August 26, Thursday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 16, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Though for This Morning

“Remembering the Faithfulness of God”

Psalm 105:1-45

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! [2] Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! [3] Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! [4] Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually![5] Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, [6] O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! [7] He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. [8] He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, [9] the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, [10] which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, [11] saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” [12] When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, [13] wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, [14] he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, [15] saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” [16] When he summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread, [17] he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. [18] His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;[19] until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. [20] The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free; [21] he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions, [22] to bind his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.[23] Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. [24] And the LORD made his people very fruitful and made them stronger than their foes. [25] He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants. [26] He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. [27] They performed his signs among them and miracles in the land of Ham. [28] He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they did not rebel against his words. [29] He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die. [30] Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings. [31] He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. [32] He gave them hail for rain, and fiery lightning bolts through their land. [33] He struck down their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country. [34] He spoke, and the locusts came, young locusts without number, [35] which devoured all the vegetation in their land and ate up the fruit of their ground. [36] He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their strength. [37] Then he brought out Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled. [38] Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it. [39] He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.[40] They asked, and he brought quail, and gave them bread from heaven in abundance. [41] He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river. [42] For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant. [43] So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. [44] And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples’ toil, [45] that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!

When I was a child, I remember my father’s promise that he would get me a bike if I earned good enough grades in that particular semester.  As I worked hard and kept my grades up, my father was faithful in keeping his word; I soon became the owner of a brand-new bike. It is a precious memory of my father that I have not forgotten even to this day!

Psalm 105 is about remembering the faithfulness of God to His people. From Abraham (v.1-6) to Joseph (v.16-25) to Moses (v. 26-41), it is evident that the Lord is the great promise keeper; therefore, He is worthy to be praised.   The word “covenant” is used three times in verses 8-10, which emphasizes that our God is the one who initiates, and then, carries out the promises made in the covenants.  Derek Kidner writes, “Like a jewel turned this way and that, the worship of God displays some of its many facets here, with its concern to proclaim him to the world; to delight in what he has said and done and what he is; and to show gratitude for past mercies.”  Jesus is the one who deserves all glory and worship for what he has done in each of our lives.  

Spend some time this morning reflecting on the faithfulness of God in your life.  He has been so good to you (even when you cannot see it right away).  His hand has always held you through the joys and hardships of life; He is a faithful God.  

Prayer: Dear God, thank You for Your faithfulness.  Thank You that You never change.  Thank You that I am in good hands—Your hands—always and all the time.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Questions to Consider

  1. It is not quite the end of what was a new year 9 months ago, but you know the end of 2021 is right at the door. So what do people usually do as they are about to enter a new year? 
  2. What does it mean to you that God never changes?
  3. How should it change the way we live?

Notes

  1. At the end of the year, people often reflect on what happened that year and the changes they desire in the New Year.  You may remember successes and failures: things that make you happy and proud, or sad and ashamed.  Sometimes we are eager to make changes; other times, we feel forced to do so; either way, we are constantly changing and changes can often be good.  Most of us want to change and grow spiritually because we want to become more like Jesus. We want to forsake our sins, to honor the Lord, to be more loving and forgiving, and to let the world know what Jesus has done for us.
  2. As we have been meditating on the faithfulness of God, take some time to remember that our God never changes.  It means that His love, mercy and grace never change in spite of our failings; His goodness for us is constant and His character stays the same.  Pray that as we remember who Jesus is, it would give us greater confidence in the Lord because of who He is and what He has done.  
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray. – Charles (Chuck) Swindoll

As we finish the day with our evening reflection, think about the quote above by Charles Swindoll.  It summarizes what we have been reflecting on all day: our God will never lead us astray because He is faithful; therefore, we can trust Him with our money, career, future, family, etc.  Are you trusting God in all the areas of your life?  

August 25, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on June 15, 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

“What Burying Our Talents Looks Like in Real Life”

1 Kings 5:3-5

You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor misfortune. And so I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord said to David my father, “Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.”

King David’s reign was far from peaceful and he certainly had little time to rest, being constantly harassed by his many enemies. Upon his death, David’s son Solomon inherited a kingdom that finally had attained a fair amount of peace. Yet, rather than just sitting back and relaxing in this time of ease, Solomon set to work building the temple, a task ordained by God. 

