July 19, Tuesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Obeying Our Loving God”

Mark 12:28-34

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 2

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

1. What is Jesus preparing the disciples to face?

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

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

Notes

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

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

3. Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

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

July 18, Monday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus the Logos”

John 1.1-3, 14

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 1

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

Evening Reflection

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

July 17, Sunday

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Mountain Moving Faith” (A true story)

Ezra 6:8-12

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

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

A local pastor tells the following story:

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 16

July 16, Saturday

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Stewardship”

Matthews 25:24-28

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 14-15

July 15, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 17, 2016, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Direction, Not Intention, Matters”

Galatians 6:7-8

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

We rarely have bad intentions—or at least we rarely would admit to having bad intentions. Whatever we do, we typically think that it’s okay, as long as our intentions are good. Andy Stanley has a great saying in his book, The Principle of the Path: “Direction, not intention, determines your destination.” His main observation is that we put too much weight on our good intentions, when really, it’s the direction in which we are going and the decisions we make that determine where we end up. For example, no one intends to fail out of school, but because they don’t study and play videogames all day, people are heading for that direction. No one wakes up one day and says, “I want to be a bad spouse!” but because they neglect their spouses in various ways, people are on a direction to have unhealthy marriages.

In Galatians, Paul lays out two ways to sow or two directions that we can take with our life decisions: either we sow to our own flesh or we sow to the Spirit. Sowing to our own flesh leads to a destination of corruption, while sowing to the Spirit leads to a destination of eternal life. None of us intends to go the path towards corruption. Many of us lose sight of this, though, because when we’re living for materialism, power or status, our intentions are not necessarily evil. We’re not sitting back scheming about how we will corrupt ourselves or corrupt the world. But because we’re sowing to our own flesh—living for things of this world—it leads us towards a destination of destruction.

The good news is that if we sow to the Spirit and live for the things of God, we will reap eternal life. When we have both good intentions and good directions, we will find ourselves living the full and eternal life Jesus has set out for us. Let us strive this day to sow to the Spirit and live for eternity!

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 13

Lunch Bible Study

Read John 6:35-40: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Questions to Consider

What does it mean that Jesus is the “bread of life”?
What are Jesus’ requirements for eternal life?
Have you experienced true satisfaction in your life? Or are you finding temporary satisfaction in things of this world?

Notes

It means that we will not hunger or thirst anymore. If we eat of the bread of life, we will find true satisfaction that nothing else of this world could ever give.
Jesus’ requirement for eternal life is that we look on the Son and believe in him. There are no good works that we need to do besides believing and trusting in Jesus.
Personal reflection question.

Evening Reflection

As you’ve reflected on our passage today, consider what you’ve been sowing in your life and what destination that leads to. Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you towards eternal life.

July 14, Thursday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Ernie’s Friend”

Colossians 3:11

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

I remember Richard Mouw, former president of Fuller Theological Seminary, talking about when he was a seminary student. He spent many late nights in the library and got to know the custodian, an older gentleman who would engage Richard Mouw in conversations every so often.

One night, as Mouw was working on a paper, the custodian came over and said, “So, you like books….” Mouw wanted to focus on his work, and said, “Yes, I do,” and returned to his reading. The custodian responded, “Ernie was like that. He liked books, too.” “Ummm, okay,” he said, but after a few moments, Mouw asked, “Who’s Ernie?” “Ernie was a friend of mine from way back. He really liked books, too.” Mouw thought, “Well, okay.”“Ernie ended up writing some books of his own. You may know some of his books. He wrote one about a fisherman.” Something clicked in Mouw’s mind, so he asked, “Wait, was Ernie’s last name Hemingway?” “Yep.” All of a sudden, the custodian wasn’t just a custodian anymore. He was Ernest Hemingway’s friend. He was interesting!

God has placed various people in our lives: friends, family, spouses, co-workers, bosses, etc. When we see them, do we see just them, or do we see the One who created them? How would our interactions change if we truly saw Jesus behind them?

Prayer: Father, help us to see You in every relationship we have. Lord, we have never locked eyes with anyone who was not loved by You, so help us to love them as You have loved us. We thank You for Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 25:31-40: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” 40 And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”

Questions to Consider

The passage speaks of the Son of Man coming in His glory to judge. Who will be judged at this time?
Who will inherit the kingdom?
Upon what basis are we to love the people we encounter?

Notes

Jesus tells us that “all the nations” will be gathered before Him (v.32).
Those who gave Jesus food, drink, clothes, and welcomed and visited Him will inherit the kingdom.
The basis for our love and care is not that people deserve love and care, or that we are good people doing the right thing; rather, we are to love the people whom we see around us (particularly those in need) as though we were serving Jesus, who is our Lord, Judge, and Savior.

Evening Reflection

Take some time to journal your feelings toward the primary relationships in your life. To what extent are you loving them as though you were honoring Jesus? How is the Holy Spirit asking you to love them?

July 13, Wednesday

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

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

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

1 Cor. 4:17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11

Lunch Break Study

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

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

Questions to Consider

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

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

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

Note

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

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

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

Evening Reflection

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

July 12, Tuesday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

An Inconvenient Truth about Abortion (2)

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

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

2 Kings 16:2-3 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

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

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

Questions to Consider:

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

Notes

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

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

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

Evening Reflection

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

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

July 11, Monday

Editor’s note: In view of the recent Supreme Court ruling that placed the matter of abortion in the hands of each state, we are reposting a two-part series on the issue presented by Pastor Mark Chun on February 2-3, 2017. Mark, a voracious reader, is pastor of Radiance Christian Church in S. F. He is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS, biology), and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

An Inconvenient Truth about Abortion (1)

2 Kings 16: 1-6 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 9

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 19:13-15 (NIV)

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

Evening Reflection

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

July 10, Sunday

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“An Unpleasant But Necessary Diagnosis”

Revelation 3:17-19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 8