May 27, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 27, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

Psalm 116:1-19
I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. 2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” 5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed, even when I spoke: “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.” 12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

It is so important for us to remember what the Lord has done for us; not only this, but that He is our only deliverer and help in time of need.  In today’s psalm, the writer, while meditating on the matter of God’s deliverance, doesn’t merely conceptualize God as a theoretical deliverer (i.e., head knowledge that God delivers his people); instead, he dwells on his experiential knowledge of having been personally delivered by God in the past.

Many times, we are overtaken by the circumstances of life because we forget that God is our help. We do this because we fail to realize and/or remember the ways God has delivered us in the past. Those who are in Christ are promised the Holy Spirit who is our Helper. Therefore we know that God has been our help throughout our lives. 

Do you know God as your help and deliverer? Are your current circumstances overtaking or overwhelming you? Remember the ways God has pulled through in the past. Meditate not merely on the theological truth but your experiential knowledge of His faithfulness to you in the past. Acknowledge what He has done and in so doing allow your soul to return to the rest the Lord promises. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all that You have done in my life even though I, in my sinful nature, continue to forget it.  Thank You for Your abiding grace and mercy. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 8

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 (NIV): But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to have treasure in jars of clay? 
  2. How should this reality help us when we face difficult circumstances? 
  3. What is our motivation for persevering? 

Notes

  1. The treasure is the “knowledge of the glory of God” – the Gospel message we carry and God’s spirit of truth within us. We are the clay jars. God chooses to house his precious treasure in broken fallen human beings so that, as He works through us, it will be evident to all that God is at work, not us. 
  2. The following verses tell how Paul and the other believers may face all kinds of trials, but they are not despairing or hopeless. No matter how difficult circumstances are, they know the Gospel – that God has delivered them through Christ! And because He has done this, they know He will continue to do so. (“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32)
  3. We know that God is our deliverer – He delivered us through Christ and will deliver us in fullness when Christ returns. Because we know this, we persevere when things are difficult. We continue to preach the word of God, declare His glory, and believe His promises. Our God has delivered us in the past and will deliver us still! 

Evening Reflection

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) 

God gave us the greatest gift imaginable in Jesus Christ. He delivered us from the most difficult and seemingly hopeless situation possible (separation from Him because of sin). How much more will He provide for our daily needs? How much more will He carry us through difficult circumstances? Are you in need of God’s help and deliverance today?  Spend some time offering up your needs to Him in faith that He will graciously give all things. 

May 26, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on May 26, 2013.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Cry of Every Heart”

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV)

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 

The Psalmist wrote these words in a time of great turmoil and personal pain.  Many scholars believe that this psalm was written during the time of the exile.  Since the temple had been destroyed, worshiping the LORD there was no longer possible.  Where can I go and meet with God?  We can sense the Psalmist’s anguish and despair.  And we are confronted by this question: do I love God this much?  Do I love him even when he seems distant?  Will I desire him even when it seems that he has forgotten me?

The more I read these words, the more I am challenged and humbled by them.  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  Do I desire God this much?  Am I desperate for his presence? 

In comparison to the impassioned cry of the Psalmist, sometimes I feel nothing.  Surely the answer is self-evident.  But then, to my surprise, when I search deep within, the answer is….yes!  I do desire the presence of God in my life.  I would not want to live life without it.  There is nothing greater.  You see, this is the cry of every heart, whether we recognize that cry or not.  We were created for a relationship with God.  We may try to deny this but that won’t stop our hearts from crying out for him.

And even more wondrous…our God wants this even more than we do.  His desire is that we would love him not with part of our hearts, but with all of our hearts . . . just as he loves us.

Jesus told us, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).  Let us go before God and ask for his presence today.  It may be difficult to pray with passion first thing in the morning, but it’s okay.  It’s not about how much feeling we put into our prayer, but allowing our hearts to express their need for God. 

