Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 4, 2016, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  He is  a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS, biology), and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Suffering for Christ”

Acts 5:33-42 (ESV)

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. 

In his farewell speech to the disciples, Jesus states clearly, “No servant is greater than his master and if they persecuted me, they will persecute you”.  As we are faced with the suffering of Christ and the call to pick up our cross and follow Him, an important question arises: What does it mean for us, surrounded by all of this affluence, comfort and anti-Christian sentiment, to suffer for the sake of the Gospel?

In answering this question, one of the problems we face is that we could never imagine God asking us to suffer for His name.   So when things are going well, we feel pretty good about our relationship with God.  However, when things turn for the worse, if there is any ounce of discomfort or suffering, we are often quick to question the purpose of God.  The words of Christ from the cross reminds us that we haven’t even begun the first lessons of trusting in our heavenly Father until we have moved through deep seasons of pain and anguish.  This is often when our relationship with God is put to the test.  Can you commit your spirit, your entire life into the hands of your Father in heaven even when it comes at a price?   The logical question that we need to reflect on today is, “If God asked his natural Son to suffer for His name and for the purpose of love, would He not ask his adopted children to do the same?”  

And here, some of us might wonder, how can a loving God allow his children to suffer?  How does a good father willingly and knowingly put his children at risk?    Well, the answer to that is very simple: We are not living in peacetime.  There is a war that surrounds us, a war for the ages, between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate, and ultimately life versus death.  Any good father would proudly enlist his children into that struggle and with a grieving heart, even risk their well-being for the purpose of winning a just war.  And in the same way that God asked His only begotten Son to suffer for the sake of gospel, he asks his spiritual children to do the same. 

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the examples of men and women both past and present who have paid the highest price to live out their faith.  Help us to remember that there are many brothers and sisters in Christ who don’t live in the relative ease and comfort that we enjoy in the West.   We lift up the persecuted church in prayer and rejoice that your people have been found worthy enough to suffer for your name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  1 Kings 12

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 5:1-5 (ESV): Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 

Questions to Consider

1. What does it mean to be justified by faith?
2. What are the benefits of being justified in the eyes of God?
3. How is justification and glorification connected in the Christian life?

Notes

1. Justification by faith is a central doctrine of Christianity.  It is the belief that through our relationship with Christ and faith in his work on the cross, we are found to be righteous in the sight of God.     
2. The main benefit of being justified is having peace with God.  However, justification is more than the forgiveness of sin; it comes with the promise of our glorification, that one day we will be made to be like Christ.  Many confuse justification with simply the negation of debt that leaves us with an empty account. The biblical view of justification is that our accounts are positively filled with the righteousness of Christ by the grace of God.  This is what theologians refer to as the imputation of righteousness to the believer.       
3. Between justification and glorification, the believer enters into the process of sanctification or being refined in holiness.  One of the ways that God produces this growth in the believer is through the use of suffering.   We rejoice in times of suffering because we can see the endurance, character, and hope that it produces in us.   Furthermore, if we know that we stand justified by grace, we know that our suffering is not judgment against our sin.  

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Evening Reflection

Are you going through a difficult time or is someone that you know suffering?  Pray that God would give you joy and hope during these trying circumstances?    Remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)!

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 3, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Pre-Gospel Before Giving the Gospel” 

Lk. 10:25-9 (ESV) 

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” [26] He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” [27] And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” [28] And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”[29] But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

We read many conversations between Jesus and individuals in the Gospels; and, no doubt, similar conversations continue to take place today.  Consider the conversation found in today’s text. 

Jesus, when asked by this lawyer, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” did he answer, “You’re asking the wrong question; everlasting life is not earned through good deeds; it is ‘by believing you may have life in [my] name’?” (Jn. 20:31).  This should have been the response, right?  That, however, is not what Christ said; rather, he asked, “What is written in the Law?”  Seeing that the lawyer responded correctly (“Love God and your neighbors”), Jesus then said him, “Do this and you will live.”  

