December 18, Saturday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on April 1, 2015. Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought the Weekend

“Are You Kind . . . to the Person Whom You Dislike?”

2 Samuel 1:11-12

“Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.”

A few years ago, Meghan Vogel, as junior runner for West Liberty-Salem High School (Ohio), won the 1,600-meter title for her state. While it was an outstanding accomplishment, what she did in her next race was most extraordinary. With about 20 meters to go in that race, a runner in front of Vogel collapsed. Rather than run past her, Vogel, after helping her to get up, carried her across the finish line while keeping that runner ahead of her the whole time. “Any girl on the track would have done the same for me,” Vogel said. But her action resonated with the thousands of onlookers who witnessed it.

When David heard the news of Saul’s death from an Amalekite, David saw that he was an opportunist. By turning in King Saul’s crown and a bracelet, the Amalekite, assuming that he was doing David a favor, expected a great deal in return from him. But to his surprise, the last thing on David’s mind was to celebrate the death of the Lord’s anointed.

From a human perspective, Saul’s death should have been an opportunity for David, but that was not the way he saw it. He neither rejoiced nor celebrated; instead, he grieved over Saul’s death. David was not interested in his own vindication or triumph at the cost of another person’s tragedy. In fact, this is why David was so unique as a king, and the one God honored among all other kings of Israel.

David, then, wrote a beautiful eulogy for Saul in which he encouraged future generations to think of what King Saul had done for Israel (v. 18). He kindly considered Saul as the anointed of God who fought valiantly, swifter than eagles, and stronger than lions (v. 23). He even said that Saul was loved and gracious. Of course, we know Saul was anything but gracious or pleasant to David, but he chose to view Saul’s legacy as a whole and not with a grudge.

Are you kind to your competitors? Do you wish them well or do you secretly seek their demise? How do you treat those who are after the same grade or promotion as you? How about those who try to get ahead of you by soiling your reputation? The Bible tells us that love is kind and does not keep a record of wrong. David was truly a great king. He became a king after God’s heart through his magnanimous heart towards others, especially those who did not deserve it. In that way, he was very much like the One who was his true King, the God of Israel.

Prayer: Lord, beginning today, help me to “treat everyone [I] meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. [Help me to] extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding [I] can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. I pray that [my] life will never be the same again.” Amen. (Og Mandino)

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 14-15

December 17, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 29, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Mourning with Those Who Mourn”

Romans 12:15

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

I felt quite nervous when I was asked to teach an intensive course for a week in Pachuca, Mexico in 2002. Our family had just moved to Chihuahua, in northern Mexico a year before, and this was the first time traveling to southern Mexico. Since my Spanish was still shaky, my eyes would be glued to a prepared manuscript whenever I taught or preached. Speaking while looking freely around the audience was the next step, but I wasn’t necessarily up for that challenge: Ironically, that “opportunity” came during this trip.

Mexico has a small middleclass, but the family that hosted me, the Panyaguas (“bread and water”), definitely was one. They owned a mid-size tech company and a modern house with ample space; yet, right away I sensed their sadness. I found out later that their college aged son, having snuck out at night to party, drove his car right into a wall and died, while trying to return home in the morning. Their pain being still raw as well as their anger, the mother said to me in anguish, “He was so handsome and smart; everything was all there for him. He was so STUPID!” While my heart ached for her, I didn’t know what to do except to say, “I am so sorry.”

The Saturday morning on the day of my departure, my heart was pounding with a desire to minister to this family. Not having a text prepared in Spanish, however, I wasn’t sure whether my Spanish was good enough to convey what was in my heart; nevertheless, I had to do it. So, after asking God for help, I approached the grieving couple and spoke to them from my heart while looking into their eyes. I read some scriptures and then prayed for God’s comfort to carry them.

I learned two things that day: first, overcoming fear of doing something (good) by doing that very thing with God’s help; two, the importance of “mourn[ing] with those who mourn.”

Perhaps, someone near you is going through pain and grief, and you feel awkward, not knowing what to say or do. Ask God to give you wisdom and to help you overcome that initial fear. Maybe, all that the person needs is a hug from you today.

