August 30, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on March 6, 2015; it has been updated. Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Our Illegitimate Desires”

1 Samuel 12:17-25 (ESV)

Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king.” 18 So Samuel called upon the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. 19 And all the people said to Samuel, “Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask for ourselves a king.” 20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.” 

In the course of life, it is important to realize that not every request that we make before God is actually legitimate or even good for us.  As a father of two children, I have had to deny many unwise and unhealthy requests, ranging from eating candy for breakfast to using all of their savings for video games.  Obviously, as a parent I have a clearer understanding of the long term effects of present decisions, so while they are young, my responsibility is to help my kids make good choices in life.  However, there will be a time when I will have to let them loose, allowing them to make their own decisions as well as live with the consequences.  It frightens me to some degree, but this is a natural part of growing up.  

In relation to our illegitimate desires, God can go one of two ways: He can either choose not to answer the request and save us from a painful mistake, or He can answer the request and let us deal with the consequences, with the hopes that we learn from the eventual fall out.  Either way, God wishes the best for his children, and His goodness certainly cannot be questioned in whatever decision we make.  

The miracle described in this passage is a frightening reminder that we must live with the consequences of our daily choices.  In this particular scenario, the Lord waits until the day of the wheat harvest to bring a storm with thunder and lightning.   Not only is this a case of unseasonal weather, it would have destroyed the wheat and significantly reduced the harvest.  In their desire to have an earthly king, the Israelites lost sight of what they would lose.  They failed to recognize that the society and their own lives would eventually suffer under the reign of human rulers.  However, in the midst of this sign of judgment, Samuel offers them the assurance that God will never forsake them.  As believers, this is our confidence as well.  Though we sin and face the consequences of our actions, the Lord will continue to love us and promises to never leave us.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that Your ways are higher than our ways, and that You know ultimately what is best.    Place a heart of trust within us so that we can live a life of obedience, even when things don’t make sense.  Also, give us wisdom and discernment so that we would know what to ask of You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Matthew 9

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:5-8 (NIV): If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

Questions to Consider

  1. Why is praying for wisdom so important to the Christian life? 
  2. What does it mean to ask for wisdom in faith?
  3. How are wisdom, faith, and prayer connected?  

Notes

  1. Every Christian will go through difficult times, and only the wisdom of God will provide the divine vision and perspective to help us through.  More than silver and gold, the person who desires wisdom will flourish and grow during the trials of life.   
  2. It is important to discern wisdom that comes from man versus the wisdom of God.  Secular wisdom can be helpful in certain situations, but only the wisdom that comes from God, which is a gift, is able to help us deal with spiritual matters.
  3. There is a close connection between faith, prayer, and wisdom. The person who asks for the wisdom of God has to have faith.  Wisdom, then allows that person to persevere and grow in their faith.  Therefore, both wisdom and faith grow together feeding into one another.  Growth in wisdom is to understand that everything of faith is from God. Prayer is the means by which we exercise our faith by asking for this divine wisdom over and against other worldly things that we may desire.  

Evening Reflection

When is the last time you asked for the wisdom of God in faith?  What were some wise decisions that you have recently made?  What were some foolish choices in the recent past and the consequences of those decisions?  Reflect on the story of Solomon who asked for wisdom and a discerning mind instead of riches and fame from 1 Kings 3.            

August 29, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on April 25, 2015, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary.  He and his wife just planted an English-speaking church in Tokyo. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

2 Samuel 5:1-5 (ESV)

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. [2] In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” [3] So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. [4] David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. [5] At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

As a sophomore in college, I was already eager to graduate.  This was partially because I was eager to work and make money and partially because I thought I would then be done with school forever (God is funny in His providence).  In my naiveté, I imagined graduation would be the time when I finally “made it” and I could reap the benefits of my labor.  It was all very self-centered.

In our passage this morning, David is finally experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promises to him.  David is to be king and prince over Israel.  The time of running for his life and living in caves is (presumably) over!  Now David can enjoy a life of power, prestige, and wealth.  But is that all?

See, David is not only called to be prince, but he is also called to be shepherd.  Jesus tells us in John 10:11 that “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  David’s blessings are not meant to benefit him alone, but they are given for the sake of the sheep.  David ascends to the throne, he enjoys a lengthy and prosperous reign, and he is favored by God, not for the sake of his own legacy but that he might be a greater blessing to the people of Israel.

Not only does success equip David for his shepherding ministry, but also hardship.  The many years of wandering and waiting gave David a compassionate heart.  He was a man who knew what a shepherd was meant to be – one who would give rest, lead, and comfort the sheep (Psalm 23).

