March 25, Thursday

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Leadership”

1 Timothy 3:1-7

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. [2] Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3] not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. [4] He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, [5] for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? [6] He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. [7] Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Great leaders are impactful and unforgettable.  One of the most influential leaders in my life, as I was growing up, was my little league baseball coach.  He knew how to make the game of baseball enjoyable, but at the same time he knew when to push us hard.  He would always end each practice by sharing lessons about winning and losing and what it means to be part of a team.  His words and leadership made a lasting impression, and I still remember many of the lessons he taught us to this very day.  

In today’s passage, Paul is conveying to Timothy the importance of leadership.  Paul tells him that a church should have qualified leaders, like pastors or elders, with a high degree of integrity.  He uses the word “overseer,” which means “one who has a bird’s eye view of the church and is able to look after it as a whole.”  The first and general requirement is that overseers must be “above reproach.”  This means that leaders should have blameless reputations, which include fidelity in marriage, hospitality, ability to teach, temperament, charity, spiritual maturity, and a good reputation amongst outsiders.  No wonder Paul calls it a noble task to be a leader!  

Spend some time this morning lifting up the leaders in our lives – pastors, ministry leaders, elders, family members and others.  Pray that they would lead with integrity and Christ-like character.  If you are in a leadership position, pray that the Lord would give you strength to continue to lead above reproach.  

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the leaders in my life who have influenced me.  I pray for their leadership that they would continue to lead with integrity and honor.  Amen

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 12

Lunch Break Study 

Read Galatians 5:22-26: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. [26] “The God who can change a sinner into a Christian by giving him His life can equally transform the fleshly Christian into a spiritual one by giving him His life more abundantly.”  

Questions to Consider 

  1. According to these verses, what is the result of being sanctified? 
  2. What is the standard for bearing fruit as we advance in sanctification? 
  3. In what areas of our lives have we been bearing fruit (areas we have been changing in)?

Notes

  1. By His sanctifying power we begin to bear spiritual fruit in our lives and grow to be more like Christ. Paul teaches in today’s passage that as we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16–17). 
  2. However, the standard for bearing fruit as we advance in sanctification is not perfection, for the Scripture tells us we will not walk in perfect holiness until we are glorified. And our need for perfection in order to stand before God unafraid is met in Christ, and the imputation of His righteousness to us. But if His righteousness has been imputed to us, then His Spirit is sanctifying us.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Today, we’ve been reflecting on transformation and being more like Jesus in our leadership and in our daily lives.  Spend some time in prayer, asking that we would continue to change by the Holy Spirit.  

March 24, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, is an updated version of his blog first posted on April 16, 2013.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Delighting Ourselves in the Lord”

Psalm 37:3-6

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

I have heard some preachers claim, on the basis of Psalm 37:4, that God will give us anything we want. If we simply “claim it,” God will give us mansions, yachts, luxury cars, etc.  God can and does bless us materially. But if we argue from Psalm 37:4 that “God will give you anything you want,” we miss the whole point of the verse.

This verse does promise that the Lord will “give you the desires of your heart” but notice it happens when we “delight [ourselves] in the LORD”.  When we delight in God, i.e. we love him with all that we are; we will discover that the desires of our heart become transformed.  We will stop being so concerned about ourselves; instead we will yearn for the things of God.  Our desires will reflect God’s own desires.  We will want what God wants, and he will give us that which is according to his will.  Moreover, the more we delight in the Lord, we will discover that what we desire most of all is a deeper relationship with God.  True intimacy is the deepest longing of our hearts, and as we learn to enjoy God’s presence, we will seek him more, and by his grace, we will find him!

Are you delighting in the Lord?  Are you looking for joy and satisfaction from him first?  If you are reading these QTs, then I am probably preaching to the choir, but let us seek to love him with all of our hearts, and desire his desires!

