November 4, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on October 1, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Timing”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 (ESV)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted . . .”

When I found out that the mother of Pastor Yohan (formerly with GCC, now at RCC) had passed and that his wife, after months of searching, had just received a job offer in California, I was reminded of God’s timing in my own life.

In 1999, a few days before my last Sunday at the church where I had pastored for almost 10 years, my mother-in-law, who had been connected to a tracheotomy and feeding tube for 6 years, died at home where my wife took care of her. Beside sadness, everyone was relieved that she, now pain free, went to a better place. I also sensed that we could now go wherever God would lead us because my wife was free from her filial responsibility.

In speaking of God’s timing, consider the story of Mordecai, a 4^th generation Jew living in exile in the Persian Empire. Even though his cousin Queen Esther rose to great fame due to her heroics, without Mordecai, the insidious plan of Haman (responsible for legalizing the holocaust of the Jews [Esther 3:8-15]) would have succeeded. It all began when Mordecai happened to be at the king’s gate where he heard two officers plotting to kill the king. It was thwarted after Mordecai relayed the information to Esther who then told the king. The event was forgotten until about 5 years later, when the king, who, unable to sleep, had an attendant read the book of chronicles (6:1); the portion he happened to read was about Mordecai. The king honored him the next day, which began a chain of events that led to the demise of Haman and his plan. What perfect timing!

Regarding Pastor Yohan, although God had already called him to a new ministry in San Francisco, a job for his wife was pivotal for their relocation, some 3,000 miles away from his mother’s home. But God’s timing was perfect, once again: his mother, who longed for heaven, is now there—pain free; and this young pastor and his beautiful family have already begun a new journey of serving the Lord at RCC (Yohan’s account of their journey in the Sept. 9^th QT).

My friends, be faithful in little things and patiently expect for God’s time to arrive.

Prayer: Oh Lord, how I praise Your Name this morning. I thank You that in Your perfect time, You make everything beautiful. How often I impatiently move out, without faith and trust in You, thinking that what I do can make a difference. Lord, I entrust myself to You and hide under Your mighty wings. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Ps. 37:5-7 (NIV): Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.7 Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.”

Matt. 24:45-50 (NIV): Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Questions to Consider

1 What is “waiting for God’s time”?

2. What makes waiting for God’s time so difficult? What do we tend to do when the waiting is prolonged?

3. What should we be focused on while waiting for God’s time to arrive?

Notes

1. The meaning of “waiting for God’s time” is avoiding doing things according to the ways that make sense to our reasoning, and just because it is convenient and advantageous to us. It is doing it according to God’s principles at a time when it may not be very convenient or beneficial to us.

2. It looks like others who do things according to their own ways are getting ahead of us. It makes us feel like we are losing out. So we tend to drop the original plan; that is, waiting patiently for God to move, and start imitating the ways of the world.

3. The psalmist says, “Do not fret when people succeed in their ways.” Among other things, consistently and meaningfully reading of God’s word and praying will help us to maintain our focus. In addition, Jesus reminds us to be faithful in whatever responsibility God has given us while we wait for the return of the King.

Evening Reflection

Before turning in, ask the Lord for strength to wait on Him and for His time. Remember that our lives are unfolding under His watchful eyes. Trust Him, especially when it seems to make little or no sense.

November 3, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on October 7, 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

“Always Enough”

Ezra 1:5-10

Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

It had been almost 50 years since the exile; enough time for two whole generations to be born in foreign lands; enough time that life within the Babylonian empire was all that many Jews knew about. Cyrus’s proclamation must have come like a bolt of lightning for the Jewish people. Jerusalem? Rebuild the temple? Walk hundreds of miles through possibly dangerous territory? Leave the life that they had built? Understandably, not everyone RSVP-ed.

But some rose up—heads of houses, priests, Levites and others “whose spirits God had stirred up.” Not everyone—but enough. The number that God calls is always enough for the task. And for those called to return, God provided what was necessary to finance the trip to their ancestral home, to rebuild the temple, and to replenish the temple with its implements of worship.

