October 21, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on March 13, 2019, is provided by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“With Your Loins Girded”

Exodus 12:11-13

Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 

Romans 10:8-10 

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

When I was serving in East Asia, one precious moment that I will always cherish was witnessing several natives praying the sinner’s prayer or hearing them process why they want to get baptized. As they declared their faith in their own words, I got to witness new believers “cross from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). After this initial confession of faith, it would take several more steps for these baby Christians—with virtually no knowledge of Scripture—to truly comprehend that the free gift of salvation is available to them by faith, and not by performance, good works, or background. Once the Holy Spirit guides them to this truth, they cheerfully receive the good news by firmly believing in their hearts and sincerely confessing with their mouth.

In today’s passage, God instructs the Israelites to prepare to eat the Passover Lamb and to put some of the lamb’s blood on the doorpost of their home so that they will be passed over during the plague of the firstborn. This is to prepare for the impending judgment upon Egypt and for Israel’s deliverance from slavery. The emphasis in this passage is the manner in which God instructs the Israelites to eat the Passover lamb—“with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand.” 

In ancient times, both men and women regularly wore tunics, and “girding up their loins” meant to hoist up the fabric above their knees so they could have mobility to run or do the labor. Along with putting on sandals and holding their staff, these actions represent readiness to receive the Lord’s deliverance and is an act of faith, declaring their trust in Him that He will indeed bring them out of the bondage of slavery and that the blood of the Lamb is a sign of the Lord’s Passover.  In the Old Testament, this was the way God prepared His people to receive their deliverance from Egypt. 

When it comes to our salvation in Christ, the New Testament teaches us to receive salvation by using our mouth and believing in our heart the works of Jesus. Though we are not in the same situation as the Israelites, we can find insight in the Exodus passage for our own faith because the manner in which they ate the Passover lamb should be the posture in our heart by which we receive not only the grace of salvation, but also the daily grace we need for living out our faith. 

So, in what ways do you think the Lord is leading you to act “with your loins girded” to show your readiness and faith in His works?  Give it a prayerful thought.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your great salvation! As You have led me to receive Your salvation by faith and confession, help me to continue to receive Your daily grace with faith and empower me not to rely on my own strength. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 9:3-7:IKnow therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you. “Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people. Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. 

Questions to Consider

  • When and where is Moses saying these words to the Israelites?
  • What is Moses’ main message?
  • What does Moses want the Israelites to remember?

Notes

  • Moses is speaking to the Israelites in the land of Moab, across from the Jordan River. He is preparing them to go into Canaan to possess the land that God has promised to give them.
  • Moses is warning the Israelites not to mislead themselves to think that they are receiving the Promised Land based on their own doing or righteous works. They are going to possess the land because God Himself “is crossing over before you” (vs. 3) and He is using Israel as His holy nation to execute judgment on these nations. The Israelites of recipients of God’s promise and grace.
  • He wants the Israelites to remember that they have actually been rebellious and acted in disbelief towards God between the time they left Egypt up until now. Later in chapter 9, Moses explains that the Lord remained merciful and slow to anger because he prayed on their behalf; that is, Moses, pleaded with the Lord to remember His promise to Israel’s forefathers and asked God to display His ability to fulfill His promises (9:28-29).

Evening Reflection

The Passover meal in Exodus signifies the exodus from Egypt and was not the exodus itself. It served as a way to remember and think of the Lord’s salvation. Today, we remember the Lord’s salvation through taking communion as a community of believers. How do you prepare your heart as you partake in communion each time? 

October 21, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on March 26, 2019, is provided by Pastor Matt Ro. Matt is currently pastoring a church in the state of New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Divine Warrior” 

Exodus 15:3

“The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.”

There have been a couple of near-death experiences in my life.  One in particular occurred during a visit to the tunnels of Cu Chi outside of Ho Chi Minh City.  According to Wikipedia, “These tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces.”

As I navigated through the maze of tunnels, the walls became increasingly narrow, and fresh air became scarce.  The Vietnamese certainly knew that US soldiers were generally taller and wider!  Before I knew it, I was stuck in the tunnel, my heavy backpack lodged firmly between the side walls of the tunnel.  Panic began to set in!  I couldn’t breathe!  I thought I was going to die!  

At that moment, my Vietnamese tour guide managed to get me out of the cramped quarters, remove the backpack from my shoulders, and led me out of the Cu Chi back to safety.  During those panic-stricken moments, I was truly paralyzed.  My guide had literally “fought for my safety”.   