Prayer: Father, help me to delight in you.  I confess again that I am easily distracted.  I want my focus to be on you.  I ask that you would transform my heart, that I would desire you above all things, and that your desires would become my desires.  Thank you for the gift of your mercy and love.  Thank you that your desire is to be with me! Thank you that you are my Father in heaven who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV):“This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,  10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  11 Give us today our daily bread.  12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.  13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 

Questions to Consider

  1. What does the first part of verse 9 tell us about how we are to pray? 
  2. Who is the focus of the first half of the Lord’s Prayer?  What does this tell us about our priorities in prayer?
  3. What does Jesus ask us to pray for in verses 11-13?  If this is how we ought to pray, what does this tell us about the heart of God?

Notes

  1. Jesus here tells us that this is how we ought to pray.  We are not being told to recite the Lord’s Prayer by rote (although there is certainly nothing wrong with praying it verbatim) and as our only prayer.  Certainly, we see Jesus offering other prayers in the gospels.  Rather, the Lord’s Prayer models for us the kind of priorities God wants us to have in prayer.
  2. The Lord’s Prayer begins by focusing attention on God—on his name, his kingdom and his will—rather than our own reputation, influence and desires.  A heart moved by God will begin to prioritize God’s will being done on earth above all things.
  3. In the second half of the Lord’s Prayer, we pray for:
  • Our daily bread (everything that we will need for that day)
  • Forgiveness (remembering that a forgiving spirit exemplifies the person who has been broken by grace)
  • Protection and freedom from the enemy’s schemes and temptations

Since we are instructed to pray for these things, we can discern that God’s desire and will are also to provide for these things!  When we seek after God’s will, we do indeed find that he gives us everything that we need.

We could study the Lord’s Prayer for days and not plumb the depths of its richness! What we can say today is that the Lord’s Prayer models a heart focused upon praising God and seeking his will above all things.  The greatest prayer (and privilege) of any follower of Jesus is to desire the will of God to be done on earth just as it is in heaven.  When we do this, we find that God’s will includes our daily provision, our forgiveness and freedom.  Truly, when we seek God’s kingdom, we get everything we need as well!

Evening Reflection

Read over some of your recent journal entries.  How much of your focus is upon God and how much of your focus is upon yourself?  What has God been asking you to do?  Have you been faithful in obeying?  Ask God for greater guidance but also more of his Spirit to help you to obey.

March 23, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on July 29, 2014.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Going Against the Grain”

1 Peter 4:8-9

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

The Kingdom priorities are so different from those of the world. For instance, the message of the world is that if you have some special gift, use it for yourself–to climb up the ladder of success in order to get rich and famous. This is so tempting since the world lifts up those who are talented and idolizes them. On the other hand, the Bible goes against the world’s teaching, showing us a greater purpose for the special gifts God has given to us. It is not to lift up self, but to lift up others: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others.”                                                                                                                                                                                      

God given gifts are to be poured out, instead of in. That is, it is to be given, rather than to receive. In this way, the motivation to use our gifts is not fame, but love: “Above all, love each other deeply.” This is the reason why the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians is sandwiched between the two chapters on gifts, clearly showing us the reason behind the practice of gifts: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”                                                                                                                                      

If our motivation becomes inward instead of outward, this is when we start to abuse the spiritual gifts, exalting self instead of the Lord Jesus Christ.  As a result, Christ’s power to change is replaced with emotions, and heavenly revival is replaced with hype and manipulation. If we want to see the genuine movement of God, we need to develop and use the spiritual gifts out of love for God and love for others. 

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for giving me spiritual gifts. Help me to use it to lift up and encourage others so that others may see you, rather than drawing attention to myself.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV): If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Questions to Consider

  1. Think about how you can use your God given gift to encourage one person today?
  2. If you weren’t concerned about how you look when developing your spiritual gifts, what is one thing you would do this week to activate your gift?

Notes

  1. An example would be that if you have a gift of generosity (Rom. 12:8), then take that co-worker, who has been down, out for lunch.  And if your gift is showing mercy and you happen to be a boss, then give a break to that employee who shipped the package to the wrong address.  
  2. It may be that many people have the gift of evangelism but rarely ever use it.  Even if we don’t have that gift, we ought to share the gospel anyway.  So, pray for boldness, have some ideas as to what to say, and then open your mouth to share the gospel with someone. 