What is challenging about this passage is that Solomon gave up leisure to focus on building the temple. How difficult that is! So often in my own life, when I find myself in a season of ease and peace, I turn immediately to distractions like Netflix or Hulu, binge-watching shows for hours on end, thinking that I am taking advantage of this extra free time. This is no different than the servant who buried his talent in the ground in the parable of the talents (see Matt. 25:14-30). Periods of ease are gifts from God for the sake of investing into His Kingdom.

How would our lives look differently if we invested our times of rest into Kingdom-building activities? Perhaps we could utilize those times to go deeper in our personal Bible Study. Or maybe we could use the time to build stronger relationships with brothers and sisters in the church. There is a multitude of activities that we could do that would be more impactful and more fruitful than spending time on the couch (as appealing as the couch may be).

What do we do in periods of relative ease? How do we spend our free time? Are we building up the new temple of God, the Church, or we squandering it in leisure? While there is certainly nothing wrong with a little bit of leisure, often the best times to sow for the Kingdom are the times of peace in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for placing me in Your Kingdom and giving me a new purpose. I pray that I may value my place in Your Kingdom and not waste it on vain pursuits. May my eyes ever be on You and not on this world. May Your Kingdom come and will be done in my life.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-17: Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What are some things you do that may be unwise with your time? What are some things you could do that would be wise with your time?
  2. What does Paul mean when he says that the “days are evil”?
  3. How can one understand “what the will of the Lord is”?  Why is this contrasted with foolishness?

Notes

  1. There are many, many things that are unwise! As discussed previously, binge-watching television shows is a great example. But anything that distracts us from the reality of God’s Kingdom could be unwise. Wise things would be reading the Word, praying, spending time in fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ, evangelizing, and a whole host of other activities that promote sanctification in our lives.
  2. The days are evil because we live in a world that is so often against God. We face temptations every day, but God calls us to look past this world and to see the hope of the Kingdom. Remember, Jesus said each day will bring trouble (Matt. 6:34), but our aim is to seek first His Kingdom.
  3. What a difficult question! But the only way to truly know God’s will is to know God; thus our time ought to be devoted to knowing Him more. This is true wisdom: to know God. Foolishness is ignoring God and thinking we can still understand His will. Before attempting anything for God, we ought to start with first knowing Him more.

Evening Reflection

Evaluate how you spent your time today. Do you feel like you wasted your time or do you feel like it was invested into the Kingdom of God?  Remember that God gives grace and His mercies are new every morning. Pray for the strength and resolve to seek first the Kingdom of God tomorrow.

August 24, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, was first posted on April 16, 2015.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“A Life of Sitting on the Fence”

1 Samuel 29:4-5 (ESV)

But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? [5] Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, ‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” 

The Philistines amassed all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites were nearby in Jezreel, ready to square off in anticipation of a great battle. The Philistines wanted to deliver a death blow to Israel and were foaming at the mouth in eagerness. But David is among the Philistines. Because Saul’s relentless attacks against him were unbearable, he and his men left the people of God and the land of Israel and decided to unite forces with the Philistines instead (1 Sam. 27). Ironically, the one who slayed Goliath, the Philistine giant, found himself in a place he never imagined: among the ungodly, ready to fight to death against God’s people.

But, to David’s ultimate benefit, the leaders among the Philistines looked at David and his men and declared, “They are Hebrews. They are not amongst us. We don’t belong together!” Though David seemed to have forgotten his identity, blinded by his own pride and fear of Saul, the Philistine leaders did not—they knew David’s true identity: that he was a Hebrew, part of the nation of Israel, and among to the people of Yahweh. David would not have found himself in this predicament if he considered who he really was and the calling of God in his life. 

What is troubling is how the Philistine ruler Achish defended David so confidently. David behaved so much in accord to with the ungodly that Achish knew he had David in his pocket. To be vouched by the ungodly should have revealed to David just how much he was away from God and His people. The other Philistine leaders did not agree with Achish’s evaluation. They didn’t trust David and feared that he would stab them in the back in battle so to somehow bring himself back into Saul’s favor. 