Today’s passage reveals that our God is a warrior God.  After Moses and Israel made it through the Red Sea unharmed, the Lord is called a “man of war”—a warrior who fights for the good of His people.  It is in God’s nature to wage war against those who rise up against His name and His children.  We can rejoice in that our covenant-keeping God will never leave us nor forsake us.  His outstretched arms are always present to defeat the enemies of His Kingdom (Deut. 5:15; Heb. 13:5).

Exodus 15:4-10 talks about God’s weapons.  His right hand can control the sea.  He is sovereign over the elements and uses them to destroy those who oppose Him.  He even displays His power in the form of psychological warfare—His enemies trembling in fear when hearing of the Lord’s salvation of Israel (vv. 13-16).   

As ones who live in the new covenant era, Satan and his army fear the power of Christ.  Jesus fights for us, with the sword of the gospel to transform nations.  Our Lord wields His power on our behalf, so we can truly claim it is our strength.  Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”  In Him alone we must rely, not our own strength.  The Puritan William Gurnall wrote, “The strength of the general in other hosts lies in his troops…but in the army of saints, the strength of every saint, of the whole hosts of saints, lies in the Lord of hosts.”  (The Christian in Complete Armour, p. 18)

Take some time this morning to hand over our battles to the Lord of War.  He is our divine warrior.  David knew this when we surrendered his showdown with Goliath to the Lord by declaring, “The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you!”  Surrender your fears, your Red Seas, your immovable mountains to the Lord.  He knows us, cares for us, and will deliver us for His glory!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I ask that You take my present battles.  In these, I will not lift a finger.  I ask You to fight on my behalf.  I thank You that You do not allow the battles of life to overcome me.  In Jesus’ name, amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 50

Lunch Break Study

Read Judges 7:2-9: The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.  9 That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.

Questions to consider

  • Judges 7:2 shows that as humans, we will naturally boast in our own work.  What do you think Gideon was thinking when his army went from an already overmatched 32,000 Israelites against 135,000 Midianites to only 10,000 Israelites?
  • In what way is boasting “over”/against God (v.2)? 
  • How does our sinful nature to boast in ourselves change the way we respond to areas of weakness in our lives? (See 2 Cor 12:5-10) 

Notes

  • This was a great test of Gideon’s faith.  Although outnumbered almost 1 to 4, God thought his army was too big, and He commanded Gideon to invite all who were afraid to go home.  Gideon was probably surprised at the number of men who were afraid to fight and hoped that only a few hundred would leave.  But we are told that they assembled in a place where they could see the 135,000 Midianite troops (Judges 7:8).  This sight of the huge opposing army must’ve left Gideon and the Israel army afraid.
  • This explains why the army of 32,000 was too large.  Israel could still take credit for a victory if they had 32,000 troops.  They could believe they were underdogs who triumphed through their own great bravery or strategy.  God wanted the odds so bad that the victory would clearly be His alone.  If we really believe the principle, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6), then our smallness does not matter.  
  • Paul was not immune to the danger of pride.  No one is.  Even the best of God’s people have in them a root of pride, or a disposition to be exalted above  measure, upon their receipt of grace from God not common to others. Paul was desperate in his desire to find relief from his burden but knew that God’s method was to give sufficient grace.  We don’t really believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient.  Especially in American culture, this is a huge obstacle.  We want to be “self-made” and want to rely on ourselves.  We can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness.  

Evening Reflection

From the OT (how God set Israel free from Egypt; how He warred on their behalf in bringing them into the promised land; and how He turned to war against them when they no longer followed Him), into the NT (how the Messiah accomplished salvation by way of the Cross) and ending in the return of Christ and renewal of all things, the Bible is about a God who wars on behalf of His people.  Often, we can feel that we are fighting our battles on our own, wondering if God really cares about what we are going through.  I want to invite you to surrender the biggest battles that you are currently facing, meditating on the entire counsel of Scripture until you experience God’s peace and His fighting on our behalf.  

October 20, Monday  

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on May 6, 2019, is provided by Pastor David Kwon. David leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  

Devotional Thought for Today

“Giving God Your Best’

Exodus 25:1-9

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins,  acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

When my first daughter was younger, I attempted to help her put together a dollhouse that we got from a yard sale.  It seemed easy enough except that this dollhouse came with a list of complicated instructions and required tools, which I didn’t think we had. (We ended up having the tools.)  The attention to detail in kids’ toys is nothing compared to the attention God paid to every detail in the tabernacle. 

