January 26, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 22, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Naturalism and Theism”

Luke 24:11 (ESV)

“But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

No one likes to be called “insane”; but after the apostle Paul acknowledged his belief in Christ’s resurrection to the Roman governor Festus, he responded, “Your great learning is driving you insane” (Acts 26:24).  That’s also what the New Atheist Richard Dawkins calls those who aren’t convinced of evolution on account of belief in God, saying, “Nobody who looks at [evolution] could possibly doubt that if they are sane and not stupid.”  But the disciples’ initial reaction to the women’s claim of Jesus’ resurrection was also of unbelief: “Their words seemed to them like nonsense” (NIV).  Like good skeptics, they demanded evidences to believe something so out of the ordinary.  

John Lennox, of Oxford, is a world renowned mathematician who firmly believes in Christ’s resurrection.   

Unconvinced of Dawkins’ assertion, he wrote, “. . . there is a very real [conflict], but it is not . . . between science and religion at all.  For if that were so, elementary logic would dictate that one would find that scientists were all atheists and only non-scientists believed in God, and this . . . is simply not the case.  No, the real conflict is between two diametrically opposed worldviews: naturalism (i.e., no God) and theism.”   This is to say, both the believers and atheists are alike in accepting certain things to be true at the outset of their quest for truth.  The believers agree with the Hebrews writer who declared, “Anyone who comes to [God] must believe that he exists” (11:6).  The atheists would agree with Carl Sagan who once said, in faith, “The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.”  

Ultimately, the disciples believed because of empirical evidence: they saw and touched the resurrected Christ.  But Jesus said to them, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Jn. 20:29).  We believe that God is powerful enough to resurrect a dead body and create a universe out of nothing.   We also believe that He is personally interested in our physical, emotional and spiritual welfare; therefore, we place our hope, faith and future on God.  Now, have a great day!

Prayer: Heavenly Creator, how often we take this universe and our very existence for granted.  We are here because You lovingly created us out of your infinite goodness.  Even when we defy You, which must look both comical and insulting, You continue to shower us with your grace and mercy.  Thank you.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Ps. 19:1-4 (ESV): “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky aboveproclaims his handiwork.2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voicegoes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them he has set a tent for the sun.”

Ps. 14:1 (ESV): “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

Heb. 11:1 (ESV): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Questions to Consider

1. What does the psalmist mean by, “The heavens declare the glory of God”?

2. In view of this, how would you appraise atheism?

3. This morning’s devotion was about faith: what is a key difference between a blind faith and a reasonable faith?

Notes

1. The psalmist is saying that the existence of God is self-evident because beauty and orderliness of the universe strongly indicates a Designer who is responsible for it.  Also, the fact that a universe fine-tuned for life exists, as opposed to infinite alternatives that would have produced no universe or a universe unfriendly to life, should cause an atheist to wonder, “Why did it happen like that?”

2. Atheism is not a natural position; it is a position philosophically concocted to deny God’s existence for personal reasons (not wanting to live in submission to someone else’s will).   

3. God has given us several implicit evidences that strongly suggest His existence that is invisible to the human eyes.   Believing in such a God would require a reasonable faith, not a blind faith.  

Evening Reflection

Did you come across an unbeliever today?  What did you do?  As you wrap up this day, behold God in His power and love that led to creating you, and then say a prayer for someone who needs the Lord.

January 25, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on August 11, 2015.  Cami has served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Fear Not the Ambushes That May Come Out Way”

2 Kings 6:8-10

Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.

Life flies at us in a lot of different ways and adversity comes in many forms. But the absolute worst form (in my humble opinion) is the ambush – those unexpected things that catch us off guard and disrupt our lives when least expected. The King of Israel was facing the prospect of a literal (military) ambush. An opposing nation lay in wait for him and his troops in order to take them down when they were not expecting a fight. But here we learn a valuable lesson: for the people of God, the Lord himself is the ultimate defense because he can see what we cannot see and knows what we do not yet know. And when we need Him the most, He enters in – even when we are not yet aware of the situations that will necessitate our need for Him. 

