REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was originally posted on February  11, 2019. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Believing Remnant”

Exodus 9:20 

“Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.”

I have some friends at work who are Chinese natives; becoming friends with them is not just a boon to my social life in the office but helps me practice my Mandarin. Two years ago, before Good Friday (a holiday that our company keeps), one of them asked me what I would do on my day off. I replied that I would celebrate with my church. As she asked me what we would celebrate, I quickly realized that my language skills were inadequate to explain why I could celebrate that my God died on Good Friday. After an extremely flustering conversation, I walked away realizing that, despite my upbringing, I never learned the vocabulary of the Gospel in Chinese because I never thought I would talk to someone who wanted to hear it.

The reception from the Egyptians has been hostile, unbelieving, and cold. But though Pharaoh opposed Moses, some of his officials were a believing remnant that God had left for Himself among the Egyptians. There were people there who wanted to fear God. Had Moses not been faithful to appear and demonstrate the works of the Lord, these officials would have been unable to listen to God’s words and respond accordingly.

Today, there are people around us in unexpected places who would like to hear more about the Jesus we profess to love. Our witness consists not only in sharing truths but in demonstrating the love and power of the Spirit. Are we aware that we have been placed around people who desire to know and fear God? Let’s ask Him to open our eyes and our hearts so that we might see and receive them today. May He give us the wisdom and grace to speak His truths to whoever has ears to listen. If we remember that there are people seeking His truth, even in unfriendly and surprising places, then every inch of the earth we cover can be a place of worship to Him today.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You may be found when we seek You. Give me a heart that is aware that others are longing to meet You; make me an instrument who responds to that need. Bring people around me so that I might share the wonder of Your love with them and remember for myself the joy of knowing You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 2

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12: “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Questions to Consider

• What are the marks of a believer’s life as Paul writes about here?
• In the passage, who teaches the believers how to live?
• Paul writes two times in this passage that the Thessalonians are living correctly, but he urges them to do so “more and more.” Why? Is this reflected in our own lives?

Notes

• Paul writes that believers are distinguished by numerous qualities: holiness, love, and peace. Holiness comes from living in obedience to God – particularly in this case Paul writes about avoiding sexual sins. Love is not just inwards (within the community) but is spread outwards: “throughout Macedonia.” He also challenges them to live quiet lives; the Thessalonians seem to have the need to grow in the area of living winsome lives towards unbelievers.
• The believers learn how to live from Paul and his friends – in fact, he reminds them that these instructions ultimately come from God. The truths had been transmitted by the authority of Christ, and the call to be holy comes from God’s Holy Spirit. The ability for the Thessalonians to love generously comes from God – God Himself and the way that He loves is where the Thessalonians take their cues from. It is interesting to us that, though people may be a model by which we are introduced to the things of God, it is still God who teaches and guides us in these aspects of our living.
• Paul seems to suggest that they should raise the bar. Perhaps there are deeper, more sustained, and greater ways to live in holiness and in love than what they have known. Or, perhaps Paul writes this so that no one can stay satisfied by the level that has been achieved but will always move towards the highest example set by Christ. He challenges them not to settle for what has been accomplished but always to yearn for more.

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Evening Reflection

Did you think about an opportunity to reflect God, His truth, and His character today? Or did someone come to mind that you can begin showing His love and truth to? Let’s pray for God to make more opportunities arise in our lives and for us to be ready to demonstrate His love and truth.

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was originally posted on February 11, 2019.  Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Lord Appears” 

Exodus 3:1-2

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

Imagine this scene: You are at your workplace – let’s say it is a normal corporate office building—and you are sitting at your desk. You get up to pick up something you just printed. But while standing by the printer, suddenly, you hear a voice calling to you. You look and it seems the Lord has appeared to you out of the midst of a plant in your office. How would you react? What would you do? Can you imagine this even happening?

This seems comical at face value, because it’s difficult for many of us to imagine this ever happening. Even as a pastor, I have a hard time imagining God visibly appearing to me when I am at our church office. But this is what happened to Moses. He was basically in his workplace, out in the wilderness keeping his sheep, which is what he did every day. He probably had a hard time imagining the Lord appearing to him while he was out keeping the sheep. His routine seemed too ordinary.