But isn’t that a wrong response?  Didn’t the apostle Paul say, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith . . . not by works” (Eph. 2:8-9)? Yes, while that is very true, to a self-righteous individual who sees no need for grace, something else must proceed and that’s what Jesus was doing here.  That is to say, Jesus wasn’t giving the lawyer the gospel; rather, Christ was helping him to recognize the spiritual blindness that was undermining his need for the gospel.  I am calling that the pre-gospel. 

To do that, Jesus went along with this man’s thinking based on the Law of Moses: “Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them” (Lev. 18:5), that is, obtain eternal life.  Therefore, “Do this and you will live” implies that the lawyer had failed to keep God’s law perfectly, and as a result didn’t have eternal life.   Feeling slighted—since he thought otherwise—the lawyer, “want[ing] to justify himself,” asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”  This is when the parable of the Good Samaritan is given, not necessarily because Jesus wanted to emphasize a lesson on loving our neighbors, but to help the lawyer see that “there is no one righteous, not even one” (Rom. 3:10a))  Once the lawyer truly understands that, he will be ready, not only to hear the gospel, but to believe it as well. 

Too many of us believe the right facts about Jesus and stop there.  While that is a necessary start, it may not be tantamount to a genuine faith that saves us from hell.  Therefore, Christ continues to engage in probing dialogues with us through the Holy Spirit so that we can own up to our mistaken assumptions about life, God, and us.  Listen to him: believe and live.

Prayer: O God, we eagerly keep up with our Facebook, posting that one photo out of 100 that makes us look attractive and having fun, as if our significance depends how many likes we get.  But seeing that the Son of God desires to have dialogues with me as if I matter to him, I feel very significant.  Thank you!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 11

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Lunch Break Study

Jesus said that his “sheep listen to his voice” (Jn. 10:3).  That means Christ continues to speak, but in what sense?  Since the voice isn’t referring to a new revelation apart from the Scripture, what is it? 

Read Rom. 8:16 (NIV): “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”

Jn. 16:13 (NASB): “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. [14] He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.”

Acts 16:19 (NIV): “During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us’”; 17:11: “For [the Bereans] received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Question to Consider

1. How does Christ continue to speak to us today?

2. What is the basis for the voice of Christ spoken through the Spirit to our spirit?

3. What do we need to do in order to hear and discern what Christ is saying to us?  If you were to do that today, what would you hear?

Notes

1. He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit who is in communication with our own spirit, making it possible for us to hear what Christ wants us to know and/or do at a given moment.  This doesn’t just happen; or even if He speaks, we may not hear due to allowing too many noises in our lives. Nevertheless, Jesus himself told us that we will be guided to all truths through the Spirit.  

2. Whether it is an image, vision, word or impression that we believe came from the Spirit, it must correspond to what is plainly stated in the Scriptures.   That’s what the Bereans did with Paul’s teaching, and we should do the same as well.  For example, I know of a person who felt that the Spirit told him to divorce his wife and marry this other woman to become a missionary.   That cannot be from God.

3. Any measures taken to improve our physical hearing would apply to our spiritual hearing as well: get rid of noise (e.g., too much entertainment); lower the volume of other sounds (e.g., perhaps reading too many theological books), pay attention to what is being said (e.g., praying in a quiet place); if not clear, ask questions (e.g., staying in prayer); jot down what you hear.   

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Evening Reflection

We began the day thinking about how Christ, who, while on earth, conversed literally with people, continues to speak to us today in our spirit.  Let’s tune out any noise and stand before “the council of the LORD to see and hear his word” (Jer. 23:18).   His sheep listen to the Shepherd’s voice. 

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on December 8, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Evil Never Prospers”

Esther 7:1-6

 The king arose in his anger from drinking wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm had been determined against him by the king. 8 Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, “Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?” As the word went out of the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, “Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman’s house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!” And the king said, “Hang him on it.” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king’s anger subsided.

If I were to respond to the ending of Haman’s story in emojis, I would have to use the little face with wide eyes, raised brows, and utter confusion (sorry to android users for the lost pop culture reference). At the start of this narrative, it’s certainly hard to see this ending coming. I’m sure it caught Haman by surprise as well. We’ve all heard the saying, “Evil never prospers.” As kids we might have been told this by our parents or teachers who caught us doing something underhanded or conniving or deceitful (as most children begin to do after their toddler years). But from the story of Haman, we learn that not only will evil not prosper, but it will have the absolute averse effect in our lives.

