November 18, Tuesday

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

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.

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.

November 17, Monday

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

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.

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. 

November 16, Sunday

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

November 15, Saturday

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

November 14, Friday

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

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.

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.

November 13, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 7, 2019, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Compassionate Providence of God”

Exodus 2:1–10 (ESV)

“Now a man from the house of Levi went and took as his wife a Levite woman. [2] The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him three months. [3] When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank. [4] And his sister stood at a distance to know what would be done to him. [5] Now the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her young women walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her servant woman, and she took it. [6] When she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby was crying. She took pity on him and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” [7] Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” [8] And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. [9] And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. [10] When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, “Because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”

Consider the heartbreaking situation the Levite woman finds herself in.  She is a slave.  After Pharaoh’s pronouncement that all newborn boys must be killed, she gives birth to a beautiful baby boy.  The Levite woman cannot bear to lose her son, and so she hides him for as long as she can.  When she can no longer hide him, she places him in a waterproof basket, pleading in her heart that the impossible might happen, and someone—anyone—might come and save him.

Consider the heartbreaking situation Moses’ sister finds herself in.  She watches her mother, desperate and despairing.  She listens to her baby brother’s cries, and she can do nothing but watch.

Consider the heartbreaking situation Moses finds himself in.  He is born to an oppressed people who are enslaved and murdered with full governmental and societal approval.  His life is to be taken before he gets a chance to live at all.

Now consider the compassionate providence of God.  The daughter of Pharaoh comes to bathe in the river at exactly the right time.  She is curious about the basket when she does not have to be.  She takes pity on the child when her entire nation fears and hates the Israelites.  Moses’s sister is on hand to ask the perfect question, and so Moses’s mother is paid to nurse her beloved son.

In our own lives, we come across heartbreaking, impossible situations, more often than we would like.  We are not guaranteed a fairytale ending to every story, but we can count on our compassionate Father to be present, to be actively at work, and to passionately pursue our good at every turn.

In our world, we come across heartbreaking, impossible situations more often than we are aware.  When we are removed from the suffering, as Pharaoh’s daughter was, we have the option of closing our eyes and our hearts.  May we proactively go to the hurting, be His hands and feet, and bring His compassion to the world.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You see and act in my times of need.  Give me Your love that I might see the suffering of those around me, and that I might act to make Your love and power visible to hurting people. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 26

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 68:4–10 (ESV): Sing to God, sing praises to his name;lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;his name is the LORD;exult before him![5] Father of the fatherless and protector of widowsis God in his holy habitation.[6] God settles the solitary in a home;he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.[7] O God, when you went out before your people,when you marched through the wilderness, Selah[8] the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,before God, the One of Sinai,before God, the God of Israel.[9] Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;you restored your inheritance as it languished;[10] your flock found a dwelling in it;in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Questions to Consider

  • According to vv. 4-6, why is God worthy of worship?
  • According to vv. 7-10, what did God’s love for the downtrodden lead Him to do?
  • How should God’s people respond to His great compassion?

Notes

  • Among endless other reasons, God is worthy of worship because He loves and protects the oppressed and helpless.  He takes notice of those who are suffering alone (orphans, widows, prisoners) and restores them.
  • In the wilderness and even in the Promised Land, God provided food and protection for the needy.  His love was extended in very practical ways as His people followed Him.
  • We should frequently remember His good deeds, sing and declare His goodness, and care for those whom He cares about.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  Was there an instance when you needed God’s compassion?  Bring your burdens to Him now.  Did God give you an opportunity to demonstrate His compassion for others?  Pray for them as well as for opportunities tomorrow to love as He loves.

November 12, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on March 20, 2019, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the Lead Pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Highway Signs”

Exodus 13:20-22 (NIV)

After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. 21 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

Have you ever been on a very long road trip? At certain points, you begin to wonder not only how long it will take to arrive at your destination, but whether you’re still on the correct highway. So, thank God that the United States Interstate Highway System has posted signs to inform the traveler of not only the distance remaining, but a reminder that you are indeed on the right highway. 

This makes us wonder: Without such signs posted in the desert for Israelites, how would they figure out if they were on the right path towards the promised land (Canaan) or not? 

Yesterday, we learned that sometimes God takes us on a longer journey in fulfilling His promises. In our path towards spiritual maturity, it’s common for many of us to grow impatient; in fact, we can even become restless or discouraged as doubts crept into our hearts. We wonder if God has forgotten His promises to help us grow. We begin to think that perhaps it’s totally up to us to figure out how to arrive at our destination. But rest assured that God knows that we will need “signs” or encouragements along the way so that we won’t give up. He will, therefore, remind His people that He is present and that He will provide both protection and guidance. 