When God calls us to a task, He always provides what is necessary for carrying out that task—whether human resources, money, materials or power. As a church planter, I have seen God provide over and over again the past five years. Has your spirit been stirred by God for some great (or small) endeavor? Trust in God to provide!

Prayer: Father, I thank you for Your gracious and sovereign provision! I thank You that even beyond people, money or materials, You provide me with salvation and grace. I want to trust that You will always be enough. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Kings 4:1-7: Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Questions to Consider

What was the widow’s situation? What options were available to her?
Why do you think Elisha asked the widow what she had in her house?
What specific steps of faith were required for the widow to experience God’s provision?
How much did God provide?

Notes

The widow was in debt and owed her sons as slaves to a creditor. At this point, her only option, other than surrendering her sons, was to ask for help.
I am sure that the widow did not consider her present resources as sufficient in any way to overcome her circumstances. But Elisha directs her attention to what she does have. Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, God can use what we already have.
The widow had to show faith in a number of ways: (1) she had to decide to obey Elisha’s instructions; (2) she had to instruct her sons to ask her neighbors for many empty vessels (which must have seemed like a strange and potentially humbling request); and (3) she had to pour out the one jar of oil that she had into another vessel (if this didn’t work, presumably some of the oil would be wasted in the transfer).
The jar of oil did not stop flowing until the last vessel was filled. God provided in exact proportion to the widow’s lived out faith! This was enough to pay off the widow’s debts and enough to live on afterwards.

Evening Reflection

How has God provided for you? As we journal, let us gladden our hearts by remembering instances of God’s provision for us.

November 2, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 21, 2015, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), recently planted an English-speaking church in Tokyo.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Fast or Slow: Which Do You Prefer?”

2 Samuel 2:1-4 (ESV)

After this David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” [2] So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. [3] And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. [4] And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

In an AT&T commercial, a group of kids is asked, “Is it better to be fast or slow?” A little girl proceeds to explain how it’s better to be fast so you can outrun a werewolf and avoid being bitten and turned into a werewolf yourself. It’s hard to disagree with that logic.

We too prefer “fast.” We want our promotions fast. We want our kids to become perfect fast. We want our dreams fast. And if we were faced with a werewolf, we also would want to run fast.

After years of waiting to become king, David should have been rearing to go. Saul had finally passed away and so now was the opportune time for David to take his rightful place. Instead we find David patiently waiting on the will of God. He asks whether he should go into Judah and if so to which city. Once there, David simply waits. It’s the men of Judah who come to him, not the other way around.

Now David is not lazily waiting for God to do everything for him. In regards to obeying God and following His will, David is very active. But in terms of securing his own future and blessings, David is surprisingly passive. David is content to move at God’s pace.

When something is important to us, we often do our best to rush God. Whether we’re looking forward to a dream job, getting married, or having good health, “wait’ is not what we want to hear.

How did David have such patience? I believe that it was through all those years on the run. In those bleak times, David had learned to trust God. Take a moment to remember God’s faithfulness to you. Is there a time when his sovereign goodness to you was on full display? How can your history with God encourage you to trust Him now?

Prayer: Father, I come to You full of trust but also full of doubts and fears. I thank You that You have proven Yourself faithful over the years. Help me to entrust myself to You and Your sovereignty. Let me not give in to fear or discouragement, but grant me great hope in Your goodness that I might follow and obey You with all that I am. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 9

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 13:8-12 (ESV): He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. [9] So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. [10] As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. [11] Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, [12] I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.”

Question to Consider

1. Why did Saul grow impatient?

2. In his impatience, what did Saul do?

3. How should Saul have sought the favor of the Lord?

Notes

1. Samuel had not come by the appointed time, the people were scattering from him, and the Philistines were preparing to attack.

2. Saul offered the burnt offering even though it was unlawful for him to do so. Saul essentially tried to take matters into his own hands.

