November 4, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, is an updated version of his blog first posted on May 20, 2014.  Peter is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Antidote to ‘Hope is a Dangerous Thing; Hope Can Break Your Heart’”

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

There are numerous customs that reveal that as humans, we “wish” for something.  For instance, we tell our children to “make a wish” before blowing out the birthday candles, or find excitement in four- leaf clovers, wishbones, or fortune cookies.  These customs show that in our hearts, we all hope.   

When we are young, we are full of hope. When we hope for something, we are hoping for a particular outcome: I hope I get that job or get that house; I hope she gets well soon. I hope.

But the truth is, we discover that every “thing” that we hope for will eventually tailspin towards disillusionment. When that happens, we begin to merely manage our hopes by lowering our expectations, so that we do not again taste the bitterness of disappointment. Sadly, that leaves us with a life that is tasteless and unfulfilling. In the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, theprisoner, played by Morgan Freeman, has simply accepted his fate after numerous rejections for early parole. He says: “Hope is a dangerous thing; hope can break your heart.”

Sadly, many believers can develop this same attitude. Unanswered prayers, ministry disappointments, and personal failures can dampen our hope and weaken our faith in God.  At this point, it is important to be reminded of what has been done for us.  Paul reminds Titus that when we become justified by his grace, we become heirs having the hope of eternal life. It’s a hope that runs deep in our hearts and does not disappoint us (Rom. 5:5). Reflect today on the “kindness and love of God,” “his mercy,” and the “renewal by the Holy Spirit”; and give room for God to lift up hope in your hearts. 

Prayer: Lord, I admit that I can fall into a cynical attitude about myself, my church, and even about You. Renew my mind today by the power of the Holy Spirit and nurture a living hope in my heart.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 7

Lunch Break Study  

Read Luke 2:36-38: There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Questions to Consider 

  1. How has Anna waited patiently and faithfully without losing hope for the redemption of Jerusalem? 
  2. How does Anna respond to finally seeing with her own eyes the child born for the redemption of Israel? 
  3. How is God teaching and leading you to wait patiently, all the while, instilling a sense of hope that will not disappoint?   

Notes

  1. Anna’s worshipping, fasting, and praying is underlined, thus, she is full of thanksgiving at the arrival of the child who will complete God’s promise. 
  2. Anna responds with thanksgiving and speaks about the child. Her teaching would have been heard by all who frequented the temple. Her hope looks to the completion of what God is starting.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Are you still hopeful for your church? Your small group? Your family? Yourself? Determine what has caused the depletion of your hope in these areas and lay those things at Jesus’ feet.   

November 3, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Shan Gian who is the Fenway Site pastor at Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on September 30, 2014.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Sometimes I wonder why people come to pastors for advice.  They will come to us, pouring out their hearts for hours with their problems such as: relationships, ministry, family, understanding God’s will, etc.  They are desperately seeking some words of wisdom and insight; some piece of advice that will answer all of their problems.  So what do we end up telling people at the end of the meeting?  It’s typically one of these answers:  “You need to pray”; “You need to be patient and wait upon the Lord”; “You need to read the Bible”; or “Repent!”  Thus, some people seeking golden nuggets of knowledge from us leave disappointed by such simple and unsatisfactory words of advice.  

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon goes on for twelve chapters considering what the meaning of life is, exploring the purpose of work, pleasure, wisdom, riches, etc.   With all of its philosophical discourse and questions, maybe you would expect an equally complex answer.  But in the end, Solomon gives the simplest of conclusions: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”  Many of us would have responded to him, “That’s it!?  I knew that already!”

But it is that simple.  In the end, that’s it:  Fear God and keep his commandments.  

We too often complicate the Christian life.  Some of us feel like we have to have every mystery and theological question figured out, or we want to know exactly what God’s will is for our life.  Or maybe some of us are legalistic, like the Pharisees who made following God so complicated by creating rules upon rules.  Jesus himself simplified everything for us when he said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40).

Ultimately, fearing and loving our God are words to describe how we are to be in relationship with our God:  We fear him because he is holy, and we love him because he is good.  And because of his holiness and his goodness, we obey his commandments.  Everything in Ecclesiastes, all of the Law and the Prophets, and, ultimately, the whole Bible points to a relationship with our God in heaven and living in obedience to him.  We will continue have our questions and the desire to understand the deep things of God.  And we should seek to gain wisdom and insight in these things, but let us do so with the understanding that, in the end, it’s all about being in a relationship with him and being obedient to his commands.  