We see this clearly in the way the Lord led and guided the Israelites. Of course, as they headed south after leaving Egypt, in the opposite direction of Canaan, the Israelites had no idea where they were headed.  Neither did they know that God’s plan was for them to avoid conflicts with surrounding groups they could not handle.  In the midst of all this, God gave them a tangible sign of His presence: a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night; it would provide shelter by day, and warmth and light by night. But more than practical purposes, it was God’s way of reminding His people that they were on the right path towards their final destination. 

As you faithfully follow His word and His purposes, you too are on a long journey. At times, you may feel as though you are lost or that God may have forgotten about you. Yes, He has given us the Holy Spirit to live in us and that should suffice; nevertheless, at times, we, being frail humans, need something more tangible.  In those moments, ask the Lord for encouraging “signs” to remind you that you are on the right path, and that He is with you always to the end of the age. It may come from your daily scriptural reading or seemingly random comments by a friend or a sudden recalling of past events—whichever way, the Lord will remind you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that You are always with me. I ask for encouraging “signs” along the way to help me remain confident in Your leading and guidance. In Your name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 13:5-6: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” 

Questions to Consider

  • Why is there a correlation between love of money and the knowledge of God’s eternal presence in our lives? 
  • Verse 6 is a quote from Psalm 118:6. Turn to Psalm 118:5 and see the context of the original verse. 
  • When was the last time you felt the magnitude of this verse, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”?  Do you need a reminder of this awesome promise of God?

Notes

  • In the Sermon on the Mt., Jesus tells the listeners to live a life free of worries because the Father in Heaven knows the needs of His people. Loving money and losing sight of contentment results when one loses sight of the Father’s providence. 
  • The passage is a declaration of a psalmist who was “hard pressed.” 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

If you journal, look back through some of your previous entries and be reminded of God’s signs that He’s been providing along the way towards maturity.  

November 11, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was originally posted on February 2, 2019.  Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Lord Appears” 

Exodus 3:3-4

And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Our church currently is going through Experiencing God, so I can’t help but use another quote today (I promise this will be the last one for this week): “God’s revelation of His activity is an invitation for you to join Him…When you are in the middle of God’s activity and He lets you see where He is working, you know God wants you to join Him.” 

The Lord did not appear to Moses simply to say, “Hey buddy, how’s it going?” I cannot think of any time in the Bible that the Lord spoke to His people simply for conversation (please tell me if you know of an example). When God appeared and spoke to His people, there was a reason. God was up to something and He wanted to bring His people on board. God’s revelation is always an invitation.

God revealed Himself to Moses to call him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God appeared to Gideon to lead the Israelites against the Midianites. God appeared to Ezekiel at the Chebar Canal to call him to prophesy to the Israelites. God’s appearance is always an invitation to join Him in what He is doing—we see this countless times throughout the Bible.

This means that God’s appearance demands a response. When God called Moses, he responded, “Here I am”—which is basically the ancient equivalent of saying, “I am ready to listen.” Moses turned his full attention to God. Though we know Moses was hesitant about the specific task given (which we will see later), Moses’ ears were turned to the Lord. He was ready to listen and respond.

How about us? Are we ready to say, “Here I am” when the Lord appears to us? Are we ready to respond to Him? Yesterday, we prayed for eyes to see God when He appears, but this appearance is meaningless if we do not respond. God’s appearance is always an invitation for us to join Him – will you accept that invitation?

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You reveal Your ways and purposes to us. Thank You that You involve us in what You are doing! Who are we to be included in Your plans, yet You choose to use us nonetheless. Please give us ears to listen and hearts to respond to what You say to us. May You use us for Your kingdom purposes. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 24

Lunch Break Study  

Read Judges 6:11-16: Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.” 13 And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 15 And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” 16 And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Questions to Consider

  • What was Gideon doing when the Lord appeared to him?
  • Why did God appear to Gideon? What did He say He would use Gideon to do?
  • What was the guarantee of Gideon’s success in God’s mission?

Notes

  • Gideon was working. He was beating out wheat, which was an ordinary task. He was hiding in a winepress due to the fear of the Midianites, but still the Lord appeared to him in the midst of the mundane.
  • God appeared to Gideon in order to invite him to be a part of God’s mission to rescue Israel from the Midianites. God said to Gideon, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do I not send you?” Though Gideon would be the unexpected hero, God appeared in order to set in motion a plan to use Gideon in a great way. Thankfully, Gideon eventually did get on board with God’s plans.
  • When God appears to us and invites us into His plans, He does not simply then send us off to figure it out on our own, saying, “Don’t worry, you got this.” No, he goes with us. Gideon asked how he would know that he could actually do what God asked of him. God responded by saying, “I will be with you.” That was the guarantee of Gideon’s success. We have the same promise, as Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20).

