REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 30, 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

“Importance of Water”

2 Kings 3:9-12a

So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. And when they had made a circuitous march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that followed them. Then the king of Israel said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” 

Wars require water. Especially in ancient times, having enough water for your army could be the determining factor in the outcome of a battle. In fact, water was so important to maintaining an army that poisoning enemy water sources was a common practice of ancient warfare. In this chapter, three armies (Israel, Judah, and Edom) join together to fight against the enemy Moabites. An incredible force! But they seem to have run into a major problem… they had no water. Hundreds of thousands of thirsty soldiers and many more animals are all but useless without water. In this dire situation, we see two distinct responses from two different kings: Jehoram, the king of Israel, said, “Alas! The Lord has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab,” while Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?”

Interestingly, both kings referred to the name of the Lord. The king of Israel used the name of the Lord to pronounce blame for the impending doom. On the other hand, in a seemingly hopeless situation, the king of Judah sought the word of the Lord. When we are in tough situations, how do we approach the Lord? 

Prayer: Lord, You are greater and bigger than any obstacle or problem that we can face in our lives. We seek You, and we ask to hear from You as we go through this day. Help us to meditate on Your Scripture; build up our faith as we meditate on it.  

Bible Reading for Today: 3 John

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 5:39-40: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

Questions to Consider

1. Who is Jesus talking to here? (You may have to refer to the entire chapter.)
2. What was wrong with the way these Jewish leaders were reading Scripture?
3. According to this passage, how should we be reading Scripture?

Notes

1. Jesus is talking to the Jews—more specifically, the Jews who set out to kill him, which were the Jewish religious leaders.
2. It seems as though these Jews had significant knowledge of Scripture but could not make the connection to Jesus Christ. In other words, their knowledge of Scripture was solely informational.  
3. Jesus does not ever deny the importance or the authority of Scripture, but He says here that Scripture bears witness to Jesus. When we read Scripture, we ought to be thinking of how its words, stories, and commands reveal to us the person and nature of God! A great question to ask while reading any Bible passage is, “What does this reveal about our God?”

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Evening Reflection

As the day ends, reflect on the different ways you interacted with the Lord today. Have you sought His voice? Have you read His Word? Especially if you are in a difficult season right now, take some time to quiet your heart and inquire of the Lord.

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought—first posted on June 7, 2015—is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, who in the past has 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

“Presuming Too Much”

1 Kings 1:5-10

Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6 (His father had never rebuked him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)7 Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.9 Adonijah then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king’s sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,10 but he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard or his brother Solomon.

My friend Young (not Pastor Young) has the best “most embarrassing” story.  It was near the end of his senior year in high school, and his school was having their senior awards ceremony.  The award for most accomplished student was being presented, and Young was absolutely sure he was going to get it.  The principal started describing the accomplishments of the actual winner by saying, “We are so proud of the work and dedication of this young woman…”  However, my friend who again was so sure he was the winner of this award only heard “young” (his name) and proceeded to walk onto the stage.  Could you imagine how silly he felt upon walking up to the stage to receive his award only to realize that it was for another student?  I love this story, but I get embarrassed for him when he tells it.  

Adonijah, like my friend Young, made the mistake of presuming too much in life.  But in all fairness, who wouldn’t make the same mistake?  He was probably the oldest remaining son of David (Amnon was dead; Absalom was dead, and we know nothing about this mystery son Daniel, only mentioned in 1 Chron. 3), and who would expect the son of Bathsheba (remember how they got together) to be the heir to the throne?  Plus, Adonijah had the backing of the commander of David’s army, Joab, and the highly revered priest, Abiathar.  I would have assumed that the throne was mine, too.  

I have met many people who have been passed over for a promotion or a position that they presumed (rightly or wrongly) was theirs.  I have dealt with the heartbreak of couples who presumed that having children would be an easy process.  And I tried to comfort many who have presumed their dreams in life were also God’s plans for them.  The problem with presumption is that it doesn’t take into account the sovereignty of God; in other words, we presume to know the Lord’s will, when we are often blinded by our own desires or biases.  

