October 5, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on June 2, 2014.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Importance of Being Discipled”

1 Timothy 1:1-2

 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, [2] To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you ever had a mentor or a coach teach you a skill or craft?  I remember when I first started playing the game of baseball, my coach would devote hours teaching me how to hit, field, and throw the ball.  He guided and taught me everything about the game, and because of his mentorship, I grew as a player and teammate.  

In this first letter to Timothy, Paul is giving him counsel and guidance on how to conduct himself in the leadership of that church. Right away, we see Paul’s intimate relationship with Timothy, almost like a father-son type (v.2).  Most commentators write that Timothy was converted under Paul’s ministry and became one of his most trusted helpers in the faith.  It was because of this kind of relationship that Timothy was able to receive advice and encouragement from Paul.  

Discipleship is critical in the Christian faith.  Part of discipleship is having people who can encourage us in our walk with Jesus.  Whether it is through a small group ministry or an accountability group, we should strive to seek Paul/Timothy relationships in our lives.  Do you have this type of spiritual relationship in your life?  Growing in our faith requires others to guide us and help us along the way.  

Ask the Lord for this type of relationship in your life.  Get involved in community and seek out spiritual mentorship.  If you already have this relationship in your life, take some time thanking the Lord for his provision.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the godly relationships in my life.  Help me to seek out more of these types of Paul/Timothy relationships so that it would help me grow to be more like Jesus.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

Lunch Break Study  

Read Matthew 4:18-22: While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [19] And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed him. [21] And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. [22] Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Questions to Consider 

  1. What do you find unique about Jesus’ call to discipleship?
  2. What is the result of following Jesus?  Why do you think Jesus mentions the goal of discipleship?
  3. What are the obstacles to discipleship in your life?  How can you overcome them?

Note

  1. The word “disciple” literally means someone who pledges to be a “learner.” Moreover, it is someone who follows another’s teaching and adheres to it. Discipleship is a commitment and a process. It involves time to undertake the learning and a yearning to imitate Jesus!
  2. Discipleship is also reciprocal, that is, the discipler makes the commitment to train someone else. That is what Jesus meant by, “I will make you fishers of men.” It is not just catching them and then storing them (fish were processed and sold for the betterment and use of the community); it involves training the disciples, so they, too, can catch, train, and place others in positions of leadership.
  3. Discipleship requires commitment.  It is a daily decision we make to grow and learn.  As we follow Christ, we should also find others to disciple and nurture them in their walk.

Evening Reflection

As we have been meditating on the idea of discipleship, what is the Lord asking you to do?  Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you close the day in prayer.   

October 4, Sunday

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, prepared by Pastor Jason Sato who is currently serving in Japan as a missionary, is an updated version of his blog first posted on April 27, 2014. Jason is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Taking My Eyes Off Of Someone Truly Unimpressive and Gazing at Someone Who Is”

Matthew 13:31-33

“He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. [32] It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” [33] He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Scripture is clear that the Kingdom of God may appear unimpressive; nevertheless, that doesn’t mean that the Kingdom won’t be truly glorious. While the Kingdom is “the smallest of seeds,” it grows “larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree” (v. 32).   Likewise, the leaven hidden in the flour works its way through all the dough (v. 33).

When I was a kid, I used to watch “Transformers,” the cartoon. The theme song ended with the words: “Transformers, more than meets the eye!” The idea is that while that car looks like a car, it is, in fact, a giant, awesome robot with lasers. Yet when we look at our Christian lives, all we see is a minivan with no A/C. We wonder, “Where are the lasers?”

One of our major problems is that we have a very low standard for awesomeness. Our culture defines “great” as fast, easy, and fun. However, the reality is, Jesus does not promise us fast, easy, or fun: in fact, He can get in the way of such things. But ask yourself, what is better than fast, easy, and fun? What is truly awe-inspiring? What can take your breath away?

Perhaps you thought of a groom seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day. Or maybe a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon, or the birth of a child. Notice what all these wondrous things have in common. They all draw our attention completely away from ourselves. So often the Kingdom of God is unimpressive, boring, and even disappointing because we are still looking at ourselves. We have gone far too long without gazing at Jesus.

God does better than give us a better life now. Rather, He frees us from our obsession with ourselves so that we can see and experience something and Someone truly awe-inspiring. May the Son of God take your breath away as you worship Him this Sunday.