Prayer: Father, I pray that I would abide in You today.  Help me to fear You as I see and experience Your holiness and glory, but also that I would love You as I know of Your grace and love for me.  I thank You, Lord, for these simple truths that You are my God and You are worthy.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 6

Lunch Bible Study

Read Micah 6:6-8: With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to Micah, what works do not please the Lord?  What should that mean to us?
  2. What do we often do with our good works before God (Lk. 18:9-14)?
  3. What does the Lord require of you?  How can you follow those “requirements” today?

Notes

  1. Burnt offerings, sacrifices of rams and olive, and even offering up his firstborn child do not please the Lord.  What do these represent?  Doing good works without a merciful and humble heart.  
  2. Even as Christians, we often have an attitude like the Pharisees where we feel like our own righteousness and works will earn God’s acceptance and approval.  No, God accepts us in Christ apart from anything we have done.  Good words are important because they are an indicative of a genuine faith (James 2:14-26), but they themselves do not add anything to God’s approval of us.
  3. Micah tells us that God simply wants us to act justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly before God.  If we think about these commandments, they are all relational.  Walking humbly before our God is being in a relationship with him.  Likewise, acting justly and loving mercy can be equated to loving our neighbors and treating them with fairness and love.  This day, as we reflect on these words, think about how your relationship with God and with others can be filled with love and humility.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your relationship with God today.  Did you spend time with him and were you in obedience to his will today?  Most likely, all of us have failed in one way or another, but come before God with athankful heart for the grace and forgiveness shown to us in Jesus Christ.   Spend some time in prayer, thanking him for his amazing grace in your life.

November 2, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on September 2, 2014; it has been updated. Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Nothing New Under the Sun”

Ecclesiastes 1:3-11 (ESV)

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?  4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.  5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.  7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.  9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.  10 Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”?  It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. 

We live in a time of amazing technological breakthroughs.  Things that seemed like the fantasy of science fiction are now becoming a reality:  Self-driving cars, computerized drones that drop off your mail, and even clones of your pets are all within the realm of possibility in the not too distant future.  

But even as we fill our lives with the latest gadgets and advancements, many of us still wrestle with the monotonous drudgery of life.   Even in the face of so much innovation, nothing seems new to the human condition because we know deep inside that everything new will end up in the same pile as our old discarded VCRs, floppy discs, and cassette tapes.  At the end of the day, we still wrestle with the same problems that humanity has been struggling with for hundreds of generations.  Loneliness, depression, anxiety, and fear are still an ever-persistent problem that no new invention can help us with.  

Like the sun that rises in the morning, sets in the evening, and then runs back to where it has to rise again, we can go through life as though we were on a perpetual treadmill; always in motion but never getting anywhere.  Pink Floyd in their famous album “Dark Side of the Moon” sings about the futility of life.

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking,

Racing around to come up behind you again,

The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older, 

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death.

How can we escape the inherent frustration of living in a world that is doomed to repeat itself?  The key is in our understanding of the statement that “there is nothing new under the sun.”  

As long as we limit our lives to existence under the sun, we will never escape the monotonous cycle of life.  The only way we can break free is to live for the God who exists and reigns far above the sun.  This is the God who promises us that He is making all things new, including our very lives along with the heavens and the earth.  In Him, we can live in the hope that everything we do will ultimately matter.  

Prayer: Father, help us to break through the feelings of discontentment and frustration that are a part of our existence.  Open our eyes, so that we can see that there is a reality beyond what is under the sun.  Enable our ears to hear your voice over the daily commotion of our busy lives.  Teach us how to depend on your mercy that is new every morning.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read Lamentations 3:22-33: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28 Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him; 29 let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope; 30 let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults. 31 For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.

Questions to Consider 

  1. How can we reconcile the steadfast love of God with the grief that we sometimes go through?   
  2. What is the source of our hope?
  3. How can you practically experience the newness of God’s mercy on a daily basis?  