As believers, we are called to a life of holiness. We are called to live as Jesus would in our place and to honor and exalt God (make Him famous) through our lives. And while this is our calling (and a lofty one at that), we still find ourselves living in the real world where we are tempted to scheme with the best of them. Whether it’s intentional and malicious (like outright slander, lying on our taxes, lying on our resumes, cheating on a test) or inadvertent and seemingly innocuous (like work gossip, representing someone in an unfavorable light to make ourselves look better, taking credit for something we didn’t do), our human nature leads us to “evil” quite naturally. But may we learn a hard lesson from the story of Haman, that all the evil we do, especially against others, will at some point or another come back to haunt us – and often times in painfully ironic ways. 

It’s easy to plot evil to get ahead or even in response to those who’ve harmed us, but may we choose instead the path of righteousness (and forgiveness). Not only is it a better road as we are protected from the potential painful consequences, but the God who was faithful to Esther will be faithful to all who choose righteousness as well. 

Prayer: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted bystreams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” May it be so with, O Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 37:1-11: Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb. 3 Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. 7 Rest in

the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. 8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing. 9 For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land. 10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; and you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there. 11 But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Questions to Consider

1. Do you find yourself “fretting because of evil doers” or “envious toward wrong doers”? What does the psalmist instruct us to do instead?
2. Who are the “wrongdoers” in your life? What do we learn is the fate of those who do evil? How should this encourage us to respond to them?

Notes

1. If we’ve ever been victimized or wronged by anyone else, especially in a painful or habitual manner, we can relate to David in his temptation to worry over these things. Moreover, if we’ve ever tried to live honestly and found that those who choose to take shortcuts continue to get ahead, we may have experienced envy toward them. But we are challenged instead to trust in the Lord and continue to be faithful. God will take care of the rest as we delight ourselves in Him. We must also be careful not to become angry lest we fall into evil of our own. 
2. The scripture is clear – their end is destruction. And not the kind of destruction we might want to bring up on them in our anger, but God’s righteous judgment. This should lead us to have hearts of compassion and concern for them – God’s judgment is no small thing. We might pray for them, or be encouraged to love them in hopes that God might soften their hearts and change their ways.

Evening Reflection

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)

Are you facing any opposition or adversity today? Take some time tonight to be still before the Lord. Offer Him your cares and rest in His promises to protect and provide. Commit anew to walking in the path of righteousness, no matter the cost, and praise God for His good plans to prosper you through every circumstance.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on November 30, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Being Wise in All Situations”

Esther 5:1-8 (ESV)

On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. 6 And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, “What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 7 Then Esther answered, “My wish and my request is: 8 If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”

Queen Esther, should you be hosting back-to-back dinner parties when life and death of hundreds and thousands of your people is hanging in the balance?  To fault Esther for her alleged indifference is no different than questioning the sanity of King Solomon for ordering that the baby in dispute, between two women claiming to be his mother, be cut in two so that each could have half (1 Kings 3:24).  Rest assured that Esther was not only valiant (“If I perish, I perish”), she was also wise, much like Solomon who knew that the real mother would rather lose the baby than let him be sawed in two. 

Esther knew that if you are going to ask someone for a favor, especially the one with the power to put you to death at the slightest whim (4:11), you “butter him up” first!  That’s being not only wise but also common sensical. While that slang doesn’t necessarily have a nice ring to it, if the goal is to save innocent lives, why stop at one dinner party?  There is no secret to what Esther was up to: unsure of how the king might respond to her request to save the Jews (execution being one possibility), she tried to move his heart by first satisfying his stomach. And she spared no expense in providing the most sumptuous feast.  She had Haman to be present so that if and when the king saw her way, the judgment against the man who plotted genocide against her people would be immediate and swift. 

