October 8, Friday

UPDATEDToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 25, 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

“Is It Just a Matter of Formality?”

2 Kings 23:3, 24-26 (NASB)

The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. 24Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. 25 Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

Some of us who follow a reading plan to read the Bible in one year, have had times when we had absolutely no idea what we had just read; nonetheless, we were content to mark off another 5 chapters from the reading chart. In this way the reading of God’s Word becomes a matter of daily formality.

But King Josiah wasn’t like that. Upon discovering the Book of God’s Law that had been lost for a long time, he devoted himself to purify the land of Judah of its idolatry so that Judah’s ways would conform to what was written in God’s book. He read God’s Word to the people of Judah and led them to renew their commitment to walk in the way of the Lord. The majority of this chapter (vv. 4-20) records how Josiah removed idolatrous priests from the house of the LORD, removed altars that previous kings of Judah had built, burned vessels that were for Baal and Asherah worship, and more. Josiah truly turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and certainly, with all his might.

Though Josiah knew that God was going to “remove Judah and cast off Jerusalem” (23:27) because the generations of his forefathers had forsaken God, the Book of the Law (God’s Word) led Josiah to lead the nation back to God in his lifetime. He let God’s Word, which Judah had neglected for many years, define his course of action and his leadership. Though the outcome for Judah was sealed, Josiah was instrumental in preserving covenant faithfulness for Judah in his lifetime. In this way, Josiah was successful and Scripture records, “there was no king like him…nor did any like him arise after him” (23:25). Though he had no control over Judah’s future, he glorified God by faithfully keeping a covenant relationship with God.

The Word of God provides power for endurance and faithfulness. Nothing can nourish our souls and strengthen us to do the work of the Lord than the very words of God. If reading or listening to the Word of God is lacking in your daily spiritual life, ask the Lord today to renew your thirst and devotion for His Word.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I desire for your commands and your Words to be near and dear to me. As your Word is able to equip me to do every good work, help me to spend time in your Word daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 4:1-4 (NASB): Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Questions to Consider

What is happening during this time in Jesus’ life and ministry?
What is the nature of Satan’s temptation?
How does Jesus’ answer minister and encourage you today?

Notes

This takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist baptized Jesus at the Jordan River, where Jesus revealed that He came to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15). He came to fulfill and complete what man, tainted by sin, could not do. The world fell under the power of sin because man was overcome by temptation, but Jesus has now come to face temptation and to overcome it by the Word of God.
Satan’s temptations begin with “If you are the Son of God” (v. 3). Satan desires to drive a wedge between Jesus’ love relationship with the Father. He wants to deceive Jesus into using His own power and role for His own personal gain. He wants to hinder Jesus from trusting and obeying the Father’s will.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Meditate on Psalm 119:103-104

How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

October 7, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 11, 2015, is provided by Phillip Chen who is associate pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Phil is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Making Difficult Decisions”

1 Kings 3:7-12 (ESV)

And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

As I was watching the movie Selma, I was struck by what a difficult position Martin Luther King Jr. must have been in as he pioneered the Civil Rights Movement. In the movie, many important decisions needed to be made, including the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. In one scene during a peaceful march, he kneels down and prays, then makes a decision to turn back, despite pressure to move forward. What a difficult decision to make!

Solomon recognized the difficulty of governing a multitude of people and leading them to follow the ways of the Lord. He rightly asks God for supernatural wisdom in leading the people of God, understanding the complexity behind leadership. He understands his limitations and appeals to God for greater wisdom and discernment. He does this because he sees how precious these people are and understands that they are entrusted into his stewardship, which causes him to take his reign over Israel seriously rather than nonchalantly.

There are two things that we can glean from this passage. First, we must understand the gravity of decisions that our leaders must make, therefore, we should constantly pray for God to give them wisdom in discerning what is right and wrong. We must trust that the leaders that God appoints over us desire our good and must answer to God for what was entrusted to them in a position of leadership. In that, we need to continually pray for God to give them an understanding mind to lead His people.

Secondly, we must also see whom God has entrusted into our hands and ask God for wisdom and understanding for ourselves in leading them to Him. We need to see the people whom God has placed in our lives as precious in His sight and desire to see them enter a maturing relationship with Jesus. Understand that in your lifetime, there will be those you answer to and those that answer to you. We are constantly in a cycle of being led and leading others, so let us submit to those leading us and faithfully care for those we are leading.

