January 22, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 22, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Building Habits” (Part A)

Heb. 10:24-5

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

All of us are creatures of habit-whether good or bad.  The author of Hebrews was concerned about one particular bad habit:  some believers stopped participating in Christian meetings which was designed to encourage one another.  Likewise, the apostle Paul was concerned about certain widows who got “into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house . . ., talk[ing] nonsense” (1 Tim. 5:13).  But then there are those who formed good habits, one of which was responsible for saving the Jews during the World War II.   

While repeatedly banging the door, a voice from outside shouted, “Open the door! We’re the secret police of the Third Reich.  Are you hiding any Jews?”  “No,” said Corrie Ten Boom.  Not believing her, the Nazi police thoroughly searched the house but found no one. But there were actually several Jews hiding in a secret room built by Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian.  She was part of only a handful of Gentiles who, during the WW II, “refused to hide behind the mask of the innocent by-stander donned by so many of the fellow citizens in Germany, Poland, France and elsewhere” (Christianity Today).  For heroic acts like these, many suffered: Ten Boom who was imprisoned, while others, like her father and sister, were killed.

So what was behind these people becoming such exceptional human beings who risked so much to rescue the helpless Jews?  Were they naturally more compassionate? In terms of investment, it was a terrible decision since the potential return was absolute zero, that is, in a material sense; the risk involved was losing everything, including one’s life.  Some time ago, such curiosity led researchers at a university to conduct an 8-year study of these rescuers and found that they may have saved as many as 500,000 lives.  

So who were these people?  They found that these were both “rich and poor, educated and barely literate, believers and even few atheists” (or, a womanizer like Oskar Schindler).  But one interesting discovery—a common thread that tied them together—wasn’t something you would have guessed.  They were ordinary folks who had a history of doing good deeds before the War.  Because they got into the habit of doing good, it was a natural response for them.  Most of them never planned to be rescuers.  They simply found themselves responding to the need first and the danger second.  

So doing good deeds was a habit for them; habits, whether good or bad, are hard to change!  And one way to build this good habit is taking part consistently in Christian fellowship where “we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  See you this week at the mid-week family or cell group.  

Prayer: Dear God, help me to develop good habits so that I will obey You without having to think long and hard about it. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 24-25

January 21, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 14, 2015, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun who pastors Radiance Christian Church in S. F.   He studied biology at University California, San Diego and completed his Master of Divinity at Talbot School of Theology.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Religious Syncretism? No, I Don’t Commit That Sin!”

2 Kings 17: 27-33 (NIV)

Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord. 29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns where they settled, and set them up in the shrines the people of Samaria had made at the high places. 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought. 

In our passage this morning, we are introduced to a subtle form of idolatry known as religious syncretism.  Simply put, this involves the combining of Christian worship with the practice of idolatry.  This is actually a common issue among many believers from different cultures who would consider themselves to be Christians but still hold onto their ties to practices such as ancestral worship, fortune telling, and astrological readings.  

However, this sin of religious syncretism is not tied just to those who have a hard time shedding the influence of false religions; it happens anytime we struggle with idolatry.  Today we see this syncretistic worship of God in many different Christian movements such as those who believe in the prosperity gospel.  Within this movement, the general theological premise is that God wants all of his people to experience abundant financial wealth and perfect health.  It’s clear to see how the idol of money and comfort has been blended together with Christianity to give this deceptive view of faith.  Many of these churches are growing and flourishing because this is what people want to hear.  We naturally want to hear that God wants us to be rich and live in comfort but this is clearly a dangerous deception clothed in religion syncretism.   

In the broadest definition, idolatry is simply anything you worship, even if you love it less than God.  Many times when people commit adultery, it’s not because they have stopped loving their spouses; it’s because they’ve learned to love someone else.  But when confronted with the decision to leave their wives or husbands for their mistresses, they won’t leave them.  This was the case with Israel.  They knew who their God was and they would never openly reject him but their sin was that they allowed the philosophies and religious practices of the world around them to corrupt the true worship of God.  Just as an affair corrupts the sanctity of marriage, our love for the world corrupts our love for God and taints our worship of Him.