Wisdom is so valued by Solomon that he, under the Spirit’s inspiration, tells us to obtain it from all sources, including insects.  “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest” (Prov. 6:6-8).  Evidently, one key component to being wise is anticipation: thus, you don’t spend all you earn at once; instead, you save some of it for a rainy day and old age.   

So, from Esther, learn this: If you are going to ask someone for a favor, especially one that would benefit more than you, being nice beforehand and speaking with an appreciative always will help. And if you need to correct someone, use a magnifying glass, if need be, to find something positive to share first before reprimanding the person.  

Prayer: Jesus, I exalt You this morning because You are my Lord and Savior.  In your infinite wisdom, You created the world (Prov. 8) in which I live.  Please impart to me your wisdom so that I may live prudently in this world with hopes that people will desire You through how I live.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 9

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Lunch Break Study 

Read James 1:5:  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Proverbs 4:7-8: The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her; 

Proverbs 19:20: Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs23:4 (NIV 1984): Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint; 9:8-9a: Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.  Instruct a wise man and he will be wider still . . . 

Question to Consider

1. We have all seen smart and powerful people make stupid mistakes that eventually cost their careers (e.g., former New York governor Elliot Spitzer).  Based on James 1:5 and Proverbs 4:7-8, how would you appraise the importance of wisdom?

2. What is one source of gaining wisdom?  Conversely, what is one attitude that will ensure that we stay unwise?

3. What are some ways we can be wise in our everyday lives?  

Notes

1. Without wisdom, we can lose all that we have ever worked for in a moment’s notice.  Actually, the downward spiral was in the works for a time before the house of cards (a.k.a., unwise life) tumble down to the ground.  Wisdom can keep that from happening.

2. Taking the advice of those who have travelled the same road that we are about to partake.  This indicates that we are at least aware of our own lack and inadequacy.  Conversely, “I- already-know-it-all” attitude ensures that we’ll make the same mistakes that others made.

3. Regarding accumulating wealth: we will show restraint, thus leaving time for pursuing other things like spiritual life, family, exercise, etc;  regarding taking advice: we will take it instead of refusing it.

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Evening Reflection

In evaluating today, was it a day that was lived out in wisdom?  What made it so?   How did the Spirit help you in that regard?  Perhaps, it wasn’t; what could you have said or done differently?  Ask the Lord to give you wisdom for a more wise day tomorrow?

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Jabez Yeo, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on May 31, 2015.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Misguided Crusades”

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” 23 Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” 

The Crusades were one of the most tragic events committed in the name of Christ, mainly because many of its participants didn’t really know Christ.  In response to the destruction of the Holy Sepulchre by Caliph Al-Hakim (985-1021) and increasing interference of Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, the crusaders came to  reclaim it, oblivious to the fact that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Cor. 10:4).  As a result, many were slaughtered, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians among the Arabs, as well as those belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church.   Although centuries have passed since the last Crusade, its after-effects, such as fractured relations between Muslims and Christians, are still present to this day.

While little violence in the name of Christ occurs today, there are still many who use the name of Christ for evil purposes. They may cry “Lord, Lord” (v. 21), but in reality they are not doing the will of our heavenly Father (v. 21) nor are known by Christ because they do not have His authority (v. 23). One good example is prosperity theology. I remember as a freshman in college going to an event held by a very famous prosperity preacher, trying my best to have an open mind. I was a new Christian, but even I felt something was off when the preacher implored everyone to sow a $1000 seed, promising that God would later bless them with greater wealth and health.

As Christians today, we may not be involved in deceptive practices, but how can we be sure that we have Christ’s authority as we do things in His name? Matthew 28:18-20 is a good start. In verse 18, Jesus establishes that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. Therefore, followers of Christ are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Trinity, and teaching them to obey everything Jesus commanded. 

Thus, are we involved with God’s movement of discipleship? Are we engaged in evangelism? Shepherding believers? Teaching to our small groups? All of these and more are part of God’s will for us to make Him known and to be a blessing to others (Gen. 12:1-3). And as we engage in this Kingdom work, we know through Jesus’ promise that His authority will be with us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing me from darkness into light. I pray that during my life, You would enable me to do our Father’s will through Your authority and the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for not only giving me the privilege of being saved, but also the privilege of being used by You in Your saving work to others. Help me to know You more and more each day. In Your Name I pray, Amen

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 8

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 23, 2015, 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).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Motives“

2 Kings 10:28-31

Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 29 But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 30 And the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.