Maybe the Lord wants to meet with you in your workplace today—perhaps your office, your classroom, or wherever you work will be holy ground. Yet oftentimes it’s in the ordinariness of our daily routine that the Lord wants to appear to us. He might not appear to you out of a plant, but He may speak to you. But are you ready? Do you have ears to hear, eyes to see, and a heart to respond? Or are you too distracted with your work that you would not even notice God’s appearance. Henry Blackaby says in Experiencing God, “One of the greatest tragedies among God’s people is that, although they deeply long to experience God, they are encountering Him day after day but do not recognize Him.”

Today, keep your eyes and ears open to the Lord. I believe He does want to meet with us. So often we get so distracted at work that we leave the office having not even thought about Him once. Pray this morning for an attentive heart to the Lord. Even our workplaces can be places we meet God and see Him work.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being a God who meets us where we are. We do not have to come to You to find You. There is not a temple where we need to visit to meet with You – the whole earth is Your temple and that even includes our workplaces. May we believe that You can meet us today. Give ears and eyes and hearts that are ready for You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 1

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Lunch Break Study  

Read 2 Kings 6:15-17: When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Questions to Consider

• Why was the servant of Elisha afraid? What did he see?
• What did the servant not see?
• When you think about your work, in what ways are you seeing from a worldly perspective rather than from God’s perspective? How can you see things the way God sees?

Notes

• The servant only saw an enemy army and this army was massive. In any worldly sense, Elisha and his people had no chance. They were a defenseless city against a large army. Naturally, the servant was terrified and could only see defeat.
• Though from a worldly perspective, Elisha and his people were far less than the army of Syria, there was another army present that the servant did not see. This was the army of the Lord and this army was surrounding Elisha and his people to give them protection. From God’s perspective, there was no reason to be afraid!
• Pray and reflect on this question before resuming your work for the afternoon.

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Evening Reflection

Jesus said to his disciples in Luke 10:23, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!” Ask God tonight to give you eyes to see God and what He is doing. Only God can open our eyes. Pray that tomorrow would be a day that you see God and see what He is doing around you.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Miracles in the Ordinary”

Luke 1:37 

“For nothing will be impossible with God”

It was always very easy for me to drift into other thoughts or daydreams. The irritating part of this was that I could tune things out even in a room full of people or in the middle of a conversation. And while it may seem strange, embarrassing, and inconvenient, I have learned that it wasn’t that I was bored or did not care, but actually, it was in those moments that I was trying to make meaningful connections. It was much easier in my childhood to dream and to unabashedly wonder at inconspicuous details, but as an adult, I was ashamed of appearing “out of touch,” inattentive, or unrealistic. 

I don’t think it was until I felt deep pain that I found solace in pausing from what was happening and seeing a different reality intermingled there. When worries about my cancer relapsing approach or when dark thoughts try to bury me, God draws me away from that place by opening another window from which I could see hope draw near and I could, again, be immensely grateful. Friends, where is the place your heart is full and at rest? Is it in your prayer walk or the stirring hour in the word of God? Is it writing in your prayer journal or singing songs to the LORD? Go there and listen to what God speaks into life and motion. Miracles are near us, closer than you know. They are there to be seen, to be encountered, and to be invited. Jesus, when presented with five little loaves and two insignificant fish, gave thanks to the LORD. He looked on with eternal perspective, and could see the Kingdom of God even in a tiny mustard seed. Jesus also pulled Peter out of the water, Peter who trembled like a leaf but would become solid as a rock! When we open our eyes to the miracles in the ordinary, we find the extraordinary and uncover immense joy and gratitude. 