In Luke 14, Jesus gives us another reason why we should not presume.  He tells us to take the lowest seat at the banquet, and maybe the master of the banquet will elevate you.  You don’t want to make the mistake of my friend who essentially took the best seat at the awards ceremony, only to be shown a lesser place.  Avoid that embarrassment.

Prayer: Lord grant me the humility to accept that your plans for me may not align with what I presume or want them to be.  If that is the case, grant me faith to remember that you are a good Father who knows best for me.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  2 John

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 25, 2014.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend 

“Barbara Walter’s Most Memorable Interview”

1 Cor. 1:27

“. . . God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

When Barbara Walters, perhaps the most celebratory journalist of our time, was asked what her most memorable interview was, she didn’t mention a “president or a king or a movie star”; instead it was someone she first interviewed some 40 years ago.  Said Walters, “He was a teacher and a poet, and the most inspirational person I have ever met. His name is Robert Smithdas.”   Many years later, she revisited him, who was now married to a woman who, like him, was deaf and blind.  She report[ed] “how they manage to live independently; cooking by touch, using teletype-style phones and computers.”

Now, if you ever asked Mr. Smithdas how he felt about a God who allowed him to be born deaf and blind, he would have told you in a poem:  “I praise my God for giving me the sound and the sight that I hear and see from within.  I praise my God for my life and all that He has done for me.  I praise my God for every breath I take.”  Yet, the most powerful moment of the interview came at the end when Mr. Smithdas and his wife were seen taking the Holy Communion together.  Walters, who may or may not be a Christian, said to her co-host, “I shall never complain about anything.”  

While her remark certainly captured what Paul said, “Do everything without complaining or arguing” (Phil. 2:14), it didn’t do justice to that which was deeply embedded in the hearts of the Smithdas couple: Christ.  A more fitting passage would be, “I want to know Christ . . . and fellowship of his sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10).  Perhaps, they understood like no other a God-Man who became mute before his oppressors (Is. 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth”) and was “blinded” by blood from his forehead pierced by the crown of thorns.  Surely, that was the “fragrance of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15) that Walters sensed.  

In a world that is so antagonistic toward our faith, perhaps we need to talk a little less and be more like Christ in his suffering and sacrifice.  Take a moment to identify with the muteness and the blindness of Christ.  What would that mean to you at the present moment?   Could it be not talking back to those who are insulting you?  Instead, we put into practice what Ps. 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Perhaps, a whisper will be heard, saying, “The battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chron. 20:15).

Prayer: Lord, remind me and get me to get the most out of all that You have given me.  Remind me and get me to stop complaining about all that I don’t think I have.  Thank You for Jesus. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Micah 6-7

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 28, 2015, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Seize the Moment”

2 Kings 2:9-14

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

  “Carpe diem.  Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary”:  In Dead Poets Society, John Keating (played by Robin Williams) used these words to inspire a group of young English students to aspire to live lives of significance.  He reminded them that in just a few short years, they would be dead and fertilizing the flowers of the field.  Much of our millennial generation would agree with Keating – that life is short and therefore should be lived to its fullest.  How this plays out, however, varies greatly by individual.  Some throw themselves into making the next hot app, dreaming of millions (if not billions) as they program away into the night.  Others look for meaning in experiences, whether through travel or thrills or drugs.  Still for others, romantic love is the answer.  Whatever the path, meaning is the goal.

Elisha was no slouch himself.  When his master Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven, he asked for a “double portion of [his] spirit.”  In other words, he wanted everything that Elijah had – the prophetic ministry, the power and the miracles.  He wanted to be great in the kingdom of God.  The fact that this was “a difficult thing” did not discourage him.  Someone once said that if something isn’t difficult to do, then it probably isn’t worth doing.  Elijah assented to his request, but not without condition – Elisha would have to witness Elijah’s ascension in order to receive such power.  In other words, such power must be actively appropriated, not passively received.