Prayer: Lord, give me an undivided heart and a desire to keep my worship pure.  Help me to see the areas where I have allowed the world to influence the way I think about my faith and to discern what is true versus what is false.   May my life be a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice in your sight.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 23

Lunch Break Study

Read John 4:19-26 (NIV): “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What was wrong with the Samaritan woman’s view of worship?
  2. What kind of worshippers is God seeking?  
  3. How do we become the type of worshippers that God desires?

Notes

  1. The Samaritan women viewed the worship of God as being fixed to a certain location— in this case a certain mountain.  This was undoubtedly something that had crept into her understanding of God from the worship of idols in the Samaritan culture.  
  2. The Father seeks worshippers who worship in spirit and truth.  This represents a worship that is authentic and from the heart but also based on the truth of who God is.  This is worship that is pure in the eyes of God.
  3. The only way to worship the Father in spirit and truth is to center our worship on the person of Christ, his life, death, and resurrection and to be led by the Holy Spirit.    This worship can take place only in and through him: he is the true temple and he is the resurrection and the life.  The passion and exaltation of Jesus constitute the turning point upon which the gift of the Holy Spirit depends

Evening Reflection

The Samaritan woman was stuck on where the proper place of worship should be.  For the Jews and Samaritans, this was no small matter.   The locus of worship was everything to them because the acceptability of their sacrifices was thought to be dependent on where it was given.  I think it’s easy to misread the answer that Jesus gives to this debate because we assume that He would say that you can worship anywhere and everywhere.  It’s absolutely true that we can worship in our cars, in our office cubicles, in the shower, but this isn’t what Jesus is saying—otherwise he would have told the woman, “An hour is coming when you will worship the Father both on this mountain and in Jerusalem,” but He doesn’t say that.  What he does say is that you will worship neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.  Jesus is essentially changing the locus of worship.  Jesus is pointing the woman to the fact that acceptable worship isn’t focused on this mountain or the other mountain, but the new focus of worship would be on a small, insignificant hill, where His cross would be raised.  Have you worshipped at the foot of the cross lately?  Is Christ, the center of all your worship?

January 20, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on March 19, 2015.  Cami has served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“What Kind of Leader Are You?”

1 Samuel 24:1-7

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats’ Rocks. 3 And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4 And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 5 And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord’s anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord’s anointed.” 7 So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way

Most of us are products of a culture that has very little concept of respect of authority. “Respect is not given, it’s earned” is a phrase many of us have heard or even said ourselves.  And while there is some truth to this idiom and some legitimacy to the postmodernist loss of respect for authority, I am still able to perceive something noble and true about David’s posture toward King Saul in response to his God-given leadership role. 

We are all placed in positions of authority and in positions under authority in various spheres. And while our passage for today begs us to examine our interactions with the latter space, I want to challenge us instead to reflect on the former space. Saul was David’s leader and what we read in the above passage is the kind of commitment and submission to which God called David as a result. As leaders (be it as parents, spouses, bosses, small group leaders, older brothers/sisters in Christ, etc.) we are given a great responsibility to care for and honor the people God has called to submit to us. There is great vulnerability in submission, yes, but there is even greater responsibility in leadership. 

Obviously, Saul is not the model of responsible leadership. Instead of caring for and building up David, whom Saul wrongly views as his rival, he persecutes him, forcing David to the unfortunate place of choosing between honoring God (by respecting the leadership of Saul) and protecting his own life (by killing Saul before he kills David). In Romans 13, Paul encourages us to submit to the authority figures in our lives, knowing that all authority and leadership is given by God. In the same way, leaders are called to care for those under their watch, being fully aware of their vulnerable position. 

