REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 18, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why God Ran”

Luke 15:20 (NIV) 

“So he got up and went to his father.  But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Rom. 8:33-4 (NIV) 

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

In the 1980s no Christian song touched me like “When God Ran” (Benny Hester).  The powerful lyrics were sung passionately: “The only time I ever saw Him run, was when He ran to me, took me in His arms, held my head to His chest. . . Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, with forgiveness in His voice he said son, do you know I still love you.”  

Then in the 1990s, an article (Kenneth E. Bailey) about the cultural significance of the “running father” jolted me.   According to the Jerusalem Talmud, during the time of Jesus, a ceremony called “Qetsatsah” was given to young Jews who lost their family inheritance to the Gentiles.  The villagers “would bring a large earthenware jar, filled it with burned nuts and burned corn, and break it in front of the guilty individual while shouting, ‘So-and-so is cut off from his people’. . .. Th[is] . . . shun appears to have been a total ban on any contact with the violator of the village code of honor.” 

So why did the father run?  He “realizes full well how his son will be welcomed in the village when he returns in failure.  Thus, the father also prepares a plan to reach the boy before the boy reaches the village.  The father knows that if he is able to achieve reconciliation with his son in public,” no one would dare perform the Quesatsah ceremony.   The father, in effect, was declaring to everyone in the village, “I’ve forgiven my son, therefore, I won’t condemn him.”  “Who then is the one who condemns [him]?”, the apostle Paul asked (Rom. 8:31). “No one,” he answered, adding, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). 

Mull on the running God—represented by an elderly Middle Eastern father wearing a long cloak, who, in order to run, had to lift up the hem with his hands, thereby showing his bare legs—this is an act of humiliation to keep the son from being condemned.  And that’s what Jesus did for us by taking our place, humiliated and condemned to the cross, so that his atoning death could forgive our sins when we place faith in the Son, that we may have abundant life here on earth and eternal life afterwards.  Share this good news with someone today. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, I lift up Your holy name on high above all things in my life.  You are the supreme Ruler and King of my life.  How stunning it is to realize that You would run after me, even though I have said and done so many things to betray and deny You.  No words are apt to capture my gratitude.  Thank you.   Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 10

---

Lunch Break Study

Read Col. 2:13 (NIV): “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made youalive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, [14] having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”

Rev. 12:10 (NIV): “For the accuser* of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night….” *Satan

Gal. 5:1 (NIV): “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Question to Consider

1. On what basis does the enemy (Satan) condemn and accuse us?

2. In what manner was this condemnation taken away from us?

3. If we truly understand and believe what was accomplished in Jesus for us, how should we live?

Notes

1. “The charge of legal indebtedness” refers to all the laws of God that we have violated, which the devil (as if he were a prosecutor) uses to accuse and condemn us before God the Judge.  

2. God, as the law-giver, simply cannot forgive the violators as if they hadn’t done anything.  Someone with a clean record (i.e., one who cannot be accused by the devil) must take the rap, which is what Christ did when he assumed the charge on our behalf by allowing himself to be nailed on the cross.  

3. We are now in a position to live in freedom.  Other spiritual measures, such as discipleship, fellowship and inner-healing (for some), are also needed to make freedom an everyday reality, but it all starts with knowing that we’ve been set free through Christ’s victory over sin, death and devil.

---

Evening Reflection

In looking back to today, was there a moment when you tangibly sensed God’s awesome love for you?   Maybe it was an accident that you avoided, or an embarrassing situation that didn’t happen.  Look for God in small things in the context of everyday life.   Offer up a prayer of thanksgiving.  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 16, 2015, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), just moved to Tokyo where he plans to, the Lord willing, plant a church. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Measuring Love”

Nehemiah 10:28-29 (ESV)

The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, [29] join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.

Love can be measured a number of ways–the depth of emotion, the extravagance of gifts, or the romantic eloquence of words, to name a few.  But the biblical measure of love is simpler and more meaningful–commitment.

Prior to our passage, the people of God gather to celebrate the completion of the wall of Jerusalem.  Against all odds, the people of God have returned from exile and rebuilt the wall in the midst of poverty and the active opposition of their local enemies.  The rebuilt wall reminds the people of God’s promise to bring restoration and renewal after the humiliating exile.  