In Acts 1:6-11, we witness a strikingly similar event.  Jesus is taken up into heaven before the disciples’ eyes, and a few days later on the day of Pentecost, the disciples are filled with incredible power (as evidenced in Peter’s sermon as well as the ensuing miracles throughout the book of Acts).  What cannot be missed, however, is what took place between these events— “They all joined together constantly in prayer…”  The power of the Holy Spirit did not come upon casual observers or slack disciples – it came upon a people actively seeking the promise of the Father through prayer.

God wants us to live lives that count, and He provides the means to do so – the power of His Spirit.  We can be great in the kingdom of God.  But we have to go after it.  What kind of life do you want to live?  There is nothing stopping you from living it, no matter what your life circumstances.  God’s grace is sufficient for you.  But you have to take hold of it through radical, believing, faith-filled prayer.  Carpe diem!

Prayer: God, I don’t want to live a lukewarm, defeated, mediocre Christian life.  I want to live a radical, power-filled, miracle-witnessing, sin-overcoming life!  Forgive me if I’ve settled for anything less.  Give me the faith to believe that no matter how difficult, it can be achieved through Your Spirit.  Give me a heart to pray.  Give me a passion to pursue.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Micha 5

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LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 1 Chronicles 4:9-10: Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Questions to Consider

1. How would you describe Jabez’s background/past experiences?  What does this teach us about how our past should affect our future?
2. What did Jabez ask of God?  Do you think this was easy for him?
3. What kind of change or freedom do you need to ask of God and to believe in Him for?

Notes

1. In spite of the fact that his identity was so caught up his mother’s negative experience, he cried out to God that his life wouldn’t be bound or limited by the past.  No matter what you’ve experienced in the past, through Christ’s power you can have a different future.
2. What Jabez asked for took faith.  Oftentimes, even though we may wish for freedom from the past, we fail to seek it aggressively because we just don’t believe it could ever happen.  We become prisoners of the past.  Jabez, however, in asking God took a step of faith.
3. Be bold!  There is nothing in your life that God cannot change.

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EVENING REFLECTION

“Every man dies.  Not every man really lives.” – William Wallace

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Families in Mexico of Illegal Immigrants in America” 

Exodus 22:21

“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”

The Bible says, “Be willing to associate with people of low position” (Rom. 12:16), but this is a tall order to follow, especially when we lack empathy: Empathy is defined as an “identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings or thoughts of another person.” And I learned the meaning of that word afresh while living and serving in Mexico.

One social issue that continues to rile up many Americans is illegal immigration, the main reason being that illegal aliens take away jobs.  While I don’t hold any strong position on this issue, I do believe that keeping our borders secure is important.  Now, my visit to Nealtican, a small city in southern Mexico, gave me a chance to see and begin to empathize with the predicament of illegal immigrants.   

 While I was there to train missionary candidates, I stayed at the house of Juanita, a mother of three children, whose husband was working in the States as an illegal alien.  And I quickly learned that he left because there were no jobs.  I also got to see what life was like for the families of illegal immigrants: In short, the children desperately missed the father.  Once a week, the family would walk to the nearest public phone and would wait for a call from the States that may not come.  During dinner, they would talk about their conversations with their dad, or if he hadn’t called, how they missed him. Listening to this and eating the meals especially prepared for their Korean guest for a week, I thought to myself, “I may not agree with illegal immigration, but I must not mistreat illegal immigrants.”  People without proper documents may be illegal before the law, but they are people whom God loves. 

By the time I returned to Nealtican in 2007 to teach, Juanita and the children had long gone to the States, presumably without proper documents, to join her husband in New Jersey.  Now that I live in Philadelphia, if I ever run into her, I want to let her know how much I appreciated her hospitality and love that she showed me.   Maybe there is someone in your life for whom you need to do the same.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for choosing the way of the incarnation to save us, where Jesus became like us in every aspect. You did that not only to save us, but so that we can be assured that Jesus is able to empathize with us, and therefore, go to him.  Thank you!  

Bible Reading for Today: Micha 4

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 2:17-8: Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-6: 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. 16 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. In what sense did Christ empathize with us?

