REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on July 22, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Failure and Forbearance”

Jeremiah 22:20-23 (NET Bible)

²⁰ People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon and cry out in mourning. Go to the land of Bashan and cry out loudly. Cry out in mourning from the mountains of Moab. For your allies have all been defeated. ²¹ While you were feeling secure I gave you warning. But you said, “I refuse to listen to you.” That is the way you have acted from your earliest history onward. Indeed, you have never paid attention to me. ²² My judgment will carry off all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done. ²³ You may feel as secure as a bird nesting in the cedars of Lebanon.
But oh how you will groan when the pains of judgment come on you. They will be like those of a woman giving birth to a baby.

After a week of reading about judgement of God, it’s nice to end by remembering His forbearance. In v. 21 (and throughout the book of Jeremiah), God repeatedly warned the people of Israel to turn from their wicked ways, that they might avoid judgment. God, in His patience, exercised forbearance (self-control, restraint, tolerance) for a time, that the people might be saved. Yet they refused to listen.  

In an article for Christianity Today, one writer reflects on the reality of failure and forbearance.

R. O. Blechman is one of the most famous illustrators in the world. In his recent book, Dear James: Letters to a Young Illustrator, he shares a series of letters that he wrote to a younger fellow illustrator. In one of the most poignant letters, Blechman addresses the reality of failure:

“Preliminary drawings and sketches often are discouraging things, pale shadows of one’s bold intentions. Seemingly nonsense, they’re especially dispiriting for beginners … ‘Is that what I did,’ the novice might ask, ‘and I consider myself an artist?!’ … Speaking for myself (but also for other illustrators, I’m sure), my trash basket is full of false starts and failed drawings … There should be a Museum of Failed Art. It would exhibit all the terrible art that would have ended up in trash bins and garbage cans, lost and unknown to the public life.

“Surprisingly, the Bible contains a ‘Museum of Failed Discipleship.’ Over and over again, the Gospels record the ‘false starts’ and spiritual failures of the disciples. Thankfully, they also record Christ’s willingness to encourage and challenge his flawed disciples. We tend to cover up our heroes’ faults; and we’re even more likely to gloss over our colossal flops. Instead, the Gospels allow us to see the disciples’ failures—and most of those stories came from the disciples themselves. This honesty provides encouragement to us when we feel like saying, ‘Is that what I did, and I consider myself a Christian?’ Our security is in Christ who continues to love us even when we stumble and fail.”

Jesus Himself hand-picked twelve disciples, all of whom deserted him in His last hours. As far as we know, only John was even at the cross during Jesus’ final moments. All of them failed miserably, by running from Him, doubting Him, denying Him, over and over again. Yet I do find it comforting to know that God chooses to work through such broken people. One of my favorite passages in Scripture reminds us of this:  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; (2 Corinthians 4:7)

One thing we must remember is that our failures and missteps are a product of sin, a terrible debt whose redemption cost Jesus His life. May we never take His sacrifice lightly. But the resurrection assures us that there is life after failure, and freedom and power to live anew. May we also never take that for granted! Let’s honor God’s forbearance today by living fully for God’s Kingdom and His glory. 

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your patience and forbearance with humankind as we fail time and time again to live up to your intentions at Creation. Help us to learn to love one another, and to bless the creation which You’ve entrusted to us. Thank You for the means by which I can do this, which is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on September 29, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon. David leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Priceless”

Matthew 13:44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Recently, I read a story about a man named Michael Rorrer of Virginia who, while cleaning out his great aunt’s home following her death, unexpectedly found a chest full of old comic books—345 in total.  As he was going through them, he realized that many of these comic books were rare collectables such as the original comic with the first appearance of Superman and the first issue of Batman.  Then it suddenly dawned on Rorrer that he had come upon a great wealth of treasure.  So, he immediately went to a local pawnshop where it was estimated that the entire collection was worth $3.5 million!

In today’s passage, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a great treasure.  In the parable, we read about two men who found something very valuable, so much so that they were willing to give up all for it.  It is a great picture of what is it like when we gain Jesus in our lives.  Friends, do you realize what a priceless treasure it is to gain the Kingdom of Heaven?  In Christ we find all that we truly need: eternal life and the purpose for which why we exist on this earth. 