Prayer: Lord, I got to take my eyes off of me and place my gaze upon You!  I got to go from looking at something that is truly unimpressive to fix my eyes on Christ, the most awesome entity in the universe.  Please, remind and empower me to make this critical move. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today:2 Chronicles 36

October 3, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Young Kim of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia, was originally posted on June 12, 2013.  Young is a graduate of University of Illinois (BS), Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Westminster Theological Seminary (MA). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Taming the Tongues”

Proverbs 10:19, 21-27 

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.”

What, when, and how you say words matter!!! Be wise with your lips. You and I can cause a lot of pain or cause a lot of encouragement with the words we choose to say. Being wise with your words show our true maturity in Christ. Pray about it!!!

James 3:1-11

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their 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 body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being 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 human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The words we speak can bless or it can destroy.  We underestimate the power of our tongue. If you have not paid much attention to this area, you might want to do so today.  There might be some repentance needed.  There might be some apologies you need to make.  To whom do you need to apologize?  How are you using your words?  Ask Jesus to make you more sensitive about this area and to give you strength to make your words a blessing!

Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom as I speak to those that make me impatient.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Chronicles 34-35

October 2, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMIQT Devotional, 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

“Learn to Say ‘No’ to Bitterness”

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. 

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: 2 Chronicle 33

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: “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[a] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[b] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

October 1, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 21, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Jesus the Conqueror” 

Psalm 110:1-7 (NIV)

The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever,  in the order of Melchizedek.” 5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high. 

Psalm 110 is the most referenced Psalm in all of the New Testament. It is a powerful messianic psalm telling of the coming reign of Messiah. From it, we learn that Messiah will not only rule as the King and Lord over all the earth, but He will also be the Priest of God’s people, serving as the perfect mediator between God and man. 

Jesus is that messiah! He is our perfect ruler and perfect priest. For generations, Israel longed to see Him reign and now we [i.e., the Church, or true Israel (Rom. 2:28-9; 9:24-6)] get to delight in His rule (and anticipate its fullness upon His return). 

This Psalm was likely sung when a new king was placed on the throne in Zion, and it offers many promises to David’s son. The king gets the place of favor, for he sits at the Lord’s “right hand” (v. 1). This verse also gives assurance of victory — God Himself makes the king’s enemies his footstool, an ancient Near Eastern metaphor for total subjugation. Various biblical figures placed their feet on the necks of defeated foes (Josh. 10:1–28; 1 Kings 5:1–3).

We have victory in our Lord Jesus Christ because of his work on the Cross.  Maybe you are in a season of feeling defeated or overwhelmed.  Let’s remember that we can overcome through the power of Christ. Yes, we are more than conquerors. 

Prayer: To our victorious King Jesus, thank You for defeating our enemy in order that we may have life in You.  Thank You that You continue to have our backs in our present struggles against the world, the flesh, and the devil.  We shall be triumphant in You.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 32

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:14–5:6: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5:1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 

Questions to Consider

  1. What do we learn about Jesus’s role as high priest from this passage?
  2. What should our knowledge of Jesus’ role on our behalf lead us to do? 
  3. Based on this passage, what has Jesus done for us?

Notes

  1. Jesus serves as our mediator before God. As sinners, we can’t approach God on our own, but because of Jesus’ sacrifice, He allows us to enter God’s presence and enjoy a relationship with Him. Jesus, through His body, has made the sacrifice needed to make that possible. Jesus is also compassionate, able to empathize with our struggles because He himself was subject to the weakness of human flesh. 
  2. Because we know that Jesus is our perfect mediator who makes a relationship with God possible and empathizes with our struggles, we should go to God in prayer with great confidence because we know that we will find abundant grace there. Every possible barrier between us and God has been done away with in Christ!
  3. Jesus has done away with every possible barrier between God and us. He willingly took on human form and subjected himself to the struggles we endure every day. Knowing this, we should be all the more confident in going to God in prayer, knowing we are completely dependent on Him, and that He delights in coming to our aid. Let’s approach the Lord boldly and confidently in prayer because of who He is and his grace to help us in our time of need.

Evening Reflection

“There are many things in my life that I do not want to put under the gaze of Christ. Yet I know there is nothing hidden from Him. He knows me better than my wife knows me. And yet He loves me. This is the most amazing thing of all about God’s grace. It would be one thing for Him to love us if we could fool Him into thinking that we were better than we actually are. But He knows better. He knows all there is to know about us, including those things that could destroy our reputation. He is minutely and acutely aware of every skeleton in every closet. And He loves us.” (R.C. Sproul)

Spend some time thanking God for His amazing grace and acceptance best demonstrated in the person and work of Jesus. 

September 30, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by the then (2013) staff of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, is an updated version of their blog first posted on July 24, 2013.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“How Will You Respond to the Lord?”

