Today’s blog, written by a former staff at Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan, was first posted on September 7, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“God’s Shalom”

Psalm 85:8-9

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

When God speaks, what does He say? In today’s Psalm, we see the attitude of the writer’s heart, willing and eager to hear what God has to say; the psalmist is encouraged and confident that God will speak “shalom” (i.e., peace) to his people. 

There is an expectation that even amid God’s chastisement of His people, the underlying message from God is that of peace. The writer recognizes that the response of God’s people should be of holiness and not turning back to folly, and that the fear of the Lord is what God wants to evoke through the discipline. Therefore, the psalmist professes the truth that repentance proceeds God’s glory being poured out.

When we experience the discipline of the Lord in our lives, it is easy to distort what we hear from God. As we go through difficulties, we might hear words like, “You are being punished”; “God doesn’t love you”; “You are a bad person” and so forth. Yet, the Psalmist is reminding us that even amid God’s discipline, His words are always of love and peace. Yes, there is the call to holiness and repentance for us, but it is in order for Him to embrace us, not reject us. 

What false words are you listening to? Ask the Lord to speak to you today, and that through the Holy Spirit, we would hear the Lord properly.

Prayer: Thank You, God, that You have given me promises in all areas of my life: in health, in ministry, in family, and at work!  You have not given me a spirit of timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind. This is the truth of God, and I will heed that, and not the lies of the enemy. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 6-7

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church, S. F.), was originally posted on March 22, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today 

“Fear in the Modern Age”

Psalms 27:1-3 (ESV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  2  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 

In earlier devotionals, we read about the fear of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom.  Here in this psalm, we see the ultimate benefit of living in that fear; for when you fear the Lord, you have no need to fear anything else.  Fear then is actually a form of worship because what you fear literally controls you and demands obedience from you.  

In the modern age, fear looks vastly different from our enemies assaulting us, or an army threatening to destroy our kingdom.  Today, we have fearful parenting where children are overly protected and never allowed to experience the normal trials of life.  (Sadly, many will repeat this cycle of fear.) We have people ruining their families and their own lives because they are afraid to fail.  Many of us live under the constant burden of insecurities, afraid of what others are thinking about us. Fear is no respecter of persons and we all easily fall victim to its trap.  

David’s solution to his own fear is to know that God alone is his stronghold, a fortress that he can turn to when the fears of life surround him.  It is only from the safety of God’s protective love that we can begin to vanquish fear and live in confidence, hope, and joy.  

What are some fears that you personally struggle with?  Lift them up to the Lord and allow his perfect love to cast our every fear and anxiety.  

Prayer: Father, it is within Your arms, where I feel safest.   I confess that there are many things that cause me to fear, worry, and be anxious.    Allow me to completely trust in the strength of Your love and find all my courage and confidence as I depend upon You daily.  

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 5

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 4:18 (ESV): “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”    

Questions to Consider

1. Is this a contradiction, that is, a change made to the Old Testament command to fear the Lord?
2. What is perfect love referring to? (1 John 4:17a)
3. What allows us to stand confidently before God without the dread of fear?  (1 John 4:17b)

Notes

1. This verse is referring to a specific type of fear, that is, unwarranted fear of condemnation on the Day of Judgment (1 John 4:17) for the believers.   This in no way contradicts or subverts the Old Testament teaching that fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.     
2. Perfect love is a reference to a believer’s growing confidence that he/she will be able to stand before God without fear of His judgment.    
3. According to John’s epistle, we don’t have to be fearful of standing before the throne of God because we are the same as Jesus in this world.  His righteousness is given to us so that we can be confident that the Father will welcome us home just as He welcomed his true Son home.              

One of the earliest heresies that threatened the church was the error propagated by Marcion of Sinope.  He taught that the God of the Old Testament was a lower entity than the all-loving God of the New Testament.  The unity of God between the testaments is essential in our understanding of His nature. He is just and forgiving, jealous and kind, and worthy of both fear and love.  

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Evening Reflection

As your wrap up your week, how did God help you make it through?  Was it a good week, a tough week, a week to forget? Try to thank God no matter the circumstance.