Prayer: Father, I need Your presence with me today.  I want to be where You are.  Open my eyes so that I might see where You are working around me.  Heal my heart so that it is no longer torn in different directions.  May I love You with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my strength, and all of my mind!  In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Revelation 3:14-20 (NIV): “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Questions to Consider

  1. Read verse 15.  What are some possible interpretations of being cold and hot? 
  2. In what ways, had the church in Laodicea become lukewarm (verse 17)?
  3. How does Jesus counsel the Laodicean church to escape the fate of being spit out of his mouth?

Notes

  1. There are three common biblical interpretations of neither cold nor hot:
  • They are figures of speech meaning “hate me/against me” (cold) or “love me/for me” (hot)
  • In Old Testament wisdom literature, hot and cold related to a person’s self-control.  To be hot-tempered was considered negatively (Proverbs 15:18) while coolness was a positive (Proverbs 17:27 – see the NASB for a literal translation.
  • Archaeologists have given us an interesting insight into this verse.  The water supply of Laodicea apparently came via an aqueduct from hot water springs five miles north.  By the time the water arrived it was lukewarm.  In contrast to the medicinal qualities of hot springs, or the refreshing quality of cold drinking water, lukewarm water is neither good for bathing nor drinking.  To be neither cold nor hot but instead lukewarm, means to be ineffective in one’s purpose.

Of these three explanations, the last is the most convincing to me.  It is unclear how “hating Jesus” would be preferable to being lukewarm (explanation 1), or why Jesus would want hot temperedness (explanation 2).  In the language of the Gospel of John, Jesus desires for us to be fruitful.

  1. The Laodicean Christians had lost their sense of dependence upon God.  Instead of recognizing that they were “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”, they thought that they were “rich”, “wealthy” and did not need a thing.  Jesus’s description of the Laodicean church seems best understood figuratively.  The Laodicean church thought it was spiritually rich and lacked nothing.  Spiritual pride and self-satisfaction seem to be the major cause of lukewarm-ness.
  2. Jesus counsels the church to turn to him to be restored.  Only Jesus can clothe the naked, open the eyes of the blind and give gold refined in the fire.  How does this happen?  In verse 19-20, Jesus gives the wonderful picture of him standing at the door and knocking.  God desires to be with us!  We have only to open our hearts to let him in!

Evening Reflection

What would Jesus say to our churches?  What would Jesus say to us?  Are we hot or cold for Jesus, or are we lukewarm?  Have we made our hearts and lives available to Jesus for his usage, or have we become complacent?  The good news is that Jesus doesn’t ask us to do this alone.  Indeed, the definition of being lukewarm here is to live without Jesus.  Jesus is waiting for us to open our doors to him.  Let him enter!

Tonight, let us confess the wayward way in which that our hearts have grown complacent and lukewarm.  Ask Jesus to change the way you sometimes see yourself, that is, feeling “rich” apart from Jesus.  Let us journal all the ways that we can see our need for him.

May 25, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional was first posted on July 15, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Motive”

Jonah 4:10-11

And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Yesterday, we saw that God’s motive in appointing the fish, the plant, and the worm was to reveal what was in Jonah’s heart: being concerned only with his own comfort and a sense of revenge while oblivious to how God felt for the lost. Today, we will finish our examination of the book of Jonah by looking at God’s second motive.

Here, God states plainly that Jonah had such pity (or compassion) on a plant that appeared and disappeared in one night even though he had nothing to do with it: It was something so minor and fleeting. Then God turns the tables and asks Jonah why He shouldn’t have the same compassion for Nineveh that was filled with thousands upon thousand who were clueless.

In this, we find the greatest of Jonah’s sin.  As a prophet of God, his task was revealing God’s message, desire, and character. Yet, concerning the city of Nineveh, Jonah did none of these joyfully. He ran away, questioned God’s mercy, and would rather die than relent before God. The call of God to let Him be known and to know Him was broken (by a prophet no less).