The tabernacle was a revolutionary idea — a place where God would live among His people. God’s instructions were so specific that they would make toy designers scratch their head. What was the reason for so much detail?  The items God told the Israelites to use to make the tabernacle — gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, spices, and gems — were not ordinary building materials. These were high quality, top of the line, valuable items. God asked Israel to give Him their best, and He promised to do the same in return (Exodus 25:8-9).  

So, what can we learn from God’s instruction to His people about giving?  Here are a few lessons:

  • Giving to God is an important sign of our commitment to Christ.  Our willingness to give to the Lord is one of the main indicators of our spiritual health.  Generosity is one of the vital signs of a healthy believer and if we are not consistently giving, it probably means we are not growing.
  • Giving should be done out of gratitude from the heart.  When we are touched by God’s grace, we feel compelled to give.  There is something about giving to God that makes the heart sing because we know it is worship to Him and it is one of the best ways we can use our finances.  
  • We should bring God the best we have to offer.  This is what it means to give from the heart – when we put in our best effort.  Many of the items that were used for the tabernacle were costly and that should be the same for us.  We ought to give in a way where it is costly but also seeing it as an opportunity to participle in God’s work and mission.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be a generous person especially when it comes to the area of money.  May I be a person who views my possessions with an eternal perspective.  Amen!

Bible Reading: Genesis 49

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:10-13: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Questions to Consider

  • How was Paul able to find contentment despite writing this letter from a Roman jail cell?
  • How does Paul connect his contentment with his circumstances?
  • What is the Lord’s promise according to v. 13?

Notes

  • He was able to find contentment because Christ was his life and that was all he needed.  Paul was able to learn the secret of contentment through his relationship with Christ Jesus.
  • His contentment was not based on his circumstances.  At times he had plenty and other times he was in need; on either situation he knew how to stay content despite what life may have thrown at him.
  • The Lord gives us strength to find our contentment in Him.  We have the power to overcome any circumstance we face.

Evening Reflection

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

“No person was ever honored for what he received. He was honored for what he gave.”  – Calvin Coolidge

Today, we were reminded how important it is to give our best to God through our finances.  It means living a life of contentment and generosity.  Think specifically of some ways you can be more generous.  Here are some questions to think about:

  • How do you want to grow in generosity?  (Be specific)
  • Who will keep you accountable?

October 19, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on September 15, 2018. Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Intercessory Prayer: We Have Authority”

Ephesians 2:4-7

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Today and tomorrow we will be talking about intercessory prayer. In order to understand intercessory prayer, we need to first understand who we are. To this end, I want to make a bold claim: we think too lowly of ourselves. I imagine many may react to this statement, thinking, Wait, I am prideful – I actually think too highly of myself. And that is probably true for many of us, including me. I am prideful. But, often our pride causes us to think highly of ourselves in the wrong way—meaning, we think highly of ourselves in comparison to others, according to earthly standards. Our pride leads us to think we are smarter, more athletic, better at our jobs than our co-workers, or better looking than our friends—all earthly things.

However, when I say that we think too lowly of ourselves, I mean it in a heavenly sense. We do not understand the power and authority that has been given us in Christ, and what this means for our spiritual lives. Our passage tells us that God has “seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This word “seated” is a word that confers authority.  Earlier in Ephesians, Paul writes, “[God] raised [Jesus] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:20). Did you notice the similarity between this verse and v. 6 of today’s passage? Jesus was given a seat of authority in the heavenly places, and likewise God gives us a seat of authority in the heavenly places along with Christ. Perhaps you are thinking that this verse is speaking of the future, in the new heavens. Yet, this is written in the past tense; God has seated us, not will seat us. It’s already been done. Authority in the heavenly places has already been given to us.