Prayer: Father, we pray for our leaders who need so much wisdom in leading us. Help us to trust in them as they lead and watch over us, and give them the wisdom to do what is pleasing to You. We also pray that You would reveal to us those that You have placed in our lives for us to influence. May we see each and every person You place in our lives as a precious one that You desire to love and may we be faithful in leading them in Your ways as well. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 13:17-18 (ESV): Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Question to Consider

Why does the author encourage us to obey and submit to our leaders?
How can we bless our leaders?
How can we pray for our leaders?

Notes

Those who are leading us are accountable for us. When they stand before Jesus, they will have to answer for the way they cared for us and led us, and so we should not grieve them by trying to question their every move (assuming they are faithfully following God).
When we submit to them and trust that they really care about our well-being, we can see their joy in leading rather than groaning because of the opposition of those that they are leading. A leader cannot lead well if those they are leading constantly oppose them.
We not only pray for wisdom for our leaders, but that they have a clear conscience in their leadership. Leaders are not superhuman and are prone to sin as well, so we should pray all the more that they hear God clearly and have the character to obey God and lead His people.

Evening Reflection

Do you pray for your leaders? Do you take the people you are leading seriously? Begin to get in the habit of praying for God to release a spirit of wisdom over your leaders as well as asking God for wisdom so that you might be faithful in leading others in the ways of the Lord.

October 6, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on October 5, 2015. He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Promise: Can He Forget About It?”

Ezra 1:1-4

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

Can God forget His promises? It must have seemed that way to the people of Judah.

In 587 BC, the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem: They killed the leaders of Judah, plundered the temple before burning it to the ground, destroyed most of the city and its walls, and took the cream of the crop (people-wise) to Babylon. In one swoop, the Jewish people had lost their homes and the landmarks of their identity—they were displaced, exiled, and broken. But where was God? What was He doing? Surely, this wasn’t how things were supposed to be!

It turns out that God was doing what He said He’d be doing all along. The prophet Jeremiah had warned that a judgment was coming, but that in seventy years, God would bring his people back to Jerusalem and the temple would be restored (cf. Jer. 25:11; 29:10). God was doing what He had promised all along!

Our God keeps His promises. We can easily forget this truth when we are going through our own personal exile or dark night, and the situation seems bleak. The enemy will often seek to direct our attention to the circumstances rather than to God, whispering, “God has forgotten,” but it is in these times, especially, that we need to hold on to the promises of God.

God is faithful—that’s just who He is. As Paul reminds us, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself!” (2 Tim 2:13).

Prayer: Father, help me to remember that You are the God who keeps Your promises. You will not leave us in exile but will continue to draw us back to You. Thank you that Your faithfulness isn’t dependent upon my remembering Your promises—You remember them well enough! In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading: Nehemiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:6-13: Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 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

Who does “they” refer to in verse 6?
Why does Paul list these examples? What are the four examples that Paul cites (verse 7-10)? Do you recall how God responded to each of these?
How does Paul encourage us? If you are tempted in any of the specific examples of question 2, let us seek God’s way of escape!

Notes

“They” refers to the people of Israel during the Exodus.
Paul gives us these examples so that we would not “desire evil as they did.” He lists four specific examples of evil: (1) idolatry (v.7); (2) sexual immorality; (3) putting Christ to the test; and (4) grumbling. In each case, God disciplined His people, but He also provided a way of mercy so that they could continue to journey with Him.
Paul encourages us by reminding us that there is no temptation that we face that others have not faced before us, and most especially, by reminding us that God is faithful! While we can be tempted, God will provide a way of escape for us. God may discipline us when we succumb to temptation, but He also provides a way of mercy and restoration.

Evening Reflection

Jesus is God’s ultimate promised answer to the problem of exile, brokenness and displacement. On the cross, Jesus took all of our brokenness and restored our relationship with Jesus. He is faithful, and this faithfulness does not cease just because we can still be tempted today! Spend some time journaling about examples of God’s faithfulness in your life.

October 5, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 18, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive” (Acts 20:35)

Matthew 10:8

Freely you have received, freely give.