As spring turns to summer, I invite you to inspect a garden, whether it is your friend’s vegetable garden, a community garden, a church garden, or your own garden. Go there and pay close attention. You might wonder at the strength of cucumber tendrils and the harmony of companion plants, the heartbeat of a snail, and the dance of bees that celebrates each blossom. Inspect all that is alive before you and you will find that it is stunning! We are surrounded by an abundance of the extraordinary in the everyday things. That bee you see floating from bloom to bloom has traveled over two miles on its little wings, and its delicate buzz is actually powerful vibrations of wings beating at an incredible 230 times a second. What’s more, in order to produce that jar of honey in your pantry, it could easily mean that over two million blossoms were visited. Isn’t it wonderful? And this is just a bee! Consider your own life and inspect the marvelous in what you thought was mundane before. G.K. Chesterton noted, “We are perishing for lack of wonder, not for lack of wonders.” How incredibly full your own life is, full of astounding miracles and orchestrations of God’s hands. Your life is a miracle, your heartbeat is a miracle, your joy is a miracle. Let us spend our thoughts appreciating the remarkable details we easily overlook, for miracles are never too far from those who are grateful for even the littlest of things. 

Prayer: LORD, thank You for the miracles You bring. I want to see them better throughout my day. Draw me close to You and direct my gaze to the open windows of everything possible in You. Open my eyes so that I may see You work and to be grateful for things I overlook. You are wonderful, God!  You have me awestruck by the things You do. I believe in Your miracles and yes, LORD, I believe in You! In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 25

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on January 14, 2018, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Tension Within”

Jeremiah 20:14-18 

Cursed be the day when I was born; let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! 15 Cursed be the man who brought the news, To my father, saying, “A baby boy has been born to you!” And made him very happy. 16 But let that man be like the cities, which the Lord overthrew without relenting, And let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon; 17 Because he did not kill me before birth, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb ever pregnant. 18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow, so that my days have been spent in shame?

Jeremiah 1:4-5 

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

When I was in elementary school, I was signed up to try various sports, including badminton. After my first lesson, I wanted to quit because when I tried to hit the birdie coming towards me, it flew straight towards my forehead and got stuck in my hair. Being of low-esteem, I felt an incredible sense of humiliation in front of the people I was playing with, since they didn’t seem to have any trouble with the sport. I often wanted to quit sports and I would end up quitting very easily when I felt like it was a little bit hard.  

In contrast, Jeremiah never quit even though his complaint in this passage sounds like he wanted to just walk away from his calling. But, his confession and complaint come from a heart that was wrestling with the tension of his calling as God’s prophet to the nations. He may have been close to quitting, but he never actually quit. He could’ve excused himself from serving in this office when the distress became overwhelming. He faced opposition and loneliness and felt sorrow over Judah’s unwillingness to return to God. Nevertheless, he remained in his place because he knew that he was set apart since birth for this purpose. Even though “cursing” the day of his birth is a strong statement, I think only someone who is so committed to God’s call would wrestle and cry out to God like this. If he didn’t regard himself as God’s chosen instrument and respected it as a holy call, he wouldn’t have wrestled to this point. I admire how he faced the cost of obedience and poured out his honest and unfiltered anguish to the Lord. In a way, it was the closest way to surrender himself to God again and to be fully committed and hidden in Him. 

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” God desires to strengthen us when we are serving Him while feeling completely helpless and weak. 

This morning ask the Lord to strengthen you and to reveal to you what He is fulfilling in you through the various situations and roles He has called you into. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that you rejoice over the day of my birth. Not only did You set Your heart to love me, but You also appointed me to fulfill a unique purpose in my life ever since I was in my mother’s womb. Because true obedience comes with discomforts and costs, I pray that You would strengthen me to persevere and to abide daily in You. Help me to glorify You with my life. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 23-24

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was originally posted on February 13, 2019.  A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“When He sees, He moves”

Exodus 3:7-8

Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Homer Simpson—always the dispenser of great wisdom—says this in an episode of The Simpsons while running a red light: “If I don’t see it, it’s not illegal.” At face value, this seems ridiculous—just because we don’t see something does not mean we are exonerated from it. Yet, I imagine many of us subconsciously believe this. For example, we pass someone in need, pretending not to see that person. But as long as we do not see that person, we do not need to help him or her—we are exonerated. Perhaps you have even done that with hearing, too. Someone asks you to do something but you pretend not to hear, you ignore the request. For those who are married, maybe you do that with your spouse sometimes.