Evening Reflection

Be honest about some of the wrong motivations in your heart for desiring and using spiritual gifts, and lay them down before the Lord.

March 22, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 13, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“We Say This Word a Lot—Without Comprehension”

Philem. 1:7a

“Your love has given me great joy and encouragement . . .” 

Col. 1:3a-4

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ  . . . because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have all the saints.”

“You would do that for me?  Why?”; “I didn’t expect that!  Wow!”; “I don’t deserve this.   Thanks!”  These things are said when we are so touched by the unexpected kindness by someone, perhaps at the most unexpected time.  

One virtue that many talk about without really comprehending it, is love:  No, not the feeling or affable type, but the kind where favors are bestowed on an unworthy person.  In the English language in which the word “love” is used to describe our feelings toward French fries as well as toward God, this isn’t an easily concept to grasp.  But in the Greek exists a special word—agape—to conceptualize unconditional love.  Conceptualize?  Yes, it was a mere concept among the ancient Greeks until someone actually demonstrated what this love truly looked like.  Paul puts it like this:  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).   A great favor was bestowed upon us when God allowed his Son to take the blame for something awful that we did, and then pay for it with his own life.   

Philemon 1:7is actually about Paul appreciating the love he received from Philemon in Colosse, who was able to “love because [God] first loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).  When this reality truly sinks in, our hearts are joyous regardless of how terrible our present circumstances may be.  We are greatly encouraged, knowing that the One “who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32). 

All things?  A new car perhaps, a better job?  Sure, if you need it, for God promises to “meet all your needs” (Phil. 4:19a); but don’t get more excited about getting things from God than being loved by Him.  Unless we have authentically internalized the reality of the God of the universe personally knowing and loving us, we cannot love others that would make them truly joyous and encouraged.   It all starts from God. 

Prayer: God, it is amazing how I sometimes act as if I deserve the things that I continue to receive from you.  Perhaps, I compare myself to others who aren’t doing so well, thereby feeling superior, spiritually and morally. Forgive me Lord, for my joy ought to come from knowing that the amazing love of God was bestowed upon the one so undeserved, namely, me, in Christ.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Hosea 3:1-3: “The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another man and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.’ 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. 3 Then I told her, ‘You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will behave the same way toward you.’”

Questions to Consider

  1. In what sense does Hosea demonstrate agape love in his overture toward Gomer, who ran off to be a prostitute (property of a pimp)? 
  2. What is expected of Gomer after receiving this unexpected and undeserved love by her husband (Rom. 2:4)?
  3. Ultimately, what is the story about as it relates to what God did for men and what He did to free them?

Notes

  1. Of course, the last thing Gomer expected was forgiveness and reconciliation; she didn’t deserve it and she knew it.  In this way, Hosea, through the strength that God gave him for that occasion, demonstrated the unconditional love of God.
  2. Romans 2:4 states that God’s expectation for those who have been showered with the kindness of God is repentance; that is, turning away from the sinful way. Hosea expects Gomer to be faithful to him.  
  3. Ultimately, God allowed this event to happen to symbolize what He will ultimately do for humans who have always rebelled against God by refusing to submit to His rule.  Instead, they serve themselves or men more powerful than they.  What Hosea had to pay to free his wife represents what God paid to free us—the life of his Son.

Evening Reflection

Did you have a joyous and encouraging day?  And I don’t mean just because fortuitous things happened to you today.  As you conclude this day, write out a prayer that expresses your gratitude toward God for what He did in Christ for the undeserved.  

March 21, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on December 28, 2014.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God-Centered Prayer”

Proverbs 30:7-9

“Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.  Otherwise I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

This being one of the most famous prayers in the Bible, it has a staying power in our minds and hearts because it is so eloquently expressed.  At a glance, its logic can seem acceptable and noble to even an unbeliever.  It’s about being content to live in moderation, isn’t it?  About not being greedy and wanting too much, but at the same time having one’s basic needs be met: a reasonable standard of living.