Here’s how David found himself in this plight: David was not content or at peace in the land of Israel (27:1), and now he discovered that his “Philistine friends” wouldn’t receive him either. By trying to live in both worlds, David quickly realized that he was a man without a home.  That’s a life of sitting on the fence. 

We, too, find ourselves having to make choices. We are sometimes hesitant to live out our faith for Jesus Christ, because we are afraid of the rejection of the ungodly.  This can be at work or amongst friends. And if we disguise it well enough, some people never come to see that we are Christians. Like David, we may even have the ungodly, perhaps an ungodly coworker, vouch for us because of our lack of distinction from them. 

How much better it is to be all out for Jesus and to trust that if the ungodly reject us, God is for us; and that He will eventually use the rejection for our good, as we will see in David’s life. We must not be double-minded—enjoying God and enjoying the world. Rather, we must be single-minded—living as a child of God and for the cause of the Gospel. This is the only way to avoid being in David’s predicament, where he had too much of the world in him to be at peace in the LORD and too much of the LORD in him to be at peace in the world. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to live out my faith boldly today! May I never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:1-2: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Questions to Consider 

  1. What are we to offer the Lord as our spiritual service of worship?  
  2. We are called not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of the mind. What is the result of this?  
  3. What is an area you need to work on to be godlier and less worldly? (i.e. about the way you view money, sex, relationships, etc.) 

Notes 

  1. We are to present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice.  
  2. When we don’t follow the ways of the world, but follow the ways of God, the Lord is pleased with our offering.  
  3. Personal response 

Evening Reflection

Before going to bed, reflect on 1 John 2:1: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

August 23, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 19, 2014.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Winning, but Win What?”

1 Cor. 12:22-3a

“On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.”

One highlight of my first-time trip to Dominican Republic was visiting the Baseball Academy of the Colorado Rockies.  A pastor in my class, doubling as a scout for them, gave me a tour of this state-of-the-art facility that houses 30-40 young prospects from all over Latin America.  (In fact, every Major League team has the same facility here.)  These tall and lanky kids are given two years to prove their ability, and those who outperform others are taken to America to be further developed, hopefully, to reach the Major League.  I met such a kid, a shortstop, who just signed a contract for $1.4 million.  However, another pastor whom I met later, once a prospect himself in the academy, pointed out that only 4 or 5 kids make the cut while the rest, once released, return to a life of poverty.

While no one can blame the Major League for trying to discover the next Miguel Cabrera, when churches try to do the same, they cease to function as the body of Christ.   Now in sports, since winning is the goal, those deemed “weak” are discarded.   The apostle Paul, too, wants to win; he once quipped, “To win as many [souls] as possible” (1 Cor. 9:19).  But to win for Christ, the presence of weak and less honorable in the body (team) is indispensable.  For instance, while the prophet Elisha certainly led Syrian general Naaman to faith in God when his leprosy was healed, it was the anonymous Israelite girl, taken as a captive to Syria, who played a pivotal role.   As a servant to Naaman’s wife, she said, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”  Without her contribution, Naaman would not have realized that “there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15). 

So, you don’t think you measure up?  Regardless of our talent level, God can use us!  So, grow in faith in Him; cultivate a right attitude; work hard (Prov. 14:23) to improve; and pray harder to depend on God.

Prayer: Lord, I am so thankful that you are not like the people of the world who look for the most talented and smart people.  While I am neither talented nor intelligent, I have hope because my “God cho[oses] the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27).   Lord, use me for your glory.    

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 11:19-24: Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch. . .. Men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, . . . 24 and a great many people were added to the Lord. . ..  

Acts 13:1-3: Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger,Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the importance of the church in Antioch?
  2. Whom did God use to crack open this city for the gospel?
  3. How do feel about yourself?  Do you think God can use you?  To whom are you focusing on?