I am ashamed of this reference on so many fronts, but if you are about my age, you’ll get it.  At the end of the 1990 classic Pretty Woman, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and Philip Stuckey (Jason Alexander) get into a fist fight.  After the fight, Edward fires Stuckey from his position as his lawyer and C.E.O. of gobbling up other businesses.  Stuckey, upon being fired and beaten up, begs, “What is wrong with you?  Come on, Edward!  I gave you ten years!  I devoted my whole life to you!”  And Edward responds (edited for language): “[That’s a lie!]  It’s the kill you love, not me!  I made you a very rich man doing exactly what you loved.”  The “kill” referred to acquiring and consuming other companies—which Stuckey seemed to have a thirst for.  

If you’ve been following our devotions over the last few days, you have probably come to the realization that Jehu is a complicated character.  True, he was God’s instrument of judgment on the house of Ahab, and he was very zealous in doing his work, which again was cutting off Ahab’s descendants.  Furthermore, Jehu was also credited with killing all the priests of Baal and eliminating Baal worship from Israel.  As a result of his work, God allows his family to rule Israel for four generations.  On the flip side, we read that Jehu continued in the sins of Jeroboam, worshipped golden calves in Bethel and Dan, and caused Israel to do the same.  My conclusion:  Jehu, much like Stuckey, “loved the kill,” but he never truly loved God.  The reason Jehu performed his tasks so admirably was that he was probably a violent man who literally loved the kill.  If God had asked him to do anything else, I think he would have failed.  

Why do you do ministry?  Why do you go to church or get involved in cell groups or community groups or serve in general?  Unfortunately, I’ve served with many people who got involved because something about ministry, other than the love of God, appealed to them.  Some liked the business of planning events, others liked the activities, or the friendships; some served simply to feel important, etc.  Ultimately, this is a reminder to check your hearts.  Do you serve and get involved because you love Jesus more than you love His work?  I hope this is the case for you and all of us.  

Lastly, here is the scary part: God genuinely used Jehu, though his heart was not devoted to Him.  I’ve seen God use many people with ulterior or impure motives—meaning just because God is using you or your ministry is not a sure tell that you are fully devoted to Him.  

Prayer: God, please give me a heart that is genuinely devoted to You.  Though it is good to enjoy ministry, help me to have pure motives in all that I say and do.  Thank you that I can love You because You first loved me.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  1 Kings 6-7

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 20, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Forgiving Others” (for Your Own Sake as Well)

Matt. 18:23-35 (ESV)

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. [24] When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. [25] And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. [26] So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ [29] So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. [31] When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. [32] Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. [35] So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Many years ago, I returned home to Virginia from California to work so I can save money for my seminary education.  One of the jobs was helping out at my father’s business.  Some time later, I saw a customer, as he was leaving my father’s restaurant, fuming with anger. I discovered later that my dad had yelled at him for walking on mopped floor.  So I asked my dad, “Why do you always get mad at customers?”  Not liking my attitude, he said something that really upset me; so for the next five weeks, I didn’t speak to him

Jesus tells this parable to Peter who asks Jesus how many times someone who sins against him should be forgiven.  Whereas Judaism put the cap at three, Peter increases it “up to seven times” (Matt. 18:21).  Not impressed, Jesus says, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times” (v.22), that is, infinitely.  It’s likely that this is when the other disciples joined Peter in retorting, “Increase our faith!” (Lk. 17:5).  

In the parable, Jesus has the master cancel the unpayable debt owed to him by his servant.  But when that same servant refuses to be merciful toward his fellow servant who owes so much less, the master becomes furious and punishes his servant.  Now, the master represents God; the unpayable debt is the “wages of sin,” which is, “death” (Rom. 6:23); the act of cancelling it is Christ’s death that “takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29).  The servant with the cancelled debt represents us whose good works can never atone for our sins against God and fellow men.  The fellow servant, whose miniscule debt isn’t forgiven by his coworker, represents my father whose sin I wouldn’t forgive because I was being ungrateful to God who forgave me of much greater debt.  

