REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on August  17, 2018. Christine serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Walking on Hard Paths”

Jeremiah 26:20-23 

Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. ²¹ When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt. ²² King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. ²³ They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)

A couple years back, I was on a serving team that hoped to establish presence on a new campus. We had a handful of members who attended, but in the end, it seemed (to me) like “negative ministry.” We started with a dozen students in the beginning, but we said goodbye to nearly all of them by the end as some of them chose to go to other churches or move away (some stopped going to church altogether). It was an extremely discouraging experience; for a long time, I would often look back and mourn how pitiful the outcome seemed compared to the time we spent preparing, praying, and reaching out. 

Uriah’s story is a strange one compared to Jeremiah’s. He also is commissioned to be a prophet and is given (presumably) the same unpopular message to preach. Unlike Jeremiah, Uriah received no earthly favor, and he was killed for his ministry. He did not know how God used him (and we do not either, from this passage). If we were to measure Uriah’s life by his lack of impact and his ultimate death, it would be tragic and unfortunate. However, God, who knows and permits all things, allowed the course of his life to be shaped this way.

Most (if not all) of us want to be people whose lives have purpose, influence, and outcome. We all mourn when our efforts seem to result in little fruit. Uriah’s entire life is summed up in three verses in someone else’s book. Is it possible that God is still glorified by his life?

In faith, we believe so. We believe that God remembers all work done in His name and that our reward comes at the end. We believe that our victory is never in the duration or effectiveness of our efforts but in the faithfulness He gives us to carry out our mission. In Uriah’s life and ministry, we can come away with the following conclusion: God is always worthy of all we have to give, no conditions. And He is much more interested in our character and trust than our success in the eyes of this world.

If you have been disappointed or discouraged by the path God has set in front of you to walk, take courage today, for He uses every single one of us to display something about Him. These paths are still, mysteriously, perfectly and lovingly tailored for each one of us. As we go to worship, may we surrender our hopes and dreams so that we can be prepared to walk in His ways instead. Let’s ask Him to give us the big picture of His glory and help us find our place in that. 

Prayer: Father, You have better outcomes, and Your ideas are always better than my ideas. Help me to measure my life by how faithful I am, not how successful I seem. Teach me to prize character as You do, and help me to trust You in every way. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 6

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on August 18, 2018, is provided by Pastor Barry Kang, the lead pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Sexual Sin and False Prophecy”

Jeremiah 29:20-23

Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: ²¹ ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes. ²² Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” ²³ because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, declares the Lord.’ ” 

Ahab (the son of Kolajah) and Zedekiah (the son of Maaseiah) were members of the Jewish exilic community in Babylon who were thought to be prophets.  While we don’t know exactly what they were prophesying, from the context, it seems as though they were prophesying that God’s judgment was over and that things were now going to be okay. Perhaps they were encouraging the exiles to rebel against the Babylonian authorities and to trust that God would bring them back to Jerusalem safely.  Whatever the case, God not only rebukes them, He also sets them apart as an example of His judgment.  Jeremiah prophesies that they will be burned in the fire by Nebuchadnezzar—a common punishment in those days (cf. Daniel 3:19-20)—and their names will be used as a curse: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire”!

We are given two reasons for this condemnation in verse 23.  The first reason (mentioned second) has been a theme for the past two chapters of Jeremiah—namely, Ahab and Zedekiah have been falsely prophesying.  

The other reason is startling and also so very tragically normal.  We learn that Zedekiah and Ahab have also been committing adultery with their neighbors’ wives (v.23).  What is it with people who are supposedly representing God and sexual sin?  The revelation of their sin is startling because it comes out of the blue in the context of Jeremiah 29.  Yet, in the world we find ourselves in, this revelation is tragically too common. 

I do not believe it is mere coincidence that these two sins are linked together.  False prophecy and sexual sins are related symptoms of a deeper-rooted problem.  One does not cause the other, and they do not always go together; however, both are symptomatic of a heart that no longer fears God. We could speculate at length as to why Ahab and Zedekiah prophesied what they did.  Perhaps they sincerely believed that God would protect and guard Israel; in other words, their theology was more important than actually hearing from God.  Perhaps they enjoyed the attention and appreciation they received from the exiles who no doubt were encouraged by their positive and yet false prophecies.  Whatever the motivation, it seems they had lost their reverence and fear of God.  I suggest they were now prophesying in the flesh rather than in the Spirit.  And when leaders operate in the flesh, it shouldn’t surprise us then to see the same people acting in more overtly fleshly ways—namely sexual sin. 

Jeremiah 29:23 is a warning to us all (not just leaders).  Sexual sin brings the word of God into disrepute and those who commit this sin lose credibility.  They may be seen as false prophets, even if they have actually been preaching the true gospel.  For the credibility of the gospel, we need to run from sexual sin.