Prayer: Father God, how I appreciate You for allowing your Son to suffer so that we don’t have to. I thank You for your compassion towards helpless sinners like us who, apart from your grace and mercy, are doomed to eternal damnation. Oh God of comfort, thank You for being such an awesome Lord. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 7:11-14 (NIV): Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”

John 9:1-3: As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Questions to Consider

1. What caught the attention of Jesus while he was on his way to the town gate? What does that say about him?

2. Looking at the reaction of the disciples upon seeing a blind man from birth, what is one thing that keeps us from having compassion for those who need it?

3. Can you think of anyone who is in need of compassion? We may not be able to literally raise the dead, but we can encourage those who live without hope, love, or purpose,

Notes

1. Jesus caught the sight of a grieving mother who had just lost her only son, causing his heart to go out to her; that is, he felt compassion towards her. This showed that no matter how busy Christ was, he always had time (or made time) to minister to the brokenhearted.

2. The disciples were too interested in the theology of “why people suffer” to muster any sympathy toward the one who desperately needed it. When we measure the merits of our faith by how much we know or studied, helping people with our hands may seem as though it were beneath us.

3. Does anyone at work seem discouraged or rattled? Don’t theorize why they are like that; invite them to lunch and think about at least one nice thing to say to that person.

Evening Reflection

As you are wrapping up this day, did you run into anyone who needed some encouragement? Perhaps, it is you who needs it. Spend some time with the Lord, so that you may be strengthened and comforted in Christ.

December 16, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 10, 2015, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with the church plant by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“When God Allows the Reverse to Take Place”

Esther 9:1

Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.

In 2010, I was on a short-term mission trip to Northeast China. Traveling to different villages, we preached and taught many pastors who had gathered from surrounding villages. It was during one of these secret gatherings that the police barged in. Four policemen kicked the door open and immediately arrested my pastor and his translator. Within moments, he was put into the police car and driven to the police station, hours away. I began to panic.

We did the only thing we could do: pray. For hours and hours, we kept asking God to do something. When we finally got in touch with the translator who called us from police station, it was not good news. Our pastor was in jail, awaiting his sentence, which was expected to be one or more of the following: a massive fine, jail-time and being added to the “blacklist” of China. The verdict would happen the next morning.

I fell asleep, but I woke up early to the sound of the Chinese locals praying; they had stayed up all night, interceding for my pastor. Soon, a car pulled up and my pastor stepped out with a huge grin on his face. “What happened?” we asked. While the chief of police was explaining all the punishments that could be inflicted upon my pastor, for some reason, his heart softened. Instead of my pastor being punished, the reverse occurred: my pastor shared the Gospel with the police chief, and he agreed not only to release him, but to begin attending church, to learn more about God!

As today’s text says, sometimes God allows “the reverse” to occur to rescue His people, thereby bringing further glory unto Himself. When the Israelites were trembling before the Philistine army, He used a shepherd boy to bring down Goliath. When Jesus was being nailed to the cross, and it seemed all hope was lost, God was actually unfolding his plan for the salvation of man. Today, let us strive to put our faith in our God, especially in the midst of trials, hardship and brokenness. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice even in our sufferings, not because they are fun, but because we know and believe that you are a God who works even with suffering to produce good. Open our eyes today to your faithfulness that is revealed in today’s passage, and all throughout Scripture. Increase our faith as we read and meditate. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 14:28-33: And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Questions to Consider

What was Peter’s rationale for stepping out of the boat, and onto the water?
Why did Peter begin to sink?
What is the final result of this story?

Notes

Peter reasoned that since Jesus called him, he could do anything, even walking on water!
While Peter had enough faith to step out onto the water, he was afraid and began to sink when he saw the wind (i.e., circumstances). After Jesus rescues Peter, He asks him, “Why did you doubt?” Fear and doubt caused Peter to sink.
This story isn’t really about whether Peter could pass a “faith test” by walking on water; rather, it was whether he and other disciples, who never left the boast, would respond to Jesus in worship. In our faith journey, while we may experience flashes of great faith, we are likely to encounter many moments of doubts and fear in which we would need God’s grace and mercy. Either way these should lead us to worship Him.