What kind of leader are you? Who are the people subject to your leadership? Ask God to help you lead in such a way that their God-honoring respect of and submission to you is life-giving to them and not burdensome or even harmful. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ways in which you’ve entrusted me with positions of leadership. Thank you for the trust and submission of those under my care. Please help me to lead in such a way that I build others up and encourage them toward Christ-likeness and not in a way that is self-seeking and harmful to others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 22

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 13:1-7: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does verse 4 tell us about the purpose and role of authority figures? 
  2. As one subject to authority, we see obvious ways this passage may call us to action. But as one in positions of authority, how is this passage challenging or convicting? 
  3. What would people under your leadership say about you as a leader?  In light of that, what changes are needed in order to improve your leadership? 


Notes

  1. Positions of authority are for the purpose of serving God and for the good of others.  Leaders are positioned by God and empowered to work on His behalf (not for their selfish ambitions or personal gain). 
  2. Again, we should be aware of the God-given nature of our positions of authority. Here, Paul seems to be focusing on governmental authority, but I’d think his sentiments are true for all positions of authority. If the position is given by God, then we should, with awe and reverence, use it for His glory. Furthermore we should be considerate of those subjected to us remembering that they are called by God to submission. 
  3. Personal application question.  

Evening Reflection

Think of the good and bad leadership to which you’ve been subject throughout your life. How has good leadership been life-giving for you? Reflect on the ways Jesus chose to interact with and exercise his authority. How can you be more like Him as you exercise your God-given authority in various spheres where others are subject to you?  

January 19, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 8, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What a Good Son Looks Like in Real Life”

Ephesians 6:1-2 (NIV)

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth.”

A Korean pastor who recently immigrated chose “Jonathan” as his American name, saying, it’s because “the Bible doesn’t mention any of his faults.”  Perhaps he was impressed by Jonathan, who, as the successor to the throne of King Saul, selflessly acquiesced his kingship to David (1 Sam. 23:17).  But those who are into nitpicking may find Jonathan at fault for standing up to his father, who couldn’t understand why he was so willing to let David be the king.   So Saul reminded him, saying, “As long as [he] lives . . ., neither you nor your kingdom will be established . . ., he must die!” (I Sam. 20:31). 

What should a good son do?  I remember a pastor, while teaching on obedience, said, “God won’t hold a son responsible for obeying his father who ordered him to rob a bank.”  Undoubtedly, this person would object to Jonathan who responded, “Why should he be put to death?  What has he done?” (v.32). An infuriated Saul, then, “hurled his spear at him to kill him” (v.33).   Jonathan, after leaving the “table in fierce anger,” was “grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David” (v.34).

A cursory reading of the Bible is enough to realize the importance of obedience, but there is an important distinction between obedience to God and obedience to someone who is not God. Since God is never wrong, when He commands us to do something, our response must always be a full compliance.  But when our rightful authorities command us to do something, there may be times when we should not obey them, since they are fallible humans.  Saul’s desire to kill David was against God’s will, thus, Jonathan didn’t obey his father.   

This type of issues arises in Christian families as well, and sometimes, it breaks up relationships.   What really heartens me about Jonathan occurs at the very end of his life:  Despite being upset at Saul, his last hour was spent fighting along with his father against the enemy, and even dying with him (31:2).  

In life, we have our differences in the family, but don’ let it destroy relationships.  Maybe you need to reconcile with someone in the family.  Do it today.  

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 5:1-5, 7-10a: But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. . . . 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last . . . 

Matt. 10:37 (ESV): “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why did God punish this couple?

2. Assumably, the idea to cheat and lie to God came from the husband.  What should Sapphira have done?  How should she have handled the situation?

3. In light of this, how should we interpret Matt. 10:37?  What would you have done?   

Notes

1. This couple wasn’t necessarily punished for keeping a portion of the money they had received for selling their property. But the couple was punished because they pretended to have given all the money to church, which is what they said they would, when, in fact, they didn’t.   

2. The answer to “what” is much easier to answer than “how.”  It’s obvious that she shouldn’t have agreed to lie to God.  As to “how” she should have handled this, it is always good to reason things out before turning it into an “either/or” or “do this or else” type of proposition. 