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Ryun Chang who serves as AMI Teaching Pastor, was originally posted on January 11, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today 

“To Blame Me or Others—That’s the Question”

Psalms 6:1-3 

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?

Many experts in our culture are eager to excuse our shameful behaviors by placing the blame on anybody or anything except the self.  Even more popular method is simply torelabel unacceptable behaviors to mean something quite different. “According to the San Francisco Chronicle, . . . a juvenile ‘delinquent’ will now be called . . . a ‘young person impacted by the juvenile justice system’ and drug addicts . . . will become ‘a person with a history of substance use.’”

David wasn’t having any of that; instead of clinging to his “manufactured” righteousness, he chose to “fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is great” (2 Sam. 23:14). Thus, when confronted with his past sins, he confessed, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil is your sight” (Ps. 51:3-4).  There is neither “blaming others” nor “relabeling sins” here; there is only taking the responsibility for one’s own action. 

In view of this, when things go wrong in your life, how do you usually respond?  Is it hard to admit that you are responsible? What do you think God wants to tell you at that moment? Only those who believe that God is merciful, who doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve (Ps. 103:10), will opt to fall into His hands.  The admission of our faults and sins is the first step here. Reflect on this point and ask God for courage.

Prayer: Dear God, I admit that I would rather blame others than myself when things go wrong.  Perhaps I’m afraid. Give me the courage and discernment to take responsibility for my actions while leaning on You to receive mercy and to find grace.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 4

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Lunch Break Study

Context: The writer of Hebrews wrote this to warn those Jewish believers who were tempted to return to sacrificing animals.  Theologically, this was tantamount to salvation by works, which directly opposed the basis of the New Covenant (grace through faith).   

Read Hebrews 12:5-11: And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Questions to Consider

1. Why is it foolish to question God’s love for us when we are disciplined by Him (Heb. 12:5-11)?
2. Why does God discipline us2 (Heb. 12:19, 14)? Consider also why Hebrews was written.
3. What are some general ways in which God disciplines us3 (e.g., Acts 15:36-9; 1 Cor. 11:27-30)?

Notes

1. Upon seeing two kids doing something wrong, the father of one of them will correct his child first; if he chooses to speak to the other child at all, it will likely be toned down.  Why? The father loves his son and wants to see him succeed in life. 
2. First, God desires to see us develop into people who don’t repeat the same mistakes that rob us of a righteous (not legalistic but right living) and peaceful life (avoiding a life full of guilt, shame and regrets).  Second, God disciplines us, particularly the leaders, so that our incorrect thinking and bad conduct do not affect others. This portion of Hebrews shows how serious God was about not allowing the corruption of the gospel by those who returned to human works for justification (Gal. 2:21).
3. Though Paul may have been harsh here, this was one rebuke the young Mark needed before becoming helpful in ministry (2 Tim. 4:11).  Thus, God uses people in spiritual authority to correct us. Also, we can’t rule out infirmities, failed projects, or closed doors as God’s means to discipline us

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Evening Reflection

Sometimes we miss obvious signs and just “drive on.”  Reflect on what’s going on in your life at the moment.  Could it be that what’s going on in your life is God’s way of disciplining you so that you may share in his holiness?  Would review your day here and jot down some thoughts you had about God’s discipline in view of your present circumstances.

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church, S. F.), was originally posted on March 20, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“What People Really Want to See When We Talk About God”

Psalms 26:6-7 (ESV)

I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord,  7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. 

In the Old Testament, washing one’s hands was a symbolic gesture of innocence before taking your place among the worshipers gathered around the altar of God.  Clean hands represented freedom from sinful actions.  

There are countless ways that we can stain our hands with unrecognized sins in our lives.  One area that we often overlook is our lack of thanksgiving and our timidity in proclaiming the wonderful things that God has done in our lives.  Ultimately, this is an act of worship on our part, which is also the most effective and easiest way to share the Gospel with those who are far from God.  

Most people don’t care about what you know about God, philosophically or theologically, until they hear about the works that God has done in your life.  Your testimony matters and each of us has a story that proclaims the goodness of God to a broken world.  