Psalm 78:32-39

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. 33 So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. 34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. 35 They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer. 36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; 37 their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant. 38 Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath. 39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.

Isn’t it interesting to see what God will do to draw us near to Him?  Sometimes God gently whispers, and at other times He loudly gets our attentions.  Sometimes God blesses us in the hopes that we would turn to Him and give praise and thanksgiving to Him. Other times He disciplines us so that we would turn to Him.  

In the case of the Israelites, because they didn’t respond well to God’s blessings and provisions, He punished them with His wrath.  It was only after they were disciplined that they turned to God.  But even when they turned to God it wasn’t genuine.  

Our Heavenly Father is calling us this morning.  How will you respond to Him?  Sometimes we respond to God like the Israelites, where our worship, our gratitude, our repentance isn’t genuine.  Let’s ask God to search our hearts and to reveal to us the condition of our heart so that we might be able to offer God a pure and pleasing offering.

Prayer: Father, I confess that sometimes when I respond to You, my actions are not genuine.  Forgive me for simply going through the motions, for not offering You authentic worship.  Fill me with Your Spirit that my heart will begin to change.  I thank You that despite my failures, You are merciful and gracious.  Thank You for being faithful even when I’m not.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 31 

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:11-12 (NIV): Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?

Questions to Consider

  1. What does slandering others (especially other believers) reveal about the condition of your heart? 
  2. What is the underlying assumption when you stand in judgment against another person? 
  3. Rather than blurting out slanderous statements about others, especially other believers, we should stop and bless that person in the name of Jesus.  How are you doing in this area?  

Notes

  1. To “speak evil” of a person is to find fault with him, to speak disparagingly of him, to gossip maliciously about him.  Some people think fault-finding is their spiritual gift! This is sad. In the book of James, the members of the same body were turning against one another. It was like the body attacking itself! Christians attacking one another! We have a tendency to dismiss it as a trivial thing, but James refuses to do so. He wants his readers to stare this ugly thing in the face. He begins by telling them that such evil-speaking means setting oneself above the law. There is a law against evil-speaking; it is God’s law.
  2. When we slander another brother or sister in Christ, we are breaking that law; yet we are doing much more. We are assuming that we know better than God who gave the law. We are saying that this law should not even be a law. Curtis Vaughan observes, “The man who deliberately breaks a law thereby disparages that law. In effect he sets himself above it and declares that it is a bad law, not worthy to be obeyed.”  This is simply pride, a very dangerous place in our spiritual walk.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time worshipping the Lord verbally. Let your tongue be used to glorify God rather than tear down others. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me if I had been slandering others from my judgmental heart and attitude. Help me to bless others in the name of Your Son.   

September 29, Tuesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King who serves as associate pastor at Remnant Church in Manhattan, was first posted on April 8, 2014.  Cami is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Pivotal Importance of God’s People in Our Lives”

Galatians 2:6-10 

And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

As Paul continues defending his message against the deception of false teachers, he turns to the agreement between his message and that of other believers (namely the apostles and those who were “influential” in the Church) as testament to its validity. The apostles were the gold standard at that time because they knew best the teachings of Jesus. They had, after all, spent the most time with Him. 

Looking back on the days of the early Church, I imagine it being a bit chaotic and having difficultly discerning what was true and what was false since the New Testament had not yet been written and compiled. But God had things under control and He used the apostles (and others within the Body) to lay the foundations for the teachings we’ve come to know today, the truth that we now have as Scripture, and to lead His people into the right paths. He did this through His Holy Spirit living within the believers.

We are privileged beyond those in the early Church because we now have the compiled New Testament to offer us guidance and wisdom, as well as the ability to discern truth from error, as we seek to live lives that glorify God.  But one invaluable thing that we still have today is one another. We all carry the Holy Spirit and are each able to speak words of truth and life to one another through God’s Spirit within us.

We are such an independent culture and sometimes we allow the gift of the Bible to breed pride and isolationism – thinking we can figure everything out on our own. But we still need each other. Yes, God’s Word is our gold standard for today, but God’s people (i.e., community) are still important. God’s Spirit at work within us should bring about agreement that protects us from error and leads us into the right path.

Are there areas of confusion in your life? Are there impending decisions or looming questions? Seek God in His Word and talk to other believers. The Holy Spirit at work within you both will enable you walk in the right path. 

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for the gifts of Your Holy Scriptures and Your Holy Spirit that together lead me into all truth and wisdom. Thank You for the body of believers that help protect me from deception and confusion. Help me to rely upon my brothers and sisters in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 30

Lunch Break Study 

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Questions to Consider

  1. In his closing words to his disciple Timothy, what does Paul tell him to do? 
  2. From whom might Timothy have learned these things? 
  3. What is the purpose of the Scriptures according to this passage? 