Furthermore, we need to see that joy was the motivation that led both to sell all that they had to buy the precious field and pearl, respectively; in fact, it was a pleasure to give it all up. The idea is what the treasure is compared to—it is compared to what they had. The conclusion: There is nothing in my possession that is worth more than Jesus; he is to be treasured. 

So, don’t treat Jesus as if he is just another important person in your life. He is not just another source for your life to get richer and happier; he is not just an add-on. Jesus is “the life” (Jn. 11:25)! He is everything to us!  Notice that both men in these parables had to leave literally everything else to possess this treasure. That is the requirement to live the kingdom life: No conditions. No refusals. No half-hearted commitment. Would that be how we would describe our relationships to Jesus?  If not, what is getting in the way of following Christ with all that we have?  

So then, take some time today to treasure him.  Spend time treasuring him in the Word and worship.  CS Lewis in his book “The Weight of Glory” put is like this: “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Prayer:  Lord, may we treasure Christ with all that we are.  I pray that we would be willing to let go of everything else to gain more of him.  Amen!  

Bible Reading for Today:  Romans 8-9

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 28, 2019. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Priestly Role of the Church” 

Exodus 40:12-15

“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water 13 and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. 14 You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them,15 and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

In today’s passage, we find directions given to Moses from God about the line of Aaron serving as a perpetual priesthood throughout the generations. Aaron’s descendants would fulfill the role of representing God to their people—acting as an intermediary between God and the Israelites. It was a very crucial role in the life of Israel. However, in some sense, this role was not limited to only those of Aaron’s line; all of Israel was called to a priestly role.

You see, Yahweh delivered the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt through a powerful demonstration of His power and might. However, God’s plan was not limited to just freedom from bondage. He had a grand purpose and role reserved for them—a vital part in His mission to redeem and renew all of creation. After going through the waters, the Israelites find themselves at the bottom of Mount Sinai and God declares to them, “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests…” (Exodus 19:6).  In other words, their nation would not exist for itself but represent God among the nations (Exodus 15:27). They would be commissioned to declare God’s glory in both word and deed. 

Interestingly, 1 Peter 2:9 calls the church a royal priesthood. The role originally bestowed upon ethnic Israel has been transferred to the church.  It is an important reminder that the church does not solely exist for itself. A pivotal role the church plays in God’s story is one of a priest-we are called to represent God and demonstrate His love and glory to our cities who desperately need Him. Sometimes churches can be so inward focus that we lose this aspect of our calling as a body. Let us remember that our churches are called to the lost! Let us remember that we are priests who have the gospel to proclaim to the nations! 

Prayer:  Father, we thank You that we have been called to represent who You are to the world around us. I recognize how weighty of a responsibility this role is. Fill me and my church with the power of Your Spirit to reflect your character well to those in our cities! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 7

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Lunch Break Study 

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Questions to Consider

• What are the titles given to the church? What ultimate purpose do these titles speak to? 
• Why does Peter call the church to abstain from the passions of the flesh and to be honorable among the Gentiles? 
• What are some “good deeds” you can begin in your life to bring glory to God? 

Notes

• Chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for His possession. All of this is for the ultimate purpose of proclaiming the excellencies of God to the world. 
• He calls them to be honorable so that by their good deeds they may glorify God. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection 

1 Peter 2:12 says, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 

Take some time to reflect on your life. How are your deeds, lifestyle, and character leading others to glorify God? How might you be hindering people from seeing God? 

REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on January 16, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Media Loves To Dig Up the Past, but God Does the Opposite”

Isaiah 54:4 (ESV)

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.”

It was quite a spectacle to watch members of the Judiciary Committee—Senator Richard Blumenthal (DConnecticut) in particular—attempt to gauge Brett Kavanaugh’s fitness for the Supreme Court based on entries in his high school yearbook. One writer summarized it as “lots of football, plenty of drinking, parties at the beach.” Others focused on a cryptic reference allegedly pointing to a sexual conquest.

No doubt, to the news media and senators, Supreme Court justices seem far more important than ministers of the gospel like myself. But not according to how God sees things. Kavanaugh was trained in law school to interpret the Constitution of the United States; I was trained in seminary to interpret the Constitution of a Higher Order—the Scripture. Thus, before the eyes of the Lord, what I am called to do in God’s Court (i.e., the church) ranks higher than what Kavanaugh has now been appointed to do in the Supreme Court. So if Kavanaugh’s youthful behavior is grounds for denying his appointment to the lower court, then shouldn’t I resign from the higher court, since I too behaved badly in my youth? I confess that I did things in my youth that would greatly embarrass me if they were exposed. So did King David, who prayed, “O LORD… remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions” (Ps. 25:7).

