UPDATED 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 17, 2014.  Charles is a graduate of University of California, Riverside (BA) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Urgency Need for the Intake of God’s Eternal Truth”

1 Timothy 4:6

“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”

According to Nielsen, the average American has been watching more than five hours of television every day, which had prompted the author Neil Postman to entitle his 1985 book “Amusing Ourselves to Death.”  Today, we (with new toys at our disposal) spend more time entertaining ourselves than any previous generation before us.

In what sense does this matter to us?  When Paul calls Timothy to “be a good minister of Christ Jesus,” he is not calling him to be a good pastor or a staff member of a church. The word for minister here can be translated deacon or servant. The idea here is, whether you are a pastor or a deacon, to be a minister is to be ultimately a servant of Christ Jesus.

But notice here how Paul defines a good minister. Among other things, he is a faithful conduit of the truth to other Christians. To do this, however, Timothy first had to keep himself “nourished” to the truths in which he was “brought up.”

And notice how Paul combines two important elements: knowledge and decision. He says you need the good, sound teachings of the faith in order to walk in them; you learn, and then you do what it says. That is the formula for a good servant of Jesus Christ – giving yourself to nourishing yourself, feeding upon these things and then following them.

So, to that end, Paul would say to us today, Watch what you are feeding on! Be nourished on the words of the faith and the good doctrine that you have followed. What has been nourishing your soul daily during the pandemic? Netflix? NPR? SportsCenter? People magazine? There’s nothing inherently wrong with these things, but the failure to regulate their intake will affect our study of God’s Word. And in a tumultuous time, such as the one we are facing right now, never has there been a greater urgency to dive into eternal truth of God with a receptive and unbiased heart. So, make time to be in the Word today.  To do that, you may have to cut down on what you watch or how much of it you watch.

Prayer: Lord, I want to confess with the Psalmist, “Oh how I love your law” (Ps 110:97)!  Teach me to be a person of the Word, for your Word is a lamp unto my feet. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isiah 53

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Lunch Break Study

The word doctrine has gotten a bad name over the years. Say that word and some people seem to cringe. We like the Bible, but we’re not so sure we like doctrine. So we say things like “Doctrine divides, service unites,” or “Deeds, not creeds.” But doctrine simply means “teaching,” or “instruction.” And in that sense, we are all doctrinal because we follow set of teaching that make up our worldview. What we should fear is bad doctrine or unbalanced teachings of Scripture. Let’s recover our love for sound biblical doctrine.

Read Titus 3:4-8 (ESV): “ But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

Questions to Consider

1. Paul in verse 8 says, “I want you to insist on these things so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.” Why does Paul tell us to insist on these things?
2. What are “those things?”
3. Paul sees a relationship between doctrine and grace. Specifically, what does understanding doctrine lead to?

Notes

1. Paul wants us to focus on these things so that believers will engage in good deeds.
2. Doctrine. He is referring back to what he had just stated, which was that God saved us apart from our works so that, being justified by grace, we would become heirs of eternal life.
3. It leads to us engaging in effective action. Good works. Doctrine is not just a foundation for good works. It causes good works.

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Evening Reflection

What we see here is that the Bible teaches that sound doctrine is the basis for right action and, in fact, leads to and causes right action.

UPDATED Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, is an updated version of his blog first posted on November 3, 2013.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What’s in a Name Paraclete?”

Psalm 94:16-19 (NIV)

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? 17 Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. 18 When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

One of my favorite verses describing God, the Holy Spirit in particular, is John 14:26 where the Spirit of God is called our “Helper.” This is translated from a Greek word paraclete, which is difficult to represent with any single English word. It gives the picture of one who comes along side and provides necessary aid, guidance, and even defense (in many translations this same word is rendered “Comforter,” “Counselor,” or “Advocate”).

In an article in Christianity Today, Ian Coffey is said to have told this story:

“The Karre language of equatorial Africa proved to be difficult for the translators of the New Testament, especially when it came to the word paraclete. How could they describe the Holy Spirit?  One day the translators came across a group of porters going off into the bush carrying bundles on their heads. They noticed that in the line of porters there was always one who didn’t carry anything, and they assumed he was the boss, there to make sure that the others did their work. However, they discovered he wasn’t the boss; he had a special job. He was there should anyone fall over with exhaustion; he would come and pick up the man’s load and carry it for him. This porter was known in the Karre language as ‘the one who falls down beside us.’ The translators had their word for paraclete.”

