Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Yohan Lee who previously served at Remnant Church (NYC), Radiance Christian Church (SF) and Grace Covenant Church (Philadelphia), was first posted on November 11, 2014.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Finally Accepting Who I Am in Christ—Thanks to My Wife)”

Proverbs 5:15-17

“Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.  Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?  Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.”  

Warning: this devotional may feel like a Hallmark card. 

Recently, I’ve been noticing how the Lord has been using my marriage as a means of grace to transform me more and more into the image of His Son.  Like many people, I was a little insecure about my being: my family background, my abilities, even my looks as a teenager, which carried over into my 20’s.  I wasn’t anywhere near self-loathing, but deep inside, I knew that I wasn’t totally comfortable with myself. Cognitively, I knew that I was unconditionally loved through Christ, made in the image of God, and fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14), but for whatever reason, I didn’t make Christ sufficient to overcome these insecurities.  (Notice I did not say that Christ was “not sufficient,” but rather, I didn’t allow Him to be so in my life).  

In his grace, Christ didn’t beat me down until my heart believed what my head supposedly knew.  I got the kid-glove treatment; I got married, and my wife believes in me, accepts my shortcomings, actually finds me attractive (even after I overeat), and loves me despite of my imperfections.  After several years of marriage, I realized that I am now way more comfortable with who I am and how God has made me than before. Such understanding has allowed me to minister to others who also struggle with insecurities (which is virtually all of us).  What helped me to believe that I am worthy of love is that I have a person who serves as tangible proof that I am actually loved. So in a sense, my wife is a means of grace and sanctification that God has given me to make me more whole and complete. Hopefully, my wife would say the same about me.  

The point of this Proverb is this:  If my wife expressed thoughts of deep love and appreciation not just with me, but with five, three, or even one other guy, it would completely lose its meaning for me; that is like “strangers drinking from my cistern.”  Though some things are better when shared, such as Asian food, others things obviously are not. This Proverbs refers to marital relationships, but the concept of finding joy and contentment in what God has given you has several applications outside of marriage.  How is God using your circumstances to mold you into the image of Christ? Do you value, guard, and take care of such things so that they can be a continued blessing? As an FYI, I believe God uses all of our relationships to mold us in our sanctification, not just marriage.  

Prayer: Father, please help me to be thankful for and treasure every relationship that You have given me.  Help me to see that You are transforming me into the image of your Son through these relationships. Please also guard my marriage, and help me to appreciate my wife or husband as a means of grace.  

Bible Reading for Today:  Isaiah 58

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 12:12-20: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Questions to Consider

1. Have you ever wished for another role within the church or outside of it? 
2. Do you know how your strengths help to edify the body (the church)? 
3. Who arranged the members of the body for their roles?  Why do you suppose it was so?

Notes

1. A personal question, so please consider it truthfully.
2. Some people have never explored what they enjoy or what they are good at in ministry.  This is a shame because we do not feel useful when we do not contribute; this makes us feel like we have no positive role in the church, which is not true.  
3. God arranged his church (vs. 18).  The differences in the church help us to function properly.

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Evening Reflection

Spend a few minutes to thank the Lord for your significant relationships.  List three things you appreciate most about these people. How have these people helped you become more like Christ?  How can you help these people to be more like Christ?

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church), was originally posted on March 18, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Turning Over to God that which I’ve Hidden”

Psalm 25:16-21 (ESV)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  18 Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.  20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. 21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. 

Henry Thoreau is famous for his statement that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”.  The general context in which this quote is written deals with the plight of the common man who has no time to pursue anything of significance and is relegated to living life as a machine.  

The vast majority of us live at such a hectic pace that we simply feel like we don’t have the time to deal with the emotional wounds that linger deep within.   Everyone goes through seasons of life where loneliness, distress, affliction, and anxiety are acutely felt but never examined. When life seems to crash in from all sides, it is easy to distance ourselves from our emotions and bury our heads in our careers or families. 

Eventually, these emotional wounds will catch up to us if we don’t take the time to deal with them at the spiritual level.  The psalmist understands that God is the guardian of our souls and the healthiest response to our troubles is to turn to Him for protection and forgiveness.  