Think of it this way.  The scriptures teach us that faith without works is dead.  As the old adage goes, we are saved by faith alone but not by a faith that is alone.  A true test of the authenticity of our faith is the fruit that we bear as we live day to day among co-workers, neighbors, classmates, and friends.  

Thank the Lord as the Holy Spirit prompts you to bear much fruits for Him.   So ask the Lord to open up opportunities to display God’s work to those around you today.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, fill my heart with deeper gratitude for the all the gifts that you have given me; fill my mouth with the right words to express the wondrous works that you have done.   Give me boldness to share my faith and to cast out all fear and timidity. Use me to be your hands of ministry and to bring the broken and the lost closer to your heart.  

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 3

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the danger of doing good works before the eyes of people? (Matthew 6:2)  
2. What is the purpose of our light? (Matthew 5:15)
3. What is the right motivation for the good works that we do?  (1 Cor. 10:31)

Notes

1. The greatest danger of doing any ministry out in the open is to fall into the trap of seeking man’s approval.   Jesus consistently warns us that if all we desire is the praise of men, that will be our final reward. It is a sober reminder that flattering words are cheap and that the greater reward is what God has in store for us.   
2. There is only one purpose to light and that is to shine brightly so that all may see.  It is often difficult to see ourselves as the light of the world but that is the description that Jesus gives to all those who follow him.  The light of Christ will shine brightly through our lives when we obey his commands. 
3. As cliché as it may sound, the final motivation for our acts of service has to be the glory of God.  There is no such thing as pure altruism because someone ultimately will receive credit for good works that are accomplished in this world.  It is the duty of the Christian to give credit where credit is due and point others to the glory of God as they serve and minister.            

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Evening Reflection

Did you pray for the salvation of people around you who don’t know the Lord?  Reflect on the opportunities that God gave you to serve others.

Today’s blog, written by Pastor Sam Lee of Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was first posted on July 22, 2014.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“The Weapon of Choice”

1 Peter 2:11-12

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Interestingly, Peter addresses his readers as “Dear friends,” putting himself in a position not only as their teacher but their friend; a friend who is genuinely concerned about their welfare concerning sin. He doesn’t want to just give impersonal techniques and programs to overcome sin, but his exhortation comes from a deep sense of care for them.                                                               

He reminds the believers that as “foreigners” in this world, we are called to be different from the world.  Though the people of the world spend much energy to fulfill their sinful desires, not caring about the consequences or how much sin hurts others and themselves, for the believers, the sinful desires “wage war against your soul.”  Peter reminds us that we can’t just blindly be dragged through the alleys by these desires; but rather, we need to take up arms and fight the good fight.  

But how do we fight the battle?  Not with the weapons of this world; we have a different kind of weapon.  Whereas the enemy wants us to lose hope and become bitter when we are faced with sin, Peter tells us to do the opposite of what the devil tells us to do:  “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us” (v. 12).  Or, as Paul puts it, “Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:21). He reminds us that when good is done in the midst of evil, it’s like light shining brighter in the midst of darkness.  

Prayer: No weapon forged against me will prevail. Lord, thank You that I will overcome in Christ. Though I walked in the valley of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 2

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Questions to Consider

1. Many use guilt (condemnation) to motivate themselves to do better (live a holy life).  Upon what basis can we root our faith (that is not guilt driven) so that we may live a holy life (Rom. 12:2)?
2. This passage says, “We do not wage war as the world does.” What is one spiritual battle you are going through that you can apply this teaching? What would you do differently?

Notes

1. Here, Paul is talking about the importance of a clear, biblical thinking that sees right through thoughts and beliefs that are detrimental to our faith.  In Romans 12:2, the apostle talks about renewing of our mind, which leads to approving what God’s will is –his good, pleasing and perfect will. When we live accordingly, a holy life (separated from the worldly values) will be its outcome.
2. When we have a problem with a person, the first thing we think of doing is to talk to that individual.  This verse teaches us that we ought to pray before we speak to anyone. It is not just a problem between people; there may be a spiritual dimension that needs to be addressed.  After praying, we may no longer feel the need to talk to that person, but instead keep on praying.