Notes

  1. Continue in the things he has learned. In other words, be faithful to follow Christ and obey the word of God. 
  2. From other believers – from His family members who taught Him the way of the Lord, from the religious schooling he most likely received as a child, and, mainly, from Paul, as Timothy had learned much from his life and teachings. 
  3. We have the Bible so that we may be equipped for every God work. All of it is useful for teaching, correction, reproof, and training in the things of God. 

Evening Reflection

Who are the people God has placed in your life to teach you the truths of His Word (like Paul did for Timothy)? Who are those He’s given to walk alongside you (like the apostles did for Paul)? Who are those who God has given you to pour out what you’ve learned in your faith journey? Pray and ask God to identify these people in your life and for practical ways to nourish these precious relationships. 

September 28, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on September 10, 2014.  Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Two Are Better Than One”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-16 (ESV)

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 13 Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer knew how to take advice. 14 For he went from prison to the throne, though in his own kingdom he had been born poor. 15 I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king’s place. 16 There was no end of all the people, all of whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind. 

I once read that two oxen yoked together can pull more than double the weight that the same oxen can pull separately (with all things being equal).  This is an amazing example of ‘two being better than one’ in terms of output and reward for our labors.  In our fiercely individualistic culture however, this basic concept has long been forgotten, and as a result, we are constantly trying to ‘pull our own weight’ without regard for anyone else.  

Ironically, the need for each other is a lesson we learn early in our childhood.  Whenever I chaperone my daughter’s field trip, all the students, after being paired up, are instructed to watch out for each other.  This works remarkably well, which lessens the stress in adults while teaching the children the importance of caring for someone beside themselves.  It’s to our detriment that we gradually forget this rudimentary lesson; ultimately, in our self-sufficiency we become oblivious to the fact that this principle is God’s plan for how we ought to work for and serve him.  

Robert Bellah, professor emeritus (in sociology) at the University of California, Berkeley, sees expressive individualism, referring to one’s outlook in life in which a person is solely concerned with fulfilling his dream, as a main culprit to the fabric of society coming unglued.  Its byproduct is individuals unconcerned about the common good, which then becomes fodder for social problems.  

As a remedy, the eminent sociologist writes, “To make a real difference. . ., there has to be a reappropriation of the idea of vocation and calling, a return in a new way to the idea of work as a contribution to the good of all and not merely as a means to one’s own advancement.”  Paul puts like this: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need” (Eph. 4:28 ESV).  It is stunning that this scholar from a leading liberal institution in America is echoing what the Scriptures have been saying for thousands of years.   

Whatever differences made as a result of an individual pursuit of success will pale in comparison to the differences made when we labor together and with others in mind.  Not only will we be happier, because of the friendships made, but also by the amount, effectiveness and usefulness of the work accomplished.   Be a team player today!

Prayer: Lord, give us the wisdom not only to work harder but to work smarter.  We confess that because of our pride, we fail to work together for the building up of Your kingdom.  Help us to see Your intent for us to work with one another, not simply for our own personal advancement but also for the good of our churches and communities.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 29

Lunch Break Study  

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (ESV): Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 

Questions to Consider 

  1. Why is laziness inherently a selfish and individualistic attitude towards work?  
  2. What pattern of work is Paul advocating for us to imitate?
  3. Identify some areas of laziness in your life.      

Notes

  1. At the core, being idle does not take into account that your lack of work ethic affects those around you.  By not doing your share of the work, you are robbing the community of the benefits it could have derived from your diligence.  Laziness is, in effect, a subtle form of self-centeredness that keeps your family, church, or work from reaching its fullest potential.    
  2. Paul and his co-workers, while serving this young church, refused to be a burden on them.  They were mindful of the common good as they labored together to establish this congregation.  In fact, Paul rarely worked or traveled alone according to the epistles; he constantly had friends, disciples, and partners with whom they co-labored.   
  3. Person response.

Evening Reflection

Are you currently serving your church? If not, why not?  If so, how is your relationship with other members and is there a sense of partnership in the gospel?  Pray about how you can work more closely with friends, family, and members of your church to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  

September 27, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Barry Kang who heads Symphony Church in Boston, was first posted on March 9, 2014.  He is a graduate of Stanford University (BA), Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Being a Doer”

2 Corinthians 3:18 

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Can I be direct with you this morning?  I fear that Christianity in this country has sometimes reduced the gospel to one of two things: either doctrine that we know in our minds, or emotions that we feel in our hearts.  Doctrine is very important and emotional experiences that are founded on right doctrine are very important.  But in the end, the result of the gospel is transformation.  If we reflect the Lord’s glory, then we will be transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory!