Identify some of the negative emotions you have been dealing with recently.   Turn to the Lord and pray for protection and deliverance. Jesus declares, “I am the door” (Jn. 10:9); enter unto him and find life.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to pray daily for Your protection and deliverance so that I can be aware of feelings and thoughts that are a result of enemies working in my life.  Give me the strength to deal with all my wounds by turning to You in prayer. In the end, it is the healing found in Your grace and forgiveness that can restore my soul and bring me the peace that surpasses human understanding.

Bible Reading for Today:  Isaiah 57

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Lunch Break Study

John 16:32-33 (ESV): “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why did Jesus say this to the disciples? (John 16:32)  
2. Is the Christian life devoid of trouble and grief? (John 16:33)
3. What is the ultimate source of peace that Jesus promises?  (John 14:26-27)

The peace that God offers us is found in the Jewish understanding of shalom.  It is not simply an absence of turmoil but a restoration to wholeness in every aspect of our being.  

Notes

1. Jesus said these things because he knew that his death on the cross would lead to anxiety and discouragement amongst the disciples.   Many would fail him and lose their sense of purpose but in the midst of all the confusion, Jesus promises that he would never leave them nor allow the enemy to snatch them out of his hands. (John 10:28) 
2. In the Gospel of John, the troubles that come with discipleship are plainly laid out for the reader.  Although the health and wealth movement has misled many people in regards to the true blessings of God, John spells it out very clearly that believers will have trouble in this life.  Though we are not of this world, our presence in this suffering world is God’s ways of communicating the Gospel.  
3. As Jesus tells the disciples about his departure (ascension into heaven), he reveals that the Father will send a Helper, the Holy Spirit, to teach and guide the believers afterwards.  The believers will have a newfound peace in their reconciliation with God and the ministry of his Spirit.        

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Evening Reflection

Did you make the most of your time and the opportunities that God gave you today?  Write down any convictions that God has placed on your heart.

Today’s devotional, prepared by Pastor Jason Sato, was originally posted on November 9, 2014.  He and his wife Jessica (along with their three young children) recently moved to Japan to serve as missionaries. 

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Scrutinizing Everything & Everyone Except the One that Really Matters” 

Proverbs 4:23-27

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Are you vigilant about small things?  Do you notice the dust on the floor, the number of calories in that cookie, or the wrinkle in your son’s shirt?  The important things in life (or at least the ones important to us) require a great deal of attention to detail. Yet it’s so easy to ignore the details when it comes to righteousness.  The author of Proverbs directs our attention to the ordinary words we use and the direction that they take us.

We tend to go through life a frantic pace while being unaware of what is really going on in our hearts.  We’ll stop to consider large matters, like a crisis of faith or relationship on the verge of a breakdown, but are often oblivious to the ordinary direction of our lives.  Longstanding patterns of small but corrosive indulgences do not trouble us because we refuse recognized them. I find it difficult to even identify the crooked speech or devious talk that I am tempted to utter.  Maybe I’m that unaware of myself. Maybe I’m just not paying attention. 

My use of words was brought to my attention by a brother whom I was pastoring a few years ago.  A steady stream of sarcastic comments, criticisms disguised as jokes, and unhelpful off hand remarks had been slowly eating away at our relationship.  Thankfully, he took the initiative in bringing this to my attention and we were able to reconcile.

What direction are we going?  Are we slowly walking down the path of cynicism and hard-heartedness?  Is it the path of life or the path of complaining and ingratitude? Are we indulging in gossip and finding out too late that we are heading toward broken relationships?

Take a moment to dwell on the goodness of God in your life.  What words can you speak to Him and to others today that are true?  Pray that your words would lead to a life of faith, hope, and love for yourself and those who hear you.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 56

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought was first posted on May 12, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

(This is a reflection on a short article that Jeremy Taylor wrote on “The Grace of Humility”)

“Coming to the End of Ourselves”

Luke 14:7-11 (ESV)

Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflect on these questions:

• Humility begins with a realistic assessment of ourselves, namely, that we are unworthy.  How does this contrast with a constant emphasis on building high self-esteem in today’s culture?
• “Some people spend their time dreaming of greatness,” Jeremy Taylor observes.  “Although there is nothing directly evil in this,” he goes on to say, “it is the off-spring of an inner evil.”  How have your dreams of greatness been a hindrance in your spiritual life?
• We should not be ashamed of our birth, economic position, or vocation.  In what ways have you been made to feel ashamed concerning those areas?
• In Luke 14:7-11, Jesus tells a parable to a group of people because he noticed how they chose places of honor for themselves.  What are the lessons on humility that this passage teaches us?

