May 29, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on August 28, 2020, is provided by “NP,” a native AMI pastor serving in East Asia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Little Yeast Works Through the Whole Batch of Dough”

Judges 1:27-35

But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. 28 When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. 29 Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. 30 Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, who remained among them; but they did subject them to forced labor. 31 Nor did Asher drive out those living in Acco or Sidon or Ahlab or Aczib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob, 32 and because of this the people of Asher lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. 33 Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. 34 The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. 35 And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the house of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor.

Recently, my mother was cheated out of some money. She signed up for a tour group, which was very cheap and provided good hotel accommodations and food. In the process of traveling, the guide took her to a shopping mall which sold some luxury goods at a discounted price, so she quickly bought the luxury goods. However, when she got home, she found out that she bought fake goods. When I heard my mother complain to me, I realized how easy it was for us to be deceived when we relax our awareness.

Before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, God clearly told them to kill all the Canaanites. The message behind this command is this: “You will be easily seduced. If you live with the Canaanites, you will soon be lured away by foreign idols.” Yet it is recorded in this passage that the Israelites did not drive out the Canaanite natives, not because they were too powerful, but because the Israelites felt it was more “convenient” to keep them. We see that the Canaanites who were left behind became slaves of the Israelites. Maybe these Israelites thought, why drive them out? It’s better to keep them so we can enjoy their servitude.

But we know that with the death of Joshua’s generation, the Israelites began to be influenced by the Canaanites, leading them to deviate from the Lord. As a result, this led to the whole nation of Israel to become slaves. How ironic it was that these Israelites felt that they had enslaved the Canaanites, but they themselves were enslaved by the Canaanites.

So how far are we from being enslaved by sin? Do we sometimes feel that we are smarter than God, feeling like God puts too many restrictions upon us? Why should we drive these “Canaanites” away? And why do we have to be restricted in our behavior? Can’t we be more tactful? Why can’t Christians do this or that? Isn’t it the case in the world? Should we make good use of something “convenient”? Or does it leave us in the lurch? These are the problems that we need to think about, and we need to take them seriously.

Let’s spend some time in prayer today, asking God to give us a humble and obedient heart and wisdom to let us know how to behave.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help me keep a humble heart in front of you, and let me understand Your mind. I know that Your intention is to bless me, not to restrain me. I thank You for giving me the wisdom to know how to act in front of You so that my life can be full of your blessing. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 4

Lunch Break Study  

1 Corinthians 5:1-8: 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast–as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

Questions to Consider

1. What happened in the Corinthian church? What is Paul’s advice on this matter?

2. Why does Paul suggest that? What is the meaning of the analogy between yeast and dough?

3. Paul called us to get rid of the old yeast and become a new batch. Is there anything in your life that needs to be removed to make you a new batch? Take some time to think and pray.

Notes

1. There was a person in the church who had intimate relations with his stepmother, and Paul suggested that such a person should be expelled from the church. 

2. Paul is saying that when sin is not dealt with in the church, it will start to affect the whole church, just as yeast makes itself through the dough. 

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Sometimes we overestimate our own ability, thinking that doing something once or twice will not affect us, and that we will not cross the boundary. God reminds us not to underestimate the influence of sin, but to humble ourselves in front of God, to examine our hearts, so that we can have a pure and flawless heart in God’s sight.

May 28, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on August 17, 2020. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Returning to the Mission”

Romans 10:14-15 

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

I recently met a new sister in Christ. In our short conversation, the subject turned to current world and domestic events. Unexpectedly, she asked, “Do you think we are living in the End Times?”

I was totally caught off-guard (not to mention, very unequipped to address any eschatological concerns), so my immediate response was, “I don’t know.” But after thinking about the implications of her question, I confessed, “I know that as believers we should long for Jesus to come back, but I’ve been so focused on my life that I seem to forget there is a lot of work to be done and a lot of people to reach.”

It is true: this pandemic has brought about a disruption in many people’s experience of church life, community, discipleship, evangelism, and missions. Affected by social distancing and isolated from others in our churches, I (and I suspect, many others), have found ourselves extra preoccupied with our personal lives and felt disconnected from the greater mission during this time. 

I write this devotional not to condemn (for God is doing a distinct work in each person in His timing), but to spur you onwards. We all need the reminder that God’s Kingdom is not on hold. It advances day by day through the work of the Spirit globally, and there are still many who are yearning to know Him. 