3. I think what Matt. 10:37 teaches is this: Living by God’s truth and obedience to Him always takes precedence over any familial obligations. One difficulty is discerning which issue is black-and-white and which is not.  The matter involving Ananias and Sapphira was a black- and- white situation. 

Evening Reflection

What decisions did you face today?  Did you face a situation that called for you to compromise your 

principles?  Thank the Lord for making a good decision; ask for forgiveness if you caved in.

January 18, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on May 12, 2015.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Indecisiveness and Unwanted Consequence”

2 Samuel 13:21-22

When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. [22] But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.

Have you ever had a moment of indecisiveness that resulted in unwanted consequences?  I remember about a year ago, I was trying to buy an airplane ticket online, but when I saw how high the price was, I figured I would wait.  I kept checking the price in the days after, but the ticket price was not going down.  I became indecisive of whether to purchase the ticket and after a few more days of waiting, I ended up paying more than when I first started to look.  I was met with unwanted consequences because of my indecisiveness.  

When King David learned about the rape of Tamar, he was furious, but his anger did not amount to anything. David could have sought out justice and set things right but nothing became of David’s anger—he was indecisive and failed to pursue justice despite the power to do so. The text also fails to mention that David grieved over the situation or even went to comfort Tamar.  At the very least David should have confronted Amnon, rebuking and punishing him.  Here is how one commentator describes David’s actions: “We have known David as a man of decisive action, but in this and subsequent episodes narrating the drama of his own family, David is curiously passive and indecisive.  Perhaps David is himself so morally compromised by his own flagrant crimes that he cannot confront the excesses of his sons.  David may be angry, but he joins the conspiracy of silence around the rape of Tamar, and in doing so he unwittingly allows Absalom’s murderous revenge to run its course”(Bruce C. Birch, “The First and Second Books of Samuel,” The New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. II).

What can we learn from this passage?  First, we must learn how to decisively and quickly deal with sin in our own lives.  We cannot let sin linger hoping that things will get better; rather, we should identify and repent of sin immediately.  We also must learn how to confront others about sin in their lives with love and wisdom.  As a body of Christ, we are called to help one another, but by ignoring sin in people’s lives, it hurts the person as well as others.    Silence provides room for sin to fester and grow.  Absalom was probably hoping that his father, King David, would respond to Tamar’s rape.  The fact that David remained silent probably caused Absalom to despise David, so Absalom, being infuriated with Tamar’s disgrace, planned for Amnon’s death later on in the chapter.  

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to my own sin that I’m often blinded by.  Help me to always repent and not let sin linger in my life.  Also, give me the courage to confront others who are living in sin so that I would do it wisely and out of love for them.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 20 

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 6:5-14: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin. [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. [13] Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. [14] For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Questions to Consider

  1. What do we learn about sin in this passage?
  2. What does it mean that Christ has set us free from sin?  What does it mean to you?
  3. How do these verses help you in your fight against sin?

Notes

  1. We are no longer slaves of sin, but we are slaves of righteousness.  Practically, this means that sin is not our master and we have victory because of what Jesus has done.  We have the power to overcome sin in our daily lives.
  2. We need to depend on Jesus through the power of the Spirit.  Since Christ has given us the power, we cannot overcome sin by our own flesh and will power.  
  3. We can have hope over sin in our lives.  It should give us immense motivation today to continue to fight against sin knowing that the fight will end in victory—sin, shame, failures, and guilt no longer have rule over us because of Christ. Glory to God!

Evening Reflection

Reflect and spend time thinking on Christ’s great love for you.  In our constant fight against sin, we must always remind ourselves that we have a God who loves us unconditionally, despite all of our weaknesses and failures.  Thank Him for His constant love that never ceases.   

January 17, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, is an updated version of his blog first posted on October 6, 2015.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God and Non-Christian Leaders”

Ezra 1:1-4 (NLT)

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia,the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.  He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:  2 This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

Can God use unbelievers?  Apparently so because God’s promise to return His people from exile was fulfilled through a non-Jewish, pagan king – Cyrus of Persia – who conquered Babylon in 539 BC.  While Cyrus sounds like a believer in Ezra 1, we know from the historical record (particularly from a document known as the ‘Cyrus Cylinder’) that he primarily worshiped Marduk; in addition, he was a respecter of regional gods (as Cyrus would have seen them).  