Notes

  1. This church would replace Jerusalem as the center of missionary activities in the early church.  It was this church that commissioned Paul and Barnabas as missionaries to evangelize the Gentile world.  
  2. God used the anonymous Jewish believers who were running away from a fierce persecution against them in Jerusalem.   They were homeless, penniless and powerless people, yet God used them to initiate what would become a very pivotal church for world evangelization.  
  3. As long as we focus on our abilities, we may feel like we are ready to serve God, like Moses did in his younger days (Acts 7:22-5). But in reality, that’s when God won’t use us.   Of course, we do need to be prepared, yet ultimately, without a firm dependency on God, we are unusable.  Look to Him.  

Evening Reflection

How did it go today?  Did anything happen that made you feel “small”?  Good!  Instead of being discouraged, go to the Lord in prayer, looking to Him for hope, inspiration, and direction. 

August 22, Sunday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on August 10, 2014.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“I Don’t Clean Up After Others”

Gal. 5:13b 

Through love serve one another

1 Peter 4:10 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

What is often overlooked in serving others is this: servants clean up after someone else’s mess, and hardly anyone in our entitlement-crazed world would opt for that.  

Many years ago, I heard a baseball commentator make an amazing comment after then-the best reliever in baseball, Trevor Hoffman (with a success ratio of keeping the lead to save the win at 98%), gave up a home run that cost the win.  He said, “Hoffman should have started the inning instead of entering the game with a runner on the first base, because the relievers don’t mind cleaning up their own mess but not someone else’s.”  

Hearing that comment reminded me of what an old college roommate did one time in the early 80s.  Since six guys were living in a 2-bedroom apartment, stacks of dirty dishes were often left unwashed in the sink.  So one Sunday night, frustrated over having done that chore too often, I told my roommate to do the dishes.  Now, there were enough dirty dishes and pots for a guy to labor for at least 20 minutes, but the roommate came back to the room after a minute.   Incredulous, I asked, “Done already?” to which he said, “Yes.”  So, I quickly went to the kitchen to see what he did and saw that the stacks were still there.  That’s when I figured out that my roommate washed only the dishes that he had used during the week: He probably spent more time trying to find them than washing them!  Isn’t the philosophy of my old roommate and the baseball commentator the same?-“I don’t mind cleaning up after my own mess but not somebody else’s.”  

If Christ had the same philosophy, we would all be going to hell, since he won’t be interested in cleaning after someone else’s mess.  Thank God that Christ didn’t, for “he himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24); and “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).   

Remember: the next time you say that you want to be Christ’s servant, what you are really saying is, “I’m willing to clean up after someone else’s mess.”  So, you may find yourself helping out a friend who has made the same mistake, again.  Or you may be doing the work that others failed to complete.  As for me, I did the dishes that night, again, both mine and those of other roommates.   

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for having cleaned up my spiritual mess when you went to the cross to die for my sins.  Thank you for continuing to clean up my mess through your finished work on the cross.  Help me to confess my sins daily so that I can always have fellowship with you. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Jude 1

August 21, Saturday

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 18, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“What We Can Learn from the Pharisees”

Luke 5:33-39

And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”

There are two issues that rise from the way the Pharisees tried to deal with Jesus.

First, recall that the Pharisees took issue with Jesus for not fasting.  Jesus’ earthly ministry, however, was a time of joy and celebration even as he steadily mentioned what would happen through the cross and resurrection.  While it would be a time of abundance and harvest spiritually (John 4:35-37; 12:32-33), Jesus Himself (the bridegroom) would be taken away from them; this, then, would be a time of fasting and serving the Lord by proclaiming the good news.  

We, too, must seize the opportunity, for John 9:4-5 states, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Are you still holding on to worldly expectations, values, and human traditions, not knowing that we need to understand the time in which we live in?  Be alert; understand God’s time.   

Another matter our text calls us to consider is this: Why do some people (like the Pharisees) try to understand God’s word yet fail to obey Him once they understand it?  Perhaps they are simply adding Jesus to their present way of life as one of the options in reaching their goals, instead of allowing Christ to transform their ways and goals. 

Are you still trying to fit Christ into your old way of life? Spend some time in prayer and reflect upon those areas in your life that you need to let go so that Christ may reign in you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to love You, not out of pharisaic legalism but because I truly appreciate all that You have done for me, beginning with the cross.  Thank You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 21-22

August 20, Friday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 24, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What is God Like?”