Also at this time, the people celebrate the Feast of Booths, one of Israel’s annual feasts.  In the Feast of Booths, the people spend a week living in tents and celebrating God’s faithfulness in the wilderness.  While it may seem odd to commemorate the time Israel spent wandering in the desert with no permanent home, the feast reminds the people that God has loved them and provided for them even in the midst of their constant complaining, doubting, and rebellion.  The feast declares the steadfast love and provision of God.

As the people experience and remember the faithful love of God for them, they are moved to love Him in return, to commit themselves to Him anew.  Like the love of God, the love of the people is not flashy but simple: They commit to walk in God’s law and to observe His commandments.  The greatest desire of their hearts is simply to be faithful to the God who has always been faithful to them.

Prayer: Father, there is no love like Yours.  You have seen me at my worst, but You have never left me nor forsaken me.  You have always kept Your promises.  Though You discipline me, You are quick to restore and encourage me.  Give me more of Your Holy Spirit so that I can love You and walk faithfully in Your ways. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 9

---

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV):  Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [6] So we can confidently say,“The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Question to Consider

1. When we doubt the faithfulness of God, what sorts of idols are we tempted to turn to?

2. What produces lasting contentedness?

3. According to v. 6, what does the promise of God in v. 5 produce in us?

Notes

1. The passage explicitly references money, but we might turn to a variety of idols when we doubt whether God will take care of us.  We may assume power, worldly pleasure, other people, or a good reputation is what really will satisfy and provide for us.

2. Only the promises of God can produce lasting contentedness because only the promises of God are certain.

3. The promise of God’s faithfulness produces a confident boldness.  The readers of the book of Hebrews faced persecution, yet they could be confident that no man and no circumstance could harm their eternal life and joy.

---

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to reflect.  In what areas of your day-to-day life do you see a pattern of consistent faithfulness to the Lord?  In what areas of your day-to-day life do you see your obedience less consistent and more dependent on your mood for the day?  Praise God for the steadfastness He has produced in your life thus far, and pray for the grace and power of the Holy Spirit in areas of weakness. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on October 20, 2015.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“Whose Signal Are We Heeding?”

Ezra 7:11, 14, 25-26

“This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest and teacher, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the LORD for Israel: . . . ‘You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand . . . And you are to teach any who do not know them [=God’s laws].  Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished . . .’”

Recently, in my free time, I’ve been working on putting together a set of MP3s (in the olden days called “making a mix”) to give as a gift to my sisters this Christmas (shhh, it’s a surprise).  There were these songs that we used to hear on the radio when we were little – we never fully caught or understood the lyrics; all we knew was that we thought they were hilarious –  and we would sing along, dance around, and laugh and laugh:  “Fernando” by ABBA (we liked the name), “Abracadabra” by Steve Miller Band (“I wanna reach out and grab ya” was the rhyming line), and “Sandy” from the Grease soundtrack (“Why-ay-ay-ay…”).

While it’s been fun to reminisce, as these songs have started getting stuck in my head, sometimes playing on endless repeat throughout the day, I’ve also been reminded of how we are called to be in the world but not so influenced that we get lost in it.  In today’s passage, it is challenging to read these words of a Gentile king who seems more interested that God’s law be kept than the people of Israel themselves had been.  The people of Israel had lost their nationhood precisely because they had continually disobeyed God’s law.  The law’s intent had been to set this people apart from the nations around them, but when they failed to keep it and remain distinct, God allowed them to be conquered and absorbed into those very surrounding nations.  

Even in exile, though, some, like Ezra, made an effort to stay set apart.  It must not have been easy, living in an environment where the majority had no reason to care (what reason would Persians have to eschew shellfish or not work on the Sabbath?), yet Ezra was devoted to preserving his people’s identity in this foreign place, making sure they didn’t forget who they were.  Our hearts today, are our antennas more attuned to signals from the world around for keeping up, fitting in?  Or are they set on receiving from the Lord as we remember we belong to Him?

Prayer: Dear God, it is such a privilege to belong to You, to be one of Your people.  Help me to value being set apart for You, to treasure the commands that ask me to live differently.  Help me to love Your word more, to devote myself to obey.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 8

---

Lunch Break Study 

Read John 17:14-17: I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Questions to Consider

1. How can the world view those who have the word of God (v. 14)?

2. What comfort can we receive from how Jesus describes his followers (vv. 14,16)?

3. What effect does God’s word have on His people (v. 17)?  Have you experienced this?  In what ways is it better than being affected by the world?

