December 7, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 20, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Engineering a Comeback”

Mark 16:7

“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’” 

Peyton Manning, a brilliant quarterback who led the Indianapolis Colts to multiple winning seasons, including a Super Bowl victory, was not re-signed in 2012 because of concerns over his surgically repaired neck.   Thus, taking his new team, the Denver Broncos, to this year’s Super Bowl was a great comeback for him.   It was much like his comeback victory in a 2003 game when he led his team from being down by 18 points with only five minutes left in the game.   The real losers were those fans who, after giving up, left the game early.  Had Jesus been there though, he would have stayed because he believes in comebacks.  

The apostle Peter knew about failures.  Even a child in Sunday school knows about his three denials of Jesus. Despite loving Jesus, Peter gave into momentary lapse of fear; but later, “he broke down and wept” (Mk. 14:72).  So when the apostle heard from the women that Jesus had resurrected, he probably had mixed feelings: happy, because he gets to see Jesus again, but ashamed or even afraid, because Jesus gets to see him.   

But Peter, upon hearing what the angel told the women to tell him, perhaps felt hopeful that the reunion wasn’t going to be that bad, for the angel had said, “Go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’”  How would you feel if your name is singled out in a list of people invited to a grand reunion with the Lord?  Very special, indeed!  Had the angel just said, “Tell his disciples,” Peter, feeling unworthy, might have felt, “the disciples, but not me.” Yet not taking any chances, Jesus had the angel say, “Yes, you too, Peter.”  That was the very first step toward Peter’s eventual comeback, which culminated in his martyrdom for Christ’s sake (Jn. 21:18-9).  

Maybe you are in the middle of reaping the consequences of your personal failures from the past.   Small or big, they produce a sense of despair and hopelessness.  But this morning, realize that the Lord is an expert in engineering comebacks that last.   The first step is to see that the Lord still loves and cares for you.  Take a moment this morning to speak to him about your comeback.  

Prayer: My Father in heaven, I come before you today with a heavy heart and desperate longing for you to intervene in my life.  Lord, I have made a mess of my life and I don’t know what to do from here and out.  You are my only hope.  Help me and hear my cries; respond to me in your mercy and grace.  Oh Lord, I need once again a stirring up of my spirit by the Holy Spirit from within.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 9:36-7, 40 (ESV): “Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.  She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. . . . 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, ‘Tabitha, arise.’ And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.”

Acts 5:15 (ESV): “So that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”

Gal.2:9a (NIV): “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.” 

Questions to Consider

1. Describe Peter’s comeback in light of some amazing things he did later.

2. How do you think Peter felt, seeing himself elevated to such a high degree in Christ’s ministry following his devastating failure?

3. When someone possesses the power that Peter had, one real temptation would be pride.  How can we keep ourselves from falling into it?  Do you struggle with that issue?  How do you deal with it?

Notes

1. The man who had lost all courage to identify himself with Christ ended up becoming a key pillar of the early church, someone who raised the dead and whose shadows were even coveted by the people desperate for healing.   What a transformation!   What a comeback!

2. For most people, the response would be one of gratefulness and humility.  Apostle Paul, who also made a great comeback to become very useful for God’s work, said this about himself: “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church God” (1 Cor. 15:9).

3. It would take more than just words to keep us humble, but we need the basic understanding that the gifts and talents were all given to us by the Lord.  Therefore, we shouldn’t act as if we originated or earned them.  We should stay transparent and stop presuming that we are above it all.  

Evening Reflection

Perhaps your morning wasn’t so good (e.g., losing your cool), but how are you ending this day?  It’s not too late; you can still call or write an e-mail to reconcile.  Review your day here.  Pray.

December 6, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on July 13, 2015.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Pete Rose and King Omri”

1 Kings 16:21-28 

Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. 22 But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king. 23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for twelve years; six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver, and he fortified the hill and called the name of the city that he built Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. 25 Omri did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did more evil than all who were before him.