Psalm 113:1-9

Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! [2] Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! [3] From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! [4] The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! [5] Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, [6] who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? [7] He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, [8] to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.[9] He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!

What is God like?  The psalmist raises the same question in verse 5: “Who is like the Lord our God?”  The trouble with this question is that it is unanswerable since there is nothing God can be compared to.   Commentator Derek Kidner writes of this Psalm, “Here this transcendence is memorably suggested by the perspective of verse 6, where the very heavens are almost out of sight below him.  He is enthroned so high he needs to stoop to see the sky and earth.”  Observe the following reasons the psalmist gives such honor and worship to God:  

  • High above the nations, his glory is above the heavens (v.4)
  • Seated on high (v.5)
  • Looks down on the heavens (v.6)
  • Raises the poor (v.7)
  • Gives the barren woman a home (v. 9)

The psalmist gives praise because this is who our God is: though He is infinitely exalted above everything, even the heavens, yet He stoops to raise the poor from the dust, the needy from the ash heap, and even the barren woman from the disgrace her barrenness.  We see a God who has compassion on his people and cares for them.

Since our God, who is exalted in all of the earth, also cares for us, this should give us a spirit of praise and blessedness.  As the psalmist did, take some time blessing and praising his holy name because He cares for you.

Prayer: Dear God, what words are adequate to express my gratitude towards You for loving and caring for me.  Thank You.  I will serve You with all of my heart and mind.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 20

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Questions to Consider

  1. In what way does being humble benefit us?
  2. How can we humble ourselves?
  3. What can happen when we unload our anxieties?

Notes

  1. When we are humble, we can be assured that God will pour out more grace on us — grace that will enable us to persevere through all of our circumstances. In today’s passage, Peter strongly exhorts us that we must humble ourselves before God. When we do this, we are assured that He will exalt us at the proper time (v. 6).
  2. We can do this only because we know God cares for us (v. 7). We can cast our anxieties on Him because He loves us and will faithfully bring us through whatever trials we might experience, however difficult they may be. 
  3. As we unload our anxieties, we become free to love and serve others with the humility God requires of us because we no longer have to worry excessively about ourselves. As John Calvin says, “For all those who rest not on God’s providence must necessarily be in constant turmoil and violently assail others. We ought the more dwell on this thought, that God cares for us, in order, first, that we may have peace within; and, secondly, that we may be humble and meek towards men.”

Evening Reflection

“If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who ever lived (think about that for a moment) — all the goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength and love — and united all those virtues in one person, that person would only be a faint shadow of the love and mercy in the heart of God for you and me.”- Brennan Manning

God loves you and cares for you deeply.  Often that idea is difficult to grasp because we experience pain and hardship in our lives.  Ask the Lord to remind you of his love and care for you.  Lift up any concerns, worries or fears that you may have in your life.  

August 19, Thursday

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Wicked Will Pay, If Not Now, Then Certainly Later”

Malachi 4:1-6 (ESV)

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Dennis Rodman’s recent foray into “basketball diplomacy” with North Korea was frowned upon by many because of the ruthless manner in which this nation mistreats its people, especially Christians.   The believers, once they are found out by the state, are routinely sent to prison camps; torture and execution are not uncommon.  No wonder North Korea has been ranked first on the World Watch List of countries where persecution of Christians is most prevalent.  This communist regime, founded by Kim Il-sung and carried on by his son Kim Jung-il (and now by his son), has caused the death and misery of millions of people. 

The Psalmist says, “The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy” (145:20) and “In just a little while, the wicked will be no more” (37:10).  In view of that, these two dictators should have really suffered while alive, perhaps even experiencing a premature death.  Quite the contrary! They enjoyed absolute power as well as the best of the western amenities (while their people starved).  In addition, the father, by dying at the age of 82, not only outlived most North Koreans, he easily beat the lifespan of 70 to 80 years that Moses considered as normative (Ps. 90:10); the son, who died at the age of 70, just made it.  

In light of that, would Malachi, whose name means “My messenger,” think that his message regarding the eventual fate of the wicked on earth was incorrect since the Kims and many of their kinds didn’t exactly become stubble, ashes, or rootless?  No, not really because there is no mistake about what God meant: The wicked will pay for their injustice, transgression, and brutality, either now or on the Day of the Lord, when Christ will descend from heaven to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:11).