Are you any different? Senator Blumenthal wasn’t. The same senator who took a hard stance against Kavanaugh’s nomination felt the boomerang effect when a 2010 New York Times report resurfaced during the hearings: he had falsely claimed to have served in Vietnam. President Trump, never one to pass up ridicule, quipped, “Da Nang Blumenthal.” The issue here is not whether one’s background should be weighed in assessing fitness for office—it must—but how far back in time the digging should go. For the 53yearold Kavanaugh, it was high school; for 21yearold Kyler Murray, whose antigay tweet surfaced immediately after he won the 2018 Heisman Trophy, it was age 15. Do you have anything to hide yourself? At some point, the digger must be reminded: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone” (Jn. 8:7b).

Nevertheless, I have good news for people like Blumenthal and Kavanaugh. God is not like the media, which never forgets our most disgraceful moments because such stories sell. First, the bad news: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Heb. 9:27). At that judgment, “the Lamb’s book of life” will be opened (Rev. 21:26). But here is the good news: if your name is found in that book—because you have believed the promise that “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life”—then you “do not come into judgment, but have passed from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). God promises, “You will not be ashamed or disgraced,” for He declares, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 10:17). That is the New Covenant of grace!

But those who have not believed that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 20:31) will find that every act of rebellion against God—including rejection of the gospel—will be remembered. As a result, they will be “thrown into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). If this describes you, then be your own media: recall every sin you have committed. But instead of despairing, turn to Christ and repent—He will save you. Guaranteed.

Meanwhile, resist the temptation to dredge up the past mistakes of others when it suits your agenda. Instead, forgive and forget, just as God has done for us in Christ.

Prayer: Father, there are no words that can adequately capture our awe at discovering that You, in Christ, choose amnesia—no longer remembering our most shameful and disgraceful moments. Thank You! May I extend that same grace to others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (ESV):  ^“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV): “For we must all appear before the judgment seat [“bema” in Greek: elevated platform] of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

1 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV): “Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”

Questions to Consider

I attended a dispensationalist seminary where it was taught that there will be an additional 

judgment (a.k.a., the Bema Seat Judgment) just for the believers to determine their rewards. Admittedly, there is a paucity of teaching on rewards. Today, we take a small stab at it.

1. Based on these passages, what should the believers be concerned about regarding their present life on earth: whether going to heaven or hell or something else? Back up your response.

2. What is one key area that God will examine to decide whether we will receive rewards (not salvation) for the things done while we were on earth? In other words, what are the things that we did that would constitute “wood, hay, straw”—combustible materials?

3. Certainly, these verses seem to suggest that bad things we did on earth will be mentioned at  this judgement as well, which, then, goes against God’s declaration that “[I] will remember their sins no more” (Heb. 8:12).  How can we reconcile this? 

Notes

1. The believers need to be concerned about rewards, not whether they are going to make it to heaven.  Whereas salvation is a free gift (i.e., the “foundation . . . which is Jesus Christ”), the rewards are determined by “what sort of work each one has done” while on earth.

2. I am under the impression that “wood, hay, straw” do not refer to our sins (since we don’t expect to be rewarded for these); rather, these point to apparently good deeds done while we were on earth that were, nevertheless, done for our own glory, not God’s. Paul calls this “the purposes of the heart” and God will disclose the true nature behind each of our “good” deeds at the judgment seat of Christ. 

3. I wrote a book called Theologizing in the Radical Middle whose main thesis is this: when seeing two seemingly conflicting Scriptures that are, nonetheless, true, we accept both in tension. We may have worked out positions that harmonize them (some more convincing than others) but never to a point in which we divisively argue (2 Tim. 2:14). My position has already been stated: in the bema seat judgment of Christ, what are referred to as “bad” things in 2 Corinthians 5:10 are apparently good things, but they were done for the sake of our own glory (“wood, hay, straw”), rather than for God’s glory.  