Notes

  1. Though God does not willingly afflict his children, there are times when He deems it necessary for our spiritual growth.  Whether it is discipline against sin or simply a test of our faith, God often speaks most clearly and powerfully in our pain.  During those seasons, it is important to hold onto the truth that God is good to those who wait upon him.  
  2. The source of our hope is in the fact that God is our portion forever.  In the Old Testament, a portion is synonymous with an inheritance or a gift that is irrevocable.  The greatest gift of God is not the many blessings we receive in this life, but the promise that He is our God and we are His people.  In the Hebrew, the steadfast love of God is another way of describing the covenant love that He has bestowed upon us. 
  3. There are many ways to daily experience God’s mercy anew:  not taking His mercy for granted, repenting of sins, and fixing your eyes on the cross.  

Evening Reflection

Are you excited about your relationship with God?  If not, why not?    What are some new things that God is doing in your life or wants to do in your life?  Pray that you would be obedient to the call of God and seek times of refreshing in His presence.    

November 1, Sunday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on March 30, 2014; it has been updated. Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Why Should I Pray with Others?”

Psalm 54: 1-3 

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” (NIV)

O God, save me by your name,  and vindicate me by your might.  2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth.  3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah (ESV).

Today, as we prepare for corporate worship, I wanted to address two important notes that are found in the Psalms.  First, the word “selah,” though the exact meaning is unknown, is an interlude in the music where the congregation is led into reflection and prayer. Second, the phrase “for the director of music,” which is in the heading of many of the Psalms including Psalm 54, is an undeniable evidence that these prayers were accompanied by music, along with a priest or leader within the temple who led people into corporate prayer.  

The reason why I bring this up is because this colors the way we understand prayer, worship, and liturgy. Many people think that churches that are more contemporary and charismatic in their worship format have no real biblical liturgy, but that simply isn’t true.  Based on an understanding of the Psalms and the way Jesus taught us how to pray, the community in prayer takes priority over individualized prayer.  

American churches have generally reversed this order because of our culture’s extreme individualism, but the Psalms teach us that, at the fundamental level, prayer requires community; and for us to learn how to pray, we have to do so in a corporate setting. For this reason, Jesus calls the church a “House of Prayer.”  

Eugene Peterson summarized this perfectly when he wrote, “From this center, lines of prayer radiate outwards (and) we go to our closets or the mountains, into the streets and the markets, and continue our praying.  But it is essential to understand that prayer goes from the center outwards….” 

Now you might be saying, why do I need to have someone lead me into prayer?  The answer is very pragmatic: If you insist on praying based on your own motivations and initiative, you are taking on a psychological burden that is too much for most of us.  We can all relate with trying to pray regularly, but falling flat on our faces; yet if you allow a pastor or worship leader to guide you, it takes prayer out of the control of your emotions, motivations, lack of physical energy, and your external circumstances, placing that spiritual responsibility on the leader.  This is what your pastors are called to do, so allow them to lead you into the community of prayer this Lord’s day, even as you “go into your room, close the door and pray to your father, who is unseen” (Matt. 6:6) daily.

Prayer:  O God, give me a heart of repentance as I pray so that I might desire the same change that You desire from my life.  Help me to acknowledge that Your way is best and that following Your commands produces godliness and character.  Finally, Lord, help me to desire to pray with others.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 4

October 31, Saturday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Charles Choe who leads Tapestry Church in Los Angeles, is an updated version of his blog first posted on June 21, 2014.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A New Paradigm of How Others Are to be Perceived” 

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, [2] older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity (ESV).

I grew up with the idea that we are to respect our elders. There were times when that wasn’t always easy, but I felt submitting to the authority of older people was just a natural part of life. Perhaps, because I’m older now and I wouldn’t mind being on the receiving end of that respect, I happen to think that’s a good idea. And so does the Bible.

In today’s passage, Paul tells Timothy to be careful when correcting older men and older women in the church; he is to have respect for them as he would for his own parents. But here is where the Bible is so radical, for it doesn’t stop there. Not only does Paul tell Timothy to respect his elders, but he goes on and tells him to treat those who are younger, both men and women, as though they were his own brothers and sisters.  

Christianity gives us a new paradigm on community, on how to regard one another. There is respect, of course, but Christianity goes further and calls us to love and treat each other as members of the same family. And in this sense, Christianity offers us an alternative and even a subversive society. We don’t just respect someone because they have earned it by virtue of their old age or by some other merit, but we respect and love both older and younger people simply for the reason that we belong to the same household of God. 