God’s desire for Jonah is for us as well: He wants us to know Him and to express that knowledge to the world. This heart of God is  consistent throughout Scripture.  As people who have a prophetic call, as indicated in Acts 2:17, “In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,” we have been commissioned to know God and to make Him known.  His heart is not to destroy the wicked, but to see them repent. This is what He revealed in sparing Nineveh, and like Jonah, God is persistently asking us to go wherever He calls us to speak what He places in our mouths.

Prayer: God, I say “yes” to Your calling. Reveal more of yourself to me. Empower me to reflect You to the world.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 6

Lunch Break Study

Re-read the passage for this morning’s devotion.

Matthew 28:18-20: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does verse 10 in this morning’s text reveal about Jonah?
  2. What does verse 11 in this morning’s text reveal about God?
  3. How does the Jonah text add to our understanding of the Great Commission?

Notes

  1. Jonah showed compassion and pity for the plant that benefitted him, but his heart didn’t reflect God’s heart of compassion because of his indifference to the fate of the Ninevites. 
  2. Despite Nineveh’s great sins, God had great compassion on them. This reveals that God has compassion even on those who sin.
  3. God’s desire isn’t for us to only share the Good News of the gospel, but also to have the heart of God for the lost and to proclaim the News that reflects it.

Evening Reflection

As we wrap up the story of Jonah, we are confronted with our own heart, just as he was. The Word of the Lord came to us to arise and “go and make disciples,” even to people who seem undeserving. Tonight, ask the Lord to reveal the person to whom you need to share the gospel with. Pray that He would reveal His heart and desire that your heart would be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May 24, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 11, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Qualities Would You Look for in a New Pastor?”

Malachi 2:1-2

And now, you priests, this warning is for you. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me.’”

Imagine that after moving to a new city, you are looking for a church pastored by someone whom you approve.  So what criteria should you use to find such a pastor?    Pastor Jim Cymbala told a story of a “successful” pastor who, after hearing his talk on church being the house of prayer, said to him, “I could not have a real prayer meeting in my church.  I’d be embarrassed at the smallness of the crowd. . . . I can only get them for a one-hour service and that only once a week.”  For people looking for a short service, this is the right church.  

This pastor and the priests in Malachi have one thing in common, which is aptly captured by Prophet Micah: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace’” (3:5).  The priests said nothing to correct the people who brought defective animals for sacrifice.  Why?   Did they get a kickback?  The pastor just went along with whatever people wanted: No prayer meeting since people didn’t want it; one-hour service so people could go home to root for their favorite football team.  A smart move since they pay his salary.

Choose your pastor wisely because he can greatly affect the course of your life.  Choose a pastor who fears and honors God more than the approval of man.  After that, consider qualities such as the soundness of doctrine as well as character, preaching ability, erudition, etc.  Once you have found him, stay with him, even if it means turning down the promotion that will move you to another state, because having the right pastor in your life is that important. 

As we looked for a church after moving to Mexico, I didn’t look for a pastor who was a dynamic preacher; rather a man who feared God and was a man of integrity.   After finding such a pastor, we attended his church for 8 years before returning to the States.  We were so blessed to have a pastor who cared and prayed for us.  Maybe that’s why I still pray for him.  Pray for your pastor this morning.     

Prayer: Dear God, I thank You this morning for having placed my pastor in my life because he has been an amazing blessing to me.  Renew his mind and fill him with the Holy Spirit daily so that he can continue to represent You and Your word to us.  Keep him in good health and keep his family safe.  May you continue to maintain in him a heart that fears God more than any man!   Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 20:26-7 (ESV): “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

Judge Samuel speaking about his responsibility for people in 1 Sam. 12:23 (ESV): “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.”

The apostle Paul describes the character of Pastor Timothy in Phil. 2:20-2 (ESV): “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Paul mean by, “I am innocent of the blood of all,” in light of his statement in Acts 20:27?
  2. Based on Samuel’s statement, what are some main responsibilities of a spiritual leader?
  3. According to Paul’s description of the character of Pastor Timothy, what traits are important in a

pastor?