Notes

1. The world can hate us.  Good to be reminded so that we are not caught off-guard when we encounter opposition as we try to live by the word God has given us.

2. In not belonging to this world, we are like Jesus.  When we are rejected by the world, it is comforting to remember that it is only to be expected because we are not from here.  Why should we try so hard to belong to a place that is not our true home?

3. God’s word purifies His people, cleansing them from sin.  God’s word is truth, and the truth sets us free from sin and the lies of the Enemy.  The rules of this world, on the other hand, bind and enslave us.  Let’s proactively seek the freedom there is in living according to God’s word.

---

Evening Reflection

How was it today, living in this world?  What ideas was I exposed to?  Are there any I need to conscientiously reject because they are counter to godly principles?  Do so at this time, rejoicing in the knowledge that by doing so, you are maintaining the freedom that is yours in Christ Jesus.

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 26, 2015. It has been updated.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Love, Not Doctrine!  Really? But Do It Right”

1 Timothy 4:16 (NASV)

“Pay close attention to yourself and to the teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

Back in 2012 I was in Villahermosa, Mexico to train future missionaries. One morning, as I was jogging before the day began, I saw a young man walking towards me; so I slowed down to share the gospel with him. After a few minutes into our conversation, he assured me that  he will return to his former church—“Kingdom Hall.”  Oh no! He was a backslidden Jehovah’s Witness and I talked him into going back to that cult, which believes that, among other false doctrines, Jesus is a created deity inferior to the Father and hell does not exist. And because this young man knew truly little of the teachings of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I was in an awkward position of having to inform him of some of their key beliefs only to refute them afterwards.

“Why bother,” some would argue, especially those who agree with megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes who once quipped, “I am too busy preaching the Gospel to split hairs. . . . Many . . . are dying . . . not . . . for the lack of theology, but for lack of love.”  But I think John, though known as the apostle of love, would disagree with Jakes. Pointing to those who denied that Christ came in the flesh, thereby diminishing his humanity, John called them “the deceiver and the antichrist” who “do not have God” (I Jn. 4:2-3; 2 Jn. 1:7).

Folks, doctrine is serious business and the eventual outcome of our journey with the Lord has a lot riding on whether we persevere in sound doctrines. It is not without reason that the apostle John declared that “anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in [the doctrine of Christ] does not have God; whoever continues in [the doctrine of Christ] has both the Father and the Son (2 Jn. 1:9 NIV, NKJV in brackets). No wonder then that the apostle Paul told Timothy, a young man pastoring the church in Ephesus, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:16). And, what happened not too long ago to Joshua Harris, once a darling of evangelicals, shows how starkly true this can be: Neither persevering in doctrine nor life, Harris renounced his faith and divorced his wife.

On the flipside, it seems that some people who “love” theology (e.g., “I’m a 5-point Calvinist”) lack love, meaning they have little tolerance for disagreement. Ironically, it is Harris, who, before eventually becoming a Calvinist, had said, “I remember my first encounters with the Calvinists. Sadly, I must say that they represented the doctrine of grace with a total lack of grace.”  Another irony is that Pastor John MacArthur, a fearless defender of the gospel whose popular radio ministry is called Grace to You, is the one who demonstrated this lack of grace and love when he penned his Strange Fire in 2013.

MacArthur once quipped, “People often tell me doctrine divides, and I say, ‘Yes, it divides truth from error.’”  I could not agree with him more but, in light of 2 Timothy 2:15^b (NKJV) that exhorts the teachers of God’s word to be “a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” we need to “cut” the word with a sharp steak knife for precision instead of hacking it with a butcher knife. Note that the phrase ‘rightly dividing’ derives from the compound Greek word of órthos meaning right, and témnō meaning to cut. So when Pastor MacArthur, seemingly using a butcher knife, accuses the entire Charismatic Movement as “the explosive growth of a false church, as dangerous as any cult or heresy,” he is being neither precise nor gracious. No one needs to remind me of several problems this movement embodies, particularly with regard to prosperity theology; I have spoken against it in my talks and written about it in my books. Nonetheless, impugning the entire movement and those who are true believers in it, as part of a false church, is not only divisive and unloving, but it also encourages people to move to the side of those who deprivilege doctrines like Pastor Jakes.