In the Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus describes some of his works in the following manner: I returned to (these) sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been ruins for a long time, the images which (used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I (also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them) their habitations (Pritchard, Ancient Near East, 1:208).  Amazingly, the prophet Isaiah names Cyrus as one “anointed” by God — a “messiah” who has been raised up by God to do His bidding (Isaiah 45:1).  

I confess that I am not heavily involved in praying for national politics (here or abroad).  I do not convene with other pastors to intentionally pray for local political leaders.  But this passage encourages me to pray much more for them.  Why?  Because the story of Cyrus tells us that God can and does use leaders (even non-Christian leaders) to bring about God’s will.  God is sovereign over all the nations.  He doesn’t need national leaders to believe in Him to be their ultimate ruler!

Prayer: Dear Lord of lords, I am reminded by Your word to pray for all leaders—even those who don’t acknowledge You or seem to have a wrong understanding of You.  I pray for the leaders of countries where Christians are officially persecuted.  I pray especially for Syria.  I ask that you guide leaders there as you once guided Cyrus, and that they might be used as instruments of Your will.  May Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 19

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Questions to Consider

  1. Who does Paul instruct us to pray for?  How might this change our prayers?  
  2. Why does Paul ask us to pray for national leaders?
  3. In respect to your answer to question 2, why is this pleasing to God?

Notes

  1. Paul instructs us to pray for everyone in general; and in particular, kings and those in high positions. Our prayers ought to be global and broad in scope—particularly for leaders who have been given great influence.  It is instructive to note that in Paul’s time, no national leaders were believers in Christ.
  2. We are to pray for leaders so that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”  The basic benefit of good government is peace –from war and civil strife–so that free worship of God can be given and people can live “dignified” or holy lives. 
  3. God is pleased with this kind of peace as it is His desire that “all people” will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  We are to pray for leaders to effect an environment where the gospel can be advanced freely.

Evening Reflection

I encourage you to journal some ways that you can be praying for national leaders, international leaders and local leaders (including, perhaps, your boss).  How is God encouraging you to pray more globally and broadly?

January 16, Sunday

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 21, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend 

“The Dread of Having to Love Them”

Luke 6:27-36

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.  32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

Loving, doing good things, blessing, and praying for others are not that difficult, and these are things we all try to do.  Yet, it is almost impossible for us to do such noble things for others if they are “undeserving” because of their bad character and misdeeds.  

Then there is this other problem.  Each subsection to today’s passage concludes with the real reason behind practicing the kingdom characteristics (vv. 31, 36).  Now, after reading “as you would have them do to you,” immediately you have a problem since no one has, does, or will do those things to you.  There is that sense of dread since you will be the only one making the effort to do good, while there may be no reciprocation nor reward; this is to say, doing good to others does not guarantee that others will do the same in return.  

But when we read from the next verse 32, the reward is not from this world or from others.  God give us a “credit” for what we have done.  Our goal in life is to receive rewards from our Heavenly Father. James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”  In addition, Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”   Our goal in life is to be like our Father in heaven (v. 35).  

Perhaps, we are called to do good to the undeserving because, if we don’t, we may be tempted to retaliate. When we do not love others the way that Jesus tells us to, as in this passage, we will not be in a neutral position; but rather our attitude will be the extreme opposite: hatred, doing evil, cursing, and prayerlessness.  

Pray that you walk in a manner worthy of your identity—as God’s child.

Prayer: God, You have been so good to me more and beyond what others could possibly do for me.  Thank You for Your mercy.  I pray that my identify as Your child is renewed today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 18

January 15, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 4, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for This Weekend

“The Heart Problem”

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?” 