It’s amazing to me that this is what God does for us. Not only does He provide the strength we need to carry our loads in life, He also is our counselor, defender, protector, and comforter. The psalmist knew this to be true about God by experience. God had been his help in times of difficulty, his support when he slipped, and his consolation in times of anxiety. Our God is our ever-present help!  What an apt reminder as we are all facing great hardship right now: as if the pandemic isn’t enough, now social unrest has broken out in our cities.  Lord, help us!  This does not mean, of course, that bad things will never happen to us; but when they do, the Lord will impart sufficient grace so that we can adequately handle any and every situation (1 Cor. 10:13).

Prayer: Lord Jesus, during this time of great hardship may the Spirit illuminate our minds so that we can think clearly on matters of great importance; may the Spirit fortify our hearts so that we do not given into hopelessness and despair. Help us, Lord!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 52

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Cor. 1:3-7 (NIV): Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Questions to Consider

1. What two ways is God described at the start of this passage? How have you experienced these two characteristics of God?
2. According to the passage, why does God comfort us in times of trouble?
3. What is the result of the comfort God gives us through one another?

Notes

1. “Father of compassion” and “God of all comfort.” – As believers we get to experience God as a father who is compassionate toward us. We also get to experience God as our source of comfort in times of difficulty and trials.
2. “…so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – As God extends his compassion toward us, we are to extend that same compassion toward others who may be going through difficult times. One of the major ways the Spirit of God comforts and encourages us is through one another.
3. “patient endurance.” – The comfort we extend to those in times of difficulty enables them to patiently endure. Without the support of a spiritual community, it is very difficult to endure trying times. But as we support each other, God is able to use difficult circumstances to sanctify us, making us more like Christ, and we’re able to withstand the process.

Are you in need of comfort today? Pray and ask God to be your comforter. Ask Him to send brothers/sisters along who can encourage you as they’ve been encouraged in their times of difficulty. Maybe there are some around you who could use your comfort. Pray and ask God to identify them to you and reach out to them as the Spirit leads.

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Evening Reflection

Spend some time thanking God for the help he has provided you. Remember seasons of difficulty when God provided comfort or times of transition when God provided guidance or times of weariness when God provided strength. Regardless of the form it took, the help we received in all of those times was from our loving God.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 23, 2014, is prepared by Pastor Jason Sato who is currently serving in Japan as a missionary.  Jason is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“What is the Difference Between a Salesman and a Friend?

Galatians 5:13-15 (ESV)

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. [14] For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [15] But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”

I remember having a humorous conversation with one of the AMI pastors about one of his disciples. He spoke of how proud he was of the work his disciple was doing, adding at the end, “But every time he does something well, I give him a hard time a little later…just to keep him on his toes.”

While this pastor was just joking around, we all have a suspicion in the back of our minds that everyone needs a healthy dose of fear to keep them in line. As the apostle Paul continues to exhort the Galatians to embrace faith and reject circumcision, he faces an inevitable question: If salvation is by faith and there is no fear of punishment, why would anyone live a righteous life or serve others?

This line of thinking assumes that grace frees us to be even more self-absorbed than ever before.  But Paul encourages the Galatians to use their freedom to serve one another, not “as an opportunity for the flesh” (v. 13). Surprisingly, freedom from earning God’s approval by the law actually frees us, not to love ourselves, but to love our neighbors as ourselves.

What’s the difference between a phone salesman and a friend giving you advice about which phone to purchase? Both could be friendly, informative, and helpful.  Sometimes a salesman is nicer to us than our friends are!  But the salesman is giving advice with his own self-interest in mind, while a friend receives nothing from your purchase.  The friend is giving you advice with your best interests in mind, not his own.

In a similar way, serving and loving our neighbor in order to earn God’s love ultimately places our own self-interest at the center.  Our own benefit and reputation is still the motivating factor. These kinds of self-centered acts of “love” ultimately bear the fruit of self-righteousness, division, betrayal, and hurt.