In closing, I suggest that when we theologize over doctrinal matters that lack clarity (2 Pet. 3:16), the kind that exists in doctrines such as the Trinity (Matt. 4:16-17; Rom. 8:9) or deity/humanity of Christ (Col. 2:9; 1 Jn. 4:2-3), we should avoid the approach of “either/or” and embrace the approach of “both/and.” For instance, when addressing the basis for God’s election, instead of choosing between God’s “predetermined plan” or  “foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23 NASB), I suggest that we simply believe what Scripture says, which is both (Eph. 1:11; 1 Peter 1:1-2), and stop, as J. I. Packer says, “suppress[ing] . . . one truth in the supposed interests of the other . . . for the sake of a tidier theology” (Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God 1961).  I call this the Radica Middle hermeneutics and you can read all about it in my book Theologizing in the Radical Middle (2018) available in Amazon.

And whenever we teach God’s word, including doctrines, we should always “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). So, in love, I shared with the young Mexican some doctrinal guidelines to find a church that preaches the true gospel.

Prayer: O LORD, You are the God who saves, and I am eternally grateful for your truth and the gospel!  Forgive me for keeping the truth of the gospel to myself, rarely sharing it with anyone.  May the Spirit stir my heart and sharpen my mind to earnestly and accurately share the good news with those around me, in love.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 7

---

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 18:24-26 (NIV): “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. [25] He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. [26] He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. [27] And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, [28] for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.”

Question to Consider

1. What made the situation very sensitive between Apollos and Priscilla/Aquila?

2. How did Apollos respond to what Priscilla/Aquila tried to do for him?  What does this suggest about the manner in which this couple approached this sensitive matter?

3. Is there something really important (spiritually or otherwise) that you have been wanting to share with this person whom you care about but have been putting it off?  What is keeping you?  What do you need to do?

Notes

1. Although Apollos was a formally trained teacher, this lay couple knew more about the actual life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Apparently, while Apollos knew all about the Messianic prophecies, he didn’t know that those have been fulfilled in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. 

2. Evidently, Apollos received the correction since he immediately applied it to his ministry.  This suggests that Priscilla and Aquila spoke the truth in love, meaning they avoided insulting their teacher (“You don’t even know this”) while maintaining respect.

 3. Once, I corrected this godly Mexican pastor who made a mistake.  It was on my mind for a while but I finally decided to address it.  Having said that, no one should rebuke or correct anyone unless he is praying for that individual.  I guess this man thought that I did that in love; we still keep in touch.

---

Evening Reflection

Throughout the day, we have many different conversations.   Today, did anyone share a truth that you needed to hear (hopefully in love)?   How did you respond?  Perhaps, it was you who did that for someone—was it truthful and done in love?  Review your day; ask God to sanctify you with His truth (Jn. 17:17).  

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought—first posted on April 20, 2014—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

“Sports Betting and the Christian Life”

1 Cor. 15:12-19

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

One thing people have stopped doing during the shutdown brought on by COVID-19 pandemic is sports betting (no games to bet on), which is a good thing.  That said, sometimes, I liken the Christian life to a wager, say a sports bet. (I am not condoning gambling in any way.)  For anyone who has ever placed a wager, you know that the amount you bet is proportional to your confidence in the team on whom you are betting.  So, if you were Floyd Mayweather, Jr., you must have been supremely confident that the Broncos were going to win the last Superbowl, because you supposedly bet 10 million on them.  Obviously, if you have little confidence on your team, you don’t place very much on the table.  The dilemma of gambling is that in order to win a lot, you have risk losing a lot.  

Similarly, the way you live your Christian life is proportional to your confidence in the truth of the resurrection.  If you are supremely confident that Jesus lives and that all the promises he made are true, you really won’t care that much for the success that this world offers.   Conversely, if you kind of believe that Christ rose again (or maybe only wishfully think that he did), then you will “hedge your bets,” if you will, by sort of living for Christ, while really living for things of this world.  The problem with this kind of living is the same as the gambler’s dilemma: In order to win a lot (and truly experience the power of a life in the Spirit), you have to risk a lot (and lose your life).  If you do not have the faith to risk your life, you will never live the life God wants for you.  