3. Saul sought God’s favor by unlawfully offering the sacrifices. He should have sought God’s favor by obediently waiting and trusting Him.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. When was your patience tested? In those moments of testing, were you tempted to sin? How can you seek the favor of the Lord in similar situations?

November 1, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 25, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Yes, God is Faithful”

2 Tim. 2:13

“If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Dressed in a white officer’s uniform, my nephew looked great in his Navy ROTC Commissioning Service held at his university a day before the graduation. His dad flew in all the way from Hawaii to witness this proud moment. While there, my thought took me back to that moment when my 4 -year old nephew was placing a stem of flower inside the coffin of his mother. We were all so worried back then as to how he would turn out in life without his mother. As I heard my nephew briefly share with the audience during this commissioning ceremony, thanking God for giving him strength, a strong sense of gratitude to the Lord filled my heart for his faithfulness toward my nephew.

One character in the Bible who experienced God’s faithfulness in a similar life context as that of my brother was Mary, whose husband Joseph had likely died some time after Jesus had reached the age of 12: His conspicuous absence from the Gospel narratives thereafter suggests this. This meant that Mary was a single mother of at least seven children (Mk. 6:3), and that was a lot of mouths to feed. How did she manage it? Did her oldest child turn stones into bread? Well, Jesus didn’t do that when tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:4), so I don’t think he did that while growing up.

For Mary, meeting the needs of her children meant long hours of working, disciplining her children to contribute, and much time spent on her knees, desperately asking God to take care of their needs, including spiritual. And God did. For instance, James, who neither believed nor approved of his brother Jesus (Mk. 3:21), eventually changed and became a pillar of the early church. Mary certainly was grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness.

“God is faithful,” said Paul (1 Cor. 10:12). What is worrying you today? Trust him by giving your worries to him in prayer, and then have the best day today by working hard and loving people.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as trials and difficulties inundate my life, remind me to look to your faithfulness instead of my own circumstances. Lord, help me to worry less and trust you more and in your wonderful promises. Thank you for being a faithful God who will not disown the unfaithful. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 8

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 10:12-3 (ESV): “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No 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.”

Ezra 8:21-3 (regarding Ezra’s return to Jerusalem from Persia): Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. ²²For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” ²³So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Questions to Consider

1. According to Paul, what is one area where we can certainly expect God to be faithful? What does that mean?

2. In the case of Ezra, how did God manifest his faithfulness? Have you ever experienced anything similar?

3. What should be our response to the Lord when He continues to be faithful to us even when we are not?

Note

1. When facing temptations, expect God to provide a way out so that we don’t have to fall. This may manifest in various ways, including this: something you heard in a sermon or a Bible verse suddenly pops up in your mind, reminding you not to do what you are about to do. That’s the Holy Spirit.

2. God answered Ezra’s prayers. When we are facing a crisis and God rescues us, it certainly intensifies our sense of gratitude toward God’s faithfulness. Once, my car (with my family) stopped in the middle of nowhere in the late evening. That we were able to tow the car that night, repair it by the next day, and then be on our way to our next destination once again demonstrated God’s faithfulness toward us.

3. Romans 2:4 says, “His kindness leads us to repentance.” When we continue to be the recipients of God’s faithful provision, we really have only one response: desiring to change through the help of the Holy Spirit; that is, to be more like Jesus in our character and faith.

Evening Reflection

In what ways did you sense God’s faithfulness today? Were you too busy or distracted to notice it? Spend a moment recounting the Lord’s faithfulness in taking care of your needs. Thank Him.