Though we are sinful people who can pretend to be blind and deaf at times, God is not like that. God said to Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters” (v.7).  The phrase translated surely seen is a Hebrew idiom, literally saying, “I have seen seen.” The verb is repeated twice to add emphasis. God surely saw the pain and suffering of His people and when God sees something, He moves. He does not turn a blind eye and pass on by. 

And not only does God move, He comes down. The God of the universe who rules over everything is saying that He is coming down; He is getting off His throne to come and deliver His people from slavery. Further, not only does God come down to His people to rescue them, He brings them up. He did not just free His people and tell them, “Good luck out there in the desert.” He brought them up to the Promised Land, to “a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey” (v.8).

That is the pattern of God’s activity in our lives. He sees us in our need, He comes down to us, and He brings us up. What are you going through right now? Are there struggles or sufferings you currently face? God surely sees you. And when God sees, He moves. When you cry out to Him, He comes down to lift us up. Today, let’s cry out to God, knowing that He surely sees you and He will not pass you by.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You see me. Who am I that You would even notice me? Yet, You see me and hear my cries. May I trust in You to always be my Redeemer—the One who comes down to lift me up. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 22

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Psalm 34:15-18: The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteousand his ears toward their cry.16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,to cut off the memory of them from the earth.17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hearsand delivers them out of all their troubles.18 The Lord is near to the brokenheartedand saves the crushed in spirit.

Questions to Consider

• What does it mean that the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous?
• What is the pre-condition to the Lord delivering His people out of their troubles?
• To whom is God near and what does He do for them?

Notes

• At the surface, this verse may seem to mean that God only looks towards those who are good, that you need to earn His attention. Yet, the biblical picture of righteousness is more about being in right relationship with God. The righteous are those who depend on God. God does not forsake those who depend on Him; rather, His eyes are always upon them, to help them in their every need.
• The pre-condition is crying out to Him. This seems so straightforward, yet so often we try to do things on our own. We either don’t want God’s help or don’t think He’ll actually help us. But when we cry out to Him, He sees us and moves to deliver us. He is faithful! However, the way He helps may not be the way we want; that’s why dependence on God requires trusting that He knows what is best.
• God is near to the brokenhearted and He saves them. As Jesus said of Himself, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench” (Matt 12:20). God is gentle to the broken and He hears the cry of those who are crushed in their spirit. Remember, the God who is all powerful is the same God who comes down to us in our need to deliver us.

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Evening Reflection

This evening, cry out to the Lord. Be honest with Him about the things that are weighing heavily on your heart. So often we bottle up the things that burden us; release them to the Lord and ask Him for His help. Allow His peace to come to you as you sleep tonight.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 5, 2019, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Reward of God”

Exodus 1:15–21 (ESV)

Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, [16] “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” [17] But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. [18] So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” [19] The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” [20] So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. [21] And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Fear is a powerful motivator.  Fear can drive us to work long hours.  Fear can drive us to avoid certain people.  Fear can drive us to compromise our integrity. Yet the right kind of fear can drive us to stand up against those in power.

Shiphrah and Puah are Hebrew midwives.  They are women in an ancient patriarchal culture, and they are slaves.  The most powerful person in Egypt demands that they kill every boy born to the Hebrews—this is a horrific and evil command from someone who would not think twice about killing them too.  But the midwives fear God.  They spare the newborns and as a result God gives them families.

At face value, it appears that the women do a good thing and get a good thing.  But God is not simply giving the women something highly prized in their culture (a family).  They receive something far greater: participating in the promises of God for His people.  

In Genesis 12, God promised to make a great nation from Abraham’s descendants.  The growth of the midwives’ families is part of the larger work God is doing of multiplying and growing the people of God in strength.  They are blessed to be fully included in the fulfillment of God’s promises.