Do you find yourself using your freedom to indulge in sin? Do you find yourself trying to gain your freedom by “loving” your neighbor? Ask the Lord to pour out His grace that you would be set free to love Jesus and your neighbor selflessly.

Prayer Father, I thank You that You have loved me freely and poured out Your grace though I was Your enemy. I thank You that I no longer have to compare and outdo others to try to earn Your affection. Give me grace to live in this freedom, free to love others as You have loved me.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 51

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Luke 14:12-14 (ESV): “He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. [13] But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, [14] and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.””

Questions to Consider

1. Who do we normally invite to our homes and why?
2. Who does Jesus instruct us to invite? What would that look like in your life?
3. Who will repay those who invite the poor and crippled into their homes?

Notes

1. We usually invite our friends and relatives or people who can benefit us in some way.  We invite such people because we can enjoy a reciprocal love (one that pays back) with them.
2. Jesus instructs us to invite those who are different from us and those who cannot pay us back. Answers may vary, but a few examples could include inviting over a poor college student, someone who has very few friends because of awkwardness or even rudeness, or the homeless person who wanders into our church.
3. Jesus will reward us at the resurrection of the just. Often, when we invite over our friends and family, they reward us and we have no reward for such actions from Christ.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. What opportunities did you have to give selfless love to another person? Did you take those opportunities?  Take a moment to thank God and/or to repent and receive the selfless love of God for you.

NEW Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Stephanie Moon who, together with her husband Jon, serves as a missionary in Coban, Guatemala. She is a graduate of University of Washington (BA) and University of California, Berkeley (MBA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Global Injustice, in Guatemala”

Luke 18:1-8

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

It is more and more evident that we live in a world where the systemic oppression and structural racism is an undeniable reality. Various types of injustice are rampant across the globe, but structural racism is particularly evident. I would reckon that every country has its own forms of racial injustice that pains God’s heart.

We have been able to witness this in our adopted country of Guatemala, where systems of injustice cause rampant inequality between those of Spanish and Mayan descent. In Guatemala, 2% of the population owns over 70% of the land, and 49% of the population lives below the poverty line—the heavy majority of those being indigenous peoples. Many of our church members live on land owned by wealthy landowners and work the land in exchange for ramshackle homes and a small plot of land they can use for substance farming. This arrangement is unjust because the land was forcibly taken from indigenous Mayan populations in the 1500’s through Spanish conquest and the impacts of this are felt even generations later. It is incredibly difficult for those of Mayan descent to accumulate wealth due to the lack of access to land, financial services, capital, and the ever-present underlying inequality.

I am proud that our church, La Gracia, has a mission to raise up the next generation of leaders in our community through education and spiritual formation; but I would be lying if I wasn’t discouraged at times looking at these massive structural and systemic issues. Are we doing enough? Probably not. Is it going to make a grand difference? Unlikely. Does the problem feel overwhelmingly large? Certainly. To the people who are oppressed, are these soul-crushing problems? Absolutely.

But when we get discouraged, it is helpful to turn to God’s word. I find solace in Luke 18 and the message of the persistent widow. It tells us three things:

• Acknowledge that there are unrighteous rulers. People in places of power can be roadblocks instead of vehicles of justice.
• Despite these roadblocks, we must be persistent and vocal when we see areas of injustice. Even the most unjust ruler can be persuaded by persistently bringing the truth to their attention time and time again.
• We have a just God who seeks to bring justice to the world today! He is an all loving and good God that listens to His children.

So, let’s leave the result in the hands of the Lord who will usher in changes as we obey Him; in the meantime, “to this end [we] labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in [us]” (Col. 1:29).

Prayer: We pray for those that feel crushed in the face of structural racism and systems of oppression. We pray that we would inspect our own hearts and uncover the ways we perpetrate racism in our communities. We pray for the stamina, love, courage, compassion, patience, and wisdom to keep fighting against injustice that we see in our communities.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 50

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Lunch Break Study*

Read Philippians 4:21-23: Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.* 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

* Caesar’s household (v. 22) doesn’t refer to blood relatives of Caesar, but rather the servants and guards of the palace (c.f., Phil. 1:13).