Yet a second look reveals that the beauty of the prayer comes mainly, not from its practical wisdom for life but from the heart of the one who is praying.  For at its core, the prayer is completely God-centered.  The author of this prayer is not asking God that he may not have too much or too little because, not being super ambitious yet not wanting to be uncomfortable, he believes if he just has enough, he would be satisfied with life.  His motivation for not wanting riches is connected with his desire not to forget God or fall into the danger of becoming independent of him.  His wanting to avoid poverty is connected to a godly fear that if he did fall into such a state, he may end up, in his weakness, doing something to dishonor God.

The writer asks God for two things: that God keeps falsehood and lies from him; and that God gives him neither poverty nor riches.  Yet why is it that we so often focus on the second without paying attention to the first?  The second idea is more developed, but the first is also important.  We may have often prayed the second half of the prayer, but have we as often prayed the first?  How important is it to us that falsehood and lies are kept far from us?  And what relation does this have to wanting neither poverty nor riches?

The key is not so much the connection to a standard of living but once again the heart.  The heart of the one who loves God and longs to honor him is a heart that has a passion for truth.  In the prayer of the very one who asks that falsehood be kept far from him, we can see a purity of heart.  Perhaps he was someone like Nathanael of whom Jesus would later say, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.”

As we meditate on this prayer today, can we think about the heart expressed through the prayer more than the actual request?  Can we ask God today, not so much for a moderate standard of living, but for the heart of this man who loved the Lord honestly, with a purity, sincerity and truth?  

Prayer: Father, “keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 8

March 20, Saturday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King who serves as associate pastor at Remnant Church in Manhattan, was first posted on April 5, 2014.  Cami is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.).  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“No Greater Gift from God to Us”

Galatians 1:11-17

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

One of the greatest, and most neglected, defenses of our faith is our personal testimony. Much like apologetics, theological debates, and Gospel-centered sermons (all of which we readily identify as ways to prove or explain our faith), our personal testimony has great power to make clear the person and work of Christ to those around us. 

In Paul’s defense of himself and of the Gospel he preached, he turned to his own story – the narrative of his relationship with God – to bring to life the truths he wished to convey. Much like a sermon illustration, our personal stories bring to life the truths God longs to teach the world. Not that we rely upon experience over or against Scripture or theology – by no means! They all work together. But Scripture and theology apart from the sharing of our personal stories can be much like a sermon without illustrations… dry and impersonal.  

“The greatest gift you can give someone is the story of Jesus and how he changes lives –especially yours” (Bill Hybels). 

There are a number of ways we can tell our testimony. We have our salvation story which usually consists of three components: (1) BC – our lives before Christ; (2) the Cross – how we came to believe the Gospel; (3) AD – our lives afterwards. This is what many of us imagine when we hear the word “testimony.”  

I grew up in the Black church in the South where we would regularly have testimonies shared in the service.  But people weren’t only telling their salvation stories: They also shared all kinds of stories of how God was moving in their lives, leading listeners to give thanks and take greater steps of faith. 

Sharing our testimony not only illustrates for an on-looking world the person and work of Christ, but also reminds us of the good things God has done, leading to thanksgiving.

What is your salvation testimony? What are some ways God has been working in your life lately? Spend some time reflecting on these stories and thanking God for His faithfulness. Think of those in your life who can benefit from hearing them and ask for the courage and boldness to share.  

Remember, your story is a powerful one that God has taken great care to write and that others need to hear!

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of salvation.  Thank You for all the wonderful things You have done in my life.  To You belong all the glory and praise.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 6-7

March 19, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, is an updated version of his blog first posted on March 15, 2013.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Envy”

Psalm 37:1-2, 35-36

Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong;  2for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away . . . 35I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a green tree in its native soil,  36but he soon passed away and was no more; though I looked for him, he could not be found. 

This may be hyperbole, but it seems to me that nothing can shipwreck our faith quite like envy.  Envy is different from other sins in that while other sins offer the potential for some kind of satisfaction (e.g. gluttony, pride, anger and lust), envy brings nothing but emptiness and pain (this is not meant to be a justification of other sins!).   Envy robs us of our contentment and satisfaction in God.  Indeed, a life filled with envy is the opposite of a life filled with Godly joy and gratitude.