2. How does that help our confidence in Christ’s capacity to really help us?

3. Think about a person in your life to whom you need to show empathy.

Notes

1. By becoming a real human, Christ went through all the experiences encountered by every human being. Though never ceasing to be God at any moment, Jesus underwent hunger, fatigue (Jn. 4:6), disappointment (Matt. 26:40; Jn. 14:9), and even anguish (Matt. 26:38).  Consequently, Christ, in his humanity, has personal knowledge of what we go through.

2. Of course, Christ didn’t have be a human being to know what we go through since He is an all-knowing God. Ultimately, then, Christ underwent human experiences so that we can have more confidence in his capacity to really help us. 

3. What was the last painful experience you went through?  Look around to see who is going through the same thing.   You can empathize with that person better than others.  

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Evening Reflection

Did you run into anyone who was going through a difficult moment today?  Perhaps, you are that person.  Before we seek empathy from man, let’s first go to Christ, for He truly understands us.  Pray, casting all you cares upon Him. 

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by then (2013) staff of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan, was first posted on September 28, 2013.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Worshiping the Great One”

Psalm 92:1-5

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!

This morning’s Psalm highlights the wonderful joy and blessing of worshipping the Lord. The very act of singing His praise, of worshipping Him, of reflecting on His wonders and goodness is our delight. This praise is verbal, musical, emotional, and reflective. In view of this Psalm, we are encouraged to go deeper and more expansive in our worshipful response to God.

As the psalmist reflects on all that God has done, his response is to worship God. Too many times we gloss over the works of God in us and among us. The psalmist purposefully considers the acts of God and gives Him the proper praise due to His name. 

This is a call for us to do likewise. God is calling us to remember who He is, what He’s done, and to give him the proper praise due to Him.  Even if you are tight on time right now, take a moment to render unto God a proper worship due Him.

Bible Reading for Today: Micah 3

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I worship and praise You because You are the greatest, for there is none in this entire universe who is more awesome than You—in power, grace, and love.  Thank You.  Amen. 

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Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:14-20: Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Background tidbit: The word partnership in verse 15 has been seen a number of times in the book of Philippians. As stated previously, it is the Greek word koinonia which is often translated fellowship.

Questions to Consider

1. How does Paul encourage the Philippians to view their offerings to Paul?

2 What should be behind our giving?

3. Are you plugged into your spiritual community well enough to know what trouble people are in? How can you grow in your involvement and understanding of your community so that others would share their trials with you?

Notes

1. As Paul is teaching the Philippians about giving, he encourages them to view their gift to support him as an offering to God, partnering with Him in the work of the gospel. The gospel enterprise is teamwork where one person is on the field, while others are home supporting him, but they are one team-building God’s kingdom!

2. Note that the physical, monetary gift alone is not what makes the difference, but a heart and attitude of sacrifice and devotion before God is what makes a world of difference! 

3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

Father, you will always be my Most High God, my sovereign God. I will be empowered from on high, all of the days of my future, to bring forth good tidings of your kingdom.  Pray for an area in your sphere of influence so that the Lord will work through you, and thank Him for what He is going to do.

How do you want me to declare your will tonight, God?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 19, 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

“Changes Through Institutional Involvement”

Nehemiah 12:44-47 (ESV)

On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. [45] And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. [46] For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. [47] And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of leading several mission teams to places all over the world.  I’ve yet to have team members who were not blessed in some way, and more often than not, the brothers and sisters I served with had powerful encounters with God.  Yet, what I have noticed is that a remarkable experience does not always lead to actual life transformation.

In today’s passage, the people of God have just experienced something like a corporate revival.  God has met them powerfully, and their first order of business is to…assign people to the temple accounting department?

We don’t often associate life transformation with the creation of institutions or the development of disciplines.  Isn’t revival more about spontaneity and powerful experiences?  Doesn’t structure quench the Holy Spirit?  Perhaps, at times it can, but the people are in fact doing one of the most important things they can.  Israel is being spiritually renewed and the people’s greatest desire is that this renewal might continue and be passed on to future generations.