Evening Reflection

Today we talked about faith, especially in light of hardships. The Bible says, “Faith comes from hearing” (Romans 10:17). Have you listened for God’s voice today? If not, take a moment to meditate on today’s Scripture; pray and ask if there is something He wants to say to you.

December 15, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 1, 2015, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What About Me?”

1 Samuel 18:6-9

As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

Sometimes, it’s really hard to celebrate. Sure, celebration at first glance sounds like a great idea; it’s a party! We hear or share a story of something exciting that has happened, eat some great food and just be happy for someone who has really been blessed. Celebration is awesome, but we don’t do it very often; and if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s hard to do.

Let’s just think about how hard it can be to be happy for someone else. We’ve all been there before. A good friend of yours gets a promotion or raise, and of course you’re happy for them, but then you can’t help but think, “What about me?” Someone you know gets married or gets engaged and you’re happy for them, but then you suddenly start wondering, “When is it my turn?” Even pastors go through this: A fellow pastor starts a new ministry or a new church and it’s growing like wildfire. But then what do we do? We start to think, “How do I compare? Am I not doing a good enough job?”

In 1 Samuel 18, we see people celebrating a great victory over the Philistines. These women were singing about how Israel, the people of God, had defeated their great enemy, the Philistines, relieving oppression and bringing freedom to the people. This was a great day of celebration for Israel. God had done something great for his people, but somehow Saul couldn’t celebrate. He couldn’t find joy in what God had done because of this one little line: “Saul has struck his thousands, David his ten thousands.” It only took a few words to spark this heart of comparison within Saul, causing him to take his eyes off of what God was doing.

There are no winners in the comparison game. When we compare ourselves to others, it only leaves us feeling inadequate, or even worse, it makes us feel superior. If we live a life of trying to measure up, we will always fall short. What should we do instead? Look at what God is doing and celebrate. The less life is about ourselves and more about God, the greater the joy we will experience.

Prayer: Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You and what You are doing. I pray that you will free me from comparison and envy, so that I will be able to celebrate what You are doing. Fill me with a greater joy as I experience more of you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11

Lunch Bible Study

Read Luke 18:9-14: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to Consider

How does the Pharisee measure his worth? How does the tax collector measure his worth?
Who do you compare yourself to?
How does focusing our eyes on God free us from comparison?

Notes

The Pharisee measures himself again the tax collector. His worth comes from his own righteousness and good works, and how he is better than this tax collector and other sinners. On the other hand, the tax collector measures his worth in comparison to God himself, which is why he appeals to God for mercy. He knows that he is a sinner in view of who God is and his only hope is the mercy of God. If the tax collector compared himself to the Pharisee, at best, he would strive to do good works and be as good as he, but since his life is in view of God’s mercy, his best is now to be exalted by God.
Personal reflection question
When we focus our eyes upon God, we are freed from comparison and envy because we no longer measure ourselves against other people. Focusing on Jesus frees us from thinking about how to be better or more righteous than other people, because we know that everything is dependent on the mercy of God.

Evening Reflection

Focusing our eyes on Jesus can set us free from ourselves. How did you feel today as you strived to keep your eyes on Him? Did you feel freer and more joyful? Take some time to pray or journal about how living in view of God’s mercy has blessed you this day.

December 14, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 28, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What a Waste!”

Mark 14:3 (ESV)

“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head.”

I had no idea that while my sister and I were finishing our lunch at a restaurant, my octogenarian mother, who was eating with us, went to the store next door to buy something. Later, as our car was about to leave, she handed me two brand new pairs of socks. Little did I realize that a hole in my sock, which she had noticed the day before, had bothered her that much. When I told her that I had many socks at home, she replied, “These are really good socks—$5 a pair.” “What?” I snapped, adding, “That’s too much. Return them!” When I was insistent, my mother reluctantly exited the car to return them; but at that moment, a glimpse of her disappointed face caught my attention. So I quickly said, “I will wear them. Don’t return them.”