How much more so when the objects of our envy are people who do not follow Jesus?  This is not a hypothetical scenario by the way.  Envy can manifest in a number of ways, beyond naked desire.  Some of us who scorn or react contemptuously toward “evil” may really be struggling with envy. 

However, David’s solution to envy was not to point out its folly or danger, but to point to the bigger picture.  When we are envious of others, it is almost always because we have lost our focus on the bigger picture of who God is and who we are in Christ.

Are you struggling with envy?  Do you wonder why “wicked” people are succeeding around you?  Does the Christian life seem overly difficult with too many sacrifices required?  Ask God today to help you see the bigger picture.  

Prayer: Father, I confess that worldly standards of success, achievement and acquisitions sometimes distract me from my desire for You.  I find myself comparing myself to others, and in those times, I lose the joy and contentment that I know You want for me.  I thank You for Your love and salvation.  Help me to remember that I am to seek treasures in heaven and not treasures on this earth.  Help me to remember all the blessings You have abundantly poured out upon me.  In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Jeremiah 5

Lunch Break Study

In Luke 12:13, Jesus encounters a man who has fallen into the trap of envying his brother.  His brother’s inheritance had become a source of discontent and was poisoning his heart against his brother.  His desire for wealth had become more important than his relationship with his brother.  Talk about misplaced priorities and perspective!  

Jesus counters with a parable that showed the foolishness of such thinking.  There are more important things than money, wealth or success.  We can’t take these things with us beyond the grave.  But our treasure in heaven will last forever.  

Read Luke 12:13-21 (NIV): Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” 15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’  20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” 

Questions to Consider

  1. How does Jesus describe the method by which this man became successful (verse 16)?  What does this tell us about success?
  2. Why does God call this remarkably successful man a “fool”?
  3. What does it mean to be “rich toward God” (c.f. Luke 12:31-33)?

Notes

  1. Jesus says, “The ground of a certain rich man produced a great crop.”  While this rich man seems to think that he has engineered his own success, we can tell from Jesus’s language that this crop came by the grace of God.  God created the land and everything on it.  Everything we have is by the grace of God.
  2. While the rich man in Jesus’s parable would have been considered a success by this world, God calls him a fool because his investment horizon was far too short.  Instead of investing in (and for) eternity, he had invested in things that would not last.  The reality is that while we may have some fifty, sixty, seventy years in this life, we will have billions upon billions upon billions of years after this life with God.  Wise people have a proper investment horizon! 
  3. Immediately following the parable of the rich fool, Jesus explains that his followers do not have to worry for they have a Father in heaven who knows what they need and will provide for them.  Instead, they are to “seek God’s kingdom” (verse 31) and “sell [their] possessions and give to the poor” (verse 33).  These summary statements tell us that a life “rich to God” means investing the resources God has given to us in kingdom projects.  Using our resources only on ourselves is foolish short-term thinking.  Using our resources so that God’s will would be done in our communities and among our neighbors is wise long-term thinking.

Evening Reflection

Where is your focus these days?  Are you able to see the bigger picture?  As you journal tonight, confess the ways that you are focusing upon yourself rather than upon God.  If you have been envious of someone, confess that envy to God and ask for his provision and perspective.

March 18, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by a former AMI church staff, was first posted on July 2, 2014.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual Slumber”

Jonah 1:5-6

Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

In the midst of the storm that God sent as He pursued Jonah, he is in the belly of the ship fast asleep.  While the sailors were scrambling to save their lives, the disobedient prophet was completely oblivious to what was going on around him.  The state of his physical slumber pointed to his spiritual indifference and insensitivity. This is in contrast to the (presumably) polytheistic sailors who could sense that this storm was caused by some higher power, as we will see in verse 7.

This is a sobering reminder for us. Through continual disobedience and running from God’s presence, we can easily end up in a state of spiritual slumber as Jonah did. God can reveal His presence, His glory, and His direction, but we can be oblivious to it.

