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.

October 12, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on September 23, 2018, is provided by Jasmin Izumikawa. Jasmin, a high school English teacher, has long attended Church of Southland in Anaheim.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“He Walks with Me”

John 20:15-16 (When I read John 20, I wonder what Mary Magdalene felt when, upon visiting Jesus’ tomb, found it to be empty.)

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher, in Hebrew).

One of the first classes I taught was an English immersion class. The school called it “Creative Dramatics.” This class consisted of students with minimal to no English proficiency. There was no set curriculum and the only core text recommended for the class came out of a conversational English workbook from the 1980’s. Students sat in scraggly rows, chanting basic conversational English phrases back and forth to each other. It was painfully loud, the lessons were dry, and the students sounded like sad, monotone robots chanting in unison, “Where-is the- library?” “Turn-left, walk down-the- hall, then- turn right.”

A few weeks in, I had just enough. I scribbled the words of Emily Dickinson on a transparency sheet and slapped it on top of a dusty overhead projector. I recited to my students the poem, ‘“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers.”’ Their assignment: Translate the poem into their own native languages. Translations in Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Indonesian began to emerge on pieces of paper. As the days went by, the class would nominate students, calling them out to the front by name to recite the poem in English from memory; for the brief minute they stood there reciting, their peers listened, hungrily. From a classroom of dry, reluctant readers, there was now the presence of thirty-six hungry poets who had breathed new life into Dickinson’s poem. Those words would not mean anything at all if the students could not connect to it, struggle through it, and celebrate it in their own encounters with it first.

Up until the point Jesus appeared before the tomb, Mary Magdalene may have recognized Him only as a teacher. Jesus must have known this, so He says to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God’” (17). It is as though He was saying, “I’m fulfilling what I came to do. Did you forget I am your Savior? I’m always with you, Mary.” She had now encountered Jesus as risen LORD, living God, and her personal Savior. Her life changed completely. Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the LORD!” Then she gave them His message.

The hymnist, C. Austin Miles, who wrote the words to “I come to the garden alone,” celebrates his personal encounter with Jesus. He wrote:

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear,

The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me,

And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

How beautiful, how life-changing, and how exciting is the life that encounters the living God, our loving Savior? His Word is not a lifeless and disconnected book. It is a living promise that beckons you to join Him in the struggle and in the joy of knowing Him personally. Perhaps You have found yourself in a season of spiritual dryness. Have prayers fallen from your lips? Sing to Him and hold onto His words. Let go of your fears and doubts and be reminded, He is always with You, He embraces you, and calls out to you. Maybe today, more than ever, you needed to hear Him call out your name and to walk with Him in the garden alone, to be told you are His. May the LORD bless you and give you the assurance that He is with you.

Prayer: LORD, what an incredible encounter Mary had with You. I want to meet with You in a personal way and walk with You through this life. Your voice is what I want to hear, so open my ears so that I may hear. Thank You for Your assurance that You have never left me. I love You, God! You are so good to me. Soften my heart and help me to let go of my fears and doubts. Breathe life over me with Your words. What have I to fear when You’re right here with me, speaking to me? Thank you, LORD, for being my personal Savior, the living God, our risen King. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 40

October 11, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on August 11, 2018. Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Prophesy!”

Jeremiah 28:5-9

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. 7 Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

Prophesying is a dangerous task. Throughout the Bible, and especially in the Old Testament, we read of people prophesying the word of God and paying dearly for it. Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah often were rejected by the people and faced constant threats and abuse. Proclaiming God’s truth is dangerous, because sometimes the truth is not easy to hear. And when people do not like the message of God, they turn their anger toward to one speaking His words. Prophesying truly is a dangerous task.

Yet, though dangerous, prophesying is a crucial task. Throughout history, God has chosen to speak through His chosen people. He didn’t need to use humans, obviously—God has used literal bushes to send his message through. Yet most of the time He has chosen to speak through people. And now, those who believe in Jesus and are filled with the Spirit are all called to prophesy. When the Spirit first fell on the early church, the Apostle Peter preached to Jerusalem by quoting Joel, “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17). Not many prophesied before Christ, but through the Spirit, all believers can serve as messengers of God. We are all called to this dangerous task. Though we should be careful about preaching painful messages like Jeremiah, we should be listening to the voice of God and be willing to boldly speak the words He gives us.

Unfortunately, in our passage, Hananiah was a false prophet. He avoided the danger of prophecy by prophesying a message of peace, a message that was not from God. But Jeremiah confronted him, by declaring that Hananiah was not sent by God. By sharing only what the people of Israel wanted to hear, Hananiah exposed himself as a fraud.

For us, let’s be a people who are bold to prophesy God’s truth. But how? It starts with God. We can only speak the words of God if we actually share a relationship with Him. We can’t expect to prophesy if we are not actually meeting with God and talking with Him regularly. Prophesy requires intimacy, and from a place of intimacy God speaks to us, that we may turn and proclaim His words. Hananiah likely did not have much of a relationship with God, which was why he spoke lies. But as we draw near to God, He will speak to us. So, let’s draw near to God, and let’s seek to be a people who share His words. Prophesy is dangerous, but it is crucial to the faith of God’s people, and it’s a task that builds Jesus’ church.