Today, let us ask God for a renewed vision and creativity for understanding what being “on mission” may look like. Whose salvation will you pray for? Who can you reach and are currently “sent” to? To whom can you bring a message of new life and salvation? 

Perhaps after reflecting on these questions, He will give us new vigor and clarity in how we can still pursue His Kingdom. May God stoke in us an ardent desire for His name to reach all the nations, beginning with our neighborhoods, and use even a ‘disruption’ ‘to bring forth new goals.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your continual goodness to us. Thank You for the new life and hope that You have given us and the privilege of partaking in Kingdom work. Open our eyes to see who You are sending us to in this time and give us a renewed desire for more to know Your name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Philemon 1:10-20 “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the purpose of Paul’s letter to Philemon here? 
  2. What is the benefit to Paul to advocate on behalf of Onesimus?
  3. What kinds of relationships does Paul mention here? Why are they significant?

Notes

  1. Paul is advocating on behalf of Onesimus, who has been separated (likely voluntarily) from Philemon, his master. Paul is asking Philemon to accept Onesimus back. He also charges any losses that Philemon incurred because of Onesimus to himself personally.
  2. Paul mentions that he would regard Philemon’s acceptance of Onesimus as a reason why he would be refreshed in Christ. In short, Paul would rejoice in the Lord and would find this spiritually refreshing if Philemon were to do so.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

How was your day today? What do you think about all that is going on these days? Let’s ask God to give us wisdom to discern our time.  As a result, may we be ready for Christ’s Second Coming whenever it may be.     

May 27, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 9, 2020, is provided by Stephanie Moon, who, together with her husband Jon, serves as a missionary in Cobán, Guatemala. She is a graduate of the University of Washington (BA) and the University of California, Berkeley (MBA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Global Injustice, in Guatemala”

Luke 18:1-8

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

It is more and more evident that we live in a world where the systemic oppression and structural racism is an undeniable reality. Various types of injustice are rampant across the globe, but structural racism is particularly evident. I would reckon that every country has its own forms of racial injustice that pains God’s heart.

We have been able to witness this in our adopted country of Guatemala, where systems of injustice cause rampant inequality between those of Spanish and Mayan descent. In Guatemala, 2% of the population owns over 70% of the land, and 49% of the population lives below the poverty line—the heavy majority of those being indigenous peoples. Many of our church members live on land owned by wealthy landowners and work the land in exchange for ramshackle homes and a small plot of land they can use for substance farming. This arrangement is unjust because the land was forcibly taken from indigenous Mayan populations in the 1500’s through Spanish conquest and the impacts of this are felt even generations later. It is incredibly difficult for those of Mayan descent to accumulate wealth due to the lack of access to land, financial services, capital, and the ever-present underlying inequality. 

I am proud that our church, La Gracia, has a mission to raise up the next generation of leaders in our community through education and spiritual formation; but I would be lying if I wasn’t discouraged at times looking at these massive structural and systemic issues. Are we doing enough? Probably not. Is it going to make a grand difference? Unlikely. Does the problem feel overwhelmingly large? Certainly. To the people who are oppressed, are these soul-crushing problems? Absolutely. 

But when we get discouraged, it is helpful to turn to God’s word. I find solace in Luke 18 and the message of the persistent widow. It tells us three things: 

  • Acknowledge that there are unrighteous rulers. People in places of power can be roadblocks instead of vehicles of justice. 
  • Despite these roadblocks, we must be persistent and vocal when we see areas of injustice. Even the most unjust ruler can be persuaded by persistently bringing the truth to their attention time and time again. 
  • We have a just God who seeks to bring justice to the world today! He is an all loving and good God that listens to His children.

So, let’s leave the result in the hands of the Lord who will usher in changes as we obey Him; in the meantime, “to this end [we] labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in [us]” (Col. 1:29).

Prayer: We pray for those that feel crushed in the face of structural racism and systems of oppression. We pray that we would inspect our own hearts and uncover the ways we perpetrate racism in our communities. We pray for the stamina, love, courage, compassion, patience, and wisdom to keep fighting against injustice that we see in our communities. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Philippians 4:21-23: Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.* 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

* Caesar’s household (v. 22) doesn’t refer to blood relatives of Caesar, but rather the servants and guards of the palace (c.f., Phil. 1:13).