Many years ago, following the showing of “Schindler’s List” on national TV, the director Steven Spielberg made a special appearance to talk about why he founded a state-of-art facility museum called “Shoah” (“holocaust” in Hebrew).  Here, people can access, among other things, interviews with the holocaust survivors.  After stating that humans are not born with hatred, he asserted that they were taught and conditioned to hate by their social environment.  Spielberg’s hope was that by exposing children to the kind of educational tools available in his facility, they would learn not to hate.  

Of course, if education fails to eradicate hatred, then, there is always the force of law, such as hate crimes and ethnic intimidation laws, to eliminate prejudice against racial, sexual and cultural minorities.  

If that fails, then there is always the prison.  My wife and I, early in our marriage, led a weekly Bible study at a California Youth Authority that incarcerated serious young criminals.  Its founding philosophy was to rehabilitate the criminal mind through education, social programs, and job training.  One day, impressed by the positive responses I received from some inmates, I nonchalantly asked the guard as to what percentage of them return to prison after being released.  His response: “Close to 80 to 90 percent.”  During my involvement, I came to realize that one major problem in the prison continued to be hatred between races and gangs.  

Should this surprise us?  Not really, because though the sincerity of Spielberg and prison officials should not be questioned, the fundamental premise behind social problems is seriously flawed.  The truth is, social liberals have always clamored for more education and social reforms to combat various social problems (e.g., teenage pregnancy, racism), being convinced that all social problems are inherently due to either ignorance and/or bad social institutions.  

But that’s not how Jesus saw it, stating: “Nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’?  For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body. . . .What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’  For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mk. 7:18-22).   And there is only one cure for the deceitful heart: regeneration wrought through the Holy Spirit. 

This happens when we acknowledge our sinful ways and trust that Christ’s death has paid for the penalty of our sins (death).    It is in that moment that God renews us “by the Holy Spirit, whom he pour[s] out on us generously through Jesus Christ” (Tit. 3:6).  That’s the big start we need for a changed heart, followed by a lifetime of learning to walk with Christ.  

Are you lost?  Look inside, not out.  Ask God to give you the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says He will (Lk. 11:11). 

Prayer: Lord, “let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God” (Bob Pierce).  Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 16-17

January 14, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on August 28, 2015.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Favor: What Does It Look Like?”

2 Kings 13:4-5

Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel.  The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. 

Jehoahaz had been leading the nation in evil practices, and the oppression was a situation allowed by God because of their disobedience (vv. 2-3).  So God had no particular reason to grant His favor when Jehoahaz sought it; they had done nothing to earn or deserve it.  And yet He granted it all the same.

What does favor look like?  I was once on a flight where the attendants were especially attentive to me but seemed almost to not even see the person sitting next to me.  When there was only one blanket left, I got the last one and he had to go without.  When there was a last cup of water on the tray, they offered it to me and then actually skipped him when they came back to finish passing out the water, starting the row behind us.  When they accidentally spilled Coke on the one blanket left that I had been using, they somehow found a magic cupboard on the plane where there was another blanket after all.  I was so favored that I could get a second blanket even when theoretically there should have been no more blankets.  Technically, if they had found it earlier, this would have been his blanket.  I’d never met these attendants before in my life; there was no reason for them to be nicer to me than the person sitting next to me.  And yet it felt like such a clear distinction was being made between the two of us; one favored, the other not—at least in my mind as I was having this personal little mini-epiphany (to his credit, the person sitting next to me didn’t seem to be feeling particularly slighted).  But through this experience, God was speaking to me.

For no particular reason, other than that He has chosen us, He hears us when we cry.  No matter how wicked or rebellious we have been up to that point, when we repent and turn to Him, He looks on us with mercy in His eyes and delivers us from our self-inflicted misery.  This is our God.

Prayer: Lord, I am humbled when I think of how You’ve chosen me.  And yet how I wish that others around me could also experience Your kindness.  Would you have mercy and deliver them, too?  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 15

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 9:1-3: I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people . . .

Questions to Consider

1. What does Paul (the author) feel when he thinks about his people (v. 2)?

2. Why is his heart so troubled (v. 3)?

3. What heart does his “almost” wish express (v. 3)?  How do we feel when we think about people close to us who don’t know Christ?