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Evening Reflection

Pray for one person that seems to be dragging you down spiritually. How can you move in the opposite spirit of this person?

Today’s devotional, prepared by Pastor Jason Sato, was originally posted on November 4, 2014.  He and his wife Jessica (along with their three young children) recently moved to Japan to serve as missionaries. 

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Proverbs 2:1-8 

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

Proverbs 2 invites us to receive, treasure, make our ear attentive, incline our hearts, and cry out for wisdom (v.1-3).  Simply put, we’re called to desire and ask for insight and instruction. The act of asking presupposes trust.  

Sometimes my son “accidentally” breaks apart the tracks to his train set while I am working at the kitchen table.  Then, I would hear his voice, “Dad…Dad…help!” He asks for help because he assumes two things. First, I am able to help him (train sets are still within my abilities); second, I am willing to help him.  I suppose I could walk over and flip his train table upside-down but my son trusts that I want to help, not hurt.

Do we trust that God is able and willing to answer our prayers for wisdom and understanding?  In other words, is God a personal-infinite being worth speaking to when we need insight and help?  The author of Proverbs answers with a resounding YES!  

Proverbs 1 speaks of the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom.  Fearing the Lord is the path to becoming wise. But as we become wiser, we will gain a greater reverence and fear of the Lord as well (v. 5).  It turns out that the fear of the Lord is both the beginning and the end of wisdom!

How does this happen?  As we walk with God in reverence, our fear increases based not only on abstract knowledge but through personal experience.  As we seek and ask for help, we come to find that the Lord is the one who shields, guards, and watches over his saints (v. 6-8).

As we ask for wisdom and experience God’s faithfulness when our petition is granted, we know with that much more certainty that God will come through and His ways lead to righteousness and life.

Take a moment to remember the faithfulness and answered prayers God has given to you in the past.  Then come to Him for the wisdom you need for today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your faithfulness throughout my life, for you have always been good to me.  Grant me the wisdom I desperately need that I might always honor You as I labor at work, love my family, and steward Your gifts.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 1

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Luke 11:9-13: And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Questions to Consider 

1. What does v. 9 tell us about how we ought to pray?
2. What causes us to fail to persist in prayer?
3. How are you tempted to believe that you are (or would be) a better parent than God?

Notes

1. We ought to pray with persistence, effort, and faith.
2. We doubt whether God will answer.  Ultimately, we question whether God gives good gifts to his children.
3. Answers will vary but could include the following: we feel as if we are more generous and attentive than God, or we care more about our children’s needs.

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Evening Reflection

What opportunities did you have today to ask the Lord for His help and insight?  How did the Lord provide His fatherly care for you today? Take a moment to thank God for His faithfulness.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Everybody, Do Your Share”

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 

“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

One of my favorite children’s books is The Trumpet of the Swan. The story is about a swan named Louis who is born mute. At first, everybody is worried about him, because a mute swan cannot attract a mate, and therefore he cannot lead a normal swan life. The book follows how his life changes as he uses a trumpet to communicate. Louis ends up having a far more adventurous life than an ordinary swan, eventually playing in nightclubs and even wooding the love of his life. How’s that for a transformed life?

However! This story would be incomplete without a host of other characters who help and support him along the way. There’s a boy named Sam who identifies that Louis can’t talk and first brings him to school, so he can learn other forms of communication. Louis’s swan father obtains a trumpet so his son can practice. Yet others offer him jobs. And so it goes.

In this passage, Paul admonishes the Corinthian church for picking sides and favoring some of God’s servants over others. But instead of focusing on what he says about unity, let’s focus today on how Paul reinforces that individuals all have different roles to play in building one another up. Someone’s job is to water, and someone’s job is to plant. In the process of God bringing growth, it can never be attributed to just one person; our lives are the fruit of a community project over time.

We all have a critical role to play in the church. Knowing this, we should be gladly engaged in growing others as they achieve transformation. You might be responsible for tilling hard soil, or planting seeds of thought, or watering and refreshing others.