Questions to Consider

1. How does the apostle Paul address the recipients of his letter?
2. What is the significance of the way Paul addressed them the way he did?
3. What is the significance of Paul’s conclusion in verse 23?
4. Is there someone in your life who needs to know God personally? Ask the Lord for an opportunity to be used by Him to communicate His grace.

Note

1. Here, Paul again refers to the believers as saints and brothers (c.f., Phil 1:1).
2. At times, we lose sight of our identity in Christ, but Paul begins and ends his letter affirming God’s justifying work in our lives as well as our adoption into His family.
3. All the spiritual truths that he desired every saint to know, all the spiritual blessings that he longed for them to experience, all the convictions that he wanted them to have… all of it can be found only in “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection**

Deuteronomy 32:4: “His works are perfect and all his ways are just.  A God of truth . . . righteous and upright is he.”

Prayer: “Father, you desire that I seek and inquire of You, to crave You and Your strength, to behold Your face and Your presence, continually and forevermore.  I am astounded that You make Your Kingdom and Your righteousness available to me! Father, thank You for Your victory You give me through Jesus. This is the victory that has overcome the world: faith that flows from You, Jesus, my blessed hope. I am confident that Your glorious goodness will be with me all of my life. It is the cry of my heart to believe and speak of Your righteousness and love in all circumstances, and I will! You are always good, upright and just, and available.

Oh, Lord, thank You for revealing more and more of Your very heart and Your character to me.  In Your presence, complicated matters become simple, and You encounter my heart in intimacy and wisdom; there is nothing like being in Your presence.”

*Prepared by Pastor David Alas (first posted on September 29, 2013).

**Prepared by Pastor Bruce Yi, the leader pastor of Remnant Westside Church (first posted on September 14, 2013)

NEW Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Stephanie Moon who, together with her husband Jon, serves as a missionary in Coban, Guatemala. She is a graduate of University of Washington (BA) and University of California, Berkeley (MBA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Are We Really All that Different?”

James 2:1-4, 8-9

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? {….}8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

While I dare not equate what I am feeling to what African Americans have been putting up with for centuries, my heart, nonetheless, does break for them. It is time to confront the fact that racial bias is alive and well in many people’s hearts. While the horrific deaths of Ahmaud Abery and George Floyd are incredibly upsetting acts of injustice, what Christian Cooper experienced in New York City—the sin of subtle partiality outlined in James 2—hits closer to home.  It may be easy to point our fingers at the culprits in these cases and think that we would never act that way, but are we really all that different?  Aren’t we culprits of some form of partiality, favoritism or racism as outlined in James 2?  Ultimately, when we have widespread acceptance of even subtle acts of racism (e.g., “These types of people are like this”; “I’m safer living in this neighborhood”; “I would rather do business with this type of person”), this gives way to larger acts of racism.

James 2 clearly states that anything less than loving our neighbor and treating people the way we want to be treated is a transgression against God.  What can be so soul crushing for the victims of racial bias in the U.S. is that this sin has been so integrated with the fabric of our country’s history that it may not seem wrong or a sin by the perpetrators. Nevertheless, while these systemic injustices can feel endlessly large and frustrating, God calls us to radical grace and radical justice.

The first step is to acknowledge the sin of racial bias or partiality in our lives. We must uncover the areas where we have “made distinctions among yourselves and a judge with evil thoughts.” The next step is to confess it to God and share with others—friends, family, and church. We need to collectively become more aware and conscious of the subtle ways we sin against our neighbors.  Once we recognize the injustice in our hearts and communities, we should be compelled into action to fight injustice. This will look different depending on what community we are in. For us, it is finding ways to support the indigenous families in our Guatemalan village. For you, it might be learning more about people of color, educating your family, writing to your politicians, meeting physical needs of victims, or volunteering. If you do not know where to start, ask. Wonder. Question. Get information.

Remember, while governments may pass laws to legislate justice, God uses people—those who have been transformed by Christ—to bring justice at a personal level.  Yes, we can have the greatest impact by changing the communities to which we belong and have influence, by “do[ing] to others what you would have them do to you” (Mt. 7:12).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, remind us that we are called to radically love our neighbors. Help us to go beyond merely talking about wanting to do this or that for people; instead, convict us to reach out and tangibly love those who have been so unloved. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 49

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Lunch Break Study*

Read Philippians 3:10-11: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

Questions to Consider

1. What can we say about Paul’s desire here?
2. What is one thing of which everyone is afraid but Paul seems to have overcome it?
3. How can we know Christ more intimately?