When we fear and obey God, He will be faithful and reward us.  This doesn’t mean we will receive whatever seems good to our culture (successful children, a more high profile job, etc.).  Our reward is to be included among His covenant people and to experience the fulfillment of God’s promise to them.  

In this stage of redemptive history, the promise of God is that He will bless all the families of the earth and make disciples of all nations through His Son.  Our reward for faith and obedience is to get to see and participate in the fulfillment of this promise.

Prayer: Father, may I fear You above all others, for what can humans do to me?  Thank You that You are almighty and worthy of my trust and obedience.  May my household be privileged to be part of Your work of saving the world! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 21

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Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 29:31–35 (ESV): “When the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. [32] And Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben, for she said, “Because the LORD has looked upon my affliction; for now my husband will love me.” [33] She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.” And she called his name Simeon. [34] Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. [35] And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah …”

Questions to Consider

• In His great love, what does the Lord do for Leah?
• What is Leah’s response?
• What significant role do her four sons (especially Judah) play in biblical history?

Notes

• He opens her womb and gives her four sons.
• Leah acknowledges that her sons are from the Lord.  With the first three, she hopes that Jacob will now love her.  With her fourth son, she simply praises God for His goodness to her.
• All four of Leah’s sons are namesakes of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Through the line of Judah, Jesus is born.

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Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  Were there moments you were tempted to fear man rather than God?  If so, go to the Lord in repentance and receive His grace to fear Him.  Were there moments you acted in fear of God?  If so, thank God for His strength and pray for more opportunities to seek the Kingdom.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 3, 2019, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. 

Devotional Though for This Morning

“Speaking Strength to Your Inner Being”

1 Samuel 30:6 

“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 

Psalm 103:1 

“Bless the LORD, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

In 1 Samuel 30, King David faced an extremely stressful and devastating situation when the Amalekites burned down the city of Ziklag with fire and took the women and children of Israel as captives. After David and his men wept until they lost strength, the latter took out their anger and sadness on David, threatening to stone him for what had happened to the city and their families. There was no physical refuge or comfort to turn to in this overwhelming situation, but the author records that David strengthened himself in the Lord his God and then inquired Him for his next plan.  Eventually, David successfully rescued the women and children, and destroyed the Amalekites. 

What did this time with God look like that caused David to regain strength? What prayers did he pray and what did he say to God? David’s psalms give us a glimpse that David often ministered to himself with songs that declared to his own soul the goodness of God. He commanded his being to bless and praise God’s name, even when his emotions did not catch up to joy and gladness yet. He spoke truths about God’s character and deeds in times of distress until his own soul would regain awareness of and thanksgiving to God. These prayers in the secret place gave him strength to carry out his public leadership. 

More often than not, we are taught to pray prayers of petition in our time with God and when we pray for others. Scripture teaches us to present our requests to God as a way of overcoming worry – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6). King David displays for us another form of prayer that is just as important, and that is the prayer of declaration, or command prayer. Where strength was lost, he commanded his own being to declare praise to God, until his inner being would be strengthened and hopeful again.  

Today, what is your morning declaration over your own soul? In order to strengthen yourself in the Lord, attempt to lead your own soul to bless and praise God’s name until your awareness of God outweighs your awareness of your anxieties.

Prayer: God, You are my refuge and You are my strength. I command my soul this morning and all that is within me to bless and praise You for who You are. As I wait upon You, I pray for a renewed strength to arise from within me. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 20

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Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV): For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Questions to Consider

• The apostle Paul is the writer of Ephesians. To whom is he writing?
• What is Paul’s prayer?
• Why do you think being strengthened with power in one’s inner being is directly correlated to grasping the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge?

Notes

• Paul is writing to Christians in the city of Ephesus. He also desires this prayer to be answered and to become real for “all the Lord’s holy people.”
• His prayer is for the Holy Spirit to strengthen every church member’s inner being with power to comprehend the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge. He understands that a man/woman’s inner being is transformed by the love of Christ, but also needs to continuously be strengthened by the love of Christ in order to live fully as Christ’s followers. 
• Personal Response. 