The Apostle Paul understood this concept well.  To paraphrase 1 Cor. 15:19, “If there is no resurrection, then I have completely thrown my life away.  I have been beaten, imprisoned, starved, for nothing!  More than that, if there is no resurrection, then I am a heretic and I spread lies about God (v. 15).”  Obviously, Paul risked greatly, but I have confidence that now he is greatly enjoying his reward.  

Today, first and foremost, Happy Easter!  He is risen!  Let’s celebrate.  Secondly, let me ask you this question: If the resurrection were a scam, would your life be pathetic and worthless, or does it barely matter in your life that Christ is alive?  As we celebrate the truth that Jesus is alive today —in the aftermath of the wreckage wrought by COVID and amid a terrible war being fought in Ukraine—let’s make sure the truth of the resurrection significantly impacts our lives.  For a starter, let’s hope again, not necessarily to return to our life before coronavirus lockdown, but, with a newfound sense of life built on our unshakable belief in the risen Lord, to lead a truly meaningful and fruitful life to the glory of God. 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, there are no words to express, in any shape or form, my gratitude to you for paying the price—death—for my sins and then resurrect from the dead. I shall truly live out the rest of my life serving your divine interest on earth.  Use me, Lord.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  Genesis 6

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 14, 2015, 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.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

1 Kings 4:34 (ESV)

And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.

The late pastor Adrian Rogers once told the story of a boy who was sitting under an oak tree, looking at a watermelon patch. He said, “You know, if I were God, I wouldn’t put those great big watermelons on those weak little vines, and those tiny little acorns on that big oak tree. That seems backwards to me.” A little while later, an acorn fell and hit him on the head, and suddenly he was glad it wasn’t a watermelon.  How great is God’s wisdom even in this comical situation!

What is wisdom? A lot of people misunderstand knowledge to be wisdom. There is the assumption that your intelligence is correlated with the amount of wisdom you have—that could not be further from the truth. Knowledge is the understanding of a principle or action, but wisdom is the ability to see the importance of a principle and apply it into your life. You could be knowledgeable about many things and still lack wisdom. Many of us operate out of a place of knowledge only. We know what to do and how to do it, but we haven’t grown in the wisdom of applying it to our lives, nor have we grown in the wisdom of understanding the depth and significance of things. 

An example of wisdom is having the correct perspective of your life; that is, having an eternal perspective is one of the pillars of wisdom.  Knowledge is not enough when it comes to simply knowing the brevity of our life and the importance of the Kingdom of God. Wisdom is what will really transform us into people who will live a life with eternity on our minds. Before we apply the wisdom of investing in heavenly treasures rather than earthly treasures in this lifetime, it is simply a knowledge that produces no fruit. Wisdom is a matured knowledge that will lead to fruitfulness and the blessing of God in our lives. 

Many people actually lack wisdom and need to turn to those who have wisdom to share. That was the case when Solomon was king—and it is still the case now. When we see someone with wisdom, our automatic reaction is to latch on to them and ask them to give insight on our lives. But James 1:5 teaches us that none of us need to live without wisdom:  If we lack wisdom, we can ask God, who will give it abundantly to us. No longer do we need to go to “kings” who have been gifted with wisdom to receive direction in our own lives. We have received the Holy Spirit, who will give us wisdom in abundance if we simply ask.

When was the last time you asked for wisdom in your life? Is it something that you ask for constantly or only when you have an important decision in your life? As we grow as children of God, let us not only grow in knowledge, but also in wisdom, which we know is a gift from God.  Ask God to give you wisdom daily and trust that He will give it to you generously!

Prayer: Father, we trust that You will not withhold wisdom from us if we ask for it. We want to be a people who are characterized by wisdom, just like King Solomon was. We ask for a double portion of wisdom so that we may live our life rightly on this earth. Thank you for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. May we continue to seek Your wisdom in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 4-5

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 20, 2015, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), just moved to Tokyo where he plans to, the Lord willing, plant a church. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Longing for the King”

Nehemiah 12:45-46 (ESV)

And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. [46] For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

Today is Good Friday—the day we commemorate as that historical moment when Christ willingly bore our sins on the cross.  So who is this Christ? 

When my wife and I were planning our wedding, there were many details to take care of – the food, the decorations, the invitations, the music, etc.  Our wedding day came, and many things that had been given a great deal of attention suddenly became less important.   Of course, we enjoyed the different aspects of the day, but in the end, neither a place nor a schedule was nearly as important as a person.  And the most significant person—God-Man, to be exact—the world has ever known is this Christ, also known as the Messiah. 