Notes

  1. It means that Paul declared to people every aspect of God’s word, even those parts that may be offensive and demanding, so that none can say to God on Judgment Day that their disobedience was a result of not knowing God’s will because Paul didn’t teach it correctly or taught selectively.  
  2. Among other pastoral duties, two are underscored here: praying for people whose souls you are held accountable and instructing people the “good and the right way,” which is equivalent to “declaring . . . the whole counsel of God.”
  3. A person who genuinely cares for people and is not given to selfishness, a man who preaches the gospel. 

Evening Reflection

Do you have anyone whom you pastor?  Someone you care about, particularly his (her) spiritual life?   If not, pray for such a person so you can share God’s blessing.  Wrap up your day with a prayer.

May 23, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is an updated version of AMI QT Devotional first posted on August 7, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Deeper Understanding”

Luke 2:49-51

“And he said to them, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”

What would it have been like for Virgin Mary to carry a baby—the Son of God—in her womb, conceived by the Holy Spirit?  What were her thoughts seeing that his birth was testified by low-class shepherds and blessed by humble, yet godly people like Simeon and Anna the prophetess?  Was she cognizant of the significance of all these?  Her prayer indicates that she did.  Yet constantly we are told that certain obvious truths were hidden from Mary.  

Why was there such tension for Mary?  Maybe we need to ponder long enough like Mary and wonder what it’s all about?  There is so much with God and His kingdom beyond what our average mind can conceive and only through His Spirit are we able to know and understand.  

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the spirit of revelation that God may open my mind and heart. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Ps. 119:18).  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 4

May 22, Saturday

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Young Kim of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia, was originally posted on June 17, 2013.  Young is a graduate of University of Illinois (BS), Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Westminster Theological Seminary (MA). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Cheerful Heart”

Proverbs 17:10, 12, 14, 19, 22, 25 

“A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool” (v.17); “Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly” (v.12); “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out” (v.14); “He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction” (v.19);  “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (v.22); “A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him” (v.25).

A cheerful heart is good medicine. We need more people who have joy in their hearts—a cheerful heart that is not dependent upon circumstances, but on their identity in Christ.  

Life is not easy, but in Christ we can find joy even in times of difficulties.  Ask Jesus for a cheerful heart so you can be a good medicine to yourself and others today. 

At any rate, let’s consider these questions: What has brought joy into your heart lately? What is crushing your spirit? List them in your journal.  Spend time writing a prayer that surrenders your heavy heart and ask our Heavenly Father for a heart of joy.  Here are some verses to help you write out that prayer.

Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  

1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Prayer: Lord, teach me your ways. Show me your presence so that my heart may be filled with joy. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Ezekiel 2-3

May 21, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 27, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“One Book We All Have but Won’t Read”

Psalm 19:7-8, 10

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

Americans love self-help books, especially those that offer quick and easy steps to lose weight or make money.  Be that as it may, most readers know that unless these ideas are put into practice, nothing will happen.  Many do try them out only to find that either they don’t work, or the result doesn’t last.  

God’s law, precepts, and commands, however, have the opposite problem. While they offer enduring truths that can change our eternal destinies and transform our character, many people will never find out because they do not put them into practice.  

Is your soul weary in need of revival? Are you repeatedly making unwise choices? Are your eyes dim and your hearts sad?  Then, read and study God’s word, which is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey!  Earnestly ask the LORD to give you the strength and willingness to put His truths into practice.

In closing, remember that while the Bible is the bestseller of all time, it often collects dust in our homes because we simply won’t read it. It’s God’s love letter to us; we should read it!      