Apply these thoughts to your daily life:

During this week, out of love for other people do good things for them in secret.  Let your acts of kindness go unnoticed. Simply do them for the sake of others, not for the praise you would receive.

• When you receive praise, attempt to reflect it back to God.

• As you spend some time in confession, be careful not to see your faults and failings as random and sporadic actions in an otherwise good life, but rather “unite them into one continuous representation of your life.”  This exercise, notes Taylor, when really applied to your soul, will be useful for increasing the grace of humility.

A final thought: Let’s come to the end of ourselves and rest at the feet of Jesus, loving and worshiping him only. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, give me the courage and strength to live out my life that truly reflects your amazing love and grace.  Help me to take my eyes off from myself and fix them on you instead.

Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 54-55

Devotional Thought for Today

“Do You Hear What I Hear?”

John 10:1-6: “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Contrary to popular belief, sheep are extremely intelligent animals. According to the Department of Animal Sciences of Illinois University, sheep rank just below the pig and are on par with cattle among farm animals. They may have poor eyesight and herd mentality, but they have excellent hearing. In fact, sheep can distinguish their shepherd’s voice among 100 voices. 

In this passage, Jesus uses the relationship of a shepherd and sheep as a metaphor to describe His relationship with us. Because Israel was an agrarian society, they fully understood the importance of this relationship. And since sheep have poor eyesight, they rely on the shepherd’s voice for protection. They rely on the shepherd’s voice to guide them to greener pastures, to call them back if they wander too far, and to lead them back to safety at night.

Like sheep, we need to rely on our Good Shepherd to guide us through life, which means we must know His voice. However, this can be extremely difficult because we live in a culture where there are hundreds of voices simultaneously shouting at us. So how do we hear His voice?

Because we live in such a busy culture, we need to learn how to block out these voices in our hearts. Oftentimes, this requires us to physically block out these voices. I am reminded of Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

While this verse is about practicing spiritual disciplines for the secret reward, there is truth to finding a quiet spot to temporarily block out the noise. For some, it means waking up 30 minutes earlier in the morning to pray. For others, it means finding a quiet place during lunch to pray.

Hearing God’s voice is crucial to being a disciple of Jesus. Like a shepherd, His voice protects us and guides us in this noisy world. Let’s strive to make hearing His voice an important part of our lives.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 53

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Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 23:1-6:  “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Questions to Consider

1. For David, how does the Lord act as a shepherd?
2. How does the Lord guide us along the right path?
3. Based on the notes for question one, what are some ways the Lord has acted as shepherd towards you?

Notes

1. The Lord provides (v.1), refreshes (v. 3), guides (v. 3), and He comforts His people (v. 4).
2. God guides us along the right path because it brings Him glory. When we follow His commandments, that in itself brings glory to God, but it also is a testimony for our friends, co-workers, and family members!
3. Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

This evening, take a moment to find a quiet and comfortable space to spend time with God. During your prayer time, make sure you set aside time to be silent and hear from the Lord. Remember, prayer is a conversation with Him!

The AMI QT Devotionals for December 5-6 (new) are provided by Emerson Lin.  Emerson and his wife Annie (and their son) are serving as AMI missionaries in E. Asia.   

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Maybe God Has a Different Plan”

Mark 15:6-15 (NIV)

“Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. 9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.”

In this passage, we see that Pontius Pilate gave the crowd a choice to free any man from prison because it was the Passover Feast. Hoping they would choose Jesus, Pontius Pilate gave them a choice between Jesus and a man named Barabbas, a bloodthirsty revolutionary and a murderer. But to Pilate’s surprise, they chose Barabbas.