For me, paying $10 for two pairs of socks was a waste of money, sort of like how the disciples felt (for an entirely different reason) upon seeing Mary pouring “an expensive perfume . . . on Jesus’ feet and wip[ing] his feet with her hair” (Jn. 12:3). One of them said indignantly, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wage and the money given to the poor” (Mk. 14:4). Recently, I heard a story of a pastor who struggled with this text while preparing a sermon, because he, too, felt that what this woman did was a waste. While agonizing over this in prayer, he heard a whisper in his heart: “Love is a waste.” The man began to weep, perhaps realizing for the first time that Christ’s death is a great “waste,” meaning so much of Christ was poured out for people who neither deserve it nor appreciate it.

No one would feel good when one’s gesture of love is rebuffed. I suppose that’s why my mother felt sad. Humanly speaking, wouldn’t God feel the same way when so many continue to reject his extravagant love expressed in Christ? Isn’t it also true that while we spare no expense for ourselves, we refuse to be extravagant toward God? So this morning, think about ways to show extravagant love for Christ.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I’ve never thought of your love expressed through Christ’s death in terms of being a “waste.” All that you have done for me is an astounding reality that causes me to feel so unworthy. Lord, I am eternally grateful for all that you have done for me because you love me. Thank you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 7:36-47 (ESV): And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why was this woman compelled to “waste” such valuable thing on Christ?

2. What kept the Pharisee who hosted the dinner party from seeing what Jesus saw in her action?

3. What is the ultimate meaning of the parable given in response to the Pharisee? Who is the person who thinks that he only owes 50 denarii as opposed to 500?

Notes

1. This woman felt that no one, much less God, could ever forgive her for what she did in the past, but the Son of God did. So grateful was she toward Jesus that she spared no expense in expressing her gratitude.

2. Comparing himself to the woman, he clearly felt superior to her in moral and spiritual sense; therefore, God must love him but not her. Such wrong thinking kept him from realizing that Jesus had not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mk. 2:17).

3. The difference is in what we bring to the table of “justification”: the ones represented by a debt of 50 denarii believe that they aren’t as sinful as others, or some of their sins can be paid for by their righteous deeds. The ones represented by a debt of 500 denarii neither excuse their sins nor try to justify themselves with their own righteousness.

Evening Reflection

Look back to all that happened today. In what way did you sense God’s abundant love for you today? Think about seemingly insignificant things that, in a closer inspection, carry a deeper meaning of His love for us.

December 13, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 21, 2015, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Best of Both Worlds?”

Hosea 7:8-10 (ESV)

Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers devour his strength, and he knows it not; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, and he knows it not. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this.

Have you ever tried to live life in a way that you could get the “best of both worlds”? That’s what I tried to do when I was a freshman in college: While I absolutely loved the fellowship of my Christian community, I also loved the newfound freedom of being away from home by partying and partaking in many unwholesome activities. In my mind I wanted eternal life, but I also wanted to have the fun college life that the media portrayed—I wanted the best of both worlds. But by the end of the year, I was confronted by the futility of my thinking and knew there was no way I could straddle both worlds. God was calling me to either choose to follow the way of the world or the way of the Lord.

This passage is God’s indictment upon His people who mixed idol worship with the worship of their God. Hosea, who was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom leading up to their fall to Assyria, was likely referring to idol worship that was rampant in their land, as King Jeroboam had established idol worship as a political act. On the one hand, Israel held claim onto their rich heritage as God’s people, but on the other, they worshiped idols. They did not know that their strength was being devoured and gray hairs sprinkled upon them (essentially that they were on a path towards death).

Jesus speaks out many times against this wishy-washy attitude as well. The one that we are most familiar with is His indictment against the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3. But before we declare ourselves guiltless—let’s think again. Many of us try to worship God while worshiping idols, thinking that we can fit God into our own agenda while serving ourselves. When we do this, we are like a cake that is not turned: half burnt, half raw, and completely unfit for consumption. God cannot and will not be second in our lives—we cannot hold on to God and other gods at the same time. Granted, we may take three steps forward and two steps back in our journey towards God, but make no mistake about it: the way of God and the way of the world are at odds with one another. So stop trying to hold on to both. Choose Jesus—and experience the abundant life that follows!