Questions to Consider

1. How does the apostle Paul address the recipients of his letter?

2. What is the significance of the way Paul addressed them the way he did?

3. What is the significance of Paul’s conclusion in verse 23?

4. Is there someone in your life who needs to know God personally? Ask the Lord for an opportunity to be used by Him to communicate His grace.

Notes

1. Here, Paul again refers to the believers as saints and brothers (c.f., Phil 1:1). 

2. At times, we lose sight of our identity in Christ, but Paul begins and ends his letter affirming God’s justifying work in our lives as well as our adoption into His family.

3. All the spiritual truths that he desired every saint to know, all the spiritual blessings that he longed for them to experience, all the convictions that he wanted them to have … all of it can be found only in “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

4. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Deuteronomy 32:4: “His works are perfect and all his ways are just.  A God of truth . . . righteous and upright is he.”

Prayer: “Father, you desire that I seek and inquire of You, to crave You and Your strength, to behold Your face and Your presence, continually and forevermore.  I am astounded that You make Your Kingdom and Your righteousness available to me! Father, thank You for Your victory You give me through Jesus. This is the victory that has overcome the world: faith that flows from You, Jesus, my blessed hope. I am confident that Your glorious goodness will be with me all of my life. It is the cry of my heart to believe and speak of Your righteousness and love in all circumstances, and I will! You are always good, upright and just, and available.

Oh, Lord, thank You for revealing more and more of Your very heart and Your character to me.  In Your presence, complicated matters become simple, and You encounter my heart in intimacy and wisdom; there is nothing like being in Your presence.”

*Lunch Break Study prepared by Pastor David Alas (originally posted on September 29, 2013). 
**Evening Reflection prepared by Pastor Bruce Yi  (originally posted on September 14, 2013).

May 26, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on May 12, 2020. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Honest to God”

Psalm 44:22-23

Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. 23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.”

John 11:35 “Jesus wept.”

Throughout the biblical narrative you see people lamenting. The psalms are filled with honest poetry about their suffering, pain, and anger. Even now, it still surprises me how honest and raw they are in their writings.  (Can you imagine telling God, “Wake up, sir!”).  The authors do not filter out their deep emotions and replace it with forced Christian clichés that simply suggest that everything is well because God is good. They take the time to share and vent their deep-seated emotions to God.  This is important for us to recognize. Walter Brueggemann writes that the lament writings are indispensable to the relationship between God and humanity. There would be a genuine loss of authentic interaction. It would make us robotic in nature if humans were not allowed to share their pains and anger with their Maker, and only be left with the option to praise God. That praise would be superficial and forced. A truly genuine praise is the product of honest dialogue with God, not robotic response.  

In our passage today, we see the shortest verse in the Bible. “Jesus wept.” In context, Jesus is weeping because His dear friend Lazarus has died. It’s interesting because Jesus most likely knows that He will soon raise Lazarus from the dead and be with His friend once again. But He does not bypass the process of lamenting and grieving the loss. He goes through it to get to the resurrection of his dead friend. 

Many of us are filled with anger, confusion, fear, and pain now. In moments like this, we need permission to feel these emotions and share them with God. Sometimes we feel that, as good Christians, our prayers must be filled with only statements of faith and praise. But God is not afraid of our raw honest thoughts. He wants them. He wants to process with us so that He might transform them into genuine words of praise. Let us come before God and be honest with Him. Whatever fears and emotions you might have, bring them into the presence of God today! 

Prayer: Father, help me as I am filled with many emotions during this pandemic. It’s a difficult thing to process. I ask that your Holy Spirit help me to honestly voice my thoughts, and for You to provide me faith in You during this difficult time. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 1

Lunch Break Study 

Psalm 13:1-6: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, 4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the emotional journey that the Psalmist goes on in this psalm of lament?
  2. How are you really feeling amid this pandemic? 
  3. In what ways can you be more honest in your prayer life? 

Notes

  1. The psalmist begins with an honest venting session. He expresses to God that God has been slow in providing comfort. However, that emotion is transformed into praise and trust in the Lord. It’s been my own experience that honest processing with God always leads me to a place of trust in God, through the work of God’s word and His Spirit. 
  2. Personal response.
  3. The following is what Job said while he was enduring his trial: “God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked. 12 All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target (Job 16:11-12).