So why did they choose Barabbas? It seems like they were disappointed with Jesus. Remember, this was the same crowd that we see in chapter 11 who welcomed Him into Jerusalem. The city was filled with people Jesus had healed: the eyes of the blind had been opened, the deaf made to hear, and the lame to walk. Through these signs and wonders, the Jews started to believe that He was the Messiah, who was to free them from the oppression of the Romans. However, Jesus had a different message—so they rejected Him.

Now, when they saw Him standing helplessly before the Roman governor, they saw weakness. As a result, their loyalty to Him collapsed and, in disappointment, they chose to free Barabbas, a murderer.

Our natural reaction is to become frustrated with the Jews. Why would they choose to free a man who murdered people over a man who brings hope to the world? Yet, oftentimes, we make the same mistake.

Like the Jews, we are often disappointed in God because we expect Him to act in a certain way. Because of these disappointments, we decide to walk our own path and deal with situations in our own ways. We choose Barabbas over Jesus.

However, we are reminded that God sometimes has a different plan for us—and that plan is always good. In this story, God’s plan was to deal with a more detrimental issue than the Roman Empire—He came to deal with sin. 

Since Genesis 3, sin had distorted God’s creation, and He had a mission to restore everything back to its original intent. And we need to remind ourselves of this truth. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This morning, think about certain situations where the outcome was not what you expected. What was your reaction? Were you disappointed in God? Oftentimes we are disappointed in God because we forget that He truly is a good God. Take a moment to meditate on this truth: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Prayer: Dear Lord, there have been many times that I have been disappointed in You. I pray for a certain outcome, but it doesn’t happen. I get disappointed often because I forget that You are a good God that always wants what’s best for me. Holy Spirit, please remind me that I do not have to fear when my plan is not fulfilled, because I know you have something better in store for me. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 52

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Lunch Break Study

Read Jeremiah 29:10-13: “This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

Questions to Consider

1. Who is the Lord speaking to?
2. What does this passage reveal to you about God’s character?
3. What is the purpose of these promises?

Notes

1. The Lord is speaking to the exiles that Nebuchadnezzar had taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. They were in bondage and the Lord promised to free them after 70 years.
2. This passage reveals that God has good intentions for you. He can take the bad experiences and turn them into good. Therefore, we can place our hope in Him.
3. God’s ultimate purpose for us is to have a relationship with Him. 

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Evening Reflection

God is a good Father who knows what is best for you. You might be experiencing a situation where things might not be going your way. However, we must trust in the truth that God is good –all the time!

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Cami King, was originally posted on November 21, 2014.  Cami now serves as a staff at Remnant Church in Manhattan.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Being a Blessing to Others”

Proverbs 11:10-11

 When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy. 11 A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.

 “An upright, pious, sensible man is a great blessing to the neighborhood where he resides, by his example, his advice, and his prayers. The considerate prize him on these accounts, and rejoice in his prosperity. But when the wicked perish, who has been a general curse by the contagion of his example and conversation, there is not only no regret expressed for his decease, but a general joy because God has removed him.” (Adam Clarke)

Many good pastors have asked, “If our church closed its doors, would anyone notice?” With this question, they are challenging their congregation to be a blessing. It’s easy to do “Christian” things, whatever they may be, but in so doing we are called to bless those around us. This should be a natural outflow of our walk with Jesus, but sometimes it takes intentionality and effort. 

The prosperity of the righteous is good for the world because our prosperity marks the coming of the kingdom of God in greater measure. By prosperity, I don’t necessarily mean monetary affluence (although that’s not excluded), but abundant life in Jesus. As we prosper in Christ, our communities are blessed. 

Are those around you, Christian and non-Christian alike, blessed by your life? As you prosper, is there greater blessing for those with whom you come in contact? There should be. A guest speaker visited our church recently and shared reflection from the parable of the Good Samaritan. In his message, he said something profound – God desires that we bless those around us; even those who will never choose to believe our message.  

We are trained to do good as a means of bringing people to a knowledge of Christ so that they will be saved. This is a noble and necessary effort. But what about those who will not receive our message or with whom we will not have the opportunity to share it. Do we cease to bless them? Of course not! Why? Because God loves them and we should too!  