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Evening Reflection

Reflect about your day and courageously mention to God what you were lacking today. Was it joy, peace, love, patience, kindness, or wisdom? Activate and practice a prayer of command/declaration over you heart and may the Holy Spirit give you an overflow of His power and strength. 

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on August 29, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the Lead Pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Better Days Coming”  

Jeremiah 33:14-15 (NIV)

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. ¹⁵ “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.

Survey: If an expectant mother listens to Mozart, will her child actually be smarter when he/she is born? (If you are curious, feel free to search for “Mozart Effect” later for all kinds of responses.) 

All parents long for a better and brighter future for their children. Parents hope that their children will not make the same mistakes they’ve made along the way. Parents hope that their children will have richer relationships than they’ve built. Parents hope that their children will discover a deeper satisfaction in their vocation. And so forth. With those aspirations in mind, parents today will go over and beyond (convinced by every book on raising kids) attempting to provide their children with a perfect combination of educational classes, physical activities, music lessons, healthy foods, virtuous friendships, etc. to ensure the success of their children. But what if a better future of our children can only be guaranteed by the Lord? 

The people of Judah were heading into impending doom and punishment. For 70 years, they would be captives under Babylonian Empire (Jer 29:10). This was the discipline for the people of God as a result of their disobedience and idolatry. However, at the end of 70 years, Jeremiah prophesied that Jerusalem once again will be inhabited and restored. The Lord would not abandon His people; rather, he will “fulfill the good promise.”

For all of the Jewish parents, this was good news. Not only will their children (and grandchildren) have a better future, but they would have a reestablished spiritual future. God would raise a “righteous Branch” from the line of King David who would restore God’s justice and righteousness. (We now understand that that was a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ.) This was a guarantee from the Lord. Parent who were held in Babylonian captivity were given the good news to remind their children that a better future was soon coming, that a better spiritual future is just around the corner. The parents pointed the children towards a line of David because only He would guarantee a better future. 

Perhaps a child may be smarter for having listened to Mozart while in the mother’s womb. But I guarantee that any child will stand in justice and righteousness if he/she encounters Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, You promised that You would one day return and bring back the fulness of God’s Kingdom. Thank you for this promise and the good news. I pray that Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as is in Heaven. In Jesus Name, Amen! 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 19

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Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 3:1-2 (CEB): My son, don’t forget my instruction. Let your heart guard my commands, 2 because they will help you live a long time and provide you with well-being.

Prov 26:10 (NIV): Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Questions to Consider

• What helps young children to eventually live a long and well-being life (another translation suggest “successful” life)? 
• What are the potential outcomes for a young child’s life when raised in the Lord’s instructions? 
• Are there exceptions to the rule (good parentinggood kids; bad parentingbad kids)? Think of King Saul, an unrighteous king, and his son Jonathan who stood for God’s righteousness throughout his short life (1 Sam. 23:16-18). What does that mean? 

Notes

• To not forget God’s instructions. To guard God’s commands in their hearts. Starting with God’s commands as children. 
• Although wisdom literature does not make absolute guarantees, one can expect to live a long life of well-being and remain on the path of wisdom. 
• Having good kids is also God’s grace, a merited favor. 

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Evening Reflection

In what ways have you invested into the next generation with God’s word? (Parents, spend a few moments reading God’s word.)

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on December 27, 2018, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Voila Moment”

Ephesians 5:25-27

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

During the holidays, I often feel sorry for my wife, who prepares most of our meals.  The reason being is that preparing quality meals seems like such a painstaking and time-consuming process, while the actual enjoyment of eating lasts significantly less.  So a couple days ago, to prepare our Christmas dinner, my wife was probably in the kitchen for a solid 3-4 hours, but actually sitting down to eat took maybe 20 minutes.  I often offer my wife the out, that we can order out, but she won’t have it.  For her, she wants to have that “Voila!” moment when her family takes that first bite, and she can see that all of efforts have culminated all of her loved ones happy and surrounded by great food.  I think this “Voila” moment is what chefs live for.  