The older I get the more I realize I have no idea what’s going on – in my life… in the world… in general. There are a lot of unknown factors. If I make this move, if I choose this option, if I do that thing… then what? And more often than not, the “then what” that I come up with isn’t quite what happens. And to make matters worse, just when I think I have a handle on things, the waters change course and I’m left scrambling trying to get my bearings. But this passage reminds us that we can rest assured that God is not surprised. And even the unknown factors that we are unable to control or account for or foresee are known by our God and He has already considered them as He leads us step by step through life. 

We don’t have to fear the ambushes that come our way, because our heavenly Father already knows and will aid in the ways we need – He’ll warn us or re-route us and do what only He can do. We don’t have to worry about the unknowns because God has already accounted for them – He often prepares us without us even knowing what we’re being prepared for. And when it’s all said and done, we will not be overtaken if we simply continue to walk in faithful obedience to Him. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for defending me against the ambushes in my life. I choose to rest in Your hands, knowing that You will not allow me to be overtaken. I surrender my worries about the unknowns to You. I surrender my frustrations about the unexpected to You. You have demonstrated time and time again that You will fight for me. Help me to be still. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 28

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-6: “O Lord, you have searched me and known me!2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from afar.3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.4 Even before a word is on my tongue,behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5 You hem me in, behind and before,and lay your hand upon me.6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Questions to Consider

Spend some time meditating on the passage above. Read and re-read the verses a few times (the slower the better), thinking about where they land with you and what their implications are for your life and your personal relationship with God. Below are some questions that may help your time of meditation:

  1. What does it mean that the Lord “searches” and “knows” you? How have you experienced this kind of intimacy with God?
  2. What does it mean that the Lord “searches out your paths” and is “acquainted with all your ways”? How has this practically played out in your life?
  3. How does this vast knowledge of God encourage you? How does it challenge you? 

Note

1. God is a seeking God; He is always seeking after us.

2. God is omniscient, “for He “kn[ows] all men” (Jn. 2:24).

3. It is super comforting to know that God loves us in Christ despite of the fact that He already knows all my defects and faults. 

Evening Reflection

Some see David’s words in Psalm 139:5 as an expression of discomfort with the vast knowledge of God (the kind of discomfort one might feel when completely exposed to another, unable to hide the things we don’t want them to see). While we may be tempted to merely tremble, we can also take great comfort in God’s omniscience (knowing everything) because while we are known completely by Him we are at the same time loved unconditionally by Him. And when it comes to life’s unknowns and unexpected moments, there is even greater comfort in knowing God is not surprised by anything. Are there specific situations or areas in your life right now where the omniscience of God can be a source of comfort? Spend some time offering those areas to the Lord.   

January 24, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on January 21, 2015.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“Magic: Why Does It Fascinate Us So Much?”  

2 Kings 21:6

He built altars in the temple of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, “In Jerusalem I will put my Name.” In both courts of the temple of the LORD, he built altars to all the starry hosts.  He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists.  He did much evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger.

When I was younger, I liked reading books about magic.  Before Harry Potter, there were classic fairy tales, the Oz books, the Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.  I remember one of the very first series I really enjoyed as a young reader featured a little witch named Dorrie.  I loved the whimsical illustrations and charming narration: “This is Dorrie.  She is a witch.  A little witch.  Her hat is always on crooked and her stockings never match.”  Because she wasn’t a grown-up witch, her spells did not always come out exactly right, and that was what made things fun.  

What is it about magic that fascinates human beings?  The longing for the other-worldly is a sign that we were meant for more than just this material world; it points us to seek out God who is spirit.  Yet sorcery, divination and seeking mediums are about trying to access supernatural power or knowledge without accountability or relationship with Him.  It is a way for human beings to try to exert control over circumstances, on their own terms; whereas, in contrast, God’s power and revelation is given so that we can submit ourselves and circumstances to God’s will and authority.  It is given on His terms, for His purposes, to those who are in relationship with Him.  