Evening Reflection 

Take some time to come before the Lord with honesty. We are feeling many emotions and oftentimes the temptation is to numb those emotions through binge watching and social media. Take time to process and surrender them to Lord tonight. 

May 25, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 1, 2020, is provided by Pastor Joseph Chung. Joe leads Remnant Church in Manhattan, which consists of three independent congregations—Korean, English, and Hispanic.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Let the Justice Roll”

Amos 5:23-24 (ESV)

“Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

Oh no, not again!

After watching what can only be described as hateful and senseless murder of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, I spent the day praying and mourning. Like many I felt deeply troubled.  As I prayed, having been reminded of Amos 5:24, I prayed that God’s justice will roll on like a river and his righteousness like a never-failing stream.  

What a broken, injustice-filled world we live in.  As I watched that horrible video—even with my heart pounding—I felt a piece of my soul dying.  So much pain.  So much anger.  The issue isn’t what Mr. Floyd allegedly did or did not do that made the police involvement necessary at the outset; rather it has everything to do with the self-evident fact that NO ONE BEARING GOD’S IMAGE DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT—NO ONE!  As God’s handiwork, we all are, despite being marred by sin, precious in His sight.  John 3:16 says so: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

When will this injustice and hatred end?  

Amos 5:24 starts out with a “BUT” because of what is said in previous verses: God’s condemnation of the nation of Israel—His people—for oppression and injustice.  “You trample on the poor,” said “the LORD to the house of Israel,” and “you exact taxes of grain from him…” (Amos 5:4, 11).  It is after that the LORD declares, “But let justice roll on like a river.”  

So, amid all the chaos and hate, let God’s justice flow. As His people, we must love His justice.  And as we worship Him, the way we live must demonstrate His justice!  Please note what verse 24 says: Worship without justice, to God, is a noise; He will not listen. 

Let us, therefore, cry, cry out to God for His justice to reign.  Let us stand and mourn with those who are oppressed and treated unjustly.  

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for “JUSTICE.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come to You heart-broken and deeply grieved as we have witnessed the killing of George Floyd. Regardless of the choices he may have made that day, we know he did not deserve to die in that manner. Lord, we live in a deeply fragmented community where injustice and hatred run rampant. Pour out Your mercy and compassion upon us, that we may truly grieve and mourn with those who are hurting because of injustice. Open our hearts and give us the courage to stand with those who are victimized and oppressed. Make us joyful vessels of Your justice. Teach us to love as You have loved us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Peter 3

Lunch Break Study 

Colossians 1:11-14: May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does the apostle Paul pray that we may be strengthened for?
  2. What is the source of our joy?
  3. What is the inheritance of the saints?

Notes

  1. Endurance and patience with joy.  The fact that Paul was in prison at the time underscores the importance of these spiritual virtues.  How many people let go of their faith when difficult times come? 
  2. The inheritance of the saints.  This begs the question, “What is our inheritance?”
  3. The inheritance consists of two components: 

First, being redeemed and forgiven on account of the work of Christ, and as a result, freely receiving eternal life; second, rewards, which are based on what we did for the Lord while living on earth (2 Cor. 5:10).

Evening Reflection

What are the sins that seem to habitually entrap you?  Considering what was addressed this morning, it behooves to ask, “How is your attitude towards people of other races?”  Pray that God would supernaturally grant you freedom from all that plagues.  Commit to confessing your sin to a close brother or sister who can pray for you and remind you of your inheritance in Christ.

*This portion, first posted on December 15, 2013, was prepared by Pastor Jason Sato who now serves in Japan.  

May 24, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on March  3, 2019, is shared by Pastor Mark. He is currently pastoring Radiance Christan Church East Bay (near San Francisco). Please keep him and his planting team in your prayers.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Voice of Self-Condemnation”

1 John 3:19-24 (ESV)

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

The story of the woman caught in adultery out of John 8, illustrates powerfully how Jesus frees us from condemnation.  We are told that the religious leaders brought this woman into the temple courts, in the middle of a crowd having Bible study with Jesus, and demanded a verdict regarding her sin.

These religious leaders wanted to trap Jesus either by making him out to be an enemy of the Roman Empire or a false teacher.  In the first case, no one could pass a sentence of death without knowledge of the Roman authorities.  In the second case, if he simply let the woman go, he could be cast as a teacher without moral convictions and little regard for the Mosaic Law.  