Take a moment and consider your involvement in your local church? Do you have more of a consumer mentality or do you see your church members as your very own family? How is or how would you like this to be expressed? Perhaps it will be you responding to that often-advertised Help Needed for Children’s Ministry, or it will be in the way you serve through the ministries of music or administration, where you serve with humility and eagerness. For some of us, it might mean that we are to extend grace and forgiveness to someone who has hurt or offended us. 

Prayerfully consider how you can express love to a fellow Christian in a practical way today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the access I have to You.  Help me to believe the message of peace and love and thus to enter into peaceful and loving life in You.  Also, help me to have oneness, not just an absence of hostility, with those in my life.  It is only possible through You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 2-3

October 30, Friday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Matt Ro who formerly pastored Journey Church in Atlanta, was originally posted on May 24, 2013.  Matt is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BS) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The God of a plentiful Harvest”

Psalm 64:1, 9-13 (ESV)

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed . . . 9 You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. 10 You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. 11 You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

Most of us did not grow up on farms, which means we are at a disadvantage when reading psalms that are based on the cycle of farm life.  Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the full picture.   

In todays’ psalm, by using harvest imagery, the psalmist describes the God of the harvest who gives us bountifully.  Derek Kidner, in his commentary writes, “The climax of this psalm, a stanza as fresh and irrepressible as the fertility it describes, puts every harvest hymn to shame as plodding and contrived.  Here we almost feel the splash of showers and sense the springing growth about us.”  

Verses 9-13 speak of how God is the God of a plentiful harvest.  It tells us that God is gracious to His people.  The first thing we see is that God cares for the land by watering it (vv. 9-10), providing an abundance of water that makes the crops grow.  It is not the farmer who produces growth, but it is God.  In the parable of the rich fool, it says that “the land of a rich man produced plentifully” (Lk. 12:16).  And that is grounds for praising the Lord who richly provides for us.  

The last line of the psalm (v. 13) reminds us of Luke 19:40 where Jesus says, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  The point is that if inanimate objects praise God for His works, we who are recipients of His grace should too!  

Our God gives good gifts to His people abundantly!  In light of that, let’s start this day by thanking God for His wonderful provisions for us day in and day out. 

Prayer:  Father, all year around, you bless us richly.  We give to You our emotions of gratitude.  Whether we are asleep or awake, Your mercy waits upon us.  We praise You this morning and magnify Your name from whose bounty all goodness flows.  We yield our gifts to Your cause.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ecclesiastes 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-20 (ESV): Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

Questions to Consider

  1. What steps do I need to take to ensure that I draw from God’s wisdom as I seize opportunities in life (vv. 15-17)?
  2. What does v. 18 teach us about the contrast between two extreme approaches to life?
  3. How do we react to the severe demands and pressures of life?  Are we learning to acknowledge the Spirit of Christ within us, and to be overflowing with His Presence?

Notes

  1. We need to walk in God’s wisdom for our lives to truly count.  In the Bible, King Solomon is considered to be the wisest man that ever lived.  But his wisdom did not come by accident, for at the start of his reign as king, God promised him, “I will give you a wise and discerning heart” (1 Kings 3:12).  This same wisdom is available, from the God of all wisdom, to us believers.  Today, let us determine in our hearts to ask God for the wisdom we need as we proceed in all the areas of our lives, not just the areas we consider as important.  Let us draw the wisdom that is available from God’s abundant resources.  When we walk in God’s wisdom, we are “as wise, making the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16). 
  2. Paul puts two things in contrast, one against the other.  First, he says don’t get drunk with wine.  This suggests that there are things in life that create pressures and demands upon us, so much so that we feel the need for some stimulation; something that we turn to in order to receive strength or to aid our confidence.  But Paul says not to be excessive in wine or any other synthetic things because it so easily leads to lack of control.  The word here translated “debauchery” is the Greek word for “without any limits” or “with reckless abandonment.”  It refers to escapism and the tendency to throw all restraints overboard and live without control.  But in contrast to that, he says to satisfy that need for something to stimulate and strengthen you by being filled with the Spirit.  There is no need to feel ashamed over the sense of need since we were not made to be self-sufficient, independent creatures.  Because you feel like you need something to help you, to strengthen you, to make you feel adequate to face life, you do not be troubled by that.  You do need something, but let it be the right thing: Be filled with the Spirit.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Let me share some further thoughts from this afternoon’s study.  