In 2003, when my sister-in-law gave us a 1995 Camry, we were thrilled since we were still driving our 1989 Accord while living in Mexico. But since our old car was still running well, we gave it to a Mexican pastor who lived in another city, an acquaintance of a fellow missionary who told us about his need. Several years later, this pastor and others were at my house for a meeting. As we spoke, he told me with a beaming smile how he made a handsome profit by selling my old car to someone desperate enough to buy a 20+ year old car! Perhaps, he either forgot or decided to ignore what Jesus taught: “Freely you have received, freely give.” While this man didn’t sin by opting to do this, he certainly wasn’t blessed by selling that which he received freely.

Of course, we should not do good with the hope of getting more in return. Rather, we do good, among other reasons, to bring glory to God, particularly in a world hostile to Him. Apostle Peter, living in such a world, wrote, “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” (1 Pet. 2:12). Nevertheless, we should neither ignore what Christ said about how giving affects the extent of God’s blessings: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Lk. 6:38).

One day, while I was teaching in Mexico, the stand that held by my laptop fell over and totally destroyed my computer. Later, a man from that church, who heard about the accident, gifted me with a brand new laptop. God was being very generous with me! And having realized how much God had blessed me through other people’s generosity, naturally, as we were leaving Mexico to move to the states, we gave away the Camry and the tent-trailer, which was so useful to me. I sure hope those who received them for free didn’t sell them; for their own good. Folks, let’s be generous!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we once again recognize the magnitude of your generosity towards us in every sphere of our lives. Thank you for giving us so much things that we don’t deserve. Remind us and empower us always to be generous so that others may be blessed as we have been. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:11-21: And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Questions to Consider

Why did Jesus tell this parable in the first place?
What caused the rich man in this passage to be greedy instead of being generous?
How is your generosity? What is keeping you from freely giving what you have freely received?

Notes

Jesus was talking about something very serious (being persecuted for faith), but the only thing on the mind of this person in the crowd was getting his share of the family inheritance. His sole interest was, somehow, using Christ’s power and authority to make sure he got his share of the pie.
The reason for this man’s wealth, according to Jesus, was the fertile land that produced an abundant crop. God was directly responsible for his prosperity, which meant that it wasn’t his to keep, at least, not entirely. But this man planned to keep it all to himself.
Our default position is always wanting more, and on top of that, we are always insecure about our future. A toxic mixture of those and other sin-related factors causes us to be ungrateful and be narcissistic misers. Knowing our weakness, we need to intentionally plan to be generous.

Evening Reflection

As you look back, did you have an opportunity to be generous today with your money, time, or even talent? How did you fare? Instead of focusing on our failure, look to God who loves us unconditionally.

October 4, Monday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King, now a friend of AMI, was first posted on March 24, 2015. We thank her for many years of faithful service in several AMI churches. May the Lord richly bless Cami in her future endeavors.

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“The Anxiety of Silence”

1 Samuel 28:3-7

Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants,“ Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

One pastor tells of a time, just after the planes crashed into the World Trade Center in NYC, when he was unable to contact his son who lived in the city. He describes the anxiety he felt for the few days after the incident when he so desperately needed to hear his son’s voice but couldn’t reach him. Thankfully, his son was OK.

There is a definite anxiety when we can’t get in touch with those we love and depend on. This anxiety is heightened in moments of desperation. Have you ever felt the anxiety of silence when you sought God’s help in a desperate situation? There are countless reasons we may find ourselves asking and not hearing, most of which we won’t discuss today. But from Saul we see the workings of one very dangerous reason.

In today’s episode, the posture of the Lord toward Saul (silence) was in direct response to Saul’s posture toward God (rebellion). God spoke clearly to Saul throughout 1 Samuel and Saul repeatedly went his own way. What we learn of Saul is that he really only sought God for his own ends. And when God said something Saul didn’t want to hear, he ignored God (1 Samuel 15). Saul was not actually seeking the will of God. He was seeking God’s help in accomplishing his own will. And when God refused, Saul tried to get what he wanted through other means (v. 7). Truth be told, God had spoken on this issue through Samuel (who told Saul that his rebellion would lead to his demise). But it wasn’t what Saul wanted to hear, so he chose not to receive it.

Discerning the voice and leading of God is not an easy thing. But we can learn from King Saul what not to do. May we seek God for the purpose of following His will (not using Him to accomplish our own) and may we walk faithfully in accordance with God’s Word when He does speak (and not choose to ignore Him because we don’t like what we hear).