I remember Andy Stanley talking about how many of us are satisfied with merely being “convicted.”  We might attend a worship service, which (either through the praise or the message or both) stimulates our minds and engages our hearts, and we will be “convicted” about an area of our lives.   We might confess and pray a prayer of repentance.  We might even tell God that we’re going to obey.  Then, we will go about our merry way, never following through, satisfied in knowing that we had “experienced” God. 

To use a silly household analogy, it does me no good to be convicted about vacuuming my house, unless I actually vacuum.  When I face the “judge,” I will earn little sympathy when I tell him that, at least, I wanted to do it.  The true test of whether I actually wanted to vacuum is if I have actually followed through with it!  To belabor the point: the true test of whether we are following Jesus is if we are actually following Jesus.  

You might be reading this before Sunday service…or after the service.  Regardless, I pray that God will have engaged your mind and your heart.  If you receive a “conviction,” please obey God.  Remember, “whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected” (1 John 2:5).  Don’t be satisfied with merely being convicted (in mind or in heart).  God has much more that He wants to do in you and through you!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me not to merely listen to Your words, thereby deceiving myself, but do what You say.  Remind me that “whoever claims to live in [God] must walk as Jesus did” (1 Jn. 2:6). May I be filled with the Spirit in order to lead the life of a doer.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Chronicles 28

September 26, Saturday

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), is an updated version of his blog first posted on March 30, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Hearing God’s Voice from Unlikely Sources”

Luke 19:40

“If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” 

Much of what we read and hear every day (office gossips, silly blogs, strange teachings) can easily be dismissed, but when God speaks to us through unlikely sources, it needs to be discerned as such and then we need to heed it.  

Augustine the great theologian (350-430) is known as a saint, but he was anything but that before his conversion.   What turned him around?  While crying out to God in a garden in Milan over his many sins, Augustine suddenly heard a voice of a child nearby saying repeatedly, “Take and read; take and read.”  Quickly grabbing his New Testament, he read Romans 13:13-14, which says, “Let us behave decently . . . not in sexual immorality. . .  Rather, clothes yourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”  Shaken up spiritually, it was there and then that Augustine the great sinner began his trek back to God.  

Certainly not to that level but I experienced something similar that led to a change of mind (i.e., repentance).  In 2008, while serving in Mexico where my principle ministry was providing extended education for pastors, I heard God through an unlikely source.  Closely working with the Baptist pastors in Chihuahua, Mexico, they also included me in the list of Baptist pastors where names were randomly picked to preach at different churches on a pulpit-exchange Sunday.  Not wanting to be assigned to a church far from home, often requiring several hours to drive, I asked the lead pastor, (also a good friend) to take my name out of that list, which he obliged.  However, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my conscience, saying, “You don’t mind flying 15 hours to teach in Vietnam but you don’t want to drive for two hour to preach?”  Is it not glamorous enough for you?  The next day, I informed the lead pastor to put me back in the draw.  A few days later, he called to inform me that I was picked to speak at a church nearby my home: a congregation inside the infamous CERESO prison where most hardcore criminals were incarcerated.  

I had first gotten involved with this ministry in 2005 through my home church in Mexico. A team of us would go there every Friday night and teach the inmates for an hour and fellowship thereafter. After two years, a church was organized inside the prison because many had become believers, which meant that we would go there every Sunday afternoon to hold worship services.  But, I stopped going because, among other reasons, I often preached at other churches on Sundays; thus, I had not been there for more than a year when I returned to preach.  After preaching in front of more than 100 inmates, a prisoner named “Mata” (meaning “kill” in Spanish; ironically he was convicted of murder), after telling me how blessed he was to hear from me, wanted to know why I had stopped coming.  Caught off guard, I responded, “I’ve been very busy,” to which he said, “I guess we aren’t as important to you.”  Sounding defensive, I reassured him that that wasn’t so.  In response, Mata calmly said, “Then please come here at least once a month to preach because we need to hear from you.”  That’s how I ended up preaching there once a month from then on until 2010, when visitation was no longer allowed due to the escalating violence inside the prison.  

Yes, while we hear and read many useless things, remember that God may speak to you through unlikely sources, even stones!  You need to obey that one, much like Jesus who obeyed his Father to die on the cross for the “sins of the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2). 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to discern Your voice in our lives, and then give us the strength and willingness to heed what we have heard.  May we be obedient children to the Father.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Chronicles 26-27