October 31, Sunday

Today’s devotional, first posted on July 26, 2015, is provided by Mei Lan Thallmam.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Fixing It One ‘Room’ at a Time”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

For our first home, we bought a foreclosed house in South Carolina. But it took some time to make it our home, for there were many necessary constructions—replacing carpets, water heater, windows, garage door, paint, etc. It was a long process where we had to prioritize and pace ourselves by focusing on one project at a time so that we would not feel overwhelmed. We, however, learned a lot about patience and perseverance through the inconveniences of the process, and we had to trust and depend on God’s timing and His provision. But through it all, it was worth all the hard work, time, and energy to finally make this house our home; for to this day, our kids still talk about how much they miss our home in South Carolina.

A believer’s salvation and growth in Christ is also like the process of a house makeover. The moment we ask Jesus into our heart to be our Savior and Lord, there is an exchange of ownership and a beginning of a lifelong makeover of becoming more like Christ. Of course our salvation is secure, like the deed of the ownership by Christ himself, but the process of taking on and living out our identity as God’s new creation will take time to cultivate and develop.

God will take His ownership of our lives seriously and begin a reconstruction process through our belief system which is made up of our thoughts and attitudes; and from this belief system, our behavior and habits are formed. He will not overwhelm us by doing it all at once, but through a process He will begin to renew our mind, thoughts and attitudes by His Word and by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our cooperation with Him through our trusting obedience and willingness to change are both important and key to our growth.

Taking captive of our worldly/fleshly thoughts and attitudes, ungodly defense mechanisms and destructive habits, and realigning them under Christ’s truth and character is an absolute must and fundamental spiritual discipline in living the daily Christian walk. It can be painful to confront and struggle with our old self, but the end result of making our lives a home where Christ feels welcomed to abide permanently is worth it. Without His complete ownership/Lordship in every area of our lives, we simply cannot bear fruit for Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being the Author and Perfecter of my faith. Please continue to teach me to a deeper surrender and cooperation to Your reconstruction in my life. Please forgive me and cleanse me of pride, stubbornness and resistance to the conviction of Your Word and to the voice of Holy Spirit. Help me to make my life a home that You would feel welcomed to dwell within. Thank You that through Your work on the Cross, I can be a new creation in Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 7

October 30, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Giving and Receiving Compliments While Maintaining Vigilance”

1 Cor. 16:17-18

“I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.”

While I was pastoring many years ago, a young woman attending my church sent me this email: “Please don’t compliment me anymore . . . What you said was nice, but compliments are best served to your family.” Puzzled, I wrote back: “Why do you take such a hard stance? Isn’t compliment giving recognition for a job well done? What about people without any family? Your view seems unnatural to me.” After all, the Lord once told a gentile woman seeking help for her demonized daughter, “Woman, you have great faith!” (Matt. 15:28). Paul, in speaking about three persons who “refreshed [his] spirit,” said, “such men deserve recognition” (1 Cor. 16:18).

Curious as to how she arrived at her view, I soon learned that it came from a book about marriage that illustrated how people, whose needs are unmet by their spouse, may find it outside of marriage with disastrous results. The author noted that it often starts out with compliments and being nice. Startled by her discovery, this single woman took exception to her pastor‘s kind words for a job well-done.

Obviously, what the book cautions makes sense. The man who doesn’t feel very valued by his wife may feel validated by a woman who keeps complimenting him. A young woman whose hair and scent are constantly praised by her male boss may feel special. And that’s when things can happen. But my congregant’s departure from this sensible warning reminded me of what Jesus said will happen at the end of time: “the love of many will grow cold” (Matt. 24:12). Wouldn’t a categorical rejection of giving compliments to the members of the opposite sex or nonfamily member make our world rather an unfriendly place?

Actually, giving compliments is not the problem but bad marriage or relationship is. Husband and wife in a healthy relationship will appreciate someone of the opposite sex praising positive changes or good work. But they will feel uncomfortable and alarmed, not flattered, if this person continues to make admiring comments on everything they do or their appearances.

Paul said, “In your thinking be adults.” In our complex world, a childish way of thinking is to see everything in terms of either/or: either you compliment only your own family or don’t praise anyone else since it may lead to an illicit relationship. But what the Lord said in a different context may also apply here: “You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former” (Matt. 23:24). So, we ought to recognize those who have earned our praise while appreciating the compliments that others give us (Prov. 27:21). At the same time, we should avoid giving empty flattery or being swayed by dubious compliments with ulterior motives.