The moment you become a Christian, you receive the Spirit, but we constantly need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The filling of the Spirit is receiving from Him the resources we need in the situation we are in, an inner supply of strength if you will.  

Too often, we miss this. We think that Christianity means coming to church, getting a blessing, then going away to live in the warmth of that blessing until it runs out, and then we come back to church to get filled again.  That is not God’s desire.  Jesus told us that the person who drinks of Him, “out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn. 7:38b).  By that, he meant the Spirit would strengthen us from within and that we have access to that supply.  

Prayer:  Father, I pray that You will teach me to draw upon the well of wisdom and power within.  Help me to know that You are prepared and ready to live Your life through me in every situation and thus manifest Your grace.  Amen.

October 29, Thursday

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 8, 2013.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Power of Tongue”

Psalm 34:11-13

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

As New Testament Christians brought up on the concepts of God’s grace and love, it is sometimes difficult for us to understand what it means to fear the Lord.  I remember the very first time I shared my testimony, I said something like this: “How can I fear God when I know that He loves me!”

We are not meant to be afraid of God, but rather God should inspire reverential awe: a fervent desire to live according to his will and pleasure.  Reverential awe affects every part of the way we live, and according to the Psalmist, one clear manifestation of this fear is how we use our tongues and our lips.  In other words, the words we speak.   We know this instinctively: there are words that we would never use in front of our parents.  How much more so should the words we speak give honor to God who is always with us!

We give glory to God when we praise him with words of reverence and praise.  But we also give glory to God when we avoid speaking words that bring him disgrace.

Is our reverential awe for God evident in the ways we use our words?  Today, let us commit to considering every word through the filter of worship before we speak.  Ask the Holy Spirit for help so that we can fear God with our lips.

Prayer: Father, help me to understand once again how mighty and incredible you are.  Help me to remember that you are always with me!  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you.  In Jesus’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 28

Lunch Break Study

Read James 3:3-11 (NIV): We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Questions to Consider

  1. Why does James compare our tongues to the bits put into mouths of horses or the rudder of a ship (vv2-6)?  In what way is the “tongue also…a fire”?
  2. What does James mean that “no man can tame the tongue” (v8)?  Does this mean we have no hope to follow James’s instructions?
  3. What is James’s concern in verses 9-11?  If it appears as though “fresh water and salt water is flowing from the same spring”, then what does that signify (v11)?

Notes

  1. The tongue is a very small thing, and yet like a bit which controls the movements of a horse, or a rudder, which controls the direction of a large ship, the tongue is the key to controlled living. James claims that a person who is able to control his tongue is “able to keep his whole body in check.” Winning this battle is the key to winning many of our spiritual battles. How so? The tongue is much more than what we say aloud. We cannot think without formulating thoughts into words. We cannot resent without fueling the fires of resentment in words addressed to ourselves. We cannot feel sorry for ourselves without listening to the self-pitying voice. The tongue enflames our passions and lusts. Words have the potential for destruction. Churches have split because of words spoken, accusations voiced. Nations have been divided because of words. In sum, the tongue is much more than the evidence of spiritual maturity; it is also the means toward it.
  2. When James says that the tongue can never be tamed, he means that we can never take our tongues for granted. We have to always be on our guard. At the same time, James says that “no human-being” can tame the tongue. However, the Holy Spirit can!
  3. James is concerned that with our tongues, we praise God but also curse people who bear the image of God. He compares this to fresh water and salt water coming from the same source. There is something very wrong happening!

Evening Reflection

Allow me to share a few more thoughts on what comes out of our tongues. 

The tongue is such a small thing, and yet, it is an important key to Godly living.  This means much more than simply avoiding speaking evil or praising God (both of which are important).  When we control our tongues, we begin to discipline our minds and hearts so that we can give God praise with the totality of our being.  With our tongues, we are also able to give encouragement and love to bearers of the image of God.

How did you do with controlling your tongue today?  Did you have any conversations that you regret?  Submit those conversations to God’s grace and ask for his help in future conversations.