Knowing that, we press forward by remembering and keeping God’s laws even as we see the wicked prosper.  Feeling discouraged sometimes, we may even say what some said in the earshot of Malachi (3:14), “It is futile to serve the Lord.”  Thus, listen to the admonition of Apostle Paul: “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).  Don’t give up.

Prayer: Oh Lord my God, how I behold Your beauty and majesty with awe and fear!  Though You are my friend, yet You are the God of the universe whose holiness is beyond my grasp; that You would put up with someone like me is absolutely unbelievable.  But it is true.  I want to do good, not just because of the rewards in heaven, but because I love You and want to love You more each day.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 12:1-3a; 21-3 (ESV): “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also . . . On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man!’ 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.”

Acts 26: 24-9 (ESV): “And as [Paul] was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.’ 25 But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. 26 For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.’ 28 And Agrippa said to Paul, ‘In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?’ 29 And Paul said, ‘Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.’”

Note: Festus would die in three years while Agrippa, Herod’s son who was involved in an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice, would go on to live another 40 years.  Neither of them believed then and, most likely continued in their disbelief until the end. 

Questions to Consider

  1. In what sense was justice served in the case of King Herod?  Would you make a similar case for Festus who was known as a fair-minded governor? 
  2. In what sense was the life of Agrippa similar to the Kims of North Korea?
  3. What do you make of what happened to these three lives?  What does it mean to you personally? 

Notes

  1. Because of Herod’s brutality against the church and self-deification, God put an end to his life during the height of his political success.  I wouldn’t say the same regarding Festus since decent people can die young as well.  For those who are older, who can forget the untimely death of a great baseball player Roberto Clement, whose plane crashed while on a rescue mission. 
  2. Agrippa certainly died in his old age, after enjoying a decadent life without suffering too many ill effects from it.  Having died without Christ (and certainly not having repented), he has been fairly judged in God’s court.
  3. The best time to believe in Jesus is NOW.  Obviously, no one knows when their last day on earth will be but each time we reject Christ, it gets easier doing it until “a man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy” (Prov. 29:1).

Evening Reflection

Did any news today remind you of the wickedness of man?  Do you feel like unfairness rules and justice ignored?  Pray that God’s righteous standard will prevail in our lives and also in our nation.  Pray.  

August 18, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by then (2013) staff of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan, was first posted on September 26, 2013.  It has been updated. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Presence”

Psalm 90:13-17

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

The desire for the presence of the Lord marks the beginning of this section of Psalm 90. The psalmist knows that God’s presence is the single greatest satisfaction we can experience in this short life. He calls out for the favor of God to be upon him, and that God would bless the work of his hands. The psalmist cries out for the manifestation of God’s presence through His work, His power, His favor, and His blessing.

This morning’s Psalm reminds us that our joy and gladness is found only in God and not apart from Him. In light of this, we should desperately long to daily encounter the manifest presence of God through our persistent prayer life. This Psalm reminds us that in Him, we can and will experience the fullness of life. So, let us look to the Giver of the blessings by seeking the presence of God.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for being my triumphant salvation who delights in taking up my battles of sin, sickness, Satan, and death itself. Your salvation is near to me in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Questions to Consider

  1. In what ways is the apostle Paul exhorting the Philippians? 
  2. What thoughts have been prominent in your mind lately? Are they true, honorable, just, etc.?  What should we do with this list of virtues?
  3. How might these verses apply to things like the music we listen to, the books we read, the TV/movies we watch, and other similar activities?  In what areas of life has the Lord been convicting you? Are there Bible verses you could memorize and meditate on, that would help you as you to see the fruits of your convictions?