But what exactly are these heavenly places? Well, when God created mankind in Genesis 1, He gave authority to mankind over earth. We were given dominion: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen 1:28)—this was dominion over earthly places. In Christ, we now have dominion in the heavenly places as well, over the spiritual realm—in the invisible realm where spiritual forces are work. We have dominion and authority in this realm as well. And if we have authority, this means our words and our prayers matter—our words affect the spiritual realm. This is intercessory prayer. We will talk more about this tomorrow. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for giving me authority in the spiritual realm. Help me to remember this, to remember this identity You have given me. Help me to not think too lowly or think wrongly of who I am. And since You have given me this authority, teach me to partner with You through prayer to use this authority in the heavenly places in a way that builds Your kingdom. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 48

October 18, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on September 1, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon, who is the Lead Pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Power of God’s Word”

Jeremiah 33:2, 4, 10, 12, 17, 20, 25

“This is what the Lord says…”

2“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name;” 4 “For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword:” 10 “Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again” 12 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks.” 17 “For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,” 20 “Thus says the Lord: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time,” 25 “Thus says the Lord: If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth…”

Some of us are old enough to remember the brokerage firm E.F. Hutton, who was responsible for one of the most indelible advertising campaigns in the 80s. The TV ads closed with the bold statement: “When E.F. Hutton talks, people listen.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tG-g-TfBww) 

I don’t know whatever happened to E.F. Hutton’s career or brokerage firm, but it’s no longer the household name it used to be. Even though I was in grade school at that time, I was familiar with the name, although I had no clue what the commercial was actually selling. Today, even if E.F. Hutton is still talking, people are no longer listening. 

In chapter 33, Jeremiah repeats the phrase, “This is what the Lord says…” at least seven times. The prophet conveys the thought, “When the LORD speaks, people listen.” Not only does Jeremiah want to report accurately, but he is letting the Israelites know just WHO is speaking. When the Lord speaks, He is not merely releasing information. Through His words, not only does He reveal His plans and thoughts, but God also releases His power. A Bible scholar, Mounce, reminds us that “in Hebrew thought a word is not a lifeless sound but an active agent that achieves the intention of the one who speaks.” 

Isaiah reminds us this: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

And the Hebrews writer says: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

To better appreciate this immense power of God’s word, one must consider the very first time that the Bible introduces its readers to the word of God; it is at the very beginning in Genesis where God speaks. He speaks into a formless and empty earth, bringing about all that is magnificent, marvelous, and, still today, awe-inspiring. And that powerful Word still speaks to us. At times, His word soothes our pains and our troubles; at times, His word guides us in our confusion and doubts; and at times, His word hammers our hardened hearts (Jer. 23:29), thereby breaking our pride into pieces. Yes, the Lord knows just what to say to us. 

E.F. Hutton may be long gone, but the Word of the Lord endures forever! 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 46-47

Prayer: Lord, may Your word dwell in my heart. Allow the power of Your word to transform my life into the image of Jesus Christ. In His Name, Amen! 

October 17, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on February 22, 2019, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“A God Who Hears”

Exodus 6:5-6

Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 

Prayer can seem to be a pretty mundane or ordinary activity. To the world, they may think of prayer as just mere words,  and even within the church, prayer can sound like a sentimental thing or just a nice thing to say:  “Oh sorry to hear that.  I’ll pray for you.”  In the past couple of years, as our world has faced different tragic events, people have begun to mock the term “thoughts and prayers,” because to many people prayer is just empty words.  And even for some of us, we can be tempted to believe this to be true as well, because sometimes we may feel like our prayers are just words.

When we read this passage, and all throughout the Bible, prayer is far from empty words.  The people of Israel has been enslaved by Egypt and they cry out to God for help; and what we see very clearly in Exodus 6 is that God hears the cries of His people.  And not only does God hear, but He responds and acts on His people’s behalf.

That God hears our prayers is a simple yet amazing truth.  Perhaps we’re so used to thinking that it’s true that we forget how incredibly amazing that really is.  We should daily be in awe and grateful to God that He cares for us so much that He listens and responds to our prayers.  It’s not dependent on our righteousness or holiness, or how much we’ve done for him or how spiritual we are—it is all God’s grace.  God hears our prayers because He loves us.  

Even if you’ve lost sight of this wondrous truth, even now you can speak to God and He will listen.  Let us go to God, and in faith, trust that He is hears us and will respond.

Prayer: God I thank You that You love me and hear my prayers.  I pray for greater faith to know that You hear me, and I pray for perseverance to keep on going to You in prayer.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Genesis 45

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 7:7-11:“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Questions to Consider

  • What reason does Jesus give to us to pray to God?
  • What keeps us from asking from God in prayer?
  • Jesus says that all who ask God receive from Him.  How has God answered your prayers in the past?  