Imagine the humiliation, the isolation, and the fear of this woman as the weight of her sin was exposed to the church.  As the passage unfolds, Jesus bent down to write on the ground.  What did he write?  The classic Christian commentaries suggest that Jesus wrote on the ground to remove attention from the condemned woman and to place the crowd’s focus onto himself.   This was a way for Jesus to protect this woman’s dignity and personhood.      

Then Jesus speaks the famous words that lead to this woman’s freedom: “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  One by one, each of these men filled with anger, drop their stones, and leave until only Jesus and the woman are left alone.  In that divine moment, Jesus turns to the woman and asks, “Has no one condemned you?”  In response to the woman’s answer of “No one, sir,” Jesus sets her free by stating, “Then neither do I condemn you.  Go now and leave your life of sin.”   To be sure, Jesus did not minimize the serious nature of her sin, even as he forgave her.  In a manner that is consistent with both grace and truth, he commanded her to leave her life of sin.  

In going through this passage, it dawned on me that not many of us will fall into public condemnation, but we leave ourselves open to a much greater threat: the voice of self-condemnation.   Like this woman, we have to get to a place in our relationship with Jesus, where we are free enough to say, “There is no one left to condemn me, not even myself.”  The promise of forgiveness that is found in the gospel is greater than what our fickle hearts often feel.  In fact, it is impossible to be freed from our patterns of sin unless we truly receive the love of Christ, and open ourselves to share that love with others.  Then and only then, are we able we come to God with the confidence that is promised us through the sacrifice of Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that I would encounter you in such a powerful way that reminds me that you are greater than my heart.  Help me to overcome the temptation of self-condemnation and to fight against the accusations of the enemy.   May I come to realize that whomever you set free, will be free indeed!  

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Peter 2

May 23, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on February 23, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Rescued for Relationship”

Exodus 6:7-8 (ESV)

I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.’”

In the past decade or so, our culture has been enamored with superheroes.  So many people love all different movies and TV shows about these heroes who are gifted in some supernatural way; they rise up to save lives or save the world.  We of course know that superheroes aren’t real; nevertheless, they are the picture we have in mind when it comes to what it’s like to be a champion or rescuer of people.  We rally around the gifted and popular politicians, CEOs, doctors, entrepreneurs, etc. to be the ones to bring change to this world.  With this superhero mentality in our minds, perhaps this is how we view God as well.  There is in fact a worship song called “Jesus You’re My Superhero.”  We can imagine Jesus like a superhero flying into our lives out of nowhere to rescue us from a burning building or helping to fix our messed up lives.   

While this view of God isn’t completely wrong, there’s something missing if we imagine Jesus as our superhero.  The superheroes in media or even the heroes of our culture today, they don’t know usually have much relationship with the people they are rescuing.  When Batman or Spider-man swoop in to save someone from a fatal car crash, afterwards they don’t sit down and grab a meal with them.  And our own cultural or political heroes, whoever they are, we typically don’t know them and they almost assuredly do not know us.  Sure they may be trying to help us as a people, but they don’t really have time or the inclination to be in relationship with us.  

Jesus is our superhero, but unlike the superheroes of media or our society, his goal isn’t just to rescue and redeem us.  His ultimate desire, as we see in Exodus 6, is for relationship.  God tells Moses and Israel that He is going to bring them out of the slavery and bondage and into freedom.  God is angry at the injustice that His people are facing.  But He doesn’t want to just set his people free and leave them alone.  Instead, He tells Moses that “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God.” He set his people free so that He could be in relationship with them.  

Jesus came to us to set us free from the slavery of sin.  Jesus went to the cross so that we could be rescued and redeemed and made whole.  But Jesus didn’t come to us just so that we could live good and righteous lives.  He came so that we could be in an eternal love relationship with Him.  Our God is not an impersonal superhero who is here to fix our problems; instead, He is an all-powerful God who wants to be in relationship with us.  Let us remember to turn to him for rescue and relationship.