But if the root cause is a heart that no longer fears God, then the solution to sexual sin is not just more accountability or boundaries or self-control.  Rather, the solution is to immerse ourselves into the gospel and develop a greater understanding of grace, which doesn’t just excuse our sins and leaves us in the flesh but moves us into the Spirit and a reverence and awe of God!

Prayer: Lord, we mourn for the disrepute sexual sin has brought to the church and also to Your name.  We want to long for Your glory more and more.  We ask that You help us to focus our righteous indignation not only upon Christian leaders but also upon our own hearts—that our hearts would be filled with mourning for the necessity of Your sacrifice on the cross, and also with joy at our newfound identity in You.  Fill us with Your spirit that we may awe You and love You more and more.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 4-5

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 8, 2019, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato. Jason is serving in Japan as an AMI missionary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“His Love, His Way”

Exodus 2:11–15 (ESV)

One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. [12] He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. [13] When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” [14] He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” [15] When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.

After many years of ministry, I’ve learned profound lessons like “pray a lot,” “smile more,” and “people like it when you buy them food.”  Another important ministry principle I’ve learned is that wanting to help someone is not the same as knowing how to help or having the power to do so.   

When we see our children or our friends struggle, the solution can seem so simple and clear.  Just follow our amazing advice and all will be well.  Yet experience tells us that our wisdom and power have not solved all of our own problems, and therefore, have very real limits.

In today’s text, though Moses is living comfortably as part of Pharaoh’s household, he is distraught over the condition of his people.  When he sees an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, Moses kills the Egyptian, longing to deliver the Israelites from their suffering.  Unfortunately, all Moses manages to do is anger Pharaoh, and as a result, earn himself exile.  The Israelites do not appreciate Moses’s attempt to deliver them and their experience of oppression and slavery remains exactly the same.

Certainly Moses cared for the Israelites and he was even willing to sacrifice his place in Pharaoh’s house to help them, but Moses chose his own method and relied on his own power to bless his people and he utterly failed.

When it comes to loving the people in our own lives we can have compassion in our hearts and a willingness to sacrifice, but if we continue to stubbornly cling to our own methods and wisdom, we too will fail to bring lasting blessing.

Only God is able to give the joy, freedom, and new life that we desire for those we love.  Only by caring for others His way, in His strength, for His purposes will our love impart eternal blessing. 

Prayer: Father, forgive me that I am so wise in my own eyes.  Teach me how to be a better parent, spouse, child, friend, coworker and neighbor.  Guide me that I may love with Your love, in Your way, for Your glory.  Use me to impart freedom and joy to those around me.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 3

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 13:8–13 (ESV): He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. [9] So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering. [10] As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came. And Saul went out to meet him and greet him. [11] Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, [12] I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.” [13] And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God, with which he commanded you. For then the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever…

Questions to Consider

• Why does Saul offer the burnt offering? 
• When confronted by Samuel, is Saul repentant?
• What is the result of Saul giving in to fear and taking matters into his own hands?

Notes

• Saul is afraid that Samuel is not coming and that his army will entirely desert him before the battle with the Philistines.
• No, Saul blames Samuel for being late and feels like he had no choice but to offer the burnt offering. 
• Saul’s reign as king will come to an end, ruining his own legacy as well as the future for his descendants.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day.  What opportunities were you given to trust in the Lord as you related to other people?  Ask God that your obedience would bear the fruit of His blessing in their lives.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on May 2, 2019.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Let’s Celebrate!”

Exodus 23:14-17 (NIV)

“Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. 15 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed. 16 “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. 17 “Three times a year all the men are to appear before the Sovereign Lord.

In his book on spiritual disciplines, John Ortberg dedicates a chapter to celebration – the discipline by which one cultivates joy. God is a joyful God, but we, God’s people, are not naturally a joyful bunch. Joy is something that, on this side of heaven, must be intentionally cultivated. One way we do this is through rejoicing and relishing in the good (past and present) in our lives and in the world. 

God makes celebration a requirement in the law because God is a joyful God. And when God’s people celebrate, they don’t just remember what God has done but throw an outright party as they do. Scripture tells many stories of God’s people and their festivals. These worshipful gatherings were filled with songs of praise, collective remembering of God’s faithfulness, and table fellowship (good food and drink). These gatherings were central to the life of God’s people. Jesus’ first recorded miracle was literally re-stocking the wine for a party. The culmination of God’s redemptive work in the world is described in Revelation as a wedding feast (think wedding reception, but only the fun parts… none of the awkward couple dances and toasts). 