Notes

  • Jesus compares God to our earthly fathers who want to give good things to their children.  And if our earthly fathers, who are imperfect sinners, are able to give good gifts to their children, just think about how much more so God our heavenly Father wants to give to us.  
  • There are many different reasons, but I think one of the biggest barriers to prayer in our lives is self-sufficiency.  We are trained by this world to learn to be independent and trust in our own work to provide for ourselves.  
  • Personal reflection question. 

Evening Reflection

Prayer is a gift from God that we don’t take advantage of enough.  Tonight, as you close out your day, spend some time just talking with God about what’s going on in your life.  Ask Him for strength and provision, and be confident that He hears you.

October 16, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT devotional, originally posted on August 14, 2019, is provided Joe Suh. Joe is the Leader Pastor of Canvas City Church in Philadelphia.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why Disciplines?”

Hebrews 12:7-11 (NASB)

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

I can recall during my second year of college my dad took it upon himself to cut me off financially.  Through that point in my life my dad had taken care of me and made sure I always had what I needed.  We were not financially well-off by any stretch of the imagination; however, my dad worked hard, saved and always found a way to make things work.  My dad paid my expenses during my first year of college and made sure I had a little spending money.  All he wanted me to do was work hard in school.  However, that all changed after my first year ended.  To make a long story short, my dad told me I was no longer a good investment and I was now on my own.  He was no longer going to pay my tuition or cover my living expenses.  He said I did not have to go to college if I didn’t want to and I was welcome to move back home.  But if I wanted to stay in school and live on my own, I had to figure out how to make it work.  I thought that was a very sudden and harsh thing to do, but to my dad my grades were not up to par and I was squandering his hard-earned money.

At the moment when this happened I panicked.  I thought how my dad could do this to me?  There was no grace period, no warning…just like that I was cut-off.  Though his method was harsh, I realized much later in life that this was one of the greatest lessons my dad taught me.  What I saw as cruelty from my dad was actually him loving me.  He could have easily continued to pay for my tuition, and I could go on as I was.  However, in reality I needed this life lesson.  I needed to learn to stand on my own, be responsible for myself and trust that I would be able to handle the most difficult of situations.  My father knew me best and knew that I needed to learn how to stand on my own.  As his child he was loving me by taking away my safety net.

In yesterday’s quiet time I shared about our identity as God’s children.  We see from today’s passage that as His children, He disciplines us. (vs. 7-8).  Discipline can take many forms.  Sometimes, it is corrective, it can be preventative, or it can be instructive.  Whatever the form of discipline, we must see that, as His children, He will discipline us. It is because He truly loves us that He has to teach us the way.  Have you ever seen a child who completely lacks discipline?  It is not a pretty sight.  The discipline from our Heavenly Father is not a punishment, but a demonstration of His love for us.  Our earthly mothers and fathers discipline us.  How could we believe that our Heavenly Father wouldn’t?  In verse 10 we see the reason for the discipline.  It is for our own good so we may share in His holiness.  

We have to understand that God wants us to share in His holiness.  The discipline we receive is training in order for us to incorporate His holiness into our lives.  Discipline differs from punishment in that discipline stems from God’s love for us.  Punishment is God acting as a judge but discipline is God acting as a loving father.  As a loving father, He offers guidance through discipline in order that we are able to share in the glory to come.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for disciplining me so that I can improve in all areas of my life, particularly in the area of loving and trusting You.  Remind me to respond appropriately, in humility and reflection, so that I can share in Your holiness. Amen,

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 44

Lunch Study Break

Read Proverbs 3:11-12: “My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

Questions to consider

  • Why should we not reject God’s discipline?
  • Who does God discipline?
  • Recall a time that you believe you were disciplined by God. What was the lesson learned?

Notes

  • God’s discipline is born out of His love for us.  The corrective action is to allow us to join in His holiness. (see Heb. 12:10).  To reject His discipline would be to reject His love for us as His children.  It shows great wisdom to accept His discipline.
  • God disciplines those whom He loves.  As His children we will be disciplined.  Not because He wants to punish us, but His love demands that He does.
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection

In what ways has God’s discipline shaped your life and your faith?  Are you able to see that it is truly because of His love for you that He has to discipline you?  Spend some time in prayer and thank God for His loving touch in your life.