Prayer: Jesus I thank you that you came to save me and to be with me. I pray that I will daily remember that you desire a relationship with me, and that, in turn, I will strive to be with you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  1 Peter 5 and 2 Peter 1

May 22, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on October 16, 2020, is provided by Pastor David Son. David pastors Thrive Church in Taipei, Taiwan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“We Have a King”

Hebrews 5:7-12

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

I received my absentee ballot in the mail this morning, and I was reminded that even though I am far from America, it’s my duty as an American citizen to submit my vote. Somewhere, deep in my consciousness there is an idea that was planted long ago through education and culture: Democracy is beautiful, and to be American is to vote! 

It is true that there is some value in democratic principles: the people get a voice, and no one person or group gets to decide what policies will guide our lives. The idea certainly sounds right to us. But how come it often feels so frustrating in practice? Especially in this election, why does voting – something that’s supposed to be so right – feel so… wrong?

It may come as a surprise, particularly to Christians of Western culture, but democracy is not in the Bible. Voting is also not in the Bible! I know, I was shocked too. The system of government in the Kingdom of God is not built on elections, or the balance of power. (If this is sounding extremely un-American to you, then you’re getting the right idea.) Instead, the Kingdom of God is exactly that, a Kingdom, in which a King rules supremely. This means whatever He says, goes. Perhaps this is difficult to understand because America has never had a king before. But under a king, obedience is not an option. To be part of this Kingdom is to obey!

This passage from Hebrews sheds light on some poignant truths. First, even Jesus, the Son of God, learned obedience. Now, when it says “learned” it doesn’t mean Jesus was disobedient and then became obedient. Rather, it means that Jesus, like us, had to actively experience full submission to the will of God the Father. Secondly, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Let me make one more clarification: Our salvation is by God’s grace, not by our obedience. This is crystal clear in the Scripture. But this is also clear: having been saved, we are now living in the Kingdom of God. And this Kingdom is no democracy; there is a Good King (i.e., a benevolent dictator, if you will), and we must learn the beauty of obeying Him.

So, in this election, let us thoughtfully and prayerfully cast our vote according to our conscience. This is part of our responsibility as exiles in this country. But as Christians, we must not put our ultimate hope in democracy. The Kingdom of God does not advance through voting, but rather through the daily obedience of the children of God. I pray that these truths offer you hope and encouragement in the midst of dark and frustrating times.

Prayer: Father, give us wisdom and clarity of mind to cast a vote that is honest and consistent with our consciences. Give us hope by reminding us that Your Kingdom is advancing and will one day come in fullness. Finally, give us boldness to live day-by-day in obedience to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 4

Lunch Break Study

2 Timothy 2:23-3:5: Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to Paul, how should we approach controversies?
  2. According to this passage, what are some characteristics of a servant of God?
  3. What kind of people does Paul warn Timothy to avoid?

Notes

  1. Paul says to “have nothing to do” with foolish and ignorant controversies. There are some controversies worth engaging, and in those we ought to be patient and gentle (v 24-25). But there are some controversies that are foolish. We ought to avoid those.
  2. As Christians, we must not be quarrelsome, but kind to everyone. This doesn’t mean we are passive, because Paul follows this by saying, “able to teach, patiently enduring evil, and correcting opponents with gentleness”. 
  3. Paul writes a long list of unpleasant characteristics. Unsurprisingly, it seems that all of these things are on the rise days. Social media has certainly done its part to expose and even exacerbate these sins. Paul says to “avoid such people”. But does he mean that we should cut off connection with anyone who doesn’t seem to be “put-together” in the Christian sense? Not entirely. If you continue reading this passage, Paul is talking specifically about those whose intent is to oppose God and the Truth. In other words, there are certain people who purposefully live an anti-God lifestyle and teach others to do the same. We should avoid such people. 

Evening Reflection

Have you been obeying God in your daily life? Spend a few moments reminding yourself that God is your King. Submit yourself to Him, as Jesus also did. 

May 21, Thursday

UPDATED Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on March 19, 2020, is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Imagine COVID-19 as God’s Judgment . . . Nah, It Ain’t So!”

James 4:6b

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Talk has already begun about whether the COVID-19 pandemic is a judgment from God. It’s a straightforward question that usually elicits an either/or response. To ISIS jihadists, the pandemic—“the plague,” as they call it—is “a torment sent by God on whomsoever He wills,” no doubt referring to the infidels. For them, COVID-19 is Allah’s judgment.