Notes

  1. The age-old adage says, “You are what you eat.” This is true of the physical food that we consume as well as the spiritual food that we take in.  The apostle Paul is exhorting the Philippians to have a healthy spiritual diet, for the virtuous things that they allow into their minds will have a profound effect in how they go about living out the truths, which they have learned by Paul’s teaching and example.
  2. The list of virtues is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather representative of the things that should occupy the minds of believers. Meditating on these things is not an end in itself, but leads to purposeful action.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

2 Chronicles 20:17: “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Dear God, faith has come, here in my heart and now on my tongue. The power of the Holy Spirit is accessible and available to me because you, Oh God of my salvation, have delivered me out of the kingdom of darkness and into the realm of your Son’s resurrection life and light.  Jesus, you will always be the one that I glorify and adore. You have saved me by your grace, apart from any of my own merit, and you will complete my salvation in the same way.  I have set my heart to always see your face as the champion of my salvation.   Amen.

August 17, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 27, 2014.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Ichthus”

Malachi 3:16-7 (ESV)

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. 17 ‘They will be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’ 18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

“Ichthus,” said the man who knocked on the door.  The owner of the house knew then that the one who just said “fish” was a true brother.  During the time when early Christians were under constant persecutions by the Roman Empire, that word was used as a code to identity whether the visitor who came to join the worship service, which often met at homes, was a true believer.  

Not too long ago, when Christians were actively persecuted in communist countries, a story was told of Christians trying to protect themselves from infiltrators.  Once, an underground Christian meeting was ransacked by the gun-toting secret police who shouted, “If you leave right now, we won’t kill you.”  Many left, leaving behind only a few who were ready to die for the Lord.  But to their surprise the gunmen said, “Let’s worship God since we are now with true believers.”  While such intense persecution against the faithful probably did not happen in Malachi’s time, it appears that those truly who feared and served the Lord were so few that God responded to them in an extraordinary manner.  

How did these believers manage to sustain such an indomitable faith?   I recall a missionary doctor to Africa, who was rescued from being martyred in a matter of seconds, saying that no one can really prepare for martyrdom.   But at that decisive moment, God will give the strength to remain faithful and we need to respond in bold faith.  What may be the best indicator for those who will choose God in that moment?  Someone who has multiple degrees in theology, written many Christian books, or even has a mega-church?  No, but it will be someone who loves the Lord.   Apostle John, who suffered for his faith during the persecution of Emperor Domitian (81-96) in Ephesus wrote, “There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18a).   

 So, how is your love for Christ?  Does he still have to vie for your time?  Does he have your undivided attention?  The present is always the best time to rekindle our love for Christ, who not only died for us but is alive today, interceding for us on our behalf.   Reflect.  Pray.   

Prayer: Gracious Lord, how utterly sad that we humans continue to hold you in contempt, not giving you the love and loyalty that you so deserve.   Yet, because of the Holy Spirit who resides in us, we have been sufficiently empowered to testify of your greatness to the unbelieving world.  I love you, Lord, but I want and need to love you more.  Help me, O God, to do that because I am unable on my own.  Thank you.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 26:31, 33-5: Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’”  . . . 33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”  And all the disciples said the same.

Matt. 26:69-75: “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you mean.’ 71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’72 And again he denied it with an oath: ‘I do not know the man.’ 73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.’ 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, ‘I do not know the man.’ And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’  And he went out and wept bitterly.

Questions to Consider

  1. What makes Peter’s denial of Jesus all the more stunning?
  2. What are some ramifications of Peter’s bold statement prior to his denial and the denial itself?
  3. What does it mean that Jesus reinstated Peter (Jn. 21:15-9), allowing him to follow Jesus even after the denial?  What do you think it did for the apostle?

Notes

  1. Only a few hours earlier, this rugged man of the sea boldly expressed his love for Christ, vowing that while other may deny him, he himself will not.  The one who prompted the apostle to deny Christ was not some scary looking Roman soldier but a servant girl.  What an irony!
  2. One is this: no matter how faithful we have been to the Lord, we can commit that unfathomable sin if we cease from fixing our eyes on Jesus.   We really aren’t that trustworthy, for apart from Christ, we “can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).
  3. Yes, our God is a God of a second chance.  He gave a second chance to David, Mark, and even Paul who thought that he was doing God’s work by persecuting Christians. As for Peter, this incidence really fostered his love for Christ.  How could it not?

Evening Reflection

Today, did you find yourself in a situation (or conversation) in which you could have spoken on behalf of God and His word?  What happened?  What did you learn about yourself?  Pray for boldness.