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Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep, review your day—focus on those things that you would consider good deeds. Maybe you bought an extra cup of coffee for your co-worker or gave money to a homeless individual. Were you cognizant of your motive in those moments? Looking back, what was the main motive behind those deeds? If it was done for God’s glory, what would that look like? Is this too much thinking for everything we do? Or, should we be more in-tuned with why we do what we do?  What do you think?  Pray about it. It is important: salvation is free, but rewards are earned.  But since our rewards will far exceed what was actually done to deserve them—I mean, who expects to be rewarded for giving a cup of cold water to a child (Matt. 10:42)?—you can say that grace is very much factored in determining our rewards. 

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on November 20, 2019, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Power of Love”

1 Peter 4:8 

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 

In my early attempts to understand and apply 1 Peter 4:8 into my life, I asked God how my acts and attempts to love—or any person’s love—could possibly cover a multitude of sins. We know that only Christ by His blood and righteousness could cover sin, and furthermore, a multitude of sins, right? Also, as much as I seek to love others, isn’t my love limited and always a work in progress? How could it wipe away or stop sin from happening?

It wasn’t until I served with my team in Asia for my one year AMI internship that this verse began to become real and clear to me. I can testify now that love amongst brothers and sisters through the thick and thin of teamwork really does cover, and prevent, the multitude of possible sins that could dishonor God and hurt one another. 

As our team was formed to work towards one mission, all of our insecurities surfaced to the forefront, and we also brought out each other’s insecurities and fears: these would manifest itself through sinful behaviors, such as judging, holding grudges, and comparing.  We would be busy protecting ourselves, and not supporting each other because covering our own insecurities was a greater priority.  No one liked feeling inadequate. This is where I learned that sin is rooted in insecurity; and on the contrary, security comes from an intimate relationship with God. When we are secure, we sin less. Therefore, we learned and had to work at trying to reflect God’s love towards one another so that our security would increase and give us strength to sin less. 

By providing a safe place in our team to be weak and make mistakes, we were tempted less to put each other down and empowered to love. I learned that we were “winning” at teamwork when we learned of each others’ insecurities (particularly in speaking and leading) and found ways to “love” one another’s insecurities away through words of encouragement and support. By doing so, the energy used towards comparing, blaming, being jealous, disputing over ideas, and judging lessened. Loving one another became above being right and seeing our ideas being executed.  

Our growth began because one person in my life prayed this verse over our team regularly. Through prayer and waiting, we individually grew insight and understanding to live this out. Let me ask you this: What is the temperature of brotherly love in the team you are working with today? Pray 1 Peter 4:8 over your team and seek the Lord for power to love above all.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the teammates, co-workers, and leaders You have placed in my life in this season. Give me wisdom in all of these relationships so that I could serve my co-workers well and choose to love them deeply. May our workplace be a place where grace is extended, and time is generously given to grow in understanding of how to love one another.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:9-13: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

Questions to Consider

• What does v. 9 imply about love? 
• How does Apostle Paul instruct the church at Rome regarding love in vv. 10-11? 
• Verse 10b says, “give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord,”  implying that “giving preference to others in honor” is actually a way of serving the Lord. Who is someone God is leading you to love out of reverence for Christ and for the purpose of serving God?

Notes

• To love well requires searching the intention of the heart (discerning if there are evil or good motives), and being sincere, instead of hypocritical. 
• Love is an action that involves choosing to be devoted to one another and choosing to honor and consider others above ourselves. 
• Personal Response.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect on Matthew 5:46-47 tonight: “If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” Ask yourself this: Who are the people in your life right now that the Holy Spirit is convicting you to “go the extra mile” to express a love that reflects the love that Jesus defines.

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on November 12, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Life or Death”

Deuteronomy 30:15-18

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.

It’s probably a rare occasion now, but if you go to a bookstore, one of the biggest sections of a bookstore is the self-help books.  You can find hundreds of books that give you advice on diet, fitness, mental health, productivity, etc.  And if you stroll over to the magazine section as well, many of the covers offer promises of good advice that will make you happier, healthier, stronger, better.  And then if you just pull out your phone and look through your Facebook feed, you’ll almost certainly encounter articles or ads about how to parent your children, have good EQ, or how to do better in business.

In a world where good advice is offered all over a bookstore or all over our social media newsfeed, it’s not hard for us to lump the Bible into that the category of good advice or self-help as well.  We could read books like Proverbs that gives a wealth of good and practical advice or we could read some of Jesus’ teachings like the Sermon on the Mount and think that it’s a good way for us to live, and maybe we should try harder to live like that.