Contrast that with Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of a megachurch in Dallas and an ardent supporter of President Trump. In a recent message entitled “Is the Coronavirus a Judgment from God?” Jeffress said, “Many times illness is just a consequence of living in a fallen world.” That has to be the understatement of the decade, seeing that this particular “illness” is reshaping life as we have known it. Regardless, Jeffress does not believe the COVID-19 pandemic is God’s judgment. I wonder what he would have said if Hillary Clinton were President. I wouldn’t put it past him to sound more like John Hagee, another conservative Texas megachurch pastor, who declared the 2014 Ebola outbreak to be “God’s punishment for President Barack Obama’s Israel policy.”

What do you think?

Allow me to tinker with John Lennon’s famous song Imagine, in which the famed Beatle muses about a world with no heaven and no hell: “Imagine there’s no heaven; it’s easy if you try.” So I say, “Imagine COVID-19 as God’s judgment; it’s easy if you don’t cherry-pick verses from the Bible.”

And we don’t even need to rely on the Book of Revelation—with its cataclysmic end-time events—to recognize two important biblical truths about God and His judgment.

First, God can judge in the present—right now. Consider what the apostle Paul says about the persecutions and trials endured by the Thessalonian church: “Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God (dikaias kriseōs tou theou), that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering” (2 Thess. 1:4–5 ESV).

Here, God’s judgment—inflicted on the Thessalonian church, the same church of which it was said that “the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians” (Acts 17:11a)—was carried out not by a virus but by “those who trouble you” (2 Thess. 1:6). And its purpose was to make the church more worthy of God’s kingdom.

Second, judgment begins not with the unbelieving world (in contrast to the outlook of ISIS jihadists) but with the church. Peter declares, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17 NIV 1984).

So, Mr. Ryun Chang, what sin of the church do you have in mind?

This past Monday, during a long layover at O’Hare, I put on my hoodie, laid my forehead on a table, and—with worship music softly playing through my headphones—prayed rather desperately. (Maybe being in an airport during a global crisis had something to do with it.) As I grappled with what this pandemic was doing to our country, it suddenly dawned on me that, at least in the American context, this could be God’s judgment on the church for its unmitigated arrogance.

Immediately I recalled a short video clip a pastor friend in Malaysia sent me. In it, a Caucasian pastor from the U.S. recounts a conversation with 22 underground church leaders in China. They had traveled three days by train to reach the training site—a small room with hard wooden floors—meeting from 8 AM to 5 PM for several days. Concerned for his own safety, the speaker asked, “If we get caught, what will happen to me?” They replied, “You will be deported in 24 hours; we will go to prison for three years.” Eighteen of them had already been imprisoned for their faith.

At the end of the training, the pastor asked, “How can I pray for you before I return to America?” They answered, “You can gather like this anytime you want in America, but we can’t. Could you pray that one day we can be just like you?” The speaker looked at them and said, “I will not do that.” They asked, “Why?” His response:

“You rode a train for 13 hours to get here; in my country, if people have to drive more than an hour, they don’t come. You sat on a wooden floor for three days; in my country, if people have to sit more than 40 minutes, they leave. You sat here without air-conditioning; in my country, if it’s not padded pews and AC, people don’t come back. In my country, we have on average two Bibles per family, but we don’t read any of them. You hardly have any Bibles and you memorize Scripture from scraps of paper. I will not pray that you become like us. I will pray that we become like you.”

The clip came with no date, but I suspect it happened years ago. Many Chinese churches today look more like churches in the West. Perhaps with the rapid rise of persecution in China, many believers there may once again worship God with all their hearts.

But what about us evangelicals in America—so eager to feel “in” with mainstream culture through our concert-like worship services (singing songs about God rather than to Him), our fixation on social justice (rather than the justice of God obtained solely through faith in Christ), or our total disdain for Donald Trump—or total devotion to him? Let’s admit it: we are full of ourselves.

After 9/11, several conservative pastors declared the attacks to be God’s judgment on America for embracing moral liberalism. Jeffress, for instance, saw the unprecedented attack as “God’s judgment upon America for the sins of abortion.” That may well have been the case, but their response was out of order. Before pointing fingers at others, believers—recognizing that God cleans His own house first—should “humble themselves and pray and seek [God’s] face and turn from their wicked ways” (2 Chron. 7:14a).