Note

1. Paul is not speaking merely of having a greater mental awareness of God, but that he has a passionate longing to encounter a deeper personal union with Him.
2. Because Paul’s love for Christ, there is nothing that would hold him back, not suffering, not death, not anything!
3. Think about pursuing these things:
   1. Ask God to nurture in you a desire to know Christ that outweighs every other desire.
   2. Think about the obstacles that hinder your love for Christ and give thought as to how you should deal with them.
   3. Meditate regularly on passages like Phil. 2:6-11 and Col. 1:15-20
   4. Study the Gospel, such as the book of Mark or John with Phil 3:10-11 prominently in mind.
   5. Worship and adore him in song and in prayer. Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You.  There is no greater thing. You’re my all, You’re the best. You’re my joy, my righteousness. And I love You, Lord!

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Evening Reflection**

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Heavenly Father, You call me forth to let my light shine so that people would see these good works. Yes, I desire to show forth Your light, for You delight in me and You are worthy of all praise.  I thank You that I am Your workmanship and You have destined me to do Your righteous works! With the greatest wonder and delight, I partner with You to be a blessing to people around me.  Again and again, I am reminded of how You have revealed Your righteous character and Your kingdom through me to others. Thank You for using me and working through this weak vessel.  Amen.

*Prepared by Pastor David Alas (first posted on September 21, 2013).

**Prepared by Pastor Bruce Yi, the leader pastor of Remnant Westside Church (first posted on September 21, 2013)

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 November 2, 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

“I Am a Fool!”

Proverbs 1:10-16

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. [11] If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; [12] like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; [13] we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; [14] throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—[15] my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, [16] for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

Introduction: As our nation is reeling from a double-edge sword of COVID-19 (its toll on human lives and economy) and intense racial conflicts, we need to envelop ourselves with God’s wisdom.  We need to be part of the real solution, which starts with our relationship with God, not problem.  Keep that in mind as you read today’s blog.

Following the introduction to the book of Proverbs, the author dives straight into his first piece of wisdom: do not join a gang of murdering thieves.  I find myself hard pressed to argue with that, though I am tempted to ask, “How stupid do you think I am?”

Before we jump to conclusions, let’s follow the author’s argument.  In verse 11, the sinners attempt to entice the reader to lie in wait for blood.  The promised reward is precious goods and plunder (v. 12).  In short, commit sin and gain an immediate benefit for yourself.

From elementary school through high school, my go-to move was to lie if I thought I could avoid displeasing my parents, teachers, or friends.  My lying wasn’t very frequent; it generally seemed harmless, and there was an immediate benefit that appeared to outweigh the harm in lying.

Perhaps we’ve doubled or tripled (or more!) in age since our days as students, but all of us face moments when a “white lie” seems far more prudent than the truth.  And what our spouse, friend, or pastor doesn’t know won’t hurt them, right?  We don’t cut corners because we enjoy evil; we’re just trying to be efficient.  We’re peaceful people.  It’s better to just ignore someone than stir up trouble and try to reconcile.  Essentially, we’re masters of rationalization.  And that’s very dangerous.

The author of Proverbs does not simply think I’m foolish: He knows I am.  I’m tempted to sell my integrity for convenience, damage my relationship with my children for five minutes of peace and quiet, and lie to my small group rather than admit I need their prayers.

The Word of God warns us today to avoid immediate gain and death and pursue immediate obedience and everlasting life.  How are you tempted to pursue immediate “blessing” by disobeying God?  Ask the Lord to give you courage to seek His kingdom first and trust that He will add all things to you.  That is the wise way to live.  Be committed to it because difficult days lie ahead for many of us in which we will be tempted to take the shortcuts in life.