Prayer: God, open my eyes so that I might see the emptiness of the riches of this world and the fullness of the riches You have for me. Cause the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ to increase in my life, so that I might see You rightly in the midst of the temptations in this world.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV): Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

Question to Consider

1. What does it mean to deny oneself, take up one’s cross, and to follow Jesus? What does it mean for you personally?

2. How can someone gain the whole world and forfeit their soul?

Notes

1. We have fleshly passions that we need to put to death. In fact, James 4:3 tells us that we often ask for things from God with wrong motives simply to spend on our (fleshly) passions. But denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him means that we put to death the passions of the flesh that belong to our old man; and we remind ourselves that we are a new creation in Christ with new passions and new purposes. When that happens, we are able to follow Him with fervor and passion.

2. When we forget that we are spiritual beings who are heaven bound, our priorities are tainted. When we forget our destination, our treasures, our home, then we are unable to place the correct value on things in this life. Then, we will place way too much emphasis pursuing things of this world which are destined to fade away. C.S. Lewis says, “Aim at heaven and you will get Earth thrown in; aim at Earth and you will get neither.” Live for eternity.

Evening Reflection

It’s important to constantly assess whether certain things have become idols in our lives. Oftentimes, when idols pop up in our lives, they continue to show up in different forms; but as we mature as believers, we are able to spot them easier. What are some idols in your life that you find so difficult to let go of? Ask God to give you strength and devote it to complete destruction so that you might continue in your journey of faith with complete steadfastness.

December 12, Sunday

NEW Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI who had served as a staff at several AMI churches. He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Good Good Father”

Matt 6:5-15

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

My parents divorced when I was about three-year-old. During the early part of my childhood, I lived with my mother, but in my middle school and high school years, I went under the care of my father. I phrase it this way because for most of this time, I didn’t actually live with my dad; you see, my father funded my existence, which is an odd way of saying he paid for me, my brother, and grandmother to live in one place, while he and his wife, my stepmother, lived in an entirely separate place. I would estimate that the sum total of time I physically shared a roof with my father was about five years, three of which were the first three years of my life.

As a result of this estranged upbringing, two things happened. First, I took it upon myself to figure most things out and only bothered my dad for stuff I couldn’t handle. For example, it took me several months of fighting through deteriorating vision until I asked my dad to take me to get glasses. Second and more sadly, to this day, my father and I aren’t very close. Don’t get me wrong—I don’t feel any animosity toward him, but truth be told, I can’t say that I feel tenderhearted toward him either. Nowadays we’ll talk on the phone a few times a year, and I’ll stop in to say, “Hi” when I’m passing through my old town, but I can’t say that he is a major part of my life.

I share about my relationship with my biological father because this image of a close, intimate Heavenly Father that Jesus knew so well in today’s passage has always been a little abstract for me. Look, I’m seminary trained, so I can give you dozens of theological terms and Bible verses explaining that through Christ, God is near, but I must admit that sometimes these truths don’t impact my daily life as they should. Take prayer for example, my natural inclination is to go to God for big stuff like if someone is sick or war in the Middle East, but when it comes to little, normal, day-to-day type things, I often operate as if it’s my job to figure it out, and God need not be bothered with the small details of my life.

But this is not the picture of God the Father that Jesus gave in our passage today, is it? In verse 7, Jesus tells us that God will meet us in secret (think intimate) places and will reward us for seeking him in prayer. In verse 8, he says that God already knows what we need, so he knows our innermost thoughts. In the actual Lord’s Prayer, yes there are big topics like God’s Kingdom coming, but then Jesus prayed for things like “daily bread” or provisions, forgiveness of sins, restored relationships, and deliverance from temptation, etc. In the grand scheme of things, why does it matter if my next-door neighbor and I are on speaking terms or if I resist the temptation to yell at my kids unjustly? What about really important things like world peace, or starving children, or exploited people? How come Jesus didn’t address these issues in “The Lord’s Prayer?” Of course, God cares about these things, but perhaps what Jesus was showing us is that God isn’t “too big” for the day-to-day events and troubles of his children.