When I think about what the Lord is doing for his church, I also think of this long painstaking process, which kind of seems inefficient, if you ask me.  I mean think about how difficult people are; how petty we can be—how selfish, unforgiving, childish, stubborn, sometimes even malicious.  Yet, our passage tells us that what Christ is doing with us (his church) is that he is making us holy, cleansing us through his word, making us clean and perfect, so that one day he can present us and say, “Voila!” 

And that voila moment is “the Marriage of Supper of Lamb,” which the apostle John describes it in the following manner: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel saidto me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb’” (Rev. 19:6^b-8).

And the major difference between what happened at our dinner table and at the Marriage of Supper of Lamb is the “payoff”: the joy won’t last a mere 20 minutes like a holiday feast, but an eternity.  What a blessing! Thank you, Jesus!  

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are patiently making me more and more into Your image.  Please allow me to submit myself to Your work and thank You for the person that I will one day be.  

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 27:1-6: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. 3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. 4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Questions to Consider

• What can we learn about boasting from this passage?  And in what ways do we “boast”?
• What are the dangers of anger, fury, and jealousy?
• Taken together, vs. 5-6 give characteristics of true friends and enemies.  What are they and how do you compare as a friend?

Notes

• Boasting, a form of pride should be avoided.  The Proverbs writer shows the folly of boasting about tomorrow, much like James reminds us in James 4:13-16, because we have no control over the next day.  Verse 2 implies that self-promotion is another form of boasting; let others compliment you.  
• In vs. 3-4, anger and jealousy are compared to something heavy that we carry around us.  Isn’t the imagery so true because anger and jealousy often feel like a weight that slows us down.  
• Friends speak truthfully even if it is hard to hear sometimes.  Enemies are like “yes men”, they may make you feel smart and good, but their words don’t help much.  

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Evening Reflection

This morning we talking about the Lord’s patience with us and our slow transformation, and this afternoon we highlighted some potential areas of struggle, such as boasting/pride, anger, jealousy, and truthfulness.  Are any of these areas you’d like to progress in?  If so, remember transformation may be slow, but Christ is in it for the long haul.  

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on July 15, 2018, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Being a Servant Whom My Master Trusts” 

John 10:40-42 

And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

During a four-month hiatus between the mission field and stepping into my current job, I didn’t have any concrete plans for what I would do after my time-off. A close friend wrote to me, saying, “I can’t wait for what God has in store for you. I think He trusts you so much.” I was overwhelmed with this encouragement—even though I didn’t deserve such a comment. But her words led me to ponder about the nature of trust in my relationship to Jesus. I always knew following Jesus involved me trusting Jesus, while Jesus leads; however, I never interacted with the possibility of Jesus trusting me. Why would Jesus trust me? It’s not like He needs to rely on me or count on me. I thought trust is one-way, from me to Him, since all the power and strength is in Him anyways. In diving more into this perspective, I realized that our relationship with Jesus is not only a love relationship between the Redeemer and the redeemed, but it is indeed also a trust relationship between Master and servant, as many of Jesus’ teachings, such as the parable of the talents (Mt. 25:14-30), teach so clearly.

In this morning’s passage, Jesus leaves Jerusalem, as more religious teachers were questioning His authority and angered by His teachings; yet many outside of Jerusalem were placing their belief in Him. The passage testifies that John the Baptist was integral in leading these people to Christ. Though they didn’t believe in Jesus immediately after listening to John’s witness, but eventually, they realized “everything John said about this man was true.” John the Baptist never performed a miracle. He was simply a voice that talked about the Light, and he was content to be a voice, without a ministry of signs and wonders, as long as it caused people to consider Christ. Jesus says about John, “Among those born of women, there is no one greater” (Luke 7:28). Jesus must have trusted John so much, for he completed the work that God entrusted to him—nothing more, and nothing less. In being trustworthy to his Master, he led people to know Christ for themselves. This morning, as we long to deepen our trust in Jesus, let us consider also how we can live a life as trustworthy servants.  

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally and also entrusting Your precious work to me. Give me understanding for how to steward my time, resources, and energy, so that I may use all that I have to Your service. Help me to consider how to be a trustworthy servant for You today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 17