Prayer: Dear LORD, today I’m re-minded of the great worth of Your eternal word. A sad truth is that I find myself perusing the internet to read about the latest gossip and how my favorite player did. While they do nothing to enrich my soul, I often neglect to read the one book that can.  God, forgive me for this negligence and empower me to prioritize Your word in my life.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13:For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Questions to Consider

1. Those trying to discredit the Bible do so to destroy its primary premise: what is it and why is it important?

2. What is one reason why we aren’t that affected by God’s word even if we may read or hear it (Lk. 8:14, 11:38-40)?

3. What will improve our comprehension of the Bible and how often we read it (Heb 5:11-14, 6:1-2; Mk. 1:34)?

Notes

1. A character playing the role of a Bible critic in The Da Vanci Code says, “The Bible is aproduct of man . . . not God.”  As evidenced by this, what the Bible critics are trying to discredit is this: the Bible is the word of God, not of men. Once you lose that, then the Bible is no longer authoritative. 

2. We allow our distractions and worries to so preoccupy us that while we hear, we don’t really listen; while we read, we don’t really focus. We really need to discipline ourselves to block out distraction while hearing or reading God’s word so that the truth can help us to better handle our worries and anxieties.

3. First, the lazy learners may need a stern rebuke, which is what Heb. 5:11-14 amounts to; second, the comprehension level will stay the same as long as we settle for easy truths and elementary teachings.  Just as muscle growth is a result of muscular tension, the growth of our mind will be a result of tension produced from thinking through the profundity of God’s word.  As for reading it regularly, we must make it a priority and a habit; so do it when we are unhurried (like early in the morning before the busyness of the day begins) and preferably at a same designated place.         

Evening Reflection

Hebrews 12:10: God disciplines us for our own good.

Don’t look down on the disciples for acting like babies when they saw Jesus walking on the water.  What would have been your response if you, worn out and hungry from hours of rowing against a strong wind, saw a figure walking on the water in darkness?  Probably sheer terror!  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Oh, what a relief that was, but the worst had not yet come.  The thrill of Peter’s brief stroll on the water was quickly offset when Jesus, while reaching out to save him, said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mat. 14:31).   If the wet guy, who at least had stepped outside the boat, was deemed to be of little faith, what about the dry guys who stayed in the boat (zero faith)?  Peter sank because he took his eyes off Jesus, and instead, focused on the wind, which made him fearful (Mat. 14:30).  Jesus’ point is clear: Apart from me, you can’t do anything!  Until you learn that lesson, I need to discipline you for your own good so that you can absolutely trust me.  I hope this study of God’s word opened your spiritual eyes!     

May 20, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on April 22, 2013.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Prayer of ‘Impatient’ Person”

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.

I am by nature not the most patient person.   I am like that proverbial man who prayed, “Lord, give me patience and I need it now!”  Whenever I am in the grocery store, I automatically scan the lines to run an algorithm through my mind to compute the waiting time for each line based on factors as such, the number of people, grocery items, whether they have a check book ready, and the alertness of the cashier!   Now you can see why this prayer can be very challenging to someone like me.

Sometimes, a literal rendering gives a better feel for the passage and that is the case here.   My seminary professor translated this passage as, “To wait, I waited for the Lord,” or “waiting, I waited for the Lord.”  Eugene Peterson, in the Message, translates it as, “I waited and waited and waited for God.  At last he looked; finally, he listened.”   Here, Peterson’s rendering gives a different look at David’s prayer.  Perhaps he wasn’t waiting patiently at all if by patience we mean a serene, trust-filled waiting!   Giving credence to that view is what David does later in Psalm 40: he cries out, saying, “Come quickly to save me” (v.13) and “Do not delay!” (v.17). Here, David’s prayer, while it is intense and desperate, does not evoke a sense of patience. 

Of course, Psalm 40 does not teach us to be impatient, for being patient is a very good thing.  But the Psalmist also shows us that waiting for God’s timing, at times, is difficult for us to bear mainly because of the urgency of our situations.   And yet, like the Psalmist, let us continue to pray and hope in God.   As we cry out like the Psalmist, we will find that there is peace available in God.  

Are you patient or impatient in your prayers?  Keep praying!  God is listening.  