Prayer: Lord, what I am is not a mystery to You—I am a weak-willed person whose faith easily wilts when facing difficulties or temptations.  I am doomed apart from Your mercy!  I need You.  I depend on You.  I can do nothing apart from You.  Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 48

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Sam Lee who leads Catalyst Agape Church in Northern New Jersey, is an updated version (in collaboration with Pastor Ryun) of his blog first posted on October 19, 2013.  He is a graduate of University of Wisconsin (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Root of All Our Conflicts”

Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

2 Corinthians 2:11

“In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

The Bible says that our battle is not with flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12), meaning our fundamental problem is not with our spouses, children, parents, or in-laws.  Neither is our battle with the church pastors or church members.  And the same holds true with respect to racism that has, once again, reared its ugly head in the worst possible way and is engulfing our nation with rage and fear. Yes, there should be a time, like right now, for elected officials to put aside their partisan differences and really deal with the scourge of racism; yet the political realm isn’t where the real battles are being fought.

Then what is our battle and where is it being fought?  We are called to fight the spiritual battle, and much of this battle takes place not in our homes or in our churches or in the halls of congress, but in our minds. If we can’t win the battle of the mind, we won’t be able to resolve conflicts in our homes, in our churches and certainly not in our nation.

Marriage conflicts are first lost in the mind even before the husband storms out of the house or before the wife shuts her heart. The battle that divides the church happens months before, in the minds of the leaders and members before two opposing camps are formed.  Racism is no different: long before that vigilante-wannabe in Georgia pulled the trigger that killed an African American man, and long before that policeman in Minnesota kneed a suspect’s head until he could hardly breathe (allegedly contributing to his death, if not directly killing him), their minds had been spoon-fed by the lies of the devil.

Yes, your family members, church families or people in different racial groups are not your enemies. We have one enemy and he is not of the physical but of the spiritual realm.  The entire Ephesians 6:12 reads, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.

Don’t be outwitted by the enemy; be aware of his schemes.  When we believe the lies of the devil, whether they are transmitted from the rumor mill or social media, that’s when we start losing the battle of the mind, and as a result, our conflicts become more intensified all on their own. We become more bitter, angry, critical, judgmental, and violent even though we may not even see or talk with the person with whom we are in conflict, showing that we are losing the battle of the mind.

Today, let’s fight the real battle. Let’s cast down all wrong thoughts and take back the territory of our minds for the Lord.  Start reading the Bible seriously.  Memorize Scriptures.  And before you are about to utter those hurtful words or pull the trigger, declare, “In the name of Jesus, I renounce selfishness and indifference and callousness; instead, I embrace self-control, forgiveness/the need to be forgiven, vulnerability, and trust in God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask that You reveal all my wrong thoughts and that the Holy Spirit will begin to govern my thoughts.  Help me to renew my mind with godly thoughts rooted in Your eternal truth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 46-47

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought—first posted on April 11, 2014—is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee, a friend of AMI, who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Revisiting This Thing Called ‘Grace’”

Galatians 3:1-5

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Let’s be honest; most of us still struggle with grace.  In our high-achieving culture—that, for the moment, has been jolted by the pandemic—we think grace is a little unfair, don’t we?  For example, let’s say at work you are in line for a promotion; in fact, you’ve worked for years to get this position, but instead of giving it to you, your boss gives it to the fresh MBA grad who happens to be his son.  This would probably drive you bonkers!  Today, let’s revisit this thing called “God’s grace”.

Now, I understand that there is a vast difference between nepotism in the marketplace and salvation through grace, but might I suggest to you that fundamentally, the idea that some people get far more than what they merit bothers all of us.  In the church, we see the same phenomenon.  Some of you may have been praying for a particular gift or ministry opportunity for several years, and lo and behold, the guy who has only been a Christian for like two months gets it.

The truth is, we gravitate toward works because it appeals to our sense of economics; if we work, then we can say we have accomplished.  Unfortunately, we have to acknowledge our sinfulness in this line of thinking, and to see that we are trying to steal away from the glory and power of the cross.  The Galatians made this mistake; they wanted their works to count toward their salvation. But the reason God poured his Spirit on them (and us) was because they simply believed.  Let’s be clear; our works and efforts do count toward our sanctification (becoming more like Christ) and rewards in heaven, but they can never justify us (take away our guilt) before God.