October 15, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 5, 2019, was written by Pastor Phil Chen, who recently relocated to Houston, Texas, to plant a new AMI church. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Importance of His Presence”

Exodus 33:15-16 (NASB)

Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. 16 For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

When my daughter started walking, the most endearing thing to me was when she would turn to me, reach out her hand and say, “Hold hand.” Even when we walked to the playground, she didn’t need me to hold her hand. In fact, since the playground was so fun and exciting for her, I wouldn’t blame her for running to the playground leaving me behind— yet, she would rather walk slowly with me. Though I don’t quite know why she does it, but every time she does my heart just melts. I think this is a prime example of Moses’ response to God. If you remember from Monday, God had gotten so tired of the stubbornness of Israel that He told them to go on into the Promised Land, but under one caveat: He wouldn’t enter there with them—they were on their own. Moses responds by turning to God and saying “Hold our hand.” Essentially, Moses is saying that they will not go unless He goes. He realizes that it’s not worth going if God’s presence does not go with them. 

Moses desired the presence of God more than His blessings. So often we get that mixed up, wanting the blessings of God and not necessarily the presence of God. But do you know how much God’s heart is moved when you actually desire His presence? Do you know how much joy God feels when you reach out your hand towards Him and say, “Hold hand?” We must be people who desire His presence over just His blessings. 

However, not only did God’s presence represent His continual favor over them, but it also represented the protection of God. If you recall, the nation of Israel was still in the embryonic phases of becoming a nation, and they were very vulnerable to the attacks of the superpowers in the Ancient Near East. Many nations were fearful of Israel because of what they had heard of the exodus of the Israelites from the land of Egypt. Without the presence of God, Moses knew they would be sitting ducks if they were to engage in any warfare. We too must not underestimate the protection of God in our lives. When we are in the presence of God, we are protected from so many things, even things that we are unaware of. 

As we spend time reflecting on the presence of God, may our hearts resonate with Moses’ heart – that we would desire His presence above all else. It’s not just His provision, blessing, or even protection that we are after—ultimately, it’s Him that we desire. Let’s orient ourselves to desire Him above all else. 

Prayer: Father God, Your presence is more important to me than Your blessing. Sometimes I don’t feel that way, but I know that is the truth. Help me to believe in that truth even more, and to earnestly desire Your presence above all things. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 43

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 27:4 (ESV): “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”

Question to Consider

1. What is the context of this Psalm? 

2. What does David focus on in this Psalm?

3. How does this psalm resonate with your prayers for His presence?

Notes

1. This was a Psalm of David, most likely in a time of trouble, and yet the tone is one of confidence in the presence of God as well as a desire to be in His presence. 

2. Most likely, David was on the run, fleeing from the many people that were against him in his lifetime – and yet, his focus was on the presence of God. Twice he references the house of the Lord (which actually had not yet been constructed), but the essence of his request was one of deep desire to be in the presence of God. 

3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Take a moment to take an inventory of your heart. Are there things in your heart that you value more than the presence of God? Oftentimes, we associate the blessings of God with God Himself, and although there is nothing wrong with blessings, it becomes an issue when we have it backwards. We must learn to desire the presence of God over the blessings of God. Let’s be people who want the gift-giver more than the gift itself. 

October 14, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 3, 2019. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Word of God”—Yawn!

Exodus 39:21 

“ And they bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, so that it should lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod, as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

Recently, I heard a sermon from a pastor who grew up as a Muslim in Iran. It was an incredible testimony that demonstrated God’s relentless pursuit of His children. One part of the story struck me. After becoming a Christian, he did not have access to the Bible since Iran is a closed country; in fact, owning a copy could have carried serious consequences.  Therefore, he had to go to great lengths to find an online version of the New Testament to read. Understandably, for this pastor, coming before the Bible was no small matter—it was the very sacred words of God—and possessing a copy for himself was well worth the risk. 

His story reminded me of the freedom I possess simply because I live in the United States. However, the downside of having easy access to a Bible or even the ability to worship freely without fear is that we no longer value what we have. Our attitudes become overly casual when we approach God’s word or come to service on Sundays. There is no understanding that we are standing on sacred ground before a holy God. 

In today’s passage, I want to focus on one refrain that is found throughout the chapter: “as the LORD had commanded Moses.” It is important to recognize, as we read the directions for building the various garments for the high priest, that the specifications were not man-made. It was God who provided them. God is the one who has given the exact dimensions and designs for each garment. It is what He deemed as proper attire for acceptable worship. The entire process is not left up to Moses or the priest, but He is exact on what worship should look like. Although it may seem trivial, the fact that God took the time to give such specifics demonstrates just how seriously He takes worship; how serious it is to enter into the presence of God.  