Notes

1. He feels great sorrow, continually conflicted within, and great burden.

2. His people are cursed and cut off from Christ because they have rejected the gospel.

3. How much he wants to share Christ with his people; how not content he is just to be saved himself.  Like a child who’s received a special treat but wants so much for his brothers and sisters to have it, too, he’s almost willing to give his own away; but if he did, it would defeat the purpose as his desire is that they all share in this same wonderful experience together.

Evening Reflection

What evidences were there of God’s favor in my life today?  Was I able to share it with any others?  Take a moment to pray for those you’d most like to share this Christian life with.

January 13, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 9, 2014.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“The Sins of the Parents”

Proverbs 15:27

“The greedy bring ruin to their households . . .”

While traveling in Mexico, I stayed in many different homes, but none was like the home I stayed in Guerrero.  At first, the husband told me that his wife was visiting relatives in the states, but his melancholy face and subdued children told another story.  Later in the week, the husband told me everything: his wife, after crashing her car into someone’s property, fled the city when an unfavorable ruling resulted in grave consequences.  The husband had no idea when she might return; he wasn’t even sure where she was.  In the meantime, what’s left of the family was passing another lonesome, silent night.

The prophet Ezekiel made it clear that the children do not share the guilt of their parents, saying, “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ez. 18:20).  However, the sins of parents can hurt their children.  Long before the time of Ezekiel (6th century BC), there was a period in Israel when God “punish[ed] the children for the sins of the fathers” up to the fourth generation (Ex. 20:5).  No incident better illustrates this than what greedy Achan (15th century BC) did, which led to God punishing him and his family (Jos. 7:24-6).  Instead of obeying God by destroying the devoted things that belonged to the enemy, Achan stole and then buried them.  Consequently, Israel, “hav[ing] been made liable . . ., [couldn’t] stand against their enemies” (v.12).  

On the one hand, God certainly punished Achan’s children for their father’s sin, but on the other hand, it can be said that the sin of Achan hurt his children.  While parents can hold to Ezekiel’s revelation in believing that the children do not share their guilt, that does not, of course, mean that the children do not get hurt because they do; just like the children of the Guerrero mother who fled.  

No sin graphically illustrates this better than the sin of divorce: even the “no-fault” divorce hurts the children—a lot.  Are you married?  Do something nice this weekend to strengthen the marriage.  Have you committed something wrong that affects others?  Own up to it; rectify it today.        

Prayer: Father, I confess that I continue to fall short of your holiness and righteousness.  Because of it, I have hurt the very people whom I love.  God, I need your help to turn this around.  I look to You only to draw the strength I need to live a life that pleases You.  Lord, minister to those whom I have hurt.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 14

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 30:3-4, 6-10: When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep . . . 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.  But David found strength in the Lord his God.  7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, 8 and David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

9 David and the six hundred men with him came to the Besor Valley, where some stayed behind. 10 Two hundred of them were too exhausted to cross the valley, but David and the other four hundred continued the pursuit.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the main reason the men wanted to stone David?  What does this say about how they felt toward their children?

2. Two hundred men stopped searching for their kidnapped children on account of being exhausted, while the rest, who was just as tired, continued the mission and eventually recovered everyone, including the children belonging to the fathers who stayed behind.  Describe how this kind of situation could have affected these children?

3. Why did these fathers make a choice that, in effect, was indifferent to the pains of their children? How is our Heavenly Father different from these fathers?

Notes

1. Each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.  This shows that they really cared and were concerned about them. 

2. These children had to be devastated, realizing that while other fathers risked everything to save their children, their own fathers chose not to rescue them.   Since this was a matter of life and death, the effect of this de facto rejection wouldn’t have been resolved overnight.

3. This happened because these fathers put meeting their need to rest above the need of their families to be rescued from those who could have killed them at any moment.   Yes, even parents can become supremely selfish, unlike the Heavenly Father who gave us His Son to save us.  

Evening Reflection

As this day draws to its end, reflect on the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father who never does anything to harm us but always “looks” for ways to bless us.  Thank Him.