Israel has restored the temple, the city wall, the covenant, the law, the sacrifices, the priests and the singers.  But one thing is conspicuously missing in this restored kingdom – the King! 

In chapter 12, King David is mentioned multiple times.  The Levites and singers are organized by David (v. 24, 36).  Their service and worship unto the Lord were commanded by David (v. 45-46).  Jerusalem is the city of David and the palace is the house of David (v. 37).  

As Israel considers the restoration of Jerusalem, they look back to the greatest king in their history, but they also look forward.  God had promised David an eternal King who would come from his lineage.

So, as much as the people of God rejoice in a restored city and temple, incredible worship, and the establishment of godly institutions, they long for the coming King— the very Son of God.  As much as we rejoice in the blessings of God, in His work in our churches, in the events and services, where is our longing for King Jesus?  

The Scriptures tell us that one day we will no longer see Jesus as through a mirror dimly, but we will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12).  On this Good Friday, we long for the return of the King.  Would nothing else satisfy our hearts!  

Prayer: Oh Lord, strip away all other distractions and goals.  May Your gifts and so many other good things never take Your place in my heart.  May every victory in You and every blessing grow my longing to be with You forever.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 3

---

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 84:10-12 (ESV): For a day in your courts is betterthan a thousand elsewhere.I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my Godthan dwell in the tents of wickedness.[11] For the LORD God is a sun and shield;the LORD bestows favor and honor.No good thing does he withholdfrom those who walk uprightly.[12] O LORD of hosts,blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Question to Consider

1. What is a day in the courts of God better than?

2. If we are doorkeepers in the house of God and avoid the tents of the wicked, what may we lose?

3. Yet why is dwelling in the house of the Lord so good?

Notes

1. One day in God’s courts is better than a thousand anywhere else – better than a thousand days on vacation, at our dream job, or at home with our families (v. 10). 

2. As servants, we may lose our pride and our control.  Avoiding the tents of the wicked may cost us temporary “blessings” in this life like wealth, reputation, or power.

3. Because God withholds no good thing from His people (v. 11).  Therefore, we miss nothing and enjoy everything that is good in the presence of God.

---

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to think about your day.  What activities increased your longing for the presence of God?  What activities dulled your longing?

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on July 10, 2015.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Physical Blindness, Spiritual Sight”

1 Kings 14:1-6

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick. 2 And Jeroboam said to his wife, “Arise, and disguise yourself, that it not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh. Behold, Ahijah the prophet is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people. 3 Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what shall happen to the child.” 4 Jeroboam’s wife did so. She arose and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. 5 And the Lord said to Ahijah, “Behold, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son, for he is sick. Thus and thus shall you say to her.” When she came, she pretended to be another woman. 6 But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, “Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with unbearable news for you. 

There are many examples in the Scripture of God striking people with blindness – usually these people are in some sort of sin and are not aware of their own spiritual blindness and so God uses physical blindness to illustrate in their bodies what’s going on in their hearts. Here we see the opposite going on: The prophet of God is physically blind but his spiritual sight couldn’t be clearer. Both of these examples of the symbolism of blindness found in the Scripture should help us see just how prone we are to over-value and over-emphasize that which is seen. 

We are a people obsessed with appearances. We clothe ourselves meticulously, style our hair particularly, tweeze, clip, and spray ourselves into external presentability. And while I was raised in the South and indoctrinated with the familiar Bible Belt saying, “Look your best, do your best, be your best,” I do sometimes pause and wonder if too much emphasis is put on the first of those three. 

Our passage for today reminds us of this tendency in our own heart to over-value external appearances. We spend more time beautifying our outside world (be it our physical bodies, our lifestyle, our possession, etc.) than we do our inside world. And we bring this tendency to our relationship with God as well. We come to Him with all types of posturing and disguising. But our story for today reminds us that God sees everything and knows us beyond our disguises. At first mention, this is a fearsome thought – there’s nowhere to run and nothing is hidden. But for those who’ve encountered the Gospel, we know that there couldn’t be better news. We are fully known and fully loved by Almighty God. 