Are we dabbling in or pursuing any kind of spiritual activity (Buddhist meditation, fortune-telling, tarot card reading, etc.) that is not of God?  It is a deception to think that we can be truly satisfied by any spiritual activity outside the context of a relationship with Him.  Or though we may not be blatantly engaging in such activities, just as our idolatry is more sophisticated and subtle in modern days, so can our sorcery and divination.  Have our prayers become more a kind of magic spell than a way to connect with a spiritual Father who loves us?  Do we ever seek others’ prayer ministry or counsel because we just want a quick answer, too lazy to go to God ourselves and wanting to bypass the relationship-building of personally wrestling with and submitting to Him?

Prayer: Father, do I ever provoke you to anger by my disrespect?  Do I ever, like King Manasseh, try to bypass building a relationship with you in favor of just getting quick results?  Forgive me, Father.  I do want to know You.  Help me to seek You more.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 27

Lunch Break Study 

Read Deuteronomy 18:10-17: Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. . . .14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so. 15 The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” . . . 17 The Lord said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 

Questions to Consider

1. How does God feel about sorcery, divination, etc. (vv. 10-12)?

2. Why doesn’t it make sense for Israel to pursue such practices (vv. 12, 14)?

3. What alternative to the above practices does God give to his people (vv. 15-17)?  Currently, who are you listening to for spiritual guidance?  What are their qualifications?

Notes

1. He hates it.

2. God is going to drive out other nations from their land because of these practices.  It makes no sense for the Israelites to want to imitate a people that they would defeat.

3. He provides a prophet and commands His people to listen to Him rather than to mediums or spiritists.  We need to exercise discernment in terms of who we are receiving spiritual guidance from.  We need to listen to people who are in right relationship with God and speak His words.

Evening Reflection

When I sought guidance today, how did I seek it?  Did I walk through the day in communication and consultation with God, or were there times I relied on other kinds of guidance?  Ask for discernment to rely on the Holy Spirit and not on any other kind of spirit.

January 23, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 23, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Building Habits” (Part B)

2 Corinthians 6:2a 

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”  

(Continuing with the theme of habits from yesterday’s devotion)

Some of us are not content with the way we live our Christian lives: not much prayer, hardly ever reading the Bible, and almost never witnessing; yet we always find ample time for Facebook, fantasy football or watching the latest movie.   But we vaguely hope that someday it’s all going to change for the better.  That’s wishful thinking at best and delusional at worst.  For instance, let’s say that you are a young parent.  If you are not praying regularly for your children now when their lives are rather simple and under your control, then, don’t expect to pray all of sudden (not the two-minute drill variety) when the lives of your teenagers become complex and not necessarily under your control.   

I learned this lesson when I was living at my pastor’s house while attending a Christian college in California in 1983.  Before I became a believer, I was a very messy person, which frustrated my father.  But one day it dawned on me that nothing really had changed.  My desk was messy, my dirty plates were left in the sink, and the bed was still unmade!  So who ended up doing all these things?  The pastor’s wife.  At the time, I was reading a book on servanthood, which led me to ask myself, “So when do you plan on becoming a servant?”   My first answer, “When I become a pastor,” was quickly followed by, “If you are not serving now, you are not going to serve later.”  Then I realized that I needed to come out of my comfort zone.  So I left the pastor’s house early next morning (Monday) in my 1972 Vega station wagon with all my belongings.  Parking the car near the college, I went to school in the mornings, looked for a job and a place to live in the afternoons, and slept in the car in the evenings.  And I prayed desperately in between!   By Friday, I had a place to stay and found a job as a school janitor, working from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.  I vacuumed the carpets, emptied the trash cans, and cleaned the toilets!  

Undoubtedly, that was one of the most valuable experiences I have ever had in my Christian life, for I learned this lesson: Once “not-living-for-God-now” becomes a habit, then you probably won’t live for Him in the future.   Apostle Paul said, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).  So the present time is the best time to form a new spiritual habit by a way of deliberately repeating the desired change.  For how long?  Well, some scientists say that a typical person needs at least 3 weeks to form a good habit.  Or, as long as it takes to make the desired change an integral part of our lives.  So try it—whether it be praying, reading the Bible, tithing, witnessing, volunteering or more loving. 

Prayer: Lord, help me build some good habits, both spiritual and physical, in order to complete the journey with You here on earth faithfully.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 26

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?