Yet, God is gracious in how He pursues us so that we would be awakened to Him. Aside from the storm, God used the captain of the ship and the casting of lots (v. 7) so that Jonah would become aware of God’s activity. As a matter of fact, the captain’s words echoes the very words God used in calling Jonah: In verse 6, the captain said, “Arise, call out to your god!” And in verse 2, the Word of the Lord came to Jonah and said, “Arise… call out against it…” God is making it abundantly clear that He is the one orchestrating all of these events.

We also find the remedy to our spiritual slumber in the captain’s words: “Arise, call out to your god!” It’s when we finally decide to arise and take action and call out to Him that our hearts soften and our eyes open. This is what God desires from us as He pursues us.

This morning, examine your life and see if you are in a state of spiritual slumber. If so, how has God been pursuing you? Respond to His heart that desires for you to rise and call out to Him.

Prayer: Father, open my eyes that I may see how you are pursuing me. Soften my heart to call out to you. Open my lips to cry out for you.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 4

Lunch Break Study

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

Proverbs 6:4-11: “4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Jonah’s slumber reveal about his spiritual condition in light of the Proverbs text?
  2. How did Jonah’s slumber hinder the sailors?
  3. What does Jonah’s slumber reveal about our own spiritual slumber?

Notes

  1. Proverbs 6:4-5 warns that slumber creates blindness to the dangers surrounding you. Jonah, in his slumber, was blind to the dangerous spiritual condition he entered due to his disobedience.
  2.  We are warned of impending poverty due to our slumber in Proverbs 6:10-11. In today’s Jonah text, this poverty doesn’t just affect Jonah, but it affects the sailors in a vey real way. They had to cast off all their cargo and goods to lighten the ship.
  3.  When we are in a state of spiritual slumber, we become numb to the presence and activity of God around us.

Evening Reflection

The difficulty with being spiritually asleep is that we are usually unaware of it. This calls for us to examine ourselves carefully, but to also have brothers and sisters who we can grow in accountability with. Tonight, examine how you are doing with the Lord, but also ask God to provide a community of accountability if you do not have one.

March 17, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 18, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Thanking God”

Psalm 107:1-43

[1] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

[2] Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble

[3] and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

[4] Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in;

[5] hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.

[6] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

[7] He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.

[8] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

[9] For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

[10] Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,

[11] for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.

[12] So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.

[13] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

[14] He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.

[15] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

[16] For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

[17] Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;

[18] they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

[19] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

[20] He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

[21] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

[22] And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

[23] Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters;

[24] they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.

[25] For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.

[26] They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight;

[27] they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end.

[28] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

[29] He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

[30] Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.

[31] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

[32] Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

[33] He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,

[34] a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants.

[35] He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.

[36] And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in;

[37] they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield.

[38] By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish.

[39] When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow,

[40] he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;

[41] but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.

[42] The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

[43] Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

One major theme that continually comes up in the Psalms, including the one just read, is thanksgiving.  The psalmist speaks of the steadfast love of God, which in Hebrew means “an eager and ardent desire,” referring to the fact that God’s love never gives up. Even when God’s people were extremely rebellious, God’s love never ceased for them.  In his love, God delivers his people from the many dangers, toils, and snares in this life (v. 4-32).  

This particular Psalm is a praise song of the re-gathered people of Israel after their Babylonian bondage.  Psalm 105, 106, and 107 are a trilogy:  Psalm 105 recounts Israel’s experience from the time of God’s covenant with Abraham to the people’s entrance into the Promised Land; Psalm 106 tracks their unfaithfulness during that same time period and reflects the years of exile to Babylon; and Psalm 107 thanks God for their deliverance from exile.  

When was the last time you thanked Jesus for his steadfast and unrelenting love?  In our busy and chaotic lives, it’s so easy to forget all that the Lord has done for us; so as you meditate on this Psalm, spend time thanking God for your salvation and his great love for you.  May our prayers echo what is said in verse 31: “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!”