An enigma in Major League Baseball is Pete Rose. They don’t know what to do with him. As the all time hit-leader, he is clearly one of the best the game has known. But he bet on baseball games, as both player and manager, and for that reason he has been banned from MLB and the Hall of Fame. The most successful hitter in baseball is seen as a failure. 

This brings us to King Omri. Of the many kings listed in this chapter, Omri stands out because he was one of the most successful kings to reign over the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He took the small nation in political turmoil and brought a long period of internal peace and stability. His family formed the longest lasting dynasty in Israel, holding the throne for a number of generations. He built Samaria, a brand new capital, which was considered one of the great cities of the day. He was rich and his country became more powerful. We know from archaeology that he conquered such formidable enemies like the Moabites and even managed to take parts of some of the Assyrian Empire’s territory. 

Now it goes to reason, a book chronicling the kings of Israel would be full of praise for such a great king! But this is not the case at all. He only gets six verses and, far from being full of honor, they are scathing about him. He is not depicted as one the best, but one of the worst. How could he have accomplished so much, and yet, his own nation remembers him with such a negative view? 

This has to with the fact that the book of Kings is ultimately written by God, although through human agents. So how success is measured is not by humans or nations—but by God. Great material and political success is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing, for God measures success by one’s obedience to him. 

We are told Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and walked in the ways of King Jeroboam, who set up two altars, one to God and one to a golden calf. Like Jeroboam, Omri ruled with his own selfish interest in mind. This is why God saw him as a failure— despite all his power and wealth and defeating the old enemies of his country and people, his reign was a failure.

If we are to be successful in life, we must not seek our own glory, but the glory of God. If we run around pursuing our own ambitions and doing what pleases ourselves and not seeking and obeying the will of God, then, no matter what we achieve in a worldly sense, God will deem as our one big failure.

Prayer: Lord, remind me not to seek glory for myself but the glory of the One who gave His one and only Son to save us.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NASB): “Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Questions to Consider 

1. We are called to live by faith and not by sight? What does look like in practice?   

2. Ambition is not a vice; in fact, it can be a virtue. When is it a virtue? 

3. What are some of your goals for school, career or life? 

Notes 

1.  This is not a reference to believing the unbelievable but to living all of one’s life based on confident trust in God’s promises for the future, even when one cannot yet see the fullness of the coming glory. 

2. When we are using our ambition to please him (verse 7). 

3.  Personal response

Evening Reflection

Dedicate your study or work to be used for God’s purposes and it will succeed. Whatever you want God to bless, you give to him first. Dedicate it, consecrate it, sanctify it, and then God will bless it. “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

December 5, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 11, 2015.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Convenience and Preference”

1 Sam 23:5-7

Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” 7 With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

Two times (1 Sam 23:5-7 and 1 Sam 26:9-11), David is given a golden opportunity to take the life of his nemesis, King Saul, the man who was completely bent on killing David. Yet, on both occasions, not only does David refrain from taking Saul’s life, but he denies his men the opportunity as well. 

Try to understand a little of the context in these accounts: David is tired of fleeing from King Saul, hiding in the wilderness. He remembers that he has been anointed by the prophet, Samuel, to be the future King of Israel. He has heard of the despicable things that King Saul is doing, for example, killing the priests of Nob. If those reasons weren’t enough to end Saul’s life, one of David’s men, Abishai, is willing to dirty his own hands so that David would remain clear from any complicity (26:8). 

One swift thrust of Abishai’s spear would have finally ended David’s fear for safety. He would have finally gone home to the praise of the crowds who once hailed David has a heroic warrior. He would have taken the throne and become king just as Samuel had prophesied. He would have ended a ruthless reign and instituted a new era of benevolence over Israel. All of this would come to fruition, while he remained clear of any crime against the throne. 

Yet both times, he was refrained. What would you have done?  

We live in a totally different time with totally different way of life, and so we cringe at the thought of taking anybody’s life, even if the person had all of the traits of King Saul. We’d refrain from taking King Saul’s life as well, but not because of the reason David states. For David, it was clear that as long as Saul remained alive, he was still the Lord’s anointed servant. David may not have agreed with Saul and his ways as a king, yet David knew that God had His own timing, His own way of accomplishing His will, His own way of displaying His glory. 