Prayer: Lord, help us to be bold enough to speak Your words. We do not want to listen to messages of only comfort and peace, but we want to be challenged; we want to grow. Help us to hear You speaking over us, and give us boldness to share what we hear from You. May You use us to build up your church through prophecy. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 38-39

October 10, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 10, 2010, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus Our Light”

Exodus 25:31-40

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 35 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talentof pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

When we read of the furnishings in the tabernacle of God, we may look at it as monotonous details that really do not pertain to us today. What does an ark, bread, and a lampstand have anything to do with our daily walk with Christ today? On the surface it may not mean much, but if we look back and see the bigger picture, we see what kind of God we worship.

The lampstand was among the most ornate pieces created for use in the tabernacle. Those familiar with modern Judaism would know that the lampstand looked basically like a seven-branched menorah, resembling a tree with the cups at the end of each branch designed to mimic the appearance of almond blossoms with sculpted calyxes (outermost parts of a flower) and flowers (25:31–36). Many scholars believe that God commanded the floral design in order to remind the Israelites of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. This is certainly an appropriate conclusion as true life is found only in the Lord’s presence (Ps. 16:11), and this presence was made manifest in the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–35). Almonds were also a symbol of hope and fruitfulness in the ancient Mediterranean world. So when the priests saw the lampstand these ideas were brought to their minds.

But what symbolic significance did the lampstand have for the people of God?

Jesus is true life, which He offers to all. Whenever light is used in Scripture, it points to the idea of hope, life and joy. In Christ, we no longer live in darkness but we now see with spiritual eyes, and now we can love and serve Him.

We are called to shine for Christ in the world. The world should see the life Christ brings to believers, and they should want to experience this life for themselves.

This should be our desire, that our light would never flicker or grow dim, but to keep shining brightly for Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are the light of the world and You brought life into this world so we could live. May we as Your people continue to shine brightly into this dark and decaying world. Amen!

Bible Reading: Genesis 37

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Peter 3:8-10: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Questions to Consider

What do we learn about the timing of God? What does this mean for you?
What is our hope according to Peter?
What do you feel you are called to do in light of these verses?

Notes

God’s timing is not our timing and He is sovereign over time—we need to be reminded of that truth daily.
Our hope is that the Lord fulfills His promises. He is faithful to His Word, and we are commanded to trust Him.
The Lord is patient because He does not want anyone to perish. It means we are called to be witnesses for Him and to share the Good News to all who hear.

Evening Reflection

Take some time and think about people in your life who do not know Christ. Spend some time praying for their salvation, and that the Lord would also give you boldness to share the Good News to them.

October 9, Thursday

REPOST Todays’ AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on July 2, 2019, is provided by Pastor Ryun.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“It Rains on Everyone—No Exceptions”

Psalm 1:6, 2:7-8

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish . . . 7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

While serving as a youth group leader many years ago, I once asked my students to draw a picture of the parable of the wise and foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27. And I still recall what Fred drew: While the rain fell, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against the house built on sand, the sun was shining from above the house built on rock. Even though I was only a young man at the time, I knew enough to tell Fred that that’s not how life works; neither does faith.

If you haven’t discovered it already from the laboratory of life, God never guaranteed a problem-free life. Recall what David said: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadows of death . . .” However, the LORD did promise to give us sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9) to overcome whatever trial and tribulation that may come our way. It could be a problem quickly (or eventually) fixed (don’t we all wish that) or experiencing “the peace of God that transcends all understanding, . . . guard[ing] our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7)—even though our circumstances remain the same. Why would God do that for us? It’s because we have been adopted as His sons and daughters through faith in Christ! Therefore, He deeply cares for us. For that, we are eternally thankful and grateful!

Can you recall a time when you really felt God’s presence while going through a tough situation in life? What did you learn about Him at that time? My 30s was very disappointing because much that I had planned and hoped for in ministry didn’t materialize. But, during my 40s, while serving as a missionary in Mexico where I had so much fun, I came to see that God prepared me through many disappointments in my 30s so that I could be part of a meaningful and fruitful ministry later; for that, I am so grateful the Lord.

Are your present circumstances quite difficult to bear? Take a moment to see with the “eyes of our heart” (Eph. 1:18) a God who cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

Prayer: Dear God, I praise and thank You in all circumstances, even those that are very difficult because You allow them so that I may not rely on myself but on You. LORD, remind and motivate me to come to You daily for a moment prayer and reflection

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 36

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 17:11-19: On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was this said?

2. Why was this said?

3. What is the subtext to the fact that only the Samaritan (i.e., an outsider) returned to thank Jesus(Mt. 20:16)?

Notes

1. Jesus said it to a leprous Samaritan who returned to thank the Lord for healing him.

2. Because nine other lepers, all Israelites, failed to express gratitude to Jesus for healing them.

3. The Israelites who were supposed to be closer to God had ungrateful (entitled) hearts toward Christ while a man whom the Jews saw as distant from God (being of a mixed race and religion) showed a sensitive heart. This shows that in the spiritual world, the last can be first (when the spirit of humility and gratefulness is embodied) while the first can be last

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on God’s protective presence. Was today more difficult than other days? What happened?

And for Lunch Break Study, we dealt with the matter of gratitude. Honestly assessing your life, do you find yourself thanking God more or complaining about your life? What is keeping you from being grateful to Him? What will help you to become more grateful?How about recalling our miserable existence before coming to Christ; not measuring ourselves with others who appear to have more on the outside. Anyway, as you start the new month, can you think of anything that you can be thankful for right now?