At most AMI churches, the ministry year has begun. Have you intended to join God as He transforms His people? There are more ways to serve than just the visible titles and roles you might normally think of. All of us are engaged to do life together and have the privilege to encourage one another in growth. As we go to God’s house today, let’s ask for open eyes and commitment to see how to aid our brothers and sisters in growing.

Prayer: Father, thank You that we are called to one another and that You have given each person such purpose in Your family. Help us not to neglect the spiritual gifts You have given to us but to use them well in building each other up. Lord, give us hearts that love to serve one another. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 22

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“No Longer Your Own”

1 Corinthians 6:17-20 

“But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

 There’s a great scene in the movie Ratatouille when the wannabe chef, Linguini, and a rat, Remy, begin to team up together. Up to this point, the boy has been downcast because he has little skill, but Remy, the rat, is passionate about food, and they learn that Linguini’s actions can be controlled when Remy tugs on his hair. Suddenly, it becomes a puppet situation; his body is no longer his own, but now he is completely at the disposal of a rat with incredible culinary talent. He raises his hands, grabs ingredients, chops, and cooks, all by the directions from this rat sitting inside his hat!

This is a useful depiction of what it looks like to be mastered by God. Today’s passage specifically references sexual immorality and the physical expression of honoring God; however, the sense of being owned by God applies beyond our sexuality and extends into all other fleshly behavior: jealousy, selfishness, pride, etc.

Without Him and left to our own devices, we are hapless and hopeless. But a life mastered by Him means that we can seriously exceed what we think our human capabilities are. We find ourselves more generous and patient than we would normally be. We find ourselves more gracious and compassionate. We find ourselves fighting the wars of the flesh with strength and diligence. A life mastered by God’s powerful Spirit is victorious in more ways than we can imagine.

Today, let’s take an inventory of areas in which God is Lord and Master over our lives. Are we being mastered by Him in all areas, or is there something we are withholding? Let’s ask Him to help us cede our control and let Him take over so that we can live in the freest, fullest, and best way.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You have offered me the abundant life. I want to take hold of it, but I confess that I often want control over how things go. Help me to surrender wholly to You and be mastered by You. Use me and change me so that I may life the full and abundance life in You.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 20-21

Devotional Thought for Today

“Who’s Got Talent?”

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.’”

I was watching a couple videos of America’s Got Talent while babysitting recently. The premise of the show is that performers come before a panel of judges and demonstrate one skill or another that they’ve practiced. I watched one video in which the judges began by smiling politely at a young girl who was skinny and seemed nervous. Once her number started, a powerful voice suddenly erupted from her. The judges were shocked— flabbergasted to the point of dropping their jaws—and it was evident that they had severely underestimated her talent. (The girls I was with gleefully replayed that moment over and over again.)

While not a perfect analogy, Paul reminds us that we are also susceptible of determining someone’s worth, but God can easily overturn our prejudices. We gravitate easily towards external shows of power: beauty, strength, riches, education. However, we underestimate others who do not exhibit those same traits, and then we end up eating humble pie when we find out how God has actually equipped them and uses them powerfully! 

God often likes to remind us that we are too fixated on the outward appearance of things. He is not interested in our accomplishments and our attempts to impress Him through skills, talents, and looks. (In fact, to do so would be to completely miss the nature of how He gifted us with those in the first place). He has made grace a great leveler so that people we look down on—the foolish and the weak— are elevated, and we have nothing to boast of. 

Let’s ask God to change our vision of those around us. We may not always accurately gauge who He means to use, but when He imbues us with His Spirit, it is undeniable. Let’s ask for humility to not measure our fellow person based on what he or she seems to offer, but let’s ask God to give us discernment to properly value and honor a person’s capacity to glorify Him. 

Prayer: Father, I confess that I am guilty of judging my fellow brothers and sisters based on their strength and wisdom in my own standards. Give me Your grace to be reminded that none of us have anything to boast about; give me humility to understand that You often use those we underestimate. Help me to see Your people with Your eyes and not mine. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 19

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Lunch Break Study

Read James 2:1-7: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”

Questions to Consider

1. James recognizes that discrimination always happens, even within the worship service. What’s the problem with this kind of favoritism?
2. James also asks the believers to think about both the present life and the one to come. How does that help us here?
3. How do you discriminate against others, even in the church setting? Let’s reflect on how to apply this passage in our own lives. 