Prayer: Father, I ask that you forgive my impatience.  Help me to trust in your timing for all things.  I thank you that you hear my prayers.  Help me to remain faithful in my prayers, knowing that you are faithful in all that you do.  In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 22

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

Questions to Consider

  1. The first word in verse 22 is “but”.  What is Paul contrasting the fruit of the Spirit with (c.f. verses 19-21)?
  2. Is there significance to Paul’s use of the singular “fruit” vs. plural “fruits”?  Is there one fruit of the Spirit or nine fruits of the Spirit?
  3. If we are seeking patience (amongst other things), how does Paul tell us to go about getting it?

Notes

  1. Paul is contrasting the fruit that comes from the Spirit with acts of the sinful nature, such as “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.”  While we are prone to such acts, the Spirit works in us to produce an entirely different fruit.  There is a further contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and living under the Law (verse 18).  
  2. Scholars have debated among three main options:
  • Paul was being imprecise in his grammar; in other words, he meant fruits.
  • The fruit of the Holy Spirit is a nine-fold fruit.
  • There is one fruit of the Holy Spirit, namely love.  All the other “fruits” mentioned are aspects of love.  

Most scholars have supported the final option for grammatical, logical and scriptural reasons (see 1 Peter 4:8-10; Romans 12:9,10; 13:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 13; 14:1).  As one writer put it: “Joy is love singing, peace is love resting, patience is love enduring, kindness is love sharing, goodness is love’s character, faithfulness is love’s habit, gentleness is love’s touch, and self-control is love in charge.”

3. Love, joy, peace, patience and other virtues are called fruit of the Spirit because they are the products of the Spirit’s work within us.  We cannot try to become more patient; we can only seek more of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work within us so that we will become more patient.  Patience, along with other fruits, is the product of living in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.  Living by the Holy Spirit is contrasted with living under the Law and living under human nature.  We are not to be legalistic or carnal but submit our hearts and wills to the Spirit of God.

Evening Reflection

Think over the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23.  Praise God that he is working in us to produce such fruit!  When we submit our hearts to the Holy Spirit, we are able to love as God loves.  Indeed, submission to the Holy Spirit will do what the Mosaic Law was unable to do: make us obey the spirit of the Mosaic Law, which is love (Gal 5:14).  Our focus then is not on trying to become more loving, joyful, peaceful, and patient but rather on surrendering our lives to the Holy Spirit.  

Where are you lacking?  In our journals today, let us ask the Holy Spirit for his transformation.  Confess and submit your areas of weakness and ask for the Spirit to fill you with more of God’s love.  

May 19, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on December 20, 2014.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

“Are You Teachable?”

Proverbs 27:5-6

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

When I was a teenager, I played Little League baseball.  One of the great lessons I learned from playing team sports is that you have to be willing to be corrected (rebuked) to improve, but also to be accountable to the team.  Some of the corrections my coaches and fellow players gave were harsh at times, but I knew it was for the betterment of the team and myself.  

In these verses, the writer also points out that we all need rebuke (and we need to rebuke others) at times in order to grow and learn.  The “wounds of a friend” means that they are inflicted with good purpose and correction and should be considered trustworthy. As we have been learning through Proverbs, this also is the way to wise living.  Biblical love always looks to promote Christ-centered living even if that means correcting others through rebuke and correction.  

Examine the friendships and relationships that you currently have.  Do you have people that can speak into your life in love that will help you strive more towards godliness?  This is also why spiritual community is vital.  Get involved in your small group ministry and ask the Lord for these types of friendship in your life.  

I want to close with the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in this book about community called, Life Together:

“Reproof (rebuke) is unavoidable. God’s Word demands it when a brother falls into open sin.  We must know that it is not our human love, which makes us loyal to the other person, but God’s love, which breaks its way through to him only through judgment. Just because God’s Word judges, it serves the person. He who accepts the ministry of God’s judgment is helped.”