Therefore, faithful men are needed to gather the offerings and tithes that the people give and distribute them appropriately to the Levites.  If the Levites are not provided for, priests, singers, and gatekeepers may leave their posts to find other work to feed their families, and there would be no one to continue ministering to God and to His people.

What kinds of habits do you need to establish to continue worshiping God?  What kinds of disciplines are necessary for you to participate in passing on true worship to future generations?

Prayer: Oh Lord, I desire more than a fleeting spiritual experience!  May I dwell in Your house and daily hear Your voice.  Lord, open my eyes to see the simple, daily ways I can be faithful and put You first. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Micah 2

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (ESV): Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. [2] On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 

Question to Consider

1. The apostle Paul instructs the Corinthian church to set aside an offering regularly on behalf of the Jerusalem church that is enduring a famine.  What does regular giving cultivate?

2. Why might it be best to do the collections prior to Paul’s arrival?

3. Often we are more aware of the money we give than what we are invited to contribute toward.  In this passage, what was the collection for?

Notes

1. Regular giving cultivates a lifestyle of generosity, self-denial, and sacrificial love. 

2. Such an arrangement may avoid logistical problems, but it also prevents giving out of guilt, or in this case, giving in order to impress the apostle Paul.  God desires deliberate, thoughtful giving.

3. The collection was for the saints in Jerusalem who were in great need.  This collection would also free the leaders and apostles in the Jerusalem church from needing to attend to the physical needs of their people so they could continue to minister the Word of God and spread the gospel throughout the earth.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day.  Did a lack of planning or setting aside the appropriate resources (time, money, etc.) hinder your ability to worship God today?  What kind of planning might help you in the future?

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on August 5, 2015, is written by Tina Hsu who serves as AMI missions coordinator.  Tina, a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.) and is married to Anthony.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Hardness of Heart”

2 Kings 5:1:1-5, 7-8, 14-15(NASB)

Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken captive a little girl from the land of Israel  and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 Then the king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel”… 7 “When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of leprosy? But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me.” 8 It happened when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes that he sent word to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Now let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel”…14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean. 15 When he returned to the man of God with all his company, and came and stood before him, he said, “Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…” 

Israel and Aram had been at war against one another. Because of Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness, God gave them into the hands of Aram and caused Naaman, the captain of Aram’s army, to be successful. In the eyes of their enemies, Israel was weak and there was little evidence that God was among them. The king of Israel’s response to the king of Aram’s letter reflects Israel’s unbelief – “Do you think I am God? I am not able to heal leprosy!” He didn’t consider inquiring of Elisha, the prophet of Israel, but instead he worried that Aram was stirring up a fight against him. Though the king displayed a lack of faith in God, the author of 2 Kings highlights the faith of a young Israelite servant girl, who remembered Elisha and believed in God’s power in him. Furthermore, Naaman himself showed faith in the God. He asked his king to prepare a letter and a gift so he could go and meet Elisha. Though he was reluctant and prideful at first to wash seven times in the Jordan, he eventually listened to Elisha’s word, experienced complete healing, and declared, “I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel…” 

Jesus spoke about the healing of Naaman to address Israel’s unbelief, “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27). During the time of Elisha, Israel was blind to the healing and power available in the God of Israel. Similarly, Israel was blind and the people’s hearts were hardened towards the salvation available in Jesus.  

From this passage, we learn that hardness of heart blinds us from encountering Jesus. Unbelief prevents us from seeking the joy, freedom, renewal, healing, and truth that is available in Jesus. This passage also teaches us not to be so easily satisfied with our limited knowledge of God, but to be hungry to ask the Lord for eyes to see Him, ears to hear Him, and a heart to know and love Him.  