Notes

1. Favoritism and discrimination are ungodly behaviors because we set ourselves as the judge of a person’s worth and value. God loves all His children, but when we show favoritism, we essentially try to override His decision on who is worthy of love. 
2. While we might find people of a certain status compelling, we have not properly thought about how or whether we can live freely among them in this life. James mentions that the rich, who we love to show special attention to, give us no mercy on this side of Heaven; they also do not fear God and therefore do not practice justice correctly. We fail to understand that the poor inherit the kingdom, and so we are also being shortsighted when we do not consider what true success means in light of eternity.
3. Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

How did today go? Did God give you an extra measure of grace and vision for someone unexpected? Let’s ask Him to keep changing our perception of those around us and be humbled to see them used mightily in His kingdom.

Devotional Thought for Today

“A Sympathetic Ear”

Hebrews 4:14-16

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

Early in my college days, I went through a series of eating disorders. Though I felt healed from it, the road in recovering was riddled with moments of struggle that I hadn’t expected. Because so few of my friends understood the experience, I often felt that I didn’t know how to navigate my problems. But one day, while meeting with an older sister, I decided to share in order to stay vulnerable. In doing so, I learned that she experienced the same things! Immediately, I felt relieved, safe, and understood. I knew that I could ask for her guidance. Realizing that someone had gone before me in this experience encouraged me to persevere and comforted me with the reminder that I was not alone. 

The Scripture says that, for us, Jesus has gone through every temptation and trial that we face. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says that He was tempted in all things yet remained without sin. While we may know in our minds that Jesus went through some sufferings, we rarely take the time to reflect on how Jesus can and will understand us when we come to Him. 

We can go to Him for everything! He experienced abandonment and betrayal. He understands how it feels to be misunderstood by family and strangers. He understands weariness and the struggle to honor the Father to the very end. He understands the barrage of temptations that arise when we want to react to each of those situations. And He overcame! So we can come to Him, knowing that we will find a friendly and sympathetic ear and knowing that we will surely be understood.

Our Christ has gone ahead of us and overcome. Let us come to Him with confidence, knowing that He will provide the mercy, grace, and guidance that we crave. Is there something weighing your heart that makes you feel all alone in your experience? I urge you to call on Jesus today. Better than any human comfort, He understands perfectly, and He is always available and present.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for going before me in every way. I know that I can come to You as a friend and confidant. Show me more of Your understanding so that I could be even more forthcoming in my life and see how safe and wonderful it is to share my heart with You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:13-17: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why is it significant that we are now counted as friends of God?
2. What is the command that Jesus gives to His friends to follow?
3. Jesus describes a oneness in mind and spirit that comes from friendship with God. What does this oneness result in?

Notes

1. Friends are different from servants because friends have a level of exchange and intimacy that a master-servant relationship would not. Friends disclose their hearts and thoughts in a mutual exchange. Masters only tell servants commands and tasks to do but never disclose their intentions and plans. Friendship with God is not just a warm relationship; He willingly chose us to become friends and grants us access to His ideas and plans. 
2. The command that Jesus gives is to love each other. The love that He specifically calls us to (and emphasizes) is a sacrificial love that honors others’ lives above our own. This is not always about dying in place of one another, but a consideration of others above ourselves.
3. Oneness with Jesus when we are exchanging our thoughts with His and also obeying His commands becomes a lifestyle in which our desires and wishes are also totally fulfilled. If our lives are bent on serving / loving others and being wholly devoted to God’s people, we can be more sure that our wishes and desires are more pure and in-line with what God desires; they are the very things He will grant.

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Evening Reflection

How did today go? Were there any instances as you sought God that it felt more certain that He understood and sympathized? Let’s ask Him to be at the forefront of our thoughts so that we can always turn to Him for counsel and support.