What is your view of the Heavenly Father? Maybe you’re like me, and your view of the Heavenly Father was shaped by your earthly father (for good or bad). Maybe you can believe that God loves the world (John 3:16), but you have trouble understanding that he loves you individually. Hopefully, you can understand that our Heavenly Father is big enough to spin the universe in his hand and yet small enough to remember little things like your eyeglass prescription.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for being a caring and loving Father to me. Thank You that my problems aren’t too small for You to take notice. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 8

December 11, Saturday

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What Prayerlessness Says About our View of God”

James 4:2b

“You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

Does prayer work? Proving the effectiveness of prayer doesn’t seem too difficult to do. For instance, many church services in Mexico still include a time of testimony and I personally have heard hundreds of believers testifying of answered prayers. That may be good enough for us but not to Dr. Larry Dossey, a chief staff at a major hospital in Dallas who no longer believed in God.

So, Dr. Dossey, as a man of science, led a carefully controlled study at the hospital, consisting of a group of patients who were prayed for and a group that wasn’t, to empirically see whether prayer works. Neither the nearly 400 patients nor their doctors and nurses knew who had been randomly assigned to the group being prayed for. The results showed that patients in a coronary unit who were prayed for daily did better on the average than patients who were not prayed for.

Upon learning about the study, Dr. Dossey faced an unusual ethical dilemma. As a physician committed to scientific evidence as well as alleviating pain, was he therefore ethically obliged to pray for his patients? His quandary grew as he learned of more than 100 experiments on the impact of prayer that he considered scientifically well designed and indicating positive results. The fact that he was an unbeliever made this situation even more taxing.

Dossey’s dilemma is not mentioned here to debate what he should’ve done, but to point out reasons we don’t pray as we ought. Despite having heard many sermons on prayer, perhaps the real reason we do not take prayer as seriously, and therefore don’t pray, is not that we are lazy (the most popular reason for not praying) but because of our implicit view of God and of us.

Our general state of prayerlessness indicates two things: first, we have too low-view of God, hence, not believing that prayer addressed to Him makes all that much difference; two, we have too high-view of ourselves, prompting us to act as if we can do it with our own abilities, experiences, and technologies. Folks, prayerlessness is the most powerful statement we can make to the Lord that we don’t really need Him in our lives except for going to heaven.

So how is your prayer life? Are you still praying a minute here and a minute there, every other day? Isn’t it about time we “put childish ways behind [us]?” (1 Cor. 13:11). Turn your gadget off and pray!

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to pray, in FAITH!

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6-7

December 10, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on July 17, 2015. Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Some Factors Behind Climate Change as Well as Heart Change”

1 Kings 18:1-19

When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.

The worse eruption of a volcano took place in 1816 in Indonesia, claiming the lives of 92,000 people. The volcano itself was reduced from 13,000 feet to 9,000 feet. 1816 became known as the “year without summer” because the ash in the atmosphere reduced the temperature, which was felt worldwide, not just in Indonesia. Interestingly, it is thought that an additional 100,000 people may have died from crop failures as far as Europe and America due to the decrease in temperatures from the eruption.

Following the reign of King David and his son Solomon, the kings of Israel did much evil in the sight of the Lord. The worst king in this list of infamy was Ahab who did enough evil on his own, but to make matters worse, Ahab married Jezebel, who was bent on building temples and altars to Baal, and eradicating Israel of the prophets of God. Ahab was an evil king who had no regard for God’s commandments.

Ahab, however, convinced himself that the drought Israel was presently suffering was the fault of the prophet Elijah. When Ahab finally finds Elijah, we hear in his accusation, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?” the fundamental truth: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Or as our Jesus said, “You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil” (Matthew 12:34-35).

Ahab’s heart was filled with evil treasures, hatred, resentment and vengefulness. So seeing Elijah, his volcano of corruption erupted in accusations, name-calling, slandering, condemnation, and blame. That’s exactly what a heart filled with evil does; it is ready to erupt, causing incalculable damage to all within its reach. All it needs is the right situation, and bang! The mouth speaks out the corruption that has been festering within.