I don’t believe that today’s churches are filled with people who want to slay corrupt leaders.  However, I believe our activities (and sometimes inactivity, namely prayerlessness) reveal that we’d much rather be the kind of church that takes matters into our own hands, at our own convenience, using our own preferred ways of carrying out God’s ministry. In refraining from taking Saul’s life, David shows that he understood one of the most critical truths in spiritual growth: God’s timing and His ways are perfect. The word of God has given us many insights into the ways in which God accomplishes His works. 

For reflection:  

  • Convenience: Do you sometimes take matters into your own hands rather than wait on the Lord for His timing? 
  • Preference: Do you at times become critical of your church’s mission and ministry because it makes you feel less than comfortable? 

Prayer: Lord, give me a heart that is humble and teachable to Your perfect timing and ways.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Titus 3

December 4, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 15, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“My Heart is Restless Until It Finds Its Rest in Thee” (St. Augustine)

Isaiah 40:30

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.” 

Concealing facial expression on the football field is relatively easy since a player’s helmet covers the head, and the face mask and protective shield mask the face.  Brian Hiemer certain hid himself well while playing tight-end for the University of Nebraska when they were No. 1 in the nation many years ago.  After being cut in his freshman season, he not only made the team but became a starter in his junior year when he led the team with four touchdown receptions.  He even carried a 3.3 G.P.A.  So it was shocking to everyone when he committed suicide at the tender of age of 21. 

Hiemer’s suicide was baffling on two ends: first, as a young man, he should have been full of dreams and hope.  Unfortunately, his short life proved the truthfulness of Isa. 40:30: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.”  Second, people like him are not supposed to do that.  A friend wondered, “You look for something, a warning.  May be there was a reason, but Brian didn’t tell us.” But he did confide to a friend, “People made too much of [me] being on a No. 1 team in the number 1 position.” Evidently, no outward success was able to erase the emptiness that lingered inside. 

Ultimately, the trouble with us is that no fountain of youth or success is adequate to recover the peace that was forever lost through sin, thereby pitting God and men as natural enemies.  Trying to do so is like attempting to fit a square handle into a round hole.  The peace deal between them was brokered by Jesus Christ who, through his substitionary death on our behalf, “fully met the righteous requirements of the law” (Rom. 8:4).  Consequently, God is no longer indignant at those who are in Christ because what was completed on the Cross thoroughly and permanently satisfied God’s justice.  Subsequently, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).  

I don’t like being in a hostile situation with my wife caused by an argument.  There is no peace.  I can wash dishes or take out the trash to make up for it, but they mean very little apart from a simple admission: “I’m sorry; it was my fault; will you forgive me?”  Jesus, as our advocate, did that for us and God has accepted his plea.  Truly, “my heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”

Of course, the recent suicide by Rick Warren’s son reminds us that Christians are not immune from despondency.  Suffice it to say for now, Jesus brings us back to God, and then helps us to manage and cope with the pain that is bound to arise in our fragile earthly existence.  Turn to Jesus for a way back to God today.  Turn to Christ for comfort and encouragement.

Prayer: Lord, may Your failing love rest on me as I put my trust in You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Titus 1-2

December 3, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 11, 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

“Batman is One of Us!”

Esther 10:1-2

King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea. And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

Batman has been and will always be one of the greatest and well-loved superheroes. But the main reason Batman is so adored is not because he has super-human strength (he doesn’t), nor is it because he can fly (he can’t); he can’t turn invisible or shoot lasers from his eyes either. I think the thing about Batman that draws us to him is the fact that Batman is “one of us.” Yes, he fights for justice and defeats bad guys, but when it comes down to it, Batman is like us—fully human!