Prayer: Dear God, help me to be thankful always, for Your steadfast and unrelenting love.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:4-13: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. [5] Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; [6] do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. [7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  [8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. [9] What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.[10] 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. [11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. [12] I 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. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why does Paul command believers to “rejoice in the Lord always”?  How are we able to do that?
  2. How do you think Paul learned to be content in any circumstance?  
  3. Does this describe your life?  

Notes

  1. One of the challenges we face as believers is to be content– not only when things are going our way or when life is easy – but in all circumstances. Paul is exhorting his readers that Christians should live with joy, peace, contentment, and thanksgiving.   It should be a daily way of living, not based on our circumstances, but because of who Jesus is. 
  2. Paul learned that in every situation God provides the strength to overcome it. 
  3. Are you living the Christian life that Paul describes in these verses?  If not, ask God to give you a heart of joy, peace, and contentment.  Ask him to remove the barriers that might hinder you from living this kind of life in Christ.  

Evening Reflection

As we have been thinking about having a thankful heart, if we are honest, difficult circumstances in life makes it hard to always be thankful.  I love how one author writes on the topic of gratitude:

Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life is not in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in your life may be taken away. But blessings are only signs of God’s love. The real blessing, of course, is the love itself. Whenever we get too attached to the sign, we lose our grasp on the God who gave it to us. Churches are filled with widows who can explain this to you. We are not ultimately grateful that we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers.  

– Craig Barnes

Spend some time thanking the Lord for his goodness and steadfast love.  

March 16, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on July 25, 2014.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“We Shouldn’t Let Them Hurt Us Twice”

1 Peter 3:9

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 

It is neither godly (in the spiritual realm) nor beneficial (emotionally) to focus on the person who has offended or hurt us.   Before long, we are thinking of different ways to “repay evil with evil or insult with insult.”   It is bad enough that someone has hurt us; it would be worse if we allow the bitterness to enroot in our hearts, because that becomes poison that brings dysfunction (in relationships with others), opens us to spiritual attacks from the Enemy (loss of joy, peace, a clear conscience, etc.), and keeps us from moving forward in life.  We should not let him or her hurt us twice. 

The more we hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness, the spiritual and emotional strongholds against us become stronger.  And God’s blessings and His promises seem meaningless since a prolonged bitterness always causes spiritual and emotional deadness.   Finally, the bitterness, once it is full-grown, demands that actions be taken to repay evil with evil against the offender:  We plan, plot, and implement until we have gotten our revenge.  In the meantime, the bitterness towards one person affects our relationship with others, including those who are trying to help and love us. 

Consider the case of the brothers of Joseph who hated their younger brother for his boasting (Gn. 37:5-11).  Embittered by this, they successfully implemented their plan to get rid of Joseph, which left their father Jacob, who loved all his children, miserable for the rest of his life (Gn. 37:34-5).  

Do not repay evil with evil; it is not worth it.  In fact, Joseph shows the importance of releasing bitterness and the desire to take revenge when he forgave his brothers, particularly in light of God’s bigger picture.  To his brothers, who continued to worry, wondering, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” (Gn. 50:13), Joseph said, “Don’t be afraid. . . . You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gn. 50:20).

Bitterness hurts us, and in turn, we hurt others.  Therefore, let us free ourselves from bitterness by internalizing God’s promise (Rom. 14:17) in the Holy Spirit.  Only then can we clearly hear the voice of God that may tell us why a hurtful situation was allowed in the first place.  Then God can truly use us to do his work, including setting free those who are mired in bitterness. 

Prayer: Lord thank you that the command to forgive is to help me. You want me to forgive so that I will be free. Help me to give up all my bitterness and anger. Replace my bitterness with Your grace, freedom, and love.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 18:21-22: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why does the Lord emphasize the number seven?  Do some research on the number seven in the Bible?
  2. What did Jesus mean when He said to forgive seventy times?

Notes

  1. The number six is considered man’s number, while seven is considered the perfect number; it certainly is the number favored by God.  Throughout the Bible, the number seven is used in reference to a variety of activities of God: creation, Sabbath, prophecy (Daniel 9:24), etc. 
  2. In short, don’t count; always forgive!

Evening Reflection

Meditate on Matthew 18:23-35.