Consider what Moses says about the commandments of God in this passage in Deuteronomy though.  Verse 15 says, “I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”  Moses doesn’t see the Word of God as just good advice or good self-help material; to him, it’s a matter of life and death.  He goes on to say, that if we would keep the commandments of God’s Word it leads to life abundant, but failure to follow this Word results in death.  

At every church, you’ll hear a pastor or leader exhort the congregation to read the Bible.  For many people, it just sounds like good advice, but in reality, it’s a matter of life and death.   Let us commit ourselves to reading God’s Word not just because it’s good advice, but because in it we can find life.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank you for Your Word today.  Thank You for the invitation to experience life with You.  Help me to receive much as I spend time with You in your Word this day.  AMEN.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 4

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 6:66-69: After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Questions to Consider

• Disciples of Jesus turn away from following him because Jesus teachings’ earlier in this passage are difficult to hear and accept.  What are some teachings in the Bible that are hard for you to hear and accept?  Why are they difficult for you? 
• Why is Simon Peter able to accept these difficult teachings of Jesus?
• How can we learn from Simon Peter’s example when it comes to difficult passages of Scripture?  

Notes

• Personal reflection question
• It’s unlikely that Simon Peter accepts what Jesus teaches because he stood what they meant nor it is likely that he agreed 100% with all that Jesus said.  What sad Simon Peter to stay with Jesus is that he understood that Jesus had the words of eternal life and that there is no other place or any other person to go to that leads to eternal life.
• We can learn to trust that in the end, Jesus is the Holy One of God and that following His words lead us towards eternal life.  Even if we find it hard to accept a given passage or even if we disagree with it, we should trust that Jesus’ words lead to life.

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Evening Reflection

The Bible promises us life and life to the full if we follow Jesus.  Take some time to reflect on how these promises of abundant life have been true in your life.  Remind yourself of God’s goodness in your life and pray that you’ll continue to experience more of it as you grow in relationship with Him.

REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on January 31, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“How John Tran Became Equal to Benjamin Netanyahu”

2 Kings 5:1-5 (ESV)

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet [Elijah] who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

We often overlook seemingly insignificant characters who play pivotal roles in great narratives. While we’re well acquainted with General Naaman and the Prophet Elijah—the two central figures in the passage above—we rarely mention the nameless Israelite girl who set the entire story in motion. It was she who led Naaman to declare, “I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel” (1 Kings 5:15). Without her quiet act of faith, Naaman might never have encountered Elijah—and the story might never have been told.

Now met John—a Vietnamese believer (and my former student) who not only learned to play the harp but also crafted harps, all without formal training, and all within just two years. How? John’s unwavering answer: “God.”

So, how well does John play? Well enough to be the only Vietnamese invited among fifty harpists to lead worship at the All Nations Convocation Jerusalem 2018, where 5,500 delegates from 150 nations gathered. And what about the quality of his harps? Remember the thirty harps he believed God had called him to make? Every single one was used at that international convocation.

So moved were the conference organizers by John’s story that they invited him to share his testimony before thousands—including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is not known for overt religious expression. John’s testimony made it unmistakably clear: his ability to play and build harps came from Christ, who empowered him through the Holy Spirit.

Afterward, Netanyahu sought John out. Upon finding him, this powerful leader said to John—an “insignificant” man from Vietnam—“You cannot show us [Jews] that you are smarter than us; you cannot say to us that you are richer than us; but I can see now that we are the same because you have the Holy Spirit.” Suffice it to say, the prime minister was deeply moved.

In both the world and the church, people like the nameless servant girl and John—ordinary individuals simply desiring to serve the Lord—are often overlooked. Yet Zechariah 4:10a asks, “Who despises the day of small things [or people]?” and follows with this promise: “Men will rejoice” when God uses these small things for something great.

This gives us profound hope: that God can use us, too, for His glory. And if your contributions to God’s work go unnoticed, do not be discouraged. For “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10).

So let us remain ready—in prayer and preparation—so that when God calls us to something beyond our ability, we will respond with the first step of obedience, in faith.

Prayer: Father, in a world where we get beaten up because we are not good or talented enough, it is comforting to know that You choose “the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”   So whenever I am called to obey Your next assignment, strengthen me to do just that: Obey You.

Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 3

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Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 22:27 (ESV): “Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men”; Ecclesiastes 10:10 (NVI):“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success; Ps. 33:3 (ESV): “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Questions to Consider

1. Based on these passages, what is expected of us with respect to what we do for work, profession and/or ministry? What is this about?

2. What are some benefits of improving our professional/ministerial skill-set?

3. How can we improve our skill set (1 Cor. 11:1)? 

Notes

1. The expectation is for our skill sets to improve, not stay at the same level. This has to do with our stewardship: getting the most of out of the talents and gifts God has given us.

2. First, our improved skill set can lead to enlarging the sphere of influence for Christ (“before kings”); second, it can also lead to less energy spent while working and gain more.

3. First, “practice makes perfect”; second, apprenticeship (i.e., learning from those who are skillful); and third, praying for God’s wisdom so that we are wise in improving our skills.

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Evening Reflection

Before going to bed, consider one tendency of ours that is counterproductive: Once we have reached a certain level of skill-set (“It’s good enough”), we become satisfied and then try to coast thereafter. Instead of continuing to improve, we focus more on leisure and recreation. Are you like that right now? What is one area in your life in which your ability to handle it is not your best (e.g., parenting, making power points, etc.).  Pray to the Lord that He will give you desire and determination to enhance and improve your skill-set, so that you will stand before “kings,”; and work less and with the time saved serve the Lord more. 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on August 26, 2018, was written by Hee Jung Lee. She serves at Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey alongside her husband, Pastor Sam Lee.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“We Belong to God”

Jeremiah 32:38-40

They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.

According to statistics, there are 153 million orphans in the world. It has been recorded that if we were to gather all the orphans and rank the population as a nation, it would be the ninth largest country in the world. This is a heartbreaking statistic. Although this is the number of actual orphans, let us consider the number of persons in the world who live as if they are orphaned. What is meant by this? This means the number of people who believe that no one will care for them, and as a result, they live life as if they must fend for themselves. This is a lonely and stressful way for a person to live. This, however, should not be for us believers. 

In Jeremiah 32:38, it says, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way.” When we permitted Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, we also consented to being adopted into God’s family, a spiritual family. It came as a package. We recognized God to be our heavenly Father, Jesus as our Lord, and Holy Spirit as our forever spiritual guide. God placed a seal of approval on us, vowing never to leave nor forsake us. This is the fulfillment of the promise that we would be God’s people and He would be our God (v.38). 1 John 3:1 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” 

This assurance that we belong to someone and somewhere is invaluable; but the assurance that we belong specifically to God’s family, where He covers us and provides care for us, gives us enormous peace and assurance that all that we need (physical and emotional) are at our disposal. Furthermore, the recognition that we have a spiritual family that we rightfully belong to should motivate us to investing more intentionally in the relationships with the brothers and sisters at church. God is providing us another measure of care through this family, and this belonging is healing to our self-worth and value. It is a crucial part of our identities. 

Having these truths in mind, we can take a deep breath of relief. God has not left us to ourselves to figure out life. Rather, He has taken us in as His own, giving us permission to look to Him for everything and to enjoy being part of the amazing family that He has established through the blood of Jesus. Be at peace today because you are well cared for and you certainly belong!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for adopting me as Your very own! How privileged I am to be taken in under Your royal wings and to be given a family to journey life with. As one of Yours, You have entitled me to everything that belongs to You. I can trust You to care for me and not live self-sufficiently as if I were lord over my life. Thank You! In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 2

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on September 22, 2018, was written by Claudia Robbie. She has faithfully served on staff at Journey Church of Atlanta for more than ten years.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

Matthew 20:28 

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

For a while, the Lord has been challenging my idea of servanthood and humility. “I’m older, I’m a leader, I disciple these people, I have kids, I’m tired ….” are reasons I give God when I am confronted to serve in a way that I think is beneath my scope. I can get frustrated when others don’t serve, especially when there is a need. But God has been asking me: “Are you the first to serve when there is a need? Are you a servant or a leader?” 

I know I am a servant, but in this season, God has been working in my heart and bringing me to another degree of glory where He has freed me from lifelong lies.  He is bringing me to repentance of long forgotten sins, and I realize just how much of my time and mind is taken with ME (my anxieties, desires, hopes, boundaries, etc.).  But it ceased being about ME when I said yes to God and I am experiencing this next layer now. 