So often we see success and hardship only in regards to how it benefits us.  The noblest way we interpret our circumstances is how they are maturing us or drawing us nearer to God.  Of course, we were made to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but it rarely occurs to us that God may be shaping and reshaping us that we might be more effective at loving and caring for others.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for every blessing and every hardship.  May Your blessings draw me into greater thanksgiving and worship.  May I freely give away to others what I have received from You.  May every hardship purify my heart and make me more able to sympathize with others and shepherd them into Your presence and likeness.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 8

August 28, Saturday

UPDATEDToday’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on August 19, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

Luke 6:1-11

On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” 6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus is the “Lord of the Sabbath” (v. 5).  Sabbath means “rest,” which implies that God gave the Sabbatical law so that His people could experience the true rest that could only come from God.  

After Adam broke the covenant, life on this earth was cursed and “painful toil” was necessary in order to live and have our needs met (Gen. 3:17).  However, Jesus came and invited people to enter into His rest: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).  Since Jesus is the “Lord of the Sabbath,” apart from him, there is no true rest; He is the only One who can give us the rest that we need.  Just thinking about today’s schedule can be overwhelming to some of us.  We need to pray that despite such busy schedules we can still find rest in Him.

Furthermore, rest means that we do not have to do anything; however, someone needs to work so that we can respite. It is God who works in Christ to provide something “good” for us – that is, His saving grace and healing, according to today’s passage.  

We are able to experience true rest because God provides us manna on Friday (i.e., crucifixion) that would not go stale when the new Sabbath comes (i.e., Sunday when Jesus arose from the dead).  David’s action foreshadowed what Jesus Christ, the Son of David, would come to do.  David was not a priest, yet “he entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat.  And he also gave some to his companions” (v. 4).  Jesus the Son of David is the Great High Priest who does not follow the line of the Levitical priesthood.  

We, as His disciples, are invited as “companions” to enter, not just the Holy Place, but the Most Holy Place where we are able to encounter the Lord of the Sabbath.  And in that place, we are nourished and our souls are refreshed.  Based on today’s passage, what should you be seeking during the Sunday worship, as you desire to enter into God’s rest?  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the true rest You have provided for us in your Son Christ.  Thank You that Your Son did all the “heavy lifting” in order that we may obtain peace with God (Rom. 5:1) through His atoning sacrifice.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 6-7 

August 27, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 18, 2013.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Why We Ought to Be So Grateful”

Psalm 7:11-13, 17

God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day. 12 If he doesn’t relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow 13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;  he makes ready his flaming arrows . . .  17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

This Psalm surely doesn’t correspond well to how God is perceived today!  But this is who He is: a righteous Judge whose holiness will not tolerate the godlessness and wicked-ness of men (Rom.1:18).  God must punish them and He already did, by making Christ “who had no sin to be sin for us” (1 Cor. 5:21) so that He would die for “sins once for all, to bring [the unrighteous] to God” (1 Pet. 3:18).  

It was Christ who was cut with the sword and pierced with arrows. Without knowing or understanding all that God was going to do, David thanked God; how much more should we thank Christ, having already been redeemed by His atoning sacrifice.

Life is never perfect, for we have problems; some more than others. But in view of this awesome God, who loves us much, let’s start the day by worshiping Him.  

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: Matthew 5

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Sam. 9:1-11: David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They summoned him to appear before David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” “At your service,” he replied. 3 The king asked, “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?” Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.” 4 “Where is he?” the king asked. Ziba answered, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.” 5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel. 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “At your service,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s steward, and said to him, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table.” (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) 11 Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s[a] table like one of the king’s sons.

Questions to Consider

  1. What do suppose Mephibosheth was thinking upon being summoned by King David? 
  2. What happened to Mephibosheth instead?
  3. Why did David do this(1 Sam. 20:12-7)?  In what way does this parallel the way God has graced us?  

Notes

  1. Since Mephibosheth knew that his grandfather Saul had tried to kill David on numerous occasions, he probably expected the worst.
  2. The grandson of Saul was incredibly graced by David!  It wasn’t as if Mephibosheth was going to serve a useful purpose for David since he was lame!  So overwhelmed was Jonathan’s son that he saw himself as a dead dog who absolutely had no merit to receive anything good from the king of the land. 
  3. David did this not for the sake of Mephibosheth, but for his father, Jonathan, with whom he made a covenant.  David promised that he would not cut off his kindness from the friend’s family!  The parallel is this: God made a covenant with Abraham that all peoples on earth will be blessed through the Seed of Abraham (Gn. 12:3), the Son of David (Rom. 1:4), Jesus Christ! God being the righteous judge cuts both ways: while His holiness requires the punishment of sins, His righteousness “makes” Him a promise keeper!  We the undeserved, like Mephibosheth, receive all the benefits of that covenant without working for it. Now that’s amazing grace!

Evening Reflection

We humans get bored easily and take good things for granted.  Perhaps you and I are guilty of that.  How have you been in your walk with the Lord?  Are you still living in awe of this salvation?  Or have you been taking God and what He did for granted?  We can live an entire day without being reminded of how awesome salvation is. Reflect on that and write a note of thanks to Christ.

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