As we come to God today, may we come honestly – with our whole hearts, all our brokenness, all our confusion, all our sickness and need. And as we do so, may we find the peace and comfort that comes from being fully known and fully loved. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for knowing me beyond my disguises. I am so prone to focusing on that which is seen, but You see and know all the unseen things. Sometimes I’m even able to fool myself. Help me to be honest today – about who I am, where I am, and what I need. Help me to come to You honestly today and experience the blessings of Your unconditional love. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 2

---

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 14:16: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Questions to Consider

1. Why are we able to draw near to God with confidence?
2. Why do you think the writer of Hebrews needed to make these statements to the people of God?
3. Why is it important that we come to God confidently (and honestly)? 

Notes

1. We can confidently approach God because of Jesus. Jesus not only bridges the gap of separation making a relationship with God possible, but He sympathizes with us in our struggles because He can honestly say He’s been there. Although Jesus did not give way to temptation, He did experience the temptations we feel.  And although He did not sin, He did feel the full weight of sin on the cross. So, more than anyone, He knows where we are coming from. 
2. We are prone to conceal and to hide when we are in need and especially when we are in sin. Just like Adam and Eve after the fall (Gen. 3), we cover ourselves and conceal out of shame. But Scripture teaches us that those are the very moments when we need to expose our needs to God and invite Him to come in and meet them as only He can. 
3. It is important that we come to God confidently because we desperately need His help. If we don’t come to Him, if we insist upon concealing and hiding, we will miss out on the mercy and grace He wants to give us as a help in our times of need. 

---

Evening Reflection

The old hymn “Just As I Am” describes the privilege we have to approach God in all honesty and transparency. Spend sometime meditating on the lyrics below. Ask the Lord to convince your heart of the truth of these lyrics so that you’ll come to Him in full transparency.  

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee, 
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt;
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
sight, riches, healing of the mind,
yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive;
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, thy love unknown
has broken every barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love
the breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
here for a season, then above:
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 21, 2015.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Doing Something About Worry Producers in Life”

Lk. 14:17-9 (ESV)

“And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. . . .19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them.  Please have me excused.”

1 Cor. 7:29 (NIV)

“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.  From now on . . . 30 those who mourn, [live] as if they did not; . . . those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. . . . 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.”

When we have a lot on our mind, it’s difficult to think about serving God, much less pray or read the Bible.  Thus, the Bible exhorts us to avoid circumstances that sap the desire to grow in our spiritual life.  Peter says that husbands should treat their wives with respect (thereby avoiding marital conflicts) “so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Pet. 3:7).  On the night of Jesus’ arrest, Peter, John and James failed to stay up to pray along with Jesus because they were “exhausted from sorrow” (Lk. 22:45).   

In addition, Paul declared, “Do not be anxious about anything” so as to “present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6).  Adding to the list of things that produce anxiety, it is buying things and then using them.   Once, I counseled a newly-wed couple who, despite making over $100,000 a year (in the 1990s), still racked up a debt of $40,000.  In contrast, I was making one-third of that amount, with two kids, but without any debt.  The source of their problem?  They were part of the average American who spend 110% of their income each year, thanks to credit cards and easy loans.   

While the person in the parable may have used cash to purchase the oxen, he shares one thing in common with today’s consumers: making impulsive purchases.  He bought the animals, ostensibly to till the land, without first examining them (ESV). That’s like buying a used car without test-driving it, which is very impulsive.  The problem with modern consumers is buying things with money they don’t have, not thinking about how the ever-increasing debt will make their lives more anxious, which, then, produces worries.  Of course, once you buy new toys, gadgets and places, you need to devote time and effort to enjoy them.  A typical outcome of this lifestyle is less time spent getting to know and serving God.

If the apostle Paul were alive today, besides saying, “Don’t get too attached to the things you buy” (the nutshell of 1 Cor. 7:30), the Holy Spirit would lead him to say:  “Don’t buy things you cannot afford; buy things you need instead of trying to impress people”; and avoid debt anxiety so you can pray.” 

Prayer: Father, I acknowledge that You are the sovereign King who has lordship over my life.  As your vassal, I ought to be totally devoted to You in every aspect.  Lord, give me wisdom so that I won’t let my buying habits get in the way of getting to know and serve You.  May the Spirit fill me continuously.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 1

---

Lunch Break Study

Read: Jn. 14:1 (ESV): “Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me.” 