He wants a servant’s heart, not just acts of service so I can get some imaginary merit badge. It’s not just in discipleship, administration, teaching, or counseling (my roles and responsibilities as a leader). I am called to be a servant where there is need, in or outside my church, teaching from the front or on my knees scrubbing a toilet, in public or private, whether someone else has a servant heart or not. Because what floors me about Jesus is that He served me to His death when I was His enemy.

What would it do for those I lead if they see me spent to the end for Jesus, not just in the front or at the top but in the lowly and despised things? What would it do for my heart as a leader if I were the first to clean a toilet or take out the trash? Would it keep my heart tender, soft, and humble before God? Maybe a servant’s heart is God’s protection against pride and self sufficiency for me as I lead.

I am not advocating or suggesting doing more to do more. But we should ask ourselves, Is my heart in a posture of humility and servanthood that I can hear God when He whispers that it is my turn to serve and love with the lowliest of things. Am I free enough from my dreams, desires, agendas, and hopes (even in ministry) that I can hear when God says, “I want you to take out the trash today”? 

What is God saying to the servant’s heart He is cultivating in you today? 

PRAYER: In our busy lives, Father, we become deaf to You. We believe it’s about position, responsibilities, and capabilities, but it’s about You reclaiming us. Teach us to be servants in all that we do as we listen for Your leading.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 28-Romans 1

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 19, 2019, is provided by Pastor David Son. David pastors Thrive Church in Taipei, Taiwan.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Breaking the Pattern”

Exodus 22:21

You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 

Growing up, I didn’t get to spend much time with my father. My dad was a pastor, and he devoted most of his time to ministry. Often, he would leave for morning prayer at 5AM, and return home near my bedtime. I do think that I am very blessed to have the dad that I have. He is a man of integrity and grace. And for that I am more than blessed. But I would be lying if I said that I didn’t wish he could have spent more time with me. 

The ironic thing is that now I find myself in my dad’s position: pastoring a church, while raising a family. And for the first time in my life, I am beginning to see a generational pattern. Furthermore, I discovered that my dad grew up without a father as well (my grandfather passed away when my dad was a child). So in short, for as many generations as I know, the children in my family have always struggled to know intimacy with their dads. I haven’t fully figured it out yet, but my prayer is that God would help my family to break this pattern of fatherless-ness. 

But if you really sit and think about our verse for today, it’s hardly fair! God commands the Israelites to treat sojourners (foreigners) well, because the Israelites were once sojourners (foreigners) residing in the land of Egypt. But if you remember… the Israelites were not treated well by the Egyptians at all! In fact, they were oppressed slaves! Why, then, does God expect the Israelites to treat their foreign residents kindly? 

This passage is calling for a break in the pattern. Yes, the Israelites were treated terribly in Egypt… but by the grace of God, they can break that pattern. Now that the Israelites were in the position of hosting foreigners, God commands them not to act upon their previous experience, but rather based upon His grace.

Which area in your life is God calling for a break in the pattern? Perhaps it has something to do with the way you grew up. Maybe a certain hurtful experience from the past has shaped the way you treat others. Let’s come to the Lord and ask Him to help us live in His grace today.

Prayer: Father, on our own we cannot help but be shaped by our experiences. We only know how to treat people based on how we ourselves have been treated. But today we want to remember how You treated us. Although we were sinners You loved us, and although we were orphans You brought us into Your family. May we treat others based on how You have treated us.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 27

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 4:19-21: We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Questions to Consider

• According to John, what is the driving force behind our love for others?
• In the passage, whom does John call a liar? Why?
• What is the commandment that John highlights?

Notes

• John says that we love because God first loved us. In other words, God’s love for us is the fuel that empowers us to love others.
• John says, if anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. He explains that it is much easier to love a human being whom you can see, than to love an invisible God. Therefore, if someone claims to have an intimate loving relationship with God, and yet they cannot even bring themselves to love a fellow human being… there is something wrong with that.
• John says, “Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” The word “must” means that it is not an option, but rather it is mandatory! If we say that we love God, then we must also love others.

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Evening Reflection

Spend some time this evening praying for your church. Let’s pray that our churches become places where sinful patterns are broken and replaced by God’s grace and love.