But today, recognize those who have refreshed your spirit. Don’t let them guess. Call or text them. Better yet, how about a lunch, on you.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for giving me the ability to serve You and, at times, do it well. Thank You for those who, upon noticing it, complimented me. May that not go to my head but to my heart so that I will always remain grateful to You for saving me and then using me in Your kingdom work. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 5-6

October 29, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on October 29, 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

“Giving According to Your Ability”

Ezra 2:68-69

Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. 69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.

We are not told much about the journey of the returning exiles to Jerusalem, but we do know what they did first when they got there. They gathered at the ruins of the temple and, according to their ability, each made freewill offerings for the house of God to be rebuilt.

We learn something remarkable about the priorities of the returning exiles here. They had left their homes in Babylonia to return to their ancestral home, but after nearly 50 years of captivity, they wouldn’t know if they had homes to return to. We would well understand if their first priority was to resettle the land and build homes. And indeed, they did do that, but only after making provision for the house of God first.

Their example teaches us much about the heart of true worshipers. Worshipers prioritize their giving to God, not because they are obligated to give, but because they put God and his work above all other things. When God is not our first priority, we ask, “How much should I give?” A true worshiper simply asks, “How can I give?”

Prayer: Father, I am thankful for the example of these worshipers in Ezra, for it reminds me that You are a God who is worthy of being my first priority. Like these people in Ezra 2, I want to give generously for Your kingdom work. Help me to join in that work today. In Jesus name I pray, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 12:41-44: And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions to Consider

Why do you think Jesus was watching people put money into the offering box?
Why did Jesus say that the widow had given more than the others? What is the lesson He is teaching?
Read Mark 12:38-40. Does the preceding passage help us learn a broader lesson?

Notes

I don’t believe Jesus was in the habit of watching the offerings at the temple, but He certainly was interested in teaching His disciples a lesson about giving.
Jesus considered the widow to have given more than the others, as she had more relative to what she had. What is important is not so much how much we give, but how we give. Do we give sacrificially, acknowledging God’s worth and provision?
This passage seems like a simple lesson in giving, but when read in light of the preceding verses, there may be a deeper lesson. In verses 38-40, we see Jesus lamenting the actions of the scribes who “devour widow’s houses.” In verses 41-44, Jesus praises the actions of a poor widow whose house may have been devoured, if all she had was two copper coins. Jesus celebrates the widow’s act of radical giving, but also laments her circumstance. Perhaps if those gave “out of their abundance” were to be more radically generous and caring, fewer would have to give “out of poverty.”

Evening Reflection

As disciples of Jesus, God asks us to radically participate in His work, using our material resources, skills, time and energy. How are your priorities? Let us journal a confession or declaration of intent as the Spirit leads.

October 28, Thursday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 18, 2015, is written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jane and they have two small children.

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“No One Understands Me!” Your Point Is . . .”

1 Samuel 22: 6-8

Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds,8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.”

“You don’t know what I’m going through . . . You don’t understand.” I’ve heard those words come out of my mouth and that of others countless times. It seems to be the go-to answer when we, while going through rough and confusing times, don’t want to heed the advice or warnings of those around us unless they are sympathetic to our cause. This frustrating syndrome is aptly referred to as victim mentality.

I still remember having to make a significant personal decision to leave my previous job to a new one; the entire process was very laboring at the least. People gave me advice, but it only seemed to go so far. It felt like no one understood me or knew what I was going through; thus, rather than accepting their help, I found myself becoming defensive.