As Christians who have the privilege of routinely walking into a church building for service, it is easy to forget the seriousness of worship- that we are entering onto sacred ground. Oftentimes the routine of weekly services makes it easy to forget this truth, and we come with a lackadaisical posture. But it is important to remind ourselves that we stand before a holy God who takes worship seriously. Let us remember that we are entering the very presence of God and standing on holy ground when we worship! 

Prayer: Father, we thank You that through the gospel of Your Son Jesus, we have been given the privilege of worship. Thank You that we are not only allowed to be in your presence but also to enjoy You. I pray that I would sense the weight of what it means to worship You! 

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 42

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 6:1-7: In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”  4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Questions to Consider

  • To where is Isaiah taken and what is going on in this passage? 
  • What is Isaiah’s immediate reaction when he realizes He is in God’s temple? 
  • What might Isaiah’s vision teach you about worship? 

Notes 

  • Isaiah is taken to the very throne room of God where it seems like there is a worship service going on. The angelic beings are proclaiming the holiness of God and His glory. 
  • Isaiah recognizes his own sinfulness when he realizes he is in God’s presence. It is not a casual encounter, but he feels the weight of God’s glory. 
  • Personal 

Evening Reflection 

Take some time to reflect on your posture when it comes to worship. How have you taken worship for granted? Are you coming into the presence of God seriously, recognizing the weight of His glory? Spend some time praying and asking God for the right heart before Him.   

October 13, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on June 3, 2019, was written by Pastor Phil Chen, who recently relocated to Houston, Texas, to plant a new AMI church. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God Keeps His Promises”

Exodus 33:1-3 (NASB)

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.”

Have you ever had to work with people who were a pain in the neck? Multiply that a thousand and you have the Israelites. The Israelites were an incredibly hard group of people to lead. In fact, they were called an obstinate people. The definition of obstinate, according to the dictionary, is to be “stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.” God had shown them miracle after miracle, mercy after mercy, direction after direction, and they were still so stubbornly stuck in their rebellious ways. 

Before we look down upon the Israelites and their attitude towards God, we need to ask ourselves: Are we that much better? Do we not have our stubborn moments where we refuse to bend to the leading of God, sometimes to the point where something has to break in order for us to start paying attention to Him? Aren’t we also at times so stuck in our ways that we don’t even recognize God’s promptings to change direction? This may be an indictment against Israel, but it definitely speaks to me as well. 

But while this passage is intended to show God’s anger against Israel and His plan to send them away without His presence, what I am amazed by is the overwhelming faithfulness of God. He vows to fulfill the promise that wasn’t even directly given to the Israelites. This promise was given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and yet He chooses to honor it, even though the Israelites have broken covenant with God so many times. God has every right to forsake His covenant with His people, but He chooses not to. He will still honor His covenant to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land. 

When I first became a believer, I made promises to God that I would love Him forever, that I would always seek His face and desire Him above all things. As I’m older now, I don’t make those promises as quickly. Rather, I ask God for His grace to enable me to honor Him in the way I should. I know that I will break those promises and grieve the heart of God, but I am confident in this: God is faithful and full of mercy. God knew from the beginning that we would not be able to uphold our end of the bargain, and thus He has made a way, through Jesus Christ, to once and for all bring us into the promised land of His presence. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. I know that there are so many times in my life that I act stubbornly and resist Your perfect leadership. I recognize my rebellion and I ask for Your mercy to submit to Your lordship. Help me to trust in Your goodness and trust in Your faithfulness. Thank You for Your patience and Your loving kindness towards me. In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 41

Lunch Break Study

Read Numbers 23:19 (NASB): God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Question to Consider

1. What does this verse tell us about the character of God? 

2. Is this particular attribute of God (trustworthiness/faithfulness) something that you believe about God? 

Notes

1. God’s character is different than that of humans. Even though He is often described with human features, He is entirely different than us. This verse tells us that particularly in trustworthiness, God is not to be doubted – what He says will happen will happen and what He does cannot be disputed because He cannot betray His character.  

2. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Are there areas of your life that you are particularly stubborn in? Sometimes those areas are our biggest blind spots. We don’t even think that these areas need change or bend to the will of God. But perhaps God is highlighting something to you through discipline or circumstance. Humble yourself before God and ask Him for His perfect leadership.