Today—amid so many people who have lost so much during the pandemic—instead of growing in jealousy, let’s come to grips with the fact that we have received far greater than a job promotion, and we were far less deserving than even the boss’ bumbling son.  Let’s clothe ourselves in thankfulness that God would choose to save us and to use us for his Kingdom.  As we work/serve, let us remember that while our labor is not in vain, God is never obliged to do anything for us; his love, mercy, and favor are a gift.

Prayer: Father, help me to serve You faithfully with my hands, but let my heart depend on Your grace.  Remind me that I was lost and hopeless without You; make me thankful for Your mercy; and never let me rely on my own righteousness. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 45

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Lunch Break Study

Luke 16:28-32: “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Questions to Consider

1. What do we observe about the older brother?
2. What do we observe about the father?
3. With whom do you relate the most in this parable?

Notes

1. Let’s not kill the older brother, for we would all be angry with the younger brother.  But we see that the older brother is jealous of the father’s love, and does not understand the fullness of the father’s love for all his children.  We also see that the older son has viewed his labor as “slaving,” being self-righteous.
2. The father is lavish with his love.  He was the one to initiate reconciliation with his older son by pleading with him to come in.  The father didn’t stop loving the older brother, but at that moment, it was more appropriate to celebrate the younger son’s return.
3. Many of you who have been in the church awhile probably feel like the older brother; but know that your labor is not in vain.  Some of you may be able to relate with the younger son, who have come to your senses and have run to God.  Others who have wayward children may feel like the father; be ready to celebrate your son’s return.

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Evening Reflection

Were you able to cultivate a thankful heart today?  Did you allow jealousy, comparisons, or self-righteousness too much free reign?  Did you serve or work to honor God?

UPDATED 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 September 17, 2014.  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

“Starting is Easy—Finishing is What Counts”

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 (ESV)

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

I love to go to Home Depot.  There is something about purchasing the materials and tools needed to start a home improvement project that makes me feel “handy,” even though I’m not really “handy.”  And sometimes I will start a project and never finish it, but I still give myself partial credit for starting.  For example, I might make plans for Symphony Church, but never implement them; I still give myself credit for even thinking about it.  Oh, the absurdity of the human condition!

We are all capable of beginning something, for it’s quite easy.  Beginning appeals to our sense of pride and ambition, but finishing it is much harder.  We need more than pride or ambition to finish; finishing requires patience:

 

1. The patience to fight through difficult circumstances.
2. The patience to do hard and sometimes inglorious work.
3. The patience to resist getting angry when our pride or ambition is thwarted.

Every beginning holds the seductive promise of glory, while finishing requires endurance and humility.  Though I lack in patience, our God does not; He is patient and enduring.  Furthermore, God is the furnisher of the patience we need to finish what He would have us start. Thank God that Jesus finished his mission!  Thank God that Jesus cried out, “Let your will be done!” in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He finished every step needed to walk to the cross!  Thank God that on the cross, it was finished!

“Therefore . . ., let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1b-2). In that spirit, let’s finish what we have begun whether at home, work, or church.

Prayer: Father, this morning, I place myself in your hands.  I know that I am driven by pride and my own ambition, but I want to have Your patience and humility.  I look to Your cross again and surrender myself to Your finished work.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 44

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Luke 14:25-33: Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Questions to Consider

1. Why is it important to “count the cost” before taking on a task?
2. Why did Jesus stress the need to “count the cost” of following Him?
3. Are there any costs to following Jesus that you have not counted?

Notes

1. Being unprepared for a task leads to failure. Generally, it’s better to stop yourself rather than begin something without being prepared. Take the examples in this passage: Think of the waste in starting to build a tower and then stopping because you are unable to finish it.  All the time and resources put into the building are wasted.  Or likewise, for a king going to war, if he doesn’t first prepare and assess the battle, he will lose the war and suffer much casualty.
2. Following Jesus is demanding, for there will be challenges as well as sufferings.  Christ warns us of this, which is why we need to count the cost beforehand and prepare ourselves for the challenges.  If not, then we will find ourselves falling away as pressure mounts. Counting the cost helps us to prepare for the battle of faith and enables us to persevere despite the oncoming obstacles.
3. Take this time to reflect on your spiritual walk: What unexpected challenges have you faced? How did these affect you?  After thinking through what you believe it means to follow Jesus, develop ways to prepare yourself. We know challenges will come; Jesus assured us of that!  But He also assured us that He will be with us to the very end of the age. Let His presence be your strength as you prepare for the challenges of obedience to the gospel.