As a result, the jailers—my conscience and the devil—began questioning my character, faith and fitness for ministry.  The freedom came when, prompted by the Spirit, I asked my dad for forgiveness.  I did it for me because being tortured like that was agonizing.  So if you’re caught in the middle of a story like mine, don’t wait: “Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col. 3:13).

Prayer: O loving God, how gracious and merciful You have been to me all these years.  Sadly, I’ve held onto any and every pettiness that came my way, often letting it simmer in my soul to the point of losing joy and peace.  I need to forgive; I need to be forgiven.  So I confess my sins to You and to those who are affected by my unforgiveness.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 5

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 6:14-5 (NIV): “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Col. 3:12-3 (NASB): “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

1 Jn. 1:8-10 (ESV): “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Question to Consider

1. Does God take this matter of forgiveness seriously?   If so, why do you think so?

2. How would you understand Matt. 6:15: “If you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins?”

3. Ultimately, what will restore a broken fellowship between God and us?

Notes

1. There are a number of ways to capture what salvation implies: justification, redemption, born-again, saved from going to hell.  But one prominent way is the forgiveness of sins.  So, what will show that we truly understand and appreciate what was done for us?  Forgiving those who have wronged us.

2. It’s like any sin that is unconfessed and unrepented by believers: it breaks the fellowship between God and the impenitent believer.  So, “Your Father will not forgive your sins” refers to a broken fellowship due to, in this context, unforgiveness, which is a sin.  

3. Confession (admission) of our wrong doings.  While unforgiveness is a sin, pretending that all iswell only makes it worse: We become deceivers who are sold to lies.  To validate our confession of sins to God (vertical), we also need to address them horizontally (confessing to the affected party).

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Evening Reflection

Did anyone upset you today?  Is there a situation in your life where you have been dealing with an unforgiveness issue?  Perhaps, you are upset at God over some disappointments.  Don’t linger anymore: talk to the affected party, including God if that’s your case.  Now!  A phone call. An e-mail.  A text.  A prayer. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 11, 2016.  Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Faith of George Mueller”

John 6:5-6 

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

George Mueller, the evangelist famous for his ministry to orphans, left a legacy of hundreds of recorded answers to prayer. One story in particular sticks out: On a morning after being informed that there was no breakfast food available, Mueller had the three hundred orphans take their seats at the dining tables. He led them to say grace, believing that even though there was nothing available, God would not let His children go hungry that morning. 

Soon after, a baker came by, having been woken up in the middle of the night and feeling convicted that God wanted him to send bread that morning. Not long after, a milkman knocked; his cart had broken down in front of the orphanage, and he thought he should send in cans of milk to lighten the load while his cart was being fixed. 

Oftentimes, God will present us with an impossible task; we will lack the resources, the ability, the time, the energy. This happens, even as we are going around doing work that we believe God has called us to do. The disciples must have felt frequently frustrated as they followed Jesus. Wherever they went, they seemed to always lack resources for the jobs they were responsible for. 

What do we do when we feel like we are being overwhelmed with an impossible task in front of us? It is tempting to throw in the towel, despair, and give up altogether. But, let’s not give up hope when faced with the impossible. God Himself is asking us where we will turn to. 

Let’s remember that our Father commands the entire world and lacks nothing. God is intending to show us how He will provide. As we are faced with our limitations and confess that we do not have a way out, He who loves us will surely send us what we need.

Prayer: Father, help me to trust You even when it feels like an impossible task is in front of me. Thank You for reminding me that I am wholly dependent on You. Help me to trust that all the resources of the world are at Your fingertips. Please show me again that Your provision is not only timely but also abundant. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 4

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-11: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Questions to Consider

1. This passage is an exhortation from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church to give generously. Paul addresses one of the reasons the church may be tempted to not give. What is it, and what is his response?
2. Here, God’s provision and our generosity seem to be linked. How could this be the case?
3. Paul encourages the church to give, but he also reminds them that God supplies the seed and increases the harvest. Why then, do we continue to give?  Let’s reflect on our reason for giving, and whether we are being as generous as we can.