In today’s text, it appears that King Saul went through the same except his condition, in time, became very toxic. He once had an entire kingdom under his rule; now he couldn’t even rule over his own sanity. He lost control of the people near and far, but more importantly his own mind. Rather than listening to God and properly addressing his lack of trust in Him, he victimized himself to the detriment of everyone around him. Even though David never mentioned nor tried taking the throne, Saul couldn’t help but feel jealous and paranoid. In reality, no one was against him, except himself. He had lost control to the point of even killing God’s priests.

Do you feel like no one understands you? Do you feel that no words can actually give you peace? We can learn from Saul’s account that such sentiment, when left to fester, only leave us feeling further alienated. It may, then, lead to making rash decisions that hurt both you and others around you. That is when we need to look to Christ who empathizes with our weaknesses and calls us to approach Him with confidence (Heb. 4:14-5). Let us remind ourselves that Christ is not only with us, but also for us.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the cross and that you were the ultimate victim for my sins. Your promise to never leave me nor forsake me still stands today. I know that in everything either good or bad, you are working in me even when I cannot see it, for you are always with me. Jesus, help me not to victimize myself but constantly turn to you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:31-39 (ESV): What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Questions to Consider

Paul asks, “Who is to condemn?” How can we overcome our victim mentality?
Paul asks, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” What are some things in our lives that can separate us from Christ?
What assurance can we take from this passage?

Notes

Paul asks a rhetorical question implying that nothing in this world can condemn us. Christ became the ultimate victim by taking our sins upon the cross on our behalf so that rather than being condemned, we are now saved. Actually, before God we were never victims but transgressors. Now, having been forgiven by God in Christ, we are more than conquerors, including over our erroneous victim mentality.
Paul provides a list of things as a warning that will distract us from the inseparable love of Christ. Consider how these items can be relatable in your life (i.e. tribulations can represent hardships or struggles that you may be going through).
There is nothing in this world that can separate us from His love—not physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental. He continually intercedes for us (v. 34) in our weaknesses.

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with Christ. What are the areas, times, situations, or even relationships that keep you from His love? How have you felt victimized and then let that spiral into a mess like Saul? Ask God to open your eyes to see His inseparable love and the people whom He has placed in your life to release you.

October 27, Wednesday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 25, 2013

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“When It Comes to God’s Answer to Our Petitions, One Size Doesn’t Fit All”

Psalm 9:9-12

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.11 Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.12 For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

Is this psalm too good to be true? Certainly not. For instance, God immediately responded to the prayer of a terminally ill king (Hezekiah) who had just prayed, “I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!” (Is. 38:14b). Immediately after the conclusion of this prayer, “Isaiah . . . said, ‘Prepare a poultice of figs and apply it to the boil, and [you] will recover’.” (21).

Nevertheless, God doesn’t always rescue us in the way that we prefer! He may wait a while before helping us, like Jesus who waited until Lazarus actually died. (The Lord had his reasons.) And at times, God uses our trouble to rescue us from a more serious problem. Once, a child was kicked hard in the stomach by a bully, and his dad, while taking him to hospital, wondered where God was. During the examination, an ailment was discovered in the area where the kick landed that needed an urgent treatment. And sometimes, His comfort is entirely inward—His abiding presence through the Holy Spirit. This means the troubling situation remains unaltered.

The last thing we want is a nice formula. Are you in trouble? Look to His abiding presence even as we hope for a quick delivery. Pray!

Prayer: Dear God, I admit that at times, I have questioned Your goodness because You seemed distant from my problems. I do not want to see You merely as my problem-solver. You’re my LORD regardless of whether my troubles still afflict me. I thank You for your abiding presence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Daniel 3:18: “Even if he doesn’t, we want you to know, O king, that we’ll not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was it said (Dan. 3:1-6, 13-8)?

2. What does their terse response to the king reveal about the basis of their faith (2 Cor. 5:6-9; Phil. 1:21-3)?

3. Their story ended happily (Dan. 3:24-7) but the same can’t be said about Paul whose imprisonment in Roman ended in execution. Did God not intervene (2 Tim. 4:16-8)? If He did, then in what sense?