We are called to be a blessing. So, how will you bless those around you today? 

Prayer: Gracious Savior, you washed the feet the one who betrayed you and the others abandoned you and then you died for a world that, 2000 years later, still rejects you. Yet you still chose to love and serve and bless them with your life. In the same way, let my life be a blessing to the world around me today. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 51

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Genesis 12:1-3: The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Questions to Consider

1. What do we learn from these verses about why God called Abraham and promised to bless him? In other words, what end goal did God have in mind? 
2. As spiritual descendants of Abraham, delighting in the blessings of the promise God to gave him, how does your answer to the previous question challenge you to view God’s blessing in your life?

Notes

1. God blessed Abraham so that he could be a blessing. Not only to those immediately around him, but to “all peoples on earth.” Yes, God loved Abraham and delighted in being kind to him, but his plan was much bigger than that – God loved the world and desired to bless everyone! 
2. Like Abraham, we, too, are blessed to be a blessing. Therefore, we should feel challenged to bless those around us. Not that we have to arbitrarily do acts of kindness for the sake of fulfilling this calling (not that random acts of kindness are a bad idea), but we should re-orient our hearts to understand that our blessings shouldn’t end with us; they should continue through us to those around us. This can happen in many different ways. 

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Evening Reflection 

Were there any observable ways that your life in Christ blessed those around you today? What, if any, practical adjustments were you challenged to make in your daily lifestyle as a result of understanding your calling to be a blessing? Pray and ask God to continue to open your eyes to opportunities to be a blessing to the people around you and to fill your heart with His love for them. 

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was originally posted on January 16, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Treat Others with Respect”

Psalm 7:3-5

O Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt   on my hands—4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe—5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.

Doctors encourage us to self-examine our body to detect for any irregularity.  Here, David examines himself to see if he had wronged anyone unintentionally. So important was this to him that he made an oath against himself. 

 To those whose life’s priority is to climb up the socioeconomic ladder, how we treat others—particularly those who stand in our way as well as seemingly inconsequential people—may not rank very high in our hierarchy of values. That is one reason the apostle Paul was led by the Spirit to write, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited” (Rom. 12:16).

But this matter of how we treat others is a big deal to God. It’s because each person, because he or she is “made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9), is inherently precious to the One who made them all; thus, it is important to the LORD how we treat others. Jesus declares, “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Mt. 7:12). So, if you want to be treated well by others, then do likewise.  Ultimately, our motivation behind treating others well should come from how God treats us: with abundant grace and mercy. 

So, how have you been doing with respect to this matter?  What would your co-workers or friends say about you? Before anything, reflect on how God treats us with respect and dignity which we don’t deserve, right?  Would you remember to treat others like that today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I want to thank You for treating me with gentleness and kindness that I don’t deserve.  I confess that I’ve not done the same to those near me. Forgive me and help me to do better.    

Bible Reading for Today:  Isaiah 50

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Lunch Break Study

Mt. 18:21-34 (ESV): “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[e] until he should pay all his debt.

 

Questions to Consider

1. In the parable, who said verse 32 and to whom was this said?
2. Within the context of the parable itself (instead of why Jesus told this), why was verses 32-34 said?
3. Ultimately, why does God expect believers to treat others with grace and mercy (James 3:9-10)?

Notes

1. A king who had forgiven the enormous debt of his servant who couldn’t pay it said this (vs. 32) to this very servant, who, in turn, refused forgive a much smaller debt owed by a fellow servant. 
2. The king was incensed that this servant acted cruel and demeaning to a fellow servant for not paying back a much smaller debt.  This showed that he didn’t appreciate and understand the magnitude of the mercy that he had received.
3. First, because God, in Christ, paid the “wages of sin” (Rom. 6:23) that we could not pay, which would have ended in our death in hell (thus, we ought to show gratitude); second, because we have been made in God’s likeness, which is intrinsic to every human being.  That’s why discrimination based on race, sex, and class is an abomination to the Lord who abhors favoritism (James 2:1-4).

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Evening Reflection

As you wrap up the day, how did you treat your neighbors today? 