Evening Reflection

Have you felt the Lord inviting you to partner with Him in some way? Perhaps you have recently felt a desire to serve in some capacity at church or maybe there is a friend or coworker you have felt led to share the gospel with, or maybe there is something else on your heart. Take time to say “yes” to God and commit to doing what He is inviting you to do. 

November 10, Monday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 8, 2019, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who now serves as a missionary in East Asia, is a father of four children and is married to Annie.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Accepting the Invitation”

Exodus 19:1-6

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There, Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Do you remember the feeling of receiving an invitation to a friend’s birthday party? I remember always feeling really excited because I anticipated the games, the cake, and the goody bags containing Pokémon cards. Looking back, I think I was really excited because out of some thirty students in the class, I was chosen to attend—and that made me feel special.

In this passage, the Israelites had just been rescued from the hands of the Egyptians. The Israelites were trapped between the Egyptians who chased them and the Red Sea. While all seemed lost for the Israelites, the Lord parted the Red Sea for them to cross. But, the Lord kept the Egyptians from crossing themselves; instead, they all drowned. 

From the Red Sea, the Israelites entered the wilderness of Sinai. And after encamping near Mount Sinai, Moses climbed up the mountain where the Lord met him.  It is here when God made a covenant with the Israelites. The stipulation of the covenant was that if the Israelites obey the Lord’s commandments, then they would be called God’s most treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. 

What was the purpose of this covenant? Recall that in Genesis 12 God had made a covenant with Abraham concerning His descendants. He said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (12:1-3). The Lord was inviting the Israelites to fulfill their purpose and, as Abraham’s descendants, to become a blessing to other nations. Through the Israelites, the Lord wanted to restore fallen humanity. 

Like the Israelites, we have the privilege of being God’s treasured possession through His son, Jesus. However, God has set us apart, not only to enjoy His blessings, but so that we can become the channel of God’s blessings to the people around us.

Often, we get lost in the routines of work, family, and friends, and forget what God is doing in these spheres. Thus, we must remember that God is always working in every aspect of our lives, and there is a reason why we are in our situations. Through you, God’s treasured possession, God is inviting you to be part of His work of restoring humanity! Will you accept His invitation?

This morning, take a few minutes to think about your workplace, family, friend circle, and invite the Holy Spirit to help you become aware of what God is doing in these areas.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 23

Lunch Break Study

Read John 5:1-19: Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Questions to Consider

  • How long has the man been an invalid? From his point of view, why can’t he get well?
  • Why did the Jewish leaders persecute the invalid man and Jesus?
  • When does the Son do the Father’s work?

Notes

  • The man has been an invalid for 38 years. He cannot get well because no one is willing to carry him into the water.
  • The Jewish leaders persecuted the invalid and Jesus because they were doing work on the Sabbath: the invalid picked up his mat and Jesus healed the invalid.
  • The Son can only do the Father’s work when He sees His Father working. Therefore, the Son must wait, see, and recognize when the Father is moving.

Evening Reflection

This morning, we invited the Holy Spirit to help us become aware of the what God is doing in different spheres of our lives. This evening, ask the Lord to give you wisdom in how to join Him. It is a privilege to be invited to be part of what God is doing around us.

November 9, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on October 14, 2018, was written by a lay leader serving at an AMI church plant in East Asia.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Do Not Worry”

Luke 12:22-28

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 

Riding an airplane is a terrifying experience for me. The minute the airplane takes off, I start to feel anxious. So as soon as I enter the plane, I sit next to the emergency exit, fasten the seatbelt as tight as possible, stare at the route map on screen, and never take a nap. I end up getting off the plane feeling very exhausted. 

In today’s passage, Jesus challenges His disciples to not worry but have faith. He tells His disciples to look at the birds and lilies around them because He wants them to see how content they are. Through this simple observation, He reveals a spiritual reality that we often neglect: do not worry because God will provide for His children.

Worrying may seem like a harmless emotion that we all experience daily—we worry about school, the future, our kids, or work. But the truth is, worrying is dangerous because it blinds us to the reality that God provides for His children. It causes us to think that we need to control our situation because He is not in control. 

So, when Jesus commands us not to worry, He is not simply asking us to stop feeling an emotion, but He is protecting us from taking action into our own hands. Because once we control our situation, we usually mess things up.

While this is a simple truth, we easily forget His faithfulness. Yet, God has placed His creation around us to remind us that, as His children, we are more valuable than these. 

On this Lord’s Day, let’s come before Him with greater faith that God will provide! 

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for reminding us today that You are a sovereign God, and that everything is created by You and for Your glory. Lord, help us to not worry, but rather to trust in Your goodness and love. Today we choose to surrender our lives with a restful heart, for only You know what is best for us. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 22