Prayer: Prayer: Eternal God, you alone can satisfy. Sometimes, during the moment of silence, I find myself thinking, “If only [fill in the blank with what is relevant for you], then I’d be satisfied.” But that is a lie. You have promised to meet all my needs and I trust that you’ll do it. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 4

Lunch Break Study

Read John 6:60-69: When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Questions to Consider

Why did many of Jesus’ followers turn back? (v. 66)
Why did Simon Peter stay with Jesus even after the difficult teaching? (v. 68)
What are some “hard sayings” you’ve received from the Lord (commands to follow, teachings from Scripture, etc.)? Have you accepted or rejected them, obeyed or disobeyed? How do these verses challenge and/or encourage you to follow Christ even when it’s tough?

Notes

Many of Jesus’ disciples turned back and no longer followed him because they felt His teachings were too hard to follow. His commands seemed too hard to obey.
Peter (who spoke for himself and some of the others) knew that even if the teachings and commands Jesus gave were difficult, they were true. He realized that the road Jesus offered them, as narrow as it was, was the only one that would lead to eternal life.
If we’ve rejected God’s words that are difficult, we should feel challenged to receive them because they are true and life-giving. If we’ve accepted difficult teachings of the Lord, we should feel encouraged because God’s way, even though sometimes tough, will lead us to eternal life. That’s a promise.

Evening Reflection

Are you seeking direction from the Lord? Spend some time reflecting on your motives for doing so. Do you truly desire to do the will of God (whatever it may be) or are you just seeking God’s help and power in accomplishing your own will? When God does speak to you, are you willing to follow even if it’s not what you want to hear? Reflect on your time in the Word, in prayer and in the community. Has God already spoken to you previously on the matter through one of these means, maybe in ways you didn’t wish to receive? Pray and ask God to help you to hear His voice and to respond with a receptive heart of obedience.

October 3, Sunday

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 13, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Thank God that His Thoughts Aren’t Like My Thoughts!”

Luke 4:38-44:

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

I want to share two thoughts today.

First, it is interesting to note that Jesus did not limit himself to one particular way of healing people. While a rebuke from Jesus was all it took to remove the fever from Simon’s mother-in-law, at another time, he put spit on the blind man’s face to heal him (Mark 8:23). Yuck! Therefore, we should not limit ourselves to any certain way; sometimes we just have to rebuke sickness in Jesus’ name. The important thing is that we are willing to let go of our preconceived theological notions in order to obey and serve the Lord, particularly in the area of praying for healing (v. 39).

Second, Jesus’ daily schedule was pretty much packed, yet early in the morning, Jesus “went out to a solitary place” (v. 42), most likely to pray and have communion with the Father. Jesus, being fully human as He was, did not excuse Himself from praying early in the morning. And also, rather than settling in one place, Jesus was always on the move (v. 43). Sometimes we become lazy because of our physical limitations, but our physical weakness or complacency should not keep us from seeking intimacy with the Lord and having a heart for those around us who are lost, and even beyond our own nation.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, don’t let me forget that Your thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are Your ways my ways. And help me to grow in my intimacy with You through Your word and Spirit. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 3

October 2, Saturday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 12, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Winning Isn’t Everything, it’s the Only Thing!” That Depends

Luke 12:20

“You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.”

While the belief that sports build character may have been exaggerated, it continues to provide graphic snapshots of the fragility of life. Who can forget the sight of the protruding leg bone of a University of Louisville basketball player in last year’s March Madness?

A similar thing happened to an NFL coach who was “merely” watching the game from the sideline. Once, a Greek Bay receiver, after making a catch, slammed into his 52-year-old coach Gil Haskel, whose head then hit the artificial turf. After being taken to a hospital on a stretcher, the test showed that he lost neurological function and mental status. His skull was fractured; it was feared that his brain was injured as well. After the game, the Green Bay’s head coach said that this unfortunate event should remind us all of what’s really important in life. That was ironic because the oft-repeated motto heard in the locker room was something that another Green Bay coach had said years earlier: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”

So how do we win? The usual route is outperforming everyone whether it is material acquisition, professional accomplishment, or for some, how their children turn out. But the question boils down to what we’re willing to trade for this. In one parable of Jesus (Luke 12:18-21), a man traded his very life to win the race to own the biggest barn. After a great harvest, this man said, “I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’” Unfortunately, an “unplanned” death changed all of that. Jesus, referring to this man as a “fool,” said, “Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? “

Jesus ended the parable with this conclusion: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” So, how shall we live? Even as you work hard to obtain nice things in life, know when to say, “Enough.” Live a life that is rich toward God.