As I wrapped up my prayer, I sensed another inner prompting: “Hey Ryun—of whom someone once said you have ‘a PhD in PowerPoint’—stop hiding your lack of spirituality behind your slides.” Arrogance has been in my heart for a while, and I believe this conversation with the Lord has only begun.

Prayer:  Lord, above all else, get us to repent amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Really. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 3

Lunch Break Study

Jeremiah 31:31-34: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How is the New Covenant different from the Old Covenant?
  2. According to v. 32, what was deficient in the Old Covenant?
  3. How does God describe Himself to His people in the Old and New Covenants?

Notes

  1. In the New Covenant, the Lord would write the law on the hearts of His people, not just in the Book of the Law.  Furthermore, neighbor and brother would not need to be exhorted to “Know the Lord,” for all shall know Him, from the least to the greatest.
  2. Since the Old Covenant could be broken by the people, its continual establishment depended on whether or not men obeyed.  Given the sinful nature of the people, it was doomed to be insufficient from the beginning.
  3. “Husband” (v. 32) and “their God” (v. 34). 

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  What evidence is there that God has given you a new heart?  In what area do you still need the transforming work of God?  Invite the Holy Spirit to continue the work of transforming your heart.

*Prepared by Pastor Jason Sato (first posted on December 8, 2013).

May 20, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, originally posted on July 16, 2020, was written by Andy Kim.  Andy is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“We Must See!” 

2 Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

“2020 vision” 

Companies rallied behind this overused mantra believing that 2020 would be the year of clarity and new breakthroughs. Yet no one could have anticipated the events unfolding today. Instead of a year of moving forward, it seems we haven’t moved very much. If anything, we have moved backwards as we have been inundated with tumultuous events no one saw coming. And in response, we can become, like the servant in our passage today, so fixated on the events themselves that we lose sight of God.  Thus, more than ever before, we need to pray as Elisha prayed for his servant: “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” 

Matthew 6:22-23 describes the eye as the lamp of the body. Simply put, if your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light and vice versa. This is to say, how and what we see has a direct impact on the state of our being. For the servant, his circumstances compromised his vision because he could only see the looming threat of the Syrian army and this left him trapped in his own fear. 

Likewise, when we see all the events happening around us, what do we see? For some, we would rather choose to look away blinded by our own apathy and distractions. Maybe for some, they are too near-sighted, thereby being lost in their own immediate needs; for others, they are too far-sighted, thereby focusing only on what’s to come. And in our passage this morning we see that a compromised vision can often lead us to fear; yet a vision clearly fixated on God always leads us to faith and hope.

This morning, we must pray as Elisha did, “O Lord, please open our eyes that we may see.” Before we hear what social and mainstream media has to say about our world, may we start each day by praying “O Lord, please open my eyes that I may see.” And as we pray, may we see the mountain full of horses and chariots of the Lord’s hand and how He is working even in the midst of this. May we not react to what we see but respond to what He reveals to us in faith. 

Prayer: O Lord, please open our eyes that we may see. Forgive us that we often react to things out of fear and make decisions based on fear. Thank You that in the midst of all of us this You are in complete control. We put our trust and hope in You. 

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 2

Lunch Break Study

Philippians 3:7-11:  But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Paul mean “but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ”? 
  2. For Paul, losing everything, including his many accolades, was worth it. Why? 
  3. During this time, what does it look like for us to know Christ? 

Notes

  1. In the verses before, Paul outlines his many accolades that point to his legalistic righteousness. Paul reminds us our righteousness before God is not and cannot ever be based on our own doing but can only come through Christ. 
  2. For the sake of knowing Christ. Notice here that Paul does not say for the sake of “doing” things for Christ, but simply knowing him. Paul experiences a relationship with Christ based on grace and this makes everything else he had done dim in comparison. For Paul, knowing Christ was far greater than doing things for Christ. 
  3. Personal Reflection. Paul calls our attention to this relationship between knowing him and sharing in his sufferings. What does it mean for us to share in his sufferings as well? 

Evening Reflection

Recently, I read an article about the burden leaders have to carry during this time. In addition to balancing their marriages and families, they must also lead the church and our members. More than ever, leaders are called to discern truth in the midst of all the noise happening around them. We need more Elishas who can pray for our leaders to have a clear vision focused on Him. Spend some time praying for your leaders. Pray they would continue to persevere to have eyes of faith.