Did you try to do anything for them?  Recap your day here.

Today’s AMI QT Devotional (new) is provided by Emerson Lin.  Emerson and his wife Annie (and their son) are serving as AMI missionaries in E. Asia.   

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Disconnect to Connect with Him”

John 1:9-13 (NIV)

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

In psychology, there is a term called “inattentional blindness” where when subjects are focused on one stimulus, they completely miss out on another stimulus that was right in front of them.

One of the best-known experiments demonstrating this phenomenon is the “invisible gorilla test”. Participants were asked to watch a video of six people passing a ball to one another and to count how many times the ball was passed. In the middle of the video, a person in a gorilla costume would walk through the group. In most of the tests, 50% of the participants did not even see the gorilla. Because the people were so focused on counting the number of passes, the gorilla became invisible to them.

In this passage, John is sharing the good news of Jesus’ incarnation. The ultimate creator took on flesh so that He could be with His creation. While that sounds amazing, John explains that His creation did not even recognize Him or accept Him; however, there were some who believed Him, so He called them His children.

As I read this passage, I am reminded of how easily we can miss out on God’s presence and His voice. In today’s age, we are too busy and too distracted to spend time with our Father. As we wait on the subway, wait in line at the grocery store, or sit on the couch at home, our cell phones have taken up potential moments with Him. Our wealth allows us to enjoy more things and more activities. While they are not bad in and of themselves, they make us too busy for our Father. It’s no wonder that we, especially I, might feel that God is distant in our life. 

In John 5:17, Jesus says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” Our heavenly Father is always working in us, around us, and through us. He desires for us to experience these moments in every aspect of our lives. However, like the “invisible gorilla test”, we miss out on these precious opportunities because we are being distracted by other worldly stimuli.

So what are some ways you can disconnect? For some, it means not checking your phone when you have moments of boredom. For others, it means limiting the number of activities you or your child participate in. For me, I made a commitment not to check my phone before I sleep and not check my phone when I wake up. We must remember that these moments are potential moments to be with our heavenly Father. 

This morning, take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to bring to mind what are some commitments you can make to disconnect from stimuli. Remember, our God is always at work.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you are always at work around us and in us. However, I know I am addicted to my cell phone, Netflix, and my wealth. While these things are not bad in of themselves, they can distract me from potential time with you. Give me strength to quiet the voice of the world and make Your voice louder in my life. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 49

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Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 1:35-38: 35: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Questions to Consider

1. To where did Jesus go early in the morning? What is significant about the location?
2. What was the difference between Jesus’ priorities versus the disciples’ priorities?
3. How do you begin your mornings? Are you more like the disciples or like Jesus?

Notes

1. Jesus goes to a desolate place, away from all the busyness of His work. It is a quiet place where He can be with His Father.
2. For Jesus, being in His Father’s company is the most important thing in His life. For the disciples, they were more focused on the “work” they had to accomplish.
3. Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

As you lay in bed this evening, try not to look at your cell phone. Use this precious moment to connect with Him. Meditate on John 5:17.

Today’s QT blog was first posted on May 26, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“We All Sing”

Psalm 66:1-4 (ESV)

Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

Some worship services are conducted as if they are some sort of spectator sports: while people on stage perform (singing songs that are, frankly, not very suited for congregational praise), those sitting in the pew merely watch!  But the praise unto the Lord is to be offered by everyone!  

Here, praise is presented to God from the whole earth (vv. 1-4).  God is God of the whole earth and all the peoples of the earth should acknowledge him as God and be thankful.  Singing and the role of worship is natural for Christians.  

The world sometimes sings too, but not in the same way or for the same reasons.  Singing requires a certain amount of emotion. When there is joy, singing follows naturally, and that is why Christians have always been a singing people.  We can’t help but praise God; for He is a great God who has redeemed us from our sin.  

Let’s start this day with our focus on God.  Let’s join all of creation in acknowledging what God has done for us personally.  

Prayer:  Father, I praise You on this Lord’s Day.  Let all the peoples of the earth worship You for who You are and what You’ve done.  Give me a heart of praise so that I too may sing praises to Your name.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 48