There is something about a powerful figure/leader being “one of us” that makes him trustworthy. No one really wants to trust a leader with whom we can’t relate to, who doesn’t really understand what it’s like to be one of us. Perhaps that is why having Mordecai at the right hand of the king was such a blessing to the Jewish people of that time. One of the most powerful people in the land was “one of them”! The Jewish people prospered because Mordecai sat at the right hand of the king.

In Jesus, we have a greater “Mordecai.” Seated at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus not only understands everything we go through, but also is Himself fully human! We have a Lord who is “one of us”! Have you ever thought to yourself, No one understands me? Today, let us draw near with confidence to our Lord who understands us completely.

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for being our sympathetic High Priest. Because of You, we can approach the presence of God confidently. Today, may we remember Your promise that You will be with us, even to the end of the age.

Bible Reading for Today: John 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:12-16: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to the passage, can we hide our flaws, weaknesses, and sins from God?
  2. How can we approach God’s throne with confidence?
  3. How is Jesus able to sympathize with our weaknesses?

Notes

  1. According to this passage, no creature is able to hide from God, but all are naked and exposed before Him. This is a simple, yet sobering, and potentially frightening truth. 
  2. We are able to approach God’s throne with confidence for one reason: Jesus Christ is our High Priest. He has made atonement for us and intercedes on our behalf. 
  3. Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, because He has been tempted in every respect! That means that any temptation you have felt, Jesus has felt it too. In Scripture, we only have a handful of explicit examples of Jesus being tempted. But this passage tells us that there isn’t a temptation that we’ve felt that Jesus hasn’t also felt Himself. Furthermore, Jesus overcame each of these temptations—without sinning. Looking to Jesus, we see a Lord who is familiar with our plight, and He also gives us the strength to overcome.

Evening Reflection

Imagine that your closest friend became the next President of the United States: How would your life change? What would your communication with him/her be like? Knowing that Jesus is not only the King of kings, but that He also calls you friend, how should we approach Him?

December 2, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 2, 2014.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Negative Emotions”

Ephesians 4:26(NIV)

“In anger do not sin: Do not let sun go down while you are still angry.”

It is amazing how a personal slight can lead to something monstrous.  Haman, the second highest person in the Persian Empire, was “enraged” when Mordecai “would not kneel down or pay him honor” (Est. 3:5), while all the royal officials did.  Having learned that Mordecai was a Jew, Haman began to plot a way to eliminate all the Jews in the empire, even though it was only Mordecai who offended him.   

Cain was no different.  The fact that God preferred Abel’s sacrifice over his is no ground for 1st degree murder of his brother.  The Bible says Cain was angry at God (Gn. 4:5), but he extended that anger to Abel who had nothing to do with his sacrifice being unacceptable to the Lord.  Haman and Cain, therefore, are similar in that their anger was allowed to poison their attitude to hurt others who were only tangentially related to the real object of their anger. 

In our wireless world, the line distinguishing between work and home has become blurred since it is so easy to bring work home where we can work just as well.   But that’s not the only thing we bring home: we also bring all the frustrations, disappointments and resentment over failed projects, or being overlooked.  The bottled up, negative emotions are then used as weapons to hurt our spouses, children, even our pets.    Though none of them are guilty (in the same way that no Jews in Persia offended Haman except Mordecai and Abel didn’t cause Cain’s sacrifice to be unacceptable before God), they are blamed and accused.   

What should we do?  Paul says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and answer, brawling and slander. . . . Forgiv[e] each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).  So, before walking inside your home after a rough day at work, spend a few minutes (perhaps in your car) to let the truth of Christ sink in while releasing the anger.  Then, enter home with a big smile and shout, “I’m home!”

Prayer: O gracious God, how I need your mercy for allowing petty things to seep into my soul to hate people, and then allowing that to poison my attitude toward others who didn’t do anything against me.  Forgive me Lord for my unloving and ungrateful heart.  Thank You, again, for gracing me with your conditional love.

Bible Reading for Today: John 20

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:14-5 (ESV):“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Eph. 4:28b (NIV): “And do not give the devil a foothold.”