Always focus on building God’s kingdom. Don’t be a fool!

Prayer: Dear God, give me your wisdom so that I may know what true winning is in life. Help me to be a winner according to Your eternal metrics. Thank You for your eternal patience with me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 1-2

October 1, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on June 16, 2015. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug, along with his family (Cindy, Audrey and Benji), recently relocated from Boston to Philadelphia to assume the role of the UC site pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Busy?”

1 Kings 5:7-10

As soon as Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.” And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, “I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I am ready to do all you desire in the matter of cedar and cypress timber. My servants shall bring it down to the sea from Lebanon, and I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you direct. And I will have them broken up there, and you shall receive it. And you shall meet my wishes by providing food for my household.” So Hiram supplied Solomon with all the timber of cedar and cypress that he desired.

As mentioned yesterday, Solomon sought to build a temple for God now that Israel finally was in a state of relative peace. In order to succeed in this task, Solomon needed help, so he asked Hiram, the king of neighboring Tyre. Hiram very willingly agreed to help in this task.

I remember when I first became a Christian, I was so eager to help out in any way. During my first AMI Revolution, I was asked to drive someone to the airport, and I felt so privileged to be able to help out. Even though it was just a simple task, I felt like I was contributing to the conference and this made the task seem fulfilling to me. Oh how I miss those days of enthusiasm! Now, often when asked to help with something, I think in my heart, “Ugh, I’m too busy. There is too much on my plate. Can’t this wait? Is there someone else who can do it?” Long gone is that enthusiasm I once had.

Yet, being invited into God’s work should always elicit enthusiasm! What better use of our time and energy is there than joining in what God is doing? We ought to fight against those burnt-out feelings, that yearning to become selfish and inward-focused, and rather remind ourselves that God is at work around us, doing something beyond our wildest imaginations. How terrible would it be if we missed out on God because we felt too busy or too exhausted?

Today, let’s keep our eyes open. Perhaps God is calling us to join Him in something. What will our response be – pessimistic rejection or joyful acceptance? Remember Hiram, who rejoiced at what Solomon was doing and joyfully accepted the invitation to join him in building the temple.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for often thinking I’m too busy or too tired to join You in what You are doing around me. Give me eyes to see You at work and a joyful and willing heart to join You. May I return to my first love, remembering the joy and enthusiasm I first found in You. May my love never grow cold, but rather be fresh and active. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 6

Lunch Break Study

Read John 5:19-20: Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Questions to Consider

Who does Jesus rely on? What can Jesus do by Himself?
Why does God reveal His works to Jesus?
What can we learn about following God from this passage?

Notes

As surprising as it may seem, Jesus does not do anything on His own accord. He is totally, 100% dependent on God the Father. This is humbling to us because Jesus, the beloved Son of God, did only what He saw God the Father doing. If Jesus did this, shouldn’t we likewise?
God loves His Son! Because of their love relationship, God the Father showed Jesus all that He was doing because God the Father wanted Jesus to be the one to carry out His plans. This applies to us now because God loves us and wants us now to carry out His plans. Because of His love for us, God shows us what He is doing so we can jump right in and join Him.
Following God means utter dependence on Him. It means looking to see what God is doing and joining Him there. If we really want to do something for God, we cannot just do it on our own initiative; we need to first see what He is doing. Why would we ever want to do something apart from God?

Evening Reflection

How was your busyness level today? Do you think you gave room for God to draw you into His work or were you too caught up in your own work? Remember, God loves us and He wants us to join Him so we can know His love in even greater ways. It is because of His grace that we can join Him. Pray for eyes to see God around you tomorrow and a heart that is willing to join Him.

September 30, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on September 30, 2015. Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Death”

1 Kings 17:17-24

And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

It’s not every day that one thinks about death, but presiding over a funeral recently had me thinking about it head on. If we are honest, death can be a very scary prospect—even more so if we’ve lost a love one in a very untimely manner. Such is the case for the widow in our story today whose son became ill and he died. She was devastated. Not only had she lost her husband, but now her son as well. In her grief, she looked to Elijah for answers, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son” (v.18)?

At this point, we might wonder why we are looking to this widow as an “OT figure of faith.” Instead of entrusting her son faithfully to the Lord and accepting that it was His will to take him at this time, she lashes out at the prophet of God, Elijah. And even Elijah seems to be shaken, saying, “O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?” (v.20). Here was one of the Lord’s most prominent prophets apparently taking God to task for ending this boy’s life and causing the widow extreme heartache and hardship.

