Americans, some of whom destroyed stores owned by Koreans.   In 1992, Jesus might have had him pass by an injured African-American.  The person who grew up in Korea complained because he remembered Japan’s brutal occupation of Korea during the World War II.  In 1940, Jesus might have had him pass by an injured Japanese.  

So, why would a Jew feel uncomfortable hearing this parable?  Because Jews wouldn’t do that for Samaritans, since they were considered a contemptible racial hybrid who disrespected their religion.  The Samaritans, as offspring of the intermarriage between Jews and Gentiles (2 Ki. 17:24), deviated from Judaism by rejecting all but the first five books of the OT, insisting that the center of worship was mountain Gerizim instead of Jerusalem. 

The message of the parable is to love our neighbors, even the unlikable ones.  But why should we?  Perhaps, this Samaritan represents Jesus; after all, he was accused of being a Samaritan (Jn. 8:48).  Christ is the one who “has made the two (i.e., the Jews and Gentiles) one and has destroyed the barrier” (Eph. 2:14).  And though he “was despised and rejected by men, . . . he poured out his life unto death . . . [bearing] the sin of many” (Is. 53:3, 12).   Therefore, loving our unlovable neighbors, though difficult, is possible in Christ who showed us the way.  So, don’t pass by; show compassion.

Prayer: “Praise the LORD, O my soul.  O LORD my God, you are very great” (Ps. 104:1).  Your magnificent and awesome love for me expressed on the cross leaves me speechless and breathless.  As You have loved me so richly, I love You with all my heart; and because You love me, I shall love my neighbors.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 24

Lunch Break Study

Read Jn. 13:34-5 (ESV): “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. [35] By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Matt. 5:43-7 (ESV): “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?”

Question to Consider

1. What is Jesus’ expectation of us?  Why does he expect this?

2. We take discipleship classes to be a disciple.  Why is doing that necessary to be a disciple but is never sufficient?

3. What kind of love does Christ expect from us?   How are you doing with loving the unlovable?

Notes

1. Christ’s expectation is for us to be countercultural: since the culture dictates that we hate those who belong to groups that have harmed our ancestors, the followers of Christ declare “No” to it.  Christ expects this because even unbelievers are capable of reciprocal love.  

2. Discipleship, in short, is imitating Christ in his character; it is walking as Jesus walked (1 Jn. 2:6).  Having the right knowledge about how Christ walked on earth is invaluable, but ultimately, we must put that into practice.  Love cannot stay as mere knowledge; it must be applied. 

3. He expects unconditional, costly, radical and countercultural kind of love.  I find myself constantly making compromises in this area of loving the unlovable (sometimes it’s my kid).  In some cases, apart from earnest prayer and deep introspection into Christ’s example, it just won’t happen. 

Evening Reflection

Do you usually stay within your ethnic/racial group, or do you try to reach out?  This should never be a “fashion” statement but an earnest expression of our Lord who said, “Here there is no Greek or Jew. . . slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Col. 3:11).  Examine your heart regarding racial matters.   Spend a moment praying for genuine healing to take place over the racial tensions in America.   

June 16, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church in Raleigh, was originally posted on May 14, 2015.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Dysfunctional Family”

2 Samuel 14:1-2, 12-17, 21, 33

Now Joab the son of Zeruiah knew that the king’s heart went out to Absalom. [2] And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her, “Pretend to be a mourner and put on mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead. [3] Go to the king and speak thus to him.” So Joab put the words in her mouth. . . . [12] Then the woman said, “Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.” He said, “Speak.” [13] And the woman said, “Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again. [14] We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast. [15] Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid, and your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. [16] For the king will hear and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the heritage of God.’ [17] And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The LORD your God be with you!”  . . . [21] Then the king said to Joab, “Behold now, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.” [33] Then Joab went to the king and told him, and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

If you have ever watched shows such as Dr. Phil, one of the reoccurring topics is—the dysfunctional family.  There would always be an episode about parents who were not doing their job or kids in rebellion, and it is tragic to hear some of their stories shared on national TV.  As we have been reading the account of David and his sons—Absalom and Amnon—in the past few days, one observation we can make is how dysfunctional this family was.  We have already seen rape, hatred, revenge, and murder— and it does not seem to be getting any better. 