1 Cor. 10:13 (ESV): “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Questions to Consider

1. How does sin work?  In terms of football, is it like throwing a 50 yard pass for a quick touchdown or a long drive consisting of multiple plays of measurable yardage?  

2. What promise does God make in order to help us not to fall into temptation?  

3. How can we practically apply Ecclesiastes 7:9 in our everyday life?

Notes

1. For the most part, sin works gradually, like a long drive in football: from desire to sin and then from sin to death.  The implication of Ephesians 4:28: sin begins by taking the toe, then the whole foot, and in time, the whole body. 

2. God promises to provide a way out when we are tempted.   Let’s say you are about to unload on your wife or husband, but when the phone rings, this momentarily diverts your attention from your anger.  Consider that as a way out sent by God.

3. Consider anger, not as an emotion, but a decision; so make a decision not to get angry.  Come back later when your anger has subsided, and then address the person with whom you have the conflict. 

Evening Reflection

During the course of the day, we face several situations that may cause us to lose peace and get upset.  Did anything happen that robbed your peace?  Can you forgive the person who hurt you today?  Look to Christ and say a prayer on that person’s behalf.   

December 1, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 16, 2015, is written by Andy Kim who is an associate pastor at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“I Met the One!”

Hosea 2:19-20

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.

I’m sure at one point, all of us have thought about “the one.” It’s this person who embodies all of our dreamy attributes or perfect personality traits to fit our every need and desire. But as you get older, this list gets shorter and shorter because we begin to see that there is no such person. 

I’m sure Hosea was not thinking that Gomer was “the one.” During those days, it was wrong for a man, let alone a prophet, to marry a woman who was with another man. Gomer, in this case, was not with just one man but with many men and would continue to be unfaithful.

Like Gomer, the Israelites had been unfaithful to God, turning to worthless idols, and rejecting His glory. Yet, God does the unimaginable. Even in their unfaithfulness, God calls them back and declares that they shall be married to Him. But for a marriage to be consummated, the man would have to pay a bridal price. This price would be based on His righteousness, His justice, His love, and His compassion; and it would be fully displayed through his Son Jesus Christ. How great is our Lord who promises to be faithful to us and invites us into a relationship with him so that we will know Him! This relationship wouldn’t be based on our attributes or even our traits, but on Jesus Christ alone—this is grace. 

As you continue to dive deeper into the narrative of Hosea, my prayer is that God will reveal the magnitude of His love and grace for you.  And during this season of warm greetings and gift exchange, remember those in our midst who will receive none; perhaps you can show them what God’s love and grace truly looks “with actions and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:18).  

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me, even amid my failures and unfaithfulness to You. Jesus, thank You for the price that You paid for me. Holy Spirit, may I continue to live in the grace that You have shown me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 5:6-8: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Paul emphasize about human nature?
  2. How does God demonstrate His love for us?
  3. What does this passage tell us about the nature of God’s love?

Notes

  1. Like much of Romans, Paul is emphasizing human depravity. In the Greek tense, the words “were still” denotes an ongoing action that shows that even in our continuous depraved nature, God chose to save us.
  2. By sending His Son Jesus to die for us. Not only to die for us but to justify us from all unrighteousness so that we may enter into a relationship with Him.
  3. God’s love is unconditional, timely, and undeserving. There is nothing that we can do or be to earn His love.  The relationship that He calls us into is solely based on His merit. Using the argument of dying for a righteous person, Paul shows how undeserving we are of His love.

Evening Reflection

Maybe you haven’t done all the right things today or prayed enough. Do you feel separated from God? Remember, it’s not about what we are or how well we did something—we are saved through Christ and Christ alone.

November 30, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on July 14, 2015.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual Dryness”

1 Kings 17:6

And the ravens brought [Elijah] bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. 

Droughts and famines happen in every area of life. In baseball, when a player finds himself in a drought, it’s called a “slump.” And everyone has them—even the best of them. One time Mickey Mantle, the all-time great, went through a terrible slump that just would not end. One particular game, he struck out in all three at bats. Disgraced, he sat on the bunch muttering to himself, when a young boy named Tommy Bera, the son of the great manager Yogi Bera, walked over to him. Upon reaching him, he tapped Mantle’s knee tenderly to say the words, “You stink!” 