More than the words we speak, we need to keep a close check on our hearts. Our words, whether they be disparaging or life-giving, will be consistent with what is happening in our hearts. We must guard our hearts, for Jesus teaches us that “murders, adulteries, thefts, false witness, and slanders come from the heart” (Matthew 15:19). If we are to have shalom in our lives, for ourselves and for others around us, we must examine and become students of our own hearts. And when we find ourselves tempted with hate, resentment or bitterness, we must quickly confess them and ask the Lord to give us a way out of temptation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to own up to my sin and seek forgiveness from You and those have been wronged by me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 6:44-45: For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Questions to Consider

1. Why does Jesus say what we store in our hearts are like treasures, whether they be evil or good?

2. What does the inevitability of “each tree being known by its own fruit” suggest to those who are following Christ?

3. What is a sin or temptation you are secretly harboring or entertaining in your heart?

Notes

1. The thoughts we harbor are like treasures because we value them and put our trust in them. We keep them because we think they will provide us with our needs and wants, as well as solve our problems. We think they will handle our pain or meet our needs as we perceive them.

2. We will eventually know that we follow Christ by the fruit we bear. Our fruit will tell on us.

3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

“Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say infinitely when you mean very; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.” –C.S. Lewis. Pray “succinctly” to the Lord what’s in your heart.

December 9, Thursday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 27, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Meeting a Billionaire-Turned-Missionary”

Mark 8:35-7:

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

In Korean, a tycoon is called a “jaebeol” (i.e., a billionaire), and I’ve never met one in person until I went to Dominican Republic in 2014 where I met a missionary named HK who, in 1980, had become the president of the top steel company in Korea at the age of 29. Enjoying a lifestyle that most people could only dream of, he rubbed shoulders with the top businessmen and politicians of Korea; but it all ended one day. In speaking to him, I learned how this ambitious man (at one time, he had thought of buying the Major League team Montreal Expos) not only became a believer, but a man totally dedicated to serve the Lord on the mission field.

So, what did it take to change him? Personal failings and a downturn economy that sunk his conglomerate, leaving him almost penniless, as well as a grave illness that almost ended his life and his son’s. Looking back, however, he has no regrets because the new life in Christ and doing the Lord’s “business” is so much better and significant than what he had before.

No doubt, Mr. HK was well on his way to “gain the whole world” but “forfeit his soul” since, while he was on the top of the world, God didn’t mean much to him. For many, losing it all would mean bitterness, despair, even suicide, but for HK, it turned into an opportunity to encounter his Creator, who had “created [him] in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for [him] to do” (Eph. 2:10). In short, being given a second chance, he took it.

So, has your life—your finances, relationships, or even health—been tough these days? Instead of seeing them only as meddling obstacles, view them also as an opportunity to get closer to God. Paul, referring to the hardships in his life, wrote, “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God. . . . On him we have set our hope” (2 Cor. 1:9-10). Take a moment to reflect; perhaps you may hear a whisper from God, telling you to turn to Him and begin to really live for the Lord.

Prayer: Oh gracious Lord, I praise and thank you for allowing difficulties in my path to open my spiritual eyes. Your immense concern for my insignificant life is hard to fathom since you are the God of universe, but the fact that you do, makes my life that much significant. Help me to live for you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 19:16-24 (ESV): And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God

Questions to Consider

1. What is wrong with the question that this rich young man asks? What’s the irony?

2. What kept him from following Jesus? In what sense did he forfeit his soul?

3. Looking at your life right now, are you trying to gain the world without God, or losing your life (making costly choices) for the sake of the gospel (to live for and to serve God)?

Notes

1. He believed that “getting” eternal life hinged on doing good things. The irony, of course, is that he was inflicted with great spiritual insecurity, despite feeling that he impeccably kept all the laws.

2. The identity and the meaning of life for this young man were overtly dependant on his socio-economic status. The money he possessed, which provided more tangible and immediate benefit to him, was his security blanket instead of God. In the end, he chose to continue to hold on to that.

3. We need to a periodic check as to how we are spending our time, money and our best energy. If the bulk of them are spent on promoting my happiness and building my own “empire,” it may be time to repent and make changes.

Evening Reflection

Looking at how you spent this day, would you say you were motivated by “gaining the whole world” and “forfeiting the soul,” or trying to live for God? Either way, He still loves you but ask God to help you to do better tomorrow.