In today’s passage, Joab intercedes in patching up the relationship between David and Absalom.   The reason is that David has little enthusiasm for Absalom’s return from exile and does nothing to reconcile with him.  Joab sees the conflicted nature of David’s attitude toward Absalom (v. 1), so he brings a wise woman from Tekoa and tells her to present herself to the king as a woman in mourning with a story that Joab gives her.  And so she prostrates herself before the king and cries out for help, saying that she is a widow with two sons, but they got in a fight in the field and one killed the other. The whole clan wants to kill the remaining son (which would be just), but this would destroy her one remaining heir. David tells her he would take care of it (v. 8).   However, his ruling on this scenario hits home for David; he sees through the story after his ruling and realizes that Joab is behind the whole thing. So David allows Absalom back from his exile, but during the two years that he lives in David’s house, he has nothing to do with Absalom.  In the process of time, Absalom grows impatient with David’s cold shoulder and summons Joab to come intercede for him –twice; but Joab declines to come. Absalom subsequently burns his field up to get his attention.  Joab does subsequently speak to David, and David patches things up with Absalom

What are some lessons we can learn from today’s passage?  We need wisdom, love and power in our families.  Whether you are raising a family or still under your parent’s care, Christ has to be the center of the family unit.  We cannot let bitterness, unforgiveness, or lack of care invade the families God has called us to be part of.  Whether you are married or single, spend some time praying for the family you are part of.  Maybe you can identify with the dysfunction of David’s family.  Pray for healing, restoration, wisdom and Christ-centeredness.    Lastly, we need to experience the love of our heavenly Father.  David was not the perfect Father, but we know that those of us in Christ have a perfect heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally.  Be reminded and comforted of this great truth today.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for my family that you would continue to rule and reign and be the constant center.  May you protect us from the lies of the Enemy and the influences of the world we live in.  We need your power and grace.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 23

Lunch Break Study 

Read Psalm 23: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters. [3] He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Questions to Consider

  1. As believers, what do you think it means to not be “in want”?
  2. How should this truth free us from anxiety and worry?  Why is this important to understand?
  3. How can these verses challenge and comfort you today?

Notes

  1. As a Shepherd, He is the One who is our Provider, and He satisfies our needs—that is the place where God wants to bring us. He wants us to be independently dependent upon Him—to need Him alone.
  2. It also means that He provides for our practical needs such as food, job, possessions, etc.  We should never worry or be in want but rather continually trust in Him.  Even in the darkest moments of our lives, God’s goodness and mercy follow us (v.6), which ought to give us confidence in our Great Shepherd.  
  3. Take some time and meditate on what this means for you in every area of your life.

Evening Reflection

The appropriate response in any season of life is worship.  You may be in the “green pastures” or you may be in the “valley of the shadow of death,” but no matter where you are, spend time worshiping and thanking the Lord.  Thank Him for His care for you and the salvation you have through His Son Jesus.  Thank him for His faithfulness that never ceases.  

June 15, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on October 14, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“From Whom Do We Take Our Orders”

Ezra 5:1-5

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. 3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

This week we’ve read about the opposition the Jews faced at every step in their efforts to honor God first in the rebuilding of the temple and then in the building of the city walls. Today’s passage takes us back to before the temple was actually completed. The Governor, Tattenai, of the region where Jerusalem was located questioned the Jews on their rebuilding efforts. He wanted to know who gave them permission to rebuild and on whose orders and authorities were they acting. The answer is clear in these verses – God alone had given them the authority and the orders to build His temple and His city. Through His prophets, God called His people to rise up and rebuild what, at that time, lay in desolation. 

Today’s passage reminds us of two important things. The first is that as believers, we take our orders from God. Not that we don’t submit to the governing authorities over us (see 1 Peter 2:13-14), but our lives should be guided and directed by the Lord – His will, His efforts, His mission. Too often we settle for orders from lesser authorities. We take our cues from the world when it comes to what kind of life we should have, what kind of work we should do, and how we should spend our time and resources. We allow culture to be our authority, often without even being aware. But as believers, we are called to operate based on a higher authority, and we have to intentionally turn and submit to Him if we desire to do His work.  

The second reminder in this passage is that God’s eye is upon His people. When the Israelites were being questioned and when they faced opposition, God was with them and was aware of all their struggles and their needs. And He was not only aware, but He also protected them and aided them in the work He called them to do. When we become God’s possession, we are not only guided through the directives of God, but we are also guarded by His protection and led by His aid into the fullness of what He has for us. In this we should find great encouragement. 

Prayer: Almighty God, I submit afresh my life to You this morning, remembering that You alone are Lord. You are the one who guides my life and orders my steps. Help me to submit to You will alone today. May I not be guided simply by the culture around me, but by Your Holy Spirit within me. Thank You for constantly watching over me and aiding me in all You call me to do. May that encourage my heart today. In Jesus’ name. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 22

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Psalm 121:1-8: I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why might the psalmist mention that the Lord is the “maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2) who “does not slumber” in this passage (vv. 3-4)? 
  2. What are some ways that the Lord is our help according to these verses? How does this encourage you today? 