Death has a way of doing that to us. The most faithful amongst us can be shaken to the core in the time of death. There is something so final, so irreversible about death, that it can send shudders down our spines. Death rattles us, push us to our limits, and can even call God into question.

But as a way of preview of Christ’s resurrection, we see that God is the God of life— and He has power over death. Using Elijah, God raises the widow’s son to life. When Elijah gives back her son, she says, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth” (v.24). So through this miracle her feeble faith was confirmed and strengthened.

We learn from this story that God understand our fears and worries about death. But He is calling us to look to Him because He is able to do the impossible. By putting our faith in Jesus, we overcome our greatest fears. Let us never put our confidence in ourselves—even when death comes our way—but let us always place our faith in the object of our faith: Jesus who became nothing so that we might have everything, including life over death.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you that I don’t have to fear death, for, in you, I have enteral life. But, whenever I find myself feeling not so confident about what may happen after death, remind me that I’ve placed my trust in the One who has conquered death. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 5

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58: I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. [51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. [54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Questions to Consider

What is the mystery Paul is referring to in verse 51?
Why has death, man’s greatest fear, rendered meaningless?
What work are you doing that you consider it to be in vain, and what work are you doing that is not in vain?

Notes

It’s the mystery of Christ’s return. Christ will come and we will all be made like Him in a twinkling of an eye.
Death has been defeated through Jesus Christ who gives us victory. As Christ rose from the dead, we too will rise from the dead.
Personal Response

Evening Reflection

“As base a thing as money often is, yet it can be transmuted into everlasting treasure. It can be converted into food for the hungry and clothing for the poor. It can keep a missionary actively winning lost men to the light of the gospel and thus transmute itself into heavenly values. Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Whatever is given to Christ is immediately touched with immortality.” –A.W. Tozer

September 29, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, was first posted on April 10, 2015. Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Worth of Friendship”

1 Samuel 23:15-18

While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a] Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

How much value do you place in a friend? Like many of us, you probably value some friends more than others. So how much value do you place in your Facebook friends? Researchers calculated that a Facebook friend is worth $174.17 (in 2013). It turns out that every time you “like” or “friend” a brand or a business, your actions are worth exactly $174.17 to that brand. Do you believe that is your worth to your friends? In an age of social networking hysteria, have you made some meaningful friendships—the kind where there is mutual giving and receiving of care, concern, and love? Do you have friends where you are not merely held accountable for your weaknesses, but where you are covered and given grace when that weakness shows?

David and Jonathan shared a deep friendship that was defined by a covenant before the Lord. One can imagine how exhausted and discouraged David must have been as he sought refuge from King Saul. David had to live in caves and the wilderness, fleeing from one place to another, never knowing rest. But on this day, though brief, refreshing encouragement came to David through his friend Jonathan (King Saul’s son). Technically, Jonathan should have been the next rightful heir to the throne and all of its power and wealth. Yet, Jonathan knew that David would be the next king over Israel, and he would be David’s second. Jonathan was a loyal and trustworthy friend—a friend that would stick closer than a brother who would have laid his own life for David. I hardly think that David saw Jonathan’s estimated worth as being $174.17. I’m certain that David truly valued Jonathan.

Generations later, Jesus said a few words about what it means to be a friend. Jesus shared, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Soon afterwards, He laid down his own life so that we might be forgiven, strengthened, and become His friends. As you would with a good friend, spend some time deepening your friendship with Jesus today.

Prayer: Jesus, I would like to spend this day deepening my relationship with You. In everything that I do today, whether at home, work, or school, allow me to sense Your living presence, thoughts, and affections. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ephesians 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Prov. 17:17: A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity; Prov. 18:24: One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother;

Prov. 27:6: Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Questions to Consider

What are some qualities that define a biblical view of friendship?
How can the absence of meaningful friendship affect your life negatively?
Think of a person at your school or work who may need a friend. Pray about reaching out to that person.

Notes

True friends can be counted on when faced with adversity. They remain loyal, even more than some family members. And even if it hurts, they will tell you the truth.
You may have to face adversity alone. On the other hand, having unreliable friends land you in ruin. Also, without meaningful friendships, you may live in self-delusion.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Think about a few friends that you truly value. Spend some time communicating your gratitude for their friendship. If you know a friend who is in need of strength, pray for and share some words of encouragement.