Notes

1. One hindrance to generous giving is the fear that we will ultimately end up lacking. Paul reminds the church that God is able to bless them abundantly, so that, at all times, the church will be able to give generously. 
2. It is important to remember that the favor we receive in this life is not meant to be a harvest reaped for ourselves. Instead, God blesses us abundantly so that we may be generous with our lives. 
3. God does not need our help in creating any harvest, but He gives us the opportunity to join us in His work. Although Paul says initially that those who sow sparingly reap sparingly, he also hints that our giving does not dictate the harvest. God can increase and multiply the harvest – our limitations are never His limitations. What we get is a front row seat to seeing how God can do much out of the very little we bring.

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Evening Reflection

Are there places where you can be more generous but are too fearful to give? Let’s approach Him and ask to be reminded that He is the one who gives abundantly so that we can freely give to others.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on September 3, 2015

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Hey, You Ain’t That Strong, So Take Heed”

2 King 15:1-5

In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 4 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.5 The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.  Jotham the king’s son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

While reading about Billy Graham’s grandson, a pastor, who recently resigned from his church after admitting an affair, I was reminded of “The Graham rule.” What’s that? It refers to the famed evangelist vowing to never meet, eat, or travel with a woman alone.  However, this sensible approach for married men—to avoid a potentially compromising situation—isn’t always appreciated by some women seeking to advance in the Christian ministry. How so?  Not meeting with men in leadership one-on-one to talk about ministry-related projects and businesses is perceived as slowing down their career advancement. 

So what does this have to do with Azariah?  First, doesn’t it seem like this narrative is missing something? Why did God afflict a righteous king with leprosy—the most accursed disease–that led to a lengthy solitary confinement?  For that, we need to rely on the Chronicler who noted the following about the king, a.k.a., Uzziah: first, “he sought God” (2 Chron. 27:5); second, “he had become very powerful” because his “well-trained army” (11) defeated all enemy nations; and third, through his innovative economic programs, Judah prospered greatly (9-10).  So, what came of this?  “After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (16), which reached its apex when he “entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense” (16). By that action alone, Uzziah completely dissed God who allowed no one but the priests to enter the temple.  And that’s when “the LORD had afflicted him” (20).    

All social movements are a mixed bag: some have produced better results than others but none is beyond reproach—and that certainly includes the Women’s Rights movement. It is indeed a bad idea for married men to meet a woman alone, regardless of the gravity of the matter, for nothing positive will come out of this, eventually. So, I say to the naysayers to back off, but do bring a friend. 

Men, if you ignore this warning, as if you are stronger than the former CEO of General Electric, Jack Welch, who fell for a woman journalist interviewing him in his office, or a Mexican friend pastor who impregnated a woman he was counseling—also in his office—I would say you are prideful, just like Uzziah was when he entered the temple.  And remember: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Meet, yes, but never alone.  Remember, you ain’t that strong, so take heed.

Prayer: Lord, please keep me from a prideful heart so that I won’t act like a fool. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I may overcome alluring temptations.  In fact, Lord, may you fill me with wisdom so that I may avoid potentially compromising situations where temptations await. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 3

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Numbers 12:1-10: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. 2 And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. 3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. 4 And suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came out. 5 And the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward. 6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. 10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.

Eph. 4:15, 25: Rather, speaking the truth in love. . . . Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Question to Consider

1. What made it easier for Aaron and Miriam to become prideful and speak against Moses?

2. What are some qualities which Moses possessed that are highly valued by the LORD?

3. Some may use this event to say that no one should say anything against their spiritual leaders.  Then what should we do when we don’t agree with our leaders?

Notes

1. Remembering that Moses was their younger brother, perhaps they momentarily gave into the thought that they were more mature than he.  Of course, his marriage to a Gentile woman, which they thought was a mistake, may have made them feel morally superior over Moses, even though God was silent on this matter. 