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Evening Reflection

Have you started anything recently that you haven’t finished?  Have you made any commitment to God that you have not followed through?  What is stopping you?  As we journal, let us surrender to Him anything the Holy Spirit brings to our minds.

NEW Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Always Perfecting Timing”

Galatians 4:4

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law . . .”

Luke 1:13

“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.’”

One thing we must get used to—the earlier, the better: God’s timing and ours are not usually synchronized.  That is to say, God always moves according to His “internal clock”, and no one can rush or delay Him (unless, of course, God sovereignly allows it—see Joshua 10:12-14).

Consider the case of an old couple—Zechariah and Elizabeth (“they were both well along in years”—Lk. 1:7)—who had been praying for a child for an awfully long time.  They were godly people whom Luke describes as “upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandment and regulations blamelessly” (Lk. 1:6).  Nevertheless, being childless led the old couple to suffer “disgrace among the people” (Lk. 1:25).

In a perfect world made according to our thoughts and ways, which, of course, are different from God’s thoughts and ways (Is. 55:8-9), you would expect the LORD to gift this godly couple with a child.  No, that didn’t happen for a long time, not until Zechariah was so old that, when an angel told him about the impending pregnancy of his wife, he said, “How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (Lk. 1:18).

So, why did God choose that moment to grant this couple’s wish?  Well, their son—to be known, one day, as John the Baptizer—was going to be the last prophet of the Old Testament period whose role was to “prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him” (Lk. 3:4).  So, the divine mind determined that John would precede the birth of Jesus in line with John’s role as the trailblazer for Christ.  Subsequently, the birth of John had to occur precisely “when the set time had fully come [for] God [to] sen[d] his Son.”  No sooner and no later!

Are you experiencing the anguish Zechariah and Elizabeth felt over uncontested prayers?  It’s tough, right?  Nevertheless, God is good, and His wisdom is infinitely greater than ours; at the end we are the ones who will be blessed by delayed answer to prayer.  In the meantime, I recommend this old Maranatha song to you: “In his time, in his time. He makes all things beautiful. In his time. Lord please show me everyday. As you’re teaching me your way. That you do just what you say. In your time . . .”  Let us “extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on [our] lips” (Ps. 34:1).

Prayer: Lord, I praise You this morning.  Truth be told, I don’t have the strength to be patient as I wait for You to answer my prayers.  So, please help me to be patient and praise You in the meantime.  Help me to serve You faithfully as I wait for the arrival of Your time.  Amen.

 Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 43

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Lunch Break Study* 

Read Philippians 2:12-13: Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Questions to Consider

1. In what way can verse 12 (“…work out your salvation with fear and trembling”) cause a bit of angst among Christians?
2. How can we reconcile the apparent theological problem in verse 12?
3. What is your understanding of the phrase “fear and trembling”?

Note

1. The statement seems to suggest that salvation can be obtained through good works.
2. Salvation through faith in Christ alone, is a theological doctrine that the apostle Paul himself, under the Spirit’s leading, developed throughout his epistles (cf. Eph. 2:8-9). Therefore, Paul is not suggesting here that we are to earn our salvation through our good works which pertains to our justification.  Paul, here, is mindful of sanctification, a process of transformation that ought to take place after we are justified in Christ.
3. “Fear and trembling” isn’t so much this awful dread that God will zap them if they mess up; but rather, given the majesty of Christ portrayed in the preceding verses (vv.9-11), the idea appears to be that of reverent awe and wonder.

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Evening Reflection

A day can go by so quickly.  Before turning in for the night, consider these questions:

What are some personal or work issues that are causing you to lose sleep at night, or at least make you feel stressed? Did anything happen today that caused you to stress out even more?  What have you done about them? Have you earnestly sought after God regarding these issues?  If not, do you know why you haven’t?  Do you have trust issue with God?  Write out a prayer to Him honestly telling the Lord how you feel.  Pray about your condition.

*First posted on September 14, 2013, it was prepared by Pastor David Alas.