Matt. 26:38, 39 (NIV): “[Jesus] began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. . . . Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

Phil. 4:19, 6-7 (ESV): “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. . . . [6] “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Question to Consider

1. Some preachers equate worries and anxiety as not having faith.  How would you respond to that?

2. How can we better manage our worries and anxieties?  What do these verses suggest?

3. What worries or anxieties are you experiencing right now?  How should you manage them?

Notes

1. It depends on what is behind our worries.  The admission by Jesus, fully human and divine, before facing the cross indicates distress and anxiety; what human wouldn’t be?  How to pay for children’s college or being able to make the car payment (bought at a reasonable price to meet a need) can be stressful, but it doesn’t mean we do not have faith.  But there are types of worries that show lack of faith: it is when, despite God’s assuring words about our secure position in Christ, we constantly worry about what people think about us to the point of always exaggerating, making purchases to impress, etc.

2. I use the word “manage” here.  It is not like worries and anxieties are going to leave us for good.  They are going to be around and unless we don’t manage them well, they will stick to us like glue.  Through our daily time with God, we need to be reminded that we can trust Jesus, his promise to meet all our needs, and to ultimately say to God, “Not my wishes or will but your will be done in my life.”  That’s how we can decrease the size of anxiety that aims to bring us down. 

3. Right now, what causes me distress is where my last child (senior) will go to college, and whether we can pay for it.  This is ironic because God has already shown us through our first two children that He is ready, able, and willing to help us: I need to be reminded of that daily. 

---

Evening Reflection

Things (more bad than good, it seems) happen every day, right?  So what happened today that increased your anxiety level?  How did you manage it?  Go to God now; let go of your anxiety through Christ.   

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional Thought, first posted on November 3, 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).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Stress and Prayer”

Nehemiah 4:4-5

Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

We have all had those days at work that were irritatingly stressful, frustratingly unproductive, and/or mind-numbingly tedious.  After such days, most of us feel the need to “unwind”—and how we do so depend on the person: Some of us eat comforting foods, others veg out in front of the TV for a couple of hours, or others work out.  One pastor shared how he would sometimes have to go walk the aisles of his local grocery story or toy store, not buying anything, but allow the time to clear away the frustration.  I suppose each of these methods has a way of calming our nerves and relaxing us a bit, but I wonder whether these forms of unwinding are ultimately beneficial to us, or if they act as just band aids.  Honestly, how much can television help us overcome work and family issues?  And when we “unwind,” are we seeking resolution or escape?

Yesterday, we read about how Sanballat and Tobiah both tried to discourage the Jews from rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.  I’m sure their words caused Nehemiah and the people much grief.  In today’s excerpt, Nehemiah gives us the time honored Christian method of dealing with stress: prayer.  He prayed to the One who was able to fix their situation and avenge His people.  Enough of us have adequate theologies when it comes to prayer—we know God hears and answers prayer.  We also know it is a powerful force in the advancement in God’s kingdom.  In fact, many of us have experienced the Lord’s comfort, direction, power, and love through prayer.  However, not enough of us have practically gotten into the habit of taking things to the Lord before it becomes a crisis.  

How is your prayer life?  What is your initial reaction to stressful or difficult times?  It would be amazing if the AMI community learned to turn to God and tell Him about our stressful days and the problems we face before or instead of looking to escape through other avenues.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to cast my anxieties on You, knowing that You care for me (1 Pet. 5:7).  Help me to look to You first as Your child and friend.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 28

---

Lunch Break Study

Read James 5:13-18: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

Questions to Consider

1.  When did James exhort us to pray?  Under what circumstances?

2.  Why did James reference Elijah?  What was he trying to show?

3.  How are you doing when it comes to praying in faith?  

Notes

1.  Although the passage says that we should pray when suffering, in joyful circumstances, and when sick or under sin, the breadth of circumstances implies that we should always be praying (1 Thess. 5:17).  

2.  Verse 17 is interesting because the implication is that Elijah asked God to usher in the three year drought described in 1 Kings 17-18, as opposed to God telling Elijah to make the declaration.  If this is true (and the 1 Kings account gives no reason to think otherwise), then think about the power that a man/woman of God has through prayer!  

3. Personal response

---

Evening Reflection

Instead of reflecting on your day, take 10 minutes to pray to the Lord.  If you’ve already prayed earlier today, sit and wait (or meditate) on Him to speak or give you an impression.  Let’s use this time to listen as well as to speak.