2. Meekness, faithfulness and a compassionate heart (as Moses earnestly asked God to heal his sister).

3. Whether we speak to leaders or those who serve under us about anything, including disagreements, we always put off falsehood (being fair and objective) and speak the truth in love (not to hurt or win but to settle for that which honors God and beneficial for everyone involved).

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Evening Reflection

Every day we are insulted by someone or we insult others—in varying degrees.  So in looking back to today, how did you handle these situations?  Did you hurl back when you felt insulted or did you enjoy insulting others? Be silent and ask the Lord speak to you.  Allow the Spirit to cleanse you of any bitterness and resentment. Ask God to give you a better day tomorrow.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 7, 2016, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.  Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Justification”

Galatians 3:10-14 (ESV)

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Have you ever tried to use something that it wasn’t designed to do and found it to be incredibly inefficient and frustrating? I was once at a house where the showerhead wasn’t working (or so we thought). I ended up crouching in the tub trying to cup the water that came out of the faucet and splash it on myself to rinse off the soap. It was incredibly inefficient and a lot of water was wasted.

Paul is asking the Galatians: Do you really want to be saved by following the works of the Law? Do you really want to go that route? First of all, if you want to be justified by your works, you need to obey the entirety of the Law, which is impossible for man to do. Second, that’s not what the Law was meant to do. The Law was never meant to be the avenue through which humanity would be justified before God. So then, what is the purpose of the Law? Imagine coming home after a long day of gardening. In the bathroom, you look in the mirror and see how dirty you are. Does looking at the mirror make you clean? Of course not. No matter how intently or how long you look at the mirror, it cannot cleanse you. Instead, you turn on the water to wash your face so that you can be cleansed. The Law is a mirror that reveals the stain of sin that we all have; and only Jesus, who became a curse for us by hanging on that tree, is the one that can cleanse us permanently.  

Paul says justification does not come by the law, but by faith in God. For Abraham, it was faith in God’s covenant with him. For the Israelites, it was faith in God’s provision of the Law and the sacrificial system[1]. And now Paul tells us that Jesus is the final and perfect sacrifice upon which we place our faith, so that we might receive the blessing of God and His Spirit.  Faith isn’t only for the life to come, but for this life as well. Faith in our own ability to maneuver through life can easily supersede our faith in God. But we come to realize that living a life of faith in God is so crucial because it is the only currency that God honors. Are you living a life of faith in Him? Ask Him increase your faith and He will surely do so.

Prayer: Father God, help me see the ways that I have succumbed to legalism and help me turn from legalism towards your grace. I pray for an extra measure of faith so that I might live this life placing my faith in You rather than my own abilities to be a good person. Help me to take steps of faith, not just for the life to come, but for this life as well. May my faith in You dictate the way I live this life.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV): These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Question to Consider

1. What is the reward of faith?

2. What does it mean to have faith in God in this passage?

3. Do you believe that God has prepared a heavenly city for you?

Notes

1. It’s important to note that we will not always see the fruit of our faith in this life time. We might see a promise of God from afar, but may not ending up receiving the fullness of the promise. Nevertheless, we know that faith, particularly faith in God will not let us down.
2. They had faith that God was leading them somewhere better. Ultimately, they did not see this earth as their home, a place for them to settle in, but they saw it as a place they were merely passing through. They were able to let go of the things of this earth because they knew that their true home awaited them.
3. Often we get distracted by the things of this world, but when we once again realign our purpose and vision to the city of God that awaits us, we will be once again ready to make decisions in this lifetime based upon faith in God.

Evening Reflection

“Legalism is more subtle and more pervasive and, in the end, more destructive. Satan clothes himself as an angel of light and makes the very commandments of God his base of operations. And the human heart is so inveterately proud and unsubmissive that it often uses religion and morality to express its rebellion. As Romans 10:3 says, ‘In seeking to establish their own righteousness, they would not submit to the righteousness of God.’ The pursuit of righteousness can lead to perdition. So Galatians admonishes us: Know why the law was given and don’t be bewitched into pursuing it in a way that leads to death, but only in a way that leads to life.” – John Piper

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[1] The sacrificial system was actually what would cleanse them from their sins, not the Law.