Notes

1. The three young exiles from Israel—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—declared that to the most powerful man alive at the time: King Nebuchadnezzar of Neo-Babylonian Empire.

2. It clearly showed that they were moving by faith, not by sight, since their faith in God was not predicated upon His physical deliverance of them. I think such faith stems from, first, a strong desire to uphold God’s honor; second, trusting that something better (like being at home with the Lord) awaits after death.

3. In Paul’s case, all he got from the LORD was His inward presence (“The LORD stood at my side and gave me strength”) and that was enough! Since Paul already had accepted his imminent death (2 Tim. 4:6), being rescued from “every evil attack” meant that God will rebuff the devil’s accusation against Paul (Rev. 12:10) and gladly receive him into heaven, rather than be released from the dungeon. There is no trick to having this kind of faith: Paul practiced for many years a lifestyle of total dependency on God (Phil. 4:1-13).

Evening Reflection

Another busy day? Did you experience God’s tangible presence today? If the truth be told, because we have not cultivated sensing God’s inward presence, we miss out on his comfort. To hear Him, we need to hide his word in our mind, and learn to stay still before Him, so that God can impress upon our mind the words that we need to hear. How have you been doing in these areas? Before going to bed, stay still for a moment and allow the LORD to speak to you, through a thought, verse, or even a picture! If your life has been somewhat difficult, please receive His comfort through the inward presence of God.

October 26, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on June 24, 2013. Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia.

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“A Time to Celebrate”

1 King 8:65-66

“So Solomon observed the festival at that time, and all Israel with him – a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. They celebrated it before the LORD our God for seven days and seven days more . . . . They blessed the king and then went home, joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.”

I used to think that the academic calendar did not matter to most people once they started working full-time because they no longer had the long summer breaks; and the beginning and ending of each year probably went from September through June to something closer to the actual calendar year. But then I realized that when people get married and start having children, they are back on that same timetable all over again.

It’s a pleasant rhythm of life, all the more significant to me because I’ve never really left it, working in a school setting for most of my adult life. And June’s special place in that calendar is being a month of celebration: celebrating the end of a school year, sometimes the end of one’s high school or college years; welcoming in the summer vacation; having a time of rest.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance . . .” And when the hard work has been put in and a project finished or a season of life brought to a close, it is good and right to celebrate, to look back upon all the good things God has done, and to be joyful and glad in heart about those things.

In our passage today we see some elements of a great celebration: 1) being able to share the moment with others who understand its significance because they have gone through the hard times together and come out together on the other side; 2) being able to acknowledge God’s hand in all the goodness, that it’s because the God of the universe was for us that we were able to enjoy all that we’ve received.

Has it been a while since we’ve been joyful and glad in heart about something? Let’s take a moment today to think back on all His goodness and let a spirit of celebration fill our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, as I go through life, sometimes I tend to remember the failures more than the successes, the defeats more than the victories. But today, I want to remember Your goodness and celebrate the good things You have done. Would You fill my heart with joy this day? Thank you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Ecclesiastes 2:17-25: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. . . . 23 All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. 24 A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, 25 for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?”

Questions to Consider

1. How did the writer of Ecclesiastes feel about his work and life (vv. 17, 23)?

2. What realization did he come to? What was the solution to his predicament (vv. 24-25)?

3. How is my work satisfaction these days? If I am not enjoying work or feeling satisfied with the fruits of my labor, what can I do?

Notes

1. That it was meaningless; there seemed to be no point to his labor.

2. That finding joy and satisfaction in work comes from God. To seek the Giver of this gift; to seek to be connected to God while one is working, for “without him” (v. 25), joy cannot be found.

3. See #2 above.

Evening Reflection

God’s will is for us to rejoice always. Was the joy in my heart sustained throughout the day as I remembered His goodness and stayed connected to Him? If anything happened today to rob me of this joy, at this time, let me bring it before the Lord and ask Him to fill me once again.