Ortberg retells the story of creation to contrast to the typical human heart with God’s joyful heart. 

Imagine Genesis if God approached his work as we so often do:

In the beginning, it was nine o’clock, so God had to go to work. He filled out a requisition to separate light from darkness. He considered making stars to beautify the night, and planets to fill the skies, but thought it sounded like too much work; and besides, thought God, “That’s not my job.” So he decided to knock off early and call it a day. And he looked at what he had done and he said, “It’ll have to do.”… And at the end of the week, God was seriously burned out. So he breathed a big sigh of relief and said, “Thank Me, it’s Friday.” 

Thankfully, this is not how the story goes. 

On the first day, “God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” The first day was a Dee Dah Day [a day of celebration]. And God did a little dance. And the next day God said to the light, “Do it again.” And the light did it again, and God danced once again. And so it has gone every day down to this one—down to the morning of the day you were born; down to the morning of this day in which you read these words (Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted).

God longs to create in us hearts that embark upon mundane activities with child-like joy. In place 

of boredom we can experience wonder. In place of self-important hurry, we can stop and smell the roses. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You’ve sent me into the world to be a light and a blessing, and to celebrate Your blessed presence. May my faithfulness in even the most menial tasks be pleasing unto You and a cause for celebration in my life.  May it also bless those around me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 2

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Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 150 (NIV):Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

Question to Consider

• Where does the psalmist encourage God’s people to praise God? What are some reasons the psalmist encourages the people of God to praise God?  
• How does the psalmist encourage God’s people to praise God, and who is called upon to do this? 
• What are your favorite ways to praise God? To what attributes of God and works of God are you most drawn? 

Notes

• In the sanctuary – spaces of corporate worship; in God’s mighty heavens (possibly a call to praise in the create world, allowing praises to reach the skies or a call for praise of God by heavenly beings). Essentially, there is no place on earth or in heaven where God should not be praised. 

God’s acts of power (what God has done); God’s surpassing greatness (who God is)

• With musical instruments (accompanied by singing) and with dancing. 

Everyone! Not just everyone, but everything with breath (so the animals too). And elsewhere in the psalms we see that the earth herself, her rivers and mountains, give praise to God. 

• Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

Ortberg concludes his chapter by reflecting on the nature of true celebration and joy: 

True celebration is the inverse of hedonism. Hedonism is the demand for more and more pleasure for personal gratification. It always follows the law of diminishing returns, so that what produced joy in us yesterday no longer does today. Our capacity for joy diminishes. Celebration is not like that. When we celebrate, we exercise our ability to see and feel goodness in the simplest gifts of God. We are able to take delight today in something we wouldn’t have even noticed yesterday. Our capacity for joy increases.

True joy, as it turns out, comes only to those who have devoted their lives to something greater than personal happiness. This is most visible in extraordinary lives, in saints and martyrs. But it is no less true for ordinary people like us. One test of authentic joy is its compatibility with pain. Joy in this world is always joy “in spite of” something. Joy is, as Karl Barth put it, a “defiant nevertheless” set at a full stop against bitterness and resentment. If we don’t rejoice today, we will not rejoice at all. If we wait until conditions are perfect, we will still be waiting when we die. If we are going to rejoice, it must be in this day. This is the day that the Lord has made. 

End today by reflecting on the words above with God. Are there patterns in your life keep you from celebration and joy? What are some practical ways you can cultivate joy by practicing celebration? 

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“With Your Loins Girded”

Exodus 12:11-13

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

Romans 10:8-10 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

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Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

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Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Divine Warrior” 

Exodus 15:3

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 50

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Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to consider

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

Notes

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

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Evening Reflection

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

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

Devotional Thought for Today

“Giving God Your Best’

Exodus 25:1-9

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

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

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

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

• Giving to God is an important sign of our commitment to Christ.  Our willingness to give to the Lord is one of the main indicators of our spiritual health.  Generosity is one of the vital signs of a healthy believer and if we are not consistently giving, it probably means we are not growing.

• Giving should be done out of gratitude from the heart.  When we are touched by God’s grace, we feel compelled to give.  There is something about giving to God that makes the heart sing because we know it is worship to Him and it is one of the best ways we can use our finances.  

• We should bring God the best we have to offer.  This is what it means to give from the heart – when we put in our best effort.  Many of the items that were used for the tabernacle were costly and that should be the same for us.  We ought to give in a way where it is costly but also seeing it as an opportunity to participle in God’s work and mission.

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

Bible Reading: Genesis 49

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Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

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Evening Reflection

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

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

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

• How do you want to grow in generosity?  (Be specific)

• Who will keep you accountable?

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

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Intercessory Prayer: We Have Authority”

Ephesians 2:4-7

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 48

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! 

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

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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. 

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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.