So, are you teachable?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for people in my life that have corrected me to help me grow as a person and a disciple.  I pray that others would have people in their lives who can also provide constructive correction and rebuke.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today:  Revelation 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 3:12-16: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the apostle Paul dealing with in this passage?
  2. What is difference between justification and sanctification?
  3. Do we have a role in sanctification?

Notes

  1. In this passage, Paul is referring to the sanctification of believers.  
  2. Whereas justification is the right standing before God that was established through Christ’s work on the cross, sanctification is the continuing process by which the Holy Spirit forms the perfect sinless image of Christ in our lives.  This is a process that began when we came to know Christ personally and will be completed on the day of His second coming (Phil. 1:6).
  3. One might think that since it is God who is working out our sanctification, we don’t have to do anything and we can passively go through life doing whatever we want and God will take care of the rest. Paul calls such thinking immature!  Fully understanding the sanctification process in a believer’s life, Paul was very active in seeking Christ-likeness in his own life (“press on” v.12, 14; “straining forward” v.13).

Evening Reflection

Psalms 95:6: “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”

Thank you, Lord, for revealing yourself to me.  I love thinking about you as my Maker who has an unfathomable and unending love for your people.  You knew me since the foundation of time and even while I was in my mother’s womb. You fashioned me with your mind and heart and love, giving me a plan and a purpose to live in fellowship with you and for your glory. Your love runs deep and touches my very core.   And you open my eyes to truly see your glory through your creation, for you have created nature, people and community through your magnificent power. Yet you are a God who lives in me, and you have always been there since I turned my heart to you.  Amen.

Tonight, as you begin communing with God, freely ask him, “What were your thoughts about me when you formed me in my mother’s womb?”   And declare his magnificent attributes!

*By Pastor David Alas (posted on September 22, 2013); by Pastor Bruce Yi (posted on September 22, 2013)

May 18, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional was first posted on July 3, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“I Don’t Really Believe Anything”

Jonah 1:7-9

And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

One of my greatest regrets occurred as a freshman in high school. It was one of those days when we had no work, so my classmates and I were just talking, and the topic of conversation turned to religion.  One by one people began to share what they believed. Since we grew up in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood, the answers were similar: “Catholic, but I don’t really believe.” As it grew closer to my turn, I felt all my years of attending church fade away, and I heard the words, “I don’t really believe anything,” flow out of my mouth.

He is the LORD!

He is the LORD!

This is the point where Jonah, confronted with the questioning eyes of the sailors and the reality of God, relents from denying God and running away.

When we’re confronted with questions about our faith, especially if things seem stormy around us, how will we respond? Will we deny God as I did, or will we stand firm and declare our faith in the God who reigns?

Like Jonah, we need to realize how relentless God is in pursuing us. We need to see how real He is. It is then that we can find the ability to declare our faith in the God of heaven to those around us.

Prayer: God, help me to see how real You are. Give me the power to stand firm in my faith. Strengthen me to declare how glorious You are with every opportunity that comes my way. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 20

Lunch Break Study

Re-read the passage for this morning’s devotion.  Read also 1 John 4:14-15:

 “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Why did the sailors cast lots at this time?
  2. What was significant about Jonah’s answer to the sailors?
  3. In light of the 1 John 4:14-15 passage, what is our testimony to those who ask?

Notes

  1. Casting lots was the practice of divination similar to the rolling of the dice or using a magic 8 ball. At this time, the sailors didn’t know who to blame for the storm, so they cast lots to determine guilt.
  2. Jonah’s answer went to the heart of the matter. He revealed that it was YAHWEH who was responsible for the storm, and that God had dominion over the heavens, the earth, and the seas.  
  3. Our testimony is the pursuit of God for us in the sending of Jesus because of His love.

Evening Reflection

Have there been moments where you had the opportunity to share your faith and didn’t? Was it fear or doubt that hindered you? Tonight, let’s ask that the reality of God’s pursuit over us will strengthen us in boldness to share our faith.