Droughts happen in every area of life, but spiritual droughts are the worst. When the brook runs dry in your soul, the easiest thing to do is to give up in despair. But despairing and quitting are not what God’s people do. 

Elijah the great prophet is suffering right along with the entire nation of Israel through a famine, as part of the judgment for Israel’s idolatry. Elijah was called to be obedient in the midst of it, and we too are called to obey whether in plenty or famine. But we must understand this: God never calls us to endure a situation that He Himself is not prepared to sustain us through. 

God provided for Elijah during the famine. God says, “I have ordered the ravens to feed you.” The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and evening. The ravens!—the dark, dirty, scavenging birds, close relatives to vultures, creatures the Law declared “unclean” (Leviticus 11:13-19). God used these greedy robbers known to snatch up dirty pieces from carcasses to provide sustenance for Elijah. God can and often will use the most unlikely source to supply his people when they are in need. Can you imagine the utter dumbfoundment on Elijah’s face the first time these birds dropped off his meal?

If you are spiritually dry right now, if the brook is running dry, then take a moment and consider how God is sustaining you. Such a reflection may surprise you. God’s grace may be through an unexpected friend or perhaps through a struggle that you sense the Lord is allowing for your eventual good. In recognizing God’s provision, you might find yourself closer to revival than you think. In all, we must remember the promise that “…God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God wants to sustain and refresh you. 

Bible Reading for Today: John 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:28-30: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. [29] For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [30] And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Questions to Consider 

1. God weaves everything together for the good of His children. The “good” in this passage does not suggest earthly comfort, but conformity to whom (verse 29)?    

2. What aspects of salvation are listed in this passage? 

3. We are told that God has always been doing “good” for us, starting from creation to the day of Christ’s return. How does this comfort you today? 

Notes 

1.  The “good” is conformity to Christ. God works for our good as we strive to be more like Christ. 

2. These are all aspects of salvation: justification (v.30), glorification (v.30) and sanctification (v.28 – in that God is working all things together for our good, presently). 

3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

“Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He’s sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped.” – Charles Stanley

November 29, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 17, 2014.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Important Precepts of Life Gleaned from a Hollywood Actor”

Proverbs 6:6

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.”

While watching “Forrest Gump” on my flight back from Vietnam, I was reminded of the story of Mykelti Williamson, a struggling actor who became famous after playing the lovable “Bubba” in the 1994 movie.  Unable to afford an apartment early in his acting career, he once lived for 8 months in his Volkswagen bug where he managed to stuff his 6′ 2″ frame into it.  But “he refused to feel humiliated or give up his dream of an acting career by returning to his mom’s house.” So what kept him going?  No, it wasn’t a powerful sermon but something that a stranger had told him when the actor was a boy. “He was crying. He’d lost his job,” said Williamson, “but [the man] said, ‘Everything will be OK, because the harder you fall, the higher you bounce.’  I never forgot that.”  

Whether the thrice-married Williamson is a believer, we can still learn something from his example. How so?  Inasmuch as “good math” can be learned from a heathen teacher committed to mathematical truths, we can also learn something from unbelievers, who, having been created in God’s likeness (James 3:9), can show a thing or two about God’s precepts for life.  After all, we are told to consider the ways of an ant and be wise.

One truth Williamson demonstrates is this: Hard work pays off, which is taught in Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”  Another truth, applied to his pursuit of professional success (but not to his marriage) is this: Don’t give up, which Proverbs 24:16 infers (“For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again”).   

So, when difficult circumstances seek to smother you, remember to hang on, but to what?  One is our faith in Christ; and the other, a goal in life—without it caving-in comes easy.  Williamson added, “Even in our bleakest, loneliest moment, we can survive if we have a goal.”  The goal for the believers, as the apostle Paul articulated, is this: “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).  