October 28, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Shan Gian who is the Fenway Site pastor at Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on September 29, 2014.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Vanity of ‘Buffets’ in Life”

Ecclesiastes 12:1-8 (ESV)

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; 2 before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain, 3 in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look through the windows are dimmed, 4 and the doors on the street are shut—when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low— 5 they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,[a] and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— 6 before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity[b] of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

People know me as someone who likes to eat massive amounts of food; so naturally, I love buffets.  There’s a sense of excitement and joy that wells up within me thinking about all of the food I’m going to eat.  I think about what my strategy will be as to what food to eat and what to skip.  I enjoy walking up and down the buffet lines, scouting out my targets.  It’s so much fun.  Or at least they used to be . . .

I’m sad to say that it really isn’t fun anymore.  As I get older, my body can’t take as much food as I used to in my younger years. Back then, I would eat without the fear of consequences; but now, eating large quantities of food takes its toll on my body.  And having gone through the pains of overeating many times, I don’t really look forward to eating at buffets; I just don’t find much pleasure in them anymore.  As we get older, many things just don’t make us as happy as they used to.  When we’re young, it’s exciting to see a new movie, download the latest album from your favorite band, or go see your favorite team play; but as we grow older, these things don’t really excite us.  

Solomon recognizes this grim truth that a time comes when we won’t find pleasure in this world.  He’s not talking about trials in our lives; rather, the king is acknowledging that in the end, things of this world will fade away, and we will not find joy in them.  That is why he says again and again, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” or “Meaningless, meaningless; everything is meaningless.”

It may seem like a depressing thought, but it is the truth.  Though there is joy and pleasure to be had in this world, it will eventually all fade away. However, there is something much greater that we should look forward to.  Solomon says that “desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home” (v. 5). The desires and pleasures of this world fade in light of the eternity, and what we will have in heaven.  1 John 1:17 says that “the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”  The world, our desires, and pleasures of this life will fade, but if we, no matter how young or old, choose to do the will of God, we will see and experience things that are eternal.  Today, let’s seek to do the will of God and live for our eternal home in heaven.

Prayer: Father, we long for the eternal home we have with you in heaven.  We realize that things of this world will not satisfy us, but only your presence and love can be enough for us.  May your will be done in our lives and that we can experience that eternity with you.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 27

Lunch Break Study  

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Questions to Consider

  1. How does Paul describe the “outer self”?  
  2. How can we see our afflictions to be light and momentary?
  3. How can we be renewed day by day?  

Notes

  1. The outer self is wasting away and experiencing light and momentary affliction.  
  2. Our afflictions can be seen as light and momentary in view of the eternal glory to come.  We must fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal.  When we do, we will see the glory and holiness of God and consider our eternity with him; then, the troubles of this world will fade away in comparison to that glory.
  3. Every day we can reflect on heaven and an eternity with God.  When we remember and hope for this, we can experience a daily renewal in our heart.

Evening Reflection

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Cor. 4:17). What afflictions or difficulties have you faced today?  Take some time and reflect on this eternal glory that awaits us in heaven.  Pray that you can keep your eyes fixed and your heart longing for what is unseen and eternal, and not on what is seen and will pass away. 

October 27, Tuesday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on March 27, 2013; it has been updated. Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Discerning God’s Voice in Our Lives”

Psalm: 29:3-5 (ESV)

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;  the God of glory thunders,  the Lord, over many waters.  4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 

One essential “skill” that believers need to develop, if they want to grow spiritually, is the ability to hear the voice of God.   The matter of hearing God’s voice is rarely addressed in most evangelical churches because, to be frank, they are influenced more by rationalism than the NT theology.   Some even equate it to seeking extra canonical revelations from God, which is not true.   

If we believe that God knows the minute details of our lives, then it would make sense that He would speak to us and we would be able to recognize his voice.  For too many believers, the words in the Bible stay confined to the pages and they never become living and active.  The words of the Scripture are certainly principles to live by, but they are also a voice for us to follow.  We need to learn to discern God’s voice in our lives.

The problem is most churches don’t teach the basic steps of hearing and obeying God’s voice, not realizing that it isn’t that difficult to help people to learn this life changing spiritual discipline.    Here are the three basic guidelines to help you get started in hearing the powerful voice of God.  