Prayer: Dear God, I acknowledge that my faith wavers and I need the power of your Holy Spirit to heal my spiritual blindness. Help my unbelief and give me eyes to see and believe in You moment by moment! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: Micah 1

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Lunch Break Study 

Read John 8:12, 31-32 (NASB): Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life”…So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”   

Questions to Consider 

1. When Jesus says, “I am the Light of the world,” who is Jesus speaking to? 
2. How does Jesus’ message impact the Pharisees and the Jews in general who are Abraham’s descendants? 
3. A mark of a true disciple is one who continues in Jesus’ word to know the truth. How are you doing as a disciple of Jesus? 

Notes 

1. Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who are accusing Jesus of testifying about Himself and His relationship to the Father. The Pharisees claim that they know God the Father because they are Abraham’s descendants.  
2. As the “light of the world,” Jesus makes God the Father known to the world and leads followers into the truth. Jesus teaches the Jews that if they believe in the Father, they should also believe in Him and follow Him because He is from the Father. However, their hearts are hard towards Jesus because they trust in their lineage with Abraham for their relationship to God.  
3. Personal response 

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Evening Reflection 

In what area or situation in your life do you need God’s light and truth? Ask the Lord to lead you by His light and truth.  

Psalm 36:9: “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”  

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 14, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Did You Really Try It?”

Luke 5:1-11

On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

I will share two thoughts from this passage.

First, be reminded that we have enough knowledge and experience in life to distinguish between what works and what does not work.  Someone said that the problem with Christianity is not that it does not work; but rather, since many simply assume it to be too difficult and impossible, it is left untried.  Jesus told Peter to do something that was completely out of line with his knowledge and experience.  He obeyed and it “worked,” that is, he experienced God.

Second, what would have happened if Peter just rejoiced over catching a large number of fish?  He would probably have thanked God for replacing a bad day with success.  At the end of the day, we all need to pause long enough to raise the following question: What do I consider as life’s success?  Is it fish (career) or encounter with the living God (holiness)? 

Prayer: Lord, help me to arise from the superficiality and the shallowness of my faith, and trust You for something difficult and impossible in the eyes of humans.  May I learn to obey You in all things, even against my knowledge based on human wisdom and limited experiences in life. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Jude 1

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 19, 2014.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Learning from the Tiny Creatures”

1 Tim. 6:18

“Command [who are rich in this world] . . . to be generous and willing to share.”

Upon receiving an e-mail from my son’s college about an alumnus who donated $50 million to this liberal arts school, I recalled his name from an article I read many years ago regarding a man who returned to his old grade school to promise scholarships. 

Eugene Lang grew up in a ramshackle in Harlem, N.Y.C. where his immigrant parents scraped for a living.  He himself worked as a dishwasher while attending high school.  Through hard work, he made his millions in the high-tech industry, after which, he resisted the trappings of wealth— walking to work and flying coach to overseas meetings.    In 1980, Mr. Lang told 61 sixth graders graduating from his old Harlem school that he would give them each $2,000 toward their college tuition, with more to come if they kept working toward college.  By 1985, with 18 months to go till high school graduation, 52 of the students still had not quit school.  

Proverbs 6:6 exhorts the sluggard to learn from the industrious ant.  So, whether Mr. Lang is a Christian, we can learn a lot from this man.  While his generosity quickly jumps out of the page, another attribute is just as impressive:  not forgetting his roots.   He kept returning to places that apparently impacted him the most, to give back: the grade school that he attended as a child, the college that he began at the age of 15, and also Columbia Business School, where he received an M.S., to which he also made a large donation.

There are many things in our past that we ought to forget.  When Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind” (Phil. 3:13^a), it certainly includes our sinful ways and excuses that justify them.  But one thing we should never forget: “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced” (1 Chr. 16:12).  The moment we forget God’s active and steadfast presence in our lives that resulted in all that we possess—inward goods, such as faith and character, as well as material goods—we become prideful and indifferent to the plight of others.   We will not be generous.  

For those who have forgotten what they used to be like, “remember the height from which you have fallen!  Repent and do the things you did at first” (Rev. 2:5).   So, what do you remember doing to express your love toward Christ in the early days of walking with him?  Do that. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to learn from the industrious ants so that I will work as diligently as those tiny creatures in order that I will have enough to share with others in Your Son’s name.   Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 1-2