So, do you have a particular plan as to how to win this prize?  Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”  So, what is your goal in life?  It is never too late to ask God for one.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, whenever I want to give up and stop caring about my life, remind me of how Christ didn’t give up but, for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame . . . so that [I] will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:2-3). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 17

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Pet. 2:12, 15: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us . . . For this is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

Jeremiah 4:1-2: “If you, Israel, will return, then return to me,” declares the Lord. “If you put your detestable idols out of my sight and no longer go astray, 2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will be blessed by him and in him they will glory.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is one main factor that causes us to be ineffective in serving God and furthering his kingdom?

2. In what way did the failure of the Israelites to distinguish themselves among the nations hurt those very nations?

3. What is the best way to distinguish ourselves from the world so that what we do gives further credence to the greatness of our God?

Notes

1. We become co-opted by the values and practices of the secular world, thereby losing our Christian distinction, that is, our saltiness.  As a result, we become good for nothing as far as representing God.  In fact, we may become recipients of ridicule by the skeptics of the Christian faith. 

2. Israel’s wayward ways, in effect, blocked God’s channel of blessing for the nations since her undistinguishable life prompted the nations not to hold God in high regard.  They thought, “Why bother seeking the God of Israel when these Israelites prefer our god and our ways?”

3. Nothing is more powerful that leading a credible public life, backed by a corresponding private life, consisting of good and kind deeds performed “with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15). 

Evening Reflection

Did you have an opportunity to exalt God’s name today?  Wrap up your day by briefly journaling what happened today.  Pray for a more effective tomorrow.

November 28, 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

“Love Your Enemies” 

Matthew 5:38-42

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Right now, my 12-year-old is dealing with an annoying kid in school.  I wouldn’t call him a bully as much as a nuisance.  Last week, when my son left his computer to take care of something his teacher needed him to do, this boy came over and messed up one of his projects.  A couple of days ago, my son reported that this same kid went around jabbing people with his pencil.  We live in a small town, so I know who this boy is; he is the kid who is often yelling at soccer refs and baseball umps when a call doesn’t go his way.  To be honest, this boy’s behavior pushes my specific buttons; I hate bullying behavior, disregard for other people’s property, disrespectfulness, entitlement, etc.  

As a parent, I try like crazy to kill off these characteristics in my children (and myself), but in this kid, I see them in spades.  Knowing this, it may not be surprising that I told my son, “Son, if you ever feel threatened by this kid, I would not be angry with you if you had to punch him to defend yourself.”  Now again, to be honest, I was kind of hoping that my son would take this as a license to slap this kid across the head to teach him a lesson, whether he actually felt “threatened.”  

Two points that need to be made here: one, I’m a sinful monster and possibly a terrible father; and two, Jesus’ teachings on loving one’s enemies are really difficult aren’t they?  Look, I’ve been a Christian for over 25 years, and as you can see, I still haven’t truly figured it out.  In this instance, my heart’s desire is for someone to teach this kid a lesson, not to love him.  I could have told my son, “If this kid stabs you with a pencil, give him a pen also, and then pray for him”, but this is obviously not the advice I gave.  I’m not going to pretend to know why this child acts as he does, but I do know that he, like the rest of us, needs the love and acceptance of the Savior who died for him.  

How about you?  Is there someone who God wants you to love, but for whatever reason, you have been treating as an enemy?  Perhaps it’s a family member, old friend, neighbor, co-worker, etc.?  I know it feels impossible but remember the Gospel and its power.  Jesus didn’t die on the cross because you were able to treat enemies as beloved friends; in fact, the opposite is true, he died because we all treated friends like enemies.  Even worse, we treated God, our greatest friend, as our enemy.  But instead of slapping us across the face, or taking our shirts, or making us go on a death march, God showed us his great mercy.  Ultimately, we can trust God for all things, and in this case, a better way to live, by loving those who may have wronged us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for treating me as if I were the nicest human being on earth when, in fact, its opposite is true.  As I have been graced in Christ, remind me, strengthen me and demand that I extend that same grace to those who appear not so deserving of it.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  John 16