  1. Are the words that I am hearing scriptural in principle? Read the Scripture to verify. 
  2. Do these words display the character of Christ? 
  3. Is there anything in my life that taints my hearing? If so, then, confess and repent.

As you pray this morning, ask the Lord to speak to you and then take a few moments to really listen for His voice.  

Prayer: Holy Spirit, I confess that I can sometimes be hard of hearing as you try to speak to me.  Give me ears to hear what you are saying to me personally and what you may be saying to the church.  Also, give me the wisdom to discern the words that are from you as opposed to my own flesh; above all, give me the faith and courage to obey the convictions that I receive.   In Jesus’ name, amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 26

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:27 (ESV): My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the underlying reason for why we can hear the voice of God?  
  2. Where does Jesus lead us as we follow?  (Psalm 23:2, John 10:10)
  3. What are the benefits of obeying his voice?  (John 10:28)

Notes

  1. The main reason why we can hear God’s voice is that we know Him and he knows us.  The Christian faith is much more than cognitive knowledge; it is a profound personal relationship based on love, trust, and communication.  
  2. The promise of Christ is that He will lead us to green pastures and still waters, that is, to the abundant life.  In John 10:10, Jesus, contrasting himself to the thieves and hired hands who only look to steal and destroy the sheep, states that he comes so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  The Greek word translated abundantly literally means “that which goes way beyond necessity.”  The gift of Jesus is to lead us to life beyond our wildest dreams. 
  3. One main benefit of obeying Jesus’ voice is the security that it provides.  We are in constant danger of being attacked by the schemes of the enemy but Jesus can lead us to safety.   In order for us to rest in the security that Jesus provides for us, we have to recognize our human tendency to stray like sheep.  Like the lyrics of the classic hymn, “Come thou fount,” we have to pray constantly, “Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.”

Evening Reflection

We often forget how dependent we are on the voice of God.  Just as sheep cannot survive without hearing and following the voice of their shepherd, the believer who doesn’t heed God’s voice will find himself in constant spiritual danger.   

In what tangible way did you obey God’s leading today?  Were there some difficult choices to be made?     

October 26, Monday

UPDATED Today’s AMI Devotional QT, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, was first posted on July 28, 2014.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Spiritual Respite Amid Bad News from All Sides”

1 Peter 4:7

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

When I was young, bad news reported on television was limited to what happened locally. Now with the advent of internet, I get bad news from every corner of the world, instantly. I hear about the civil war in Syria, the conflicts in Ukraine, the oppressions in North Korea, the increasing conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, and on and on.  All these bad news from afar, along with bad news around me, can steal my peace and keep me up at night. 

So how should Christians respond to things that seem out of our control and causes us to stress? The Bible says, “Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.”  That is to say, when we are losing peace, the best response is to pray.  Though those around us seem to depend on a round of golf, a shot of espresso, or a quart of ice cream, prayer is so much better, more powerful, and more effective in handling anxiety, chaos, and stress. 

So today, seek spiritual respite amid bad news from all sides.  Pray—not the superficial, guilt-driven, garden variety kind of prayer, but vine-to-branch connection prayer.  Today, find the best time and place to pray: that is, a time when you are most alert and awake, as well as a place where you will not be distracted.  Find a place that inspires you to pray.  It may be a remote park bench visited during your lunch time. During this special time, come before the Lord with a soft and honest heart. It is not His purpose that you suffer through lifeless prayers. He will meet with you. As a matter of fact, He is waiting for you. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is waiting for you.  

Prayer: Lord, remind me and motivate me to find the time and a place to spend quiet and quality time with you today.  You are always so ready to meet with me, though I always make excuses.  But not today, Lord!  I will see you later during my lunch hour.  Thank you, Jesus. 

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Write down the convictions that God gives you through this passage concerning prayer.
  2. How can you apply those convictions to your prayer life?

Note

  1. Most of us worry too much, even those who emphasize God’s sovereignty. That’s why it is important to take a pause in the middle of a hectic day and meditate on Ps. 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”  
  2. To pray like this, we cannot be hurried nor rushed.  While we do most of the talking (praying), we must also keep silent to detect God’s whisper (e.g., a verse, affirming or convicting words, even an image) spoken to our heart.

Evening Reflection

Reflect and walk out the revelations God gave you during your time with Him.