Notes

  1. In a time of need, it is important to remember just how powerful God is. He made the heavens and the earth – there is nothing out of His reach, nothing greater than His power. God is the ultimate help and the best possible ally. Not only this, but He is always alert and always aware and always looking out for us. He doesn’t need to close His eyes to rest (and potentially leave us unaided). 
  2. (1) He does not allow our foot to slip – in our pilgrimage through this life, God will keep our feet steady and our way straight; (2) He watches over us – God is intimately involved in the details of our life because He loves us and cares for us; (3) He is our shade at our right hand – He protects us from external dangers by day and by night; (4) He keeps all harm at bay and preserves our life; and (5) He does all these things not only now but forever. Praise be to God! 

Evening Reflection

Psalm 33:18 tells us that, “…the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…” God’s protection over us and our fear of God go hand in hand. When we revere God for who He is and, in response, surrender our lives and yield ourselves to Him, He becomes our sole protection and aid. In some sense, we get what we hope for (or who we hope in). Are there any areas in your life where you’re forgoing God’s protection and aid because of a refusal to surrender to (or fear) Him? Spend some time being honest with God about those areas, surrendering them to Him and asking the Holy Spirit to help you to truly fear the Lord. 

June 14, Tuesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Cruel and Unusual Punishment”

2 King 25:1-7

And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. 2 So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. 3 On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. 4 Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. 5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. 6 Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they passed sentence on him. 7 They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.

The final moment of Judah’s last king was a cruel and unusual punishment.  Zedekiah, after the Babylonians gauged his eyes out, lived a while longer as a prisoner in Babylon (Jer. 52:11).  Forever etched in his memory, however, was what his eyes last saw: the killing of his terrified sons.  No one, even a terrible king, should suffer such a horrible fate.  

Zedekiah was a bad king because “he became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord” (2 Chron. 36:13).  What led him to such a perilous path, however, was something we all struggle with: a desire to please people.   

Once, several officials of Zedekiah who despised Jeremiah said to him, “This man should be put to death’” (Jer. 38:4).  The king answered, “He is in your hands. . . . The king can do nothing to oppose you’” (v. 5).  Shortly thereafter, when an official sympathetic to Jeremiah found out he had been thrown into a muddy cistern to die, he said to Zedekiah, “These men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah” (vv.6-9).  The king, who moments ago allowed Jeremiah to be put to death, now commanded the official to “take thirty men . . . and lift Jeremiah . . . out of the cistern before he dies” (v.10).  In short, Zedekiah possessed no backbone; he went whichever way the wind blew.

Ultimately, Zedekiah feared man more than God.  Certainly, what Jeremiah told him was difficult to swallow: “Surrender to . . . the king of Babylon” (v.17).  Since by this time, God had handed the rebellious Judah over to the Babylonians, surrendering was His will.  Zedekiah couldn’t do it because he feared that “the Babylonians may hand [him] over to” the Jews already exiled in Babylon who “will mistreat [him]” (v.19).  Although God, through Jeremiah, assured him that “they will not hand you over. . . . then it will go well with you,” (v.20), Zedekiah disobeyed.

No matter how much we disobey God, we aren’t likely to suffer the cruel and unusual punishment that Zedekiah encountered; nevertheless, it will not go well with us when we disobey God.  We obey God against our so-called “better judgment” when we fear Him more than man.  Don’t over think or over analyze—be convicted by God’s word and simply obey!

Prayer: I love You, Lord, with all my heart.  When I fear man, acting as though I’ve no faith in God, please give me the strength to overcome that fear, so that I can boldly represent You with my gentle, yet firm words that speak of Your goodness and kindness.  Help me to live boldly for you. Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 21

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 15:20-24: And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.“

24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 

Question to Consider

1. What made Saul to believe that he had obeyed the Lord?  

2. Put yourself in Saul’s shoes: what does it mean that he was afraid of the people?

3. What does “to obey is better than sacrifice” really mean in our time?

Notes

1. The command was to kill everything, including the animals, belonging to the Amalekites, the archenemy of Israel that always sought to annihilate her (Deut. 25:17-19)—but Saul spared its king and the choicest animals.   Saul assumed that he had obeyed the Lord because he made himself believe that the animals were for God, even though that wasn’t real reason. 

2. He was afraid of their opinion.  Surely, many people would have thought that killing of the choicest animals was a sheer waste that made no economic sense.  Saul, like Zedekiah, wanted to be liked by people instead of being liked by God.

3. God doesn’t want performance without the right heart; neither does He want what appears to be a flawless ministry that is executed without much prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit.  He certainly does not want us do any ministry according to our time instead of God’s.  

Evening Reflection

What tough decision did you face today?  Did you have an opportunity to present God’s word or truth today to someone at work or school?  Did you face a situation in which the matter of obeying God became a reality?  What does your response to these situations indicate with respect to the genuineness of your faith?  Take a moment to reflect and evaluate.  Ask the Lord for help.