September 16, Monday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Tina Hsu of the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.

Devotional Thought for Today

“A Meeting Place with God”

Luke 1:11-15 (NIV)

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

Have you ever experienced God providing you an answer to your prayer, but the answer was a greater outcome than your expectation? Recently, I was given good news that my mom will be getting married to a kind, Christian brother. For a long time, she had been praying about pursuing a second marriage in a God-honoring way because she wanted God’s blessing. However, from several previous situations in which things did not work out, she had learned to become content in serving God as a single woman. But, this past year, God didn’t simply grant a good answer to her prayer, but a great answer, for the brother to whom she is engaged is not just a Christian, but someone who shares similar values and commitment towards serving and ministry.

In introducing this elderly couple to his audience, Luke particularly recorded that Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, though barren and childless, were “righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). This was to shed away any misconception that Elizabeth’s barrenness was a result of moral failure or spiritual uncleanliness, which was a social stigma at the time. Barrenness in those days also brought on the stress of economic well-being—who would take care of and provide for them in their old age? Verse 13 implies that Zechariah had prayed for Elizabeth to bear a child and now the Lord says, “Your prayer has been heard.”

For this couple, barrenness was devastating to face, but their barrenness became a contact point and a meeting place between them and God. They poured out their pain and desires to God and in the waiting, they faithfully continued to serve God. God did not give them a “good enough” outcome—of course, having a child would’ve made it a happy ending—but gave them a great outcome, because their son would not only bring joy to them, but would also bring joy to Israel. He would play a very important role in Israel that would usher and prepare the way for Jesus Christ.

What outcomes are you earnestly seeking from God: financial breakthrough, a job opportunity, healing in relationships? Let the lack you are facing become a contact point that brings you to meet with the Lord.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You that Your works exceedingly surpass my prayers and expectations. You are a God of great things, not just “good enough”. You teach me to hope and desire for Your great purposes to be accomplished through my life. I pray that You would keep me steady and faithful in the waiting. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 63:1-11: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me. 9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. 10 They will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals. 11 But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God will glory in him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced.”

Questions to Consider

What condition or situation was David facing when he wrote this psalm?
What is unique about David’s song to God amid his dire situation?
How can this psalm be a prayer for you or someone in your life, given your or someone’s difficult situation?

Notes

Very likely, David was in the desert and wilderness, hiding from Saul who was pursuing to destroy him.
Amongst many praises to God, David declares that God’s love is better than life. David really needed physical safety for his life at this time, but he still declared that God’s love is better. In fact, God’s love is fully satisfying, like the richest of foods. He found comfort in God’s presence alone.
Personal Response

Evening Reflection

What situation or moment in your life is prompting you to seek God earnestly? Take a moment to vocalize or write down the things for which you need God’s help.

September 15, Sunday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend, written by Pastor Ryun Chang, was originally posted on February 15, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Fear Death?”

1 John 2:15, 17

Do not love the world or anything in the world . . . The world and its desires pass away.

Perhaps no one ever feared death quite like Thomas Donaldson who was afflicted with brain cancer in 1990. Hoping that science can one day make immortality possible, Donaldson, then 46, asked the California court judge to permit cryogenic specialists to freeze him, and then sever his frozen head to store it for the future. He hoped that someday science would provide a cure for cancer, but for this plan to succeed, the doctors would also have to master the technique of brain transplantation. Only then could Donaldson’s head be thawed out and his brain implanted to another body. At $35,000, freezing a head was a good deal cheaper than what it would cost to freeze an entire body for $100,000. “I am dying,” said the cancer patient, adding, “I might later be revived and continue to live.” Fortunately, he managed to beat the disease until finally succumbing to it in 2006.

This man really tried to hang on to this world as long as he could, because for him, there was no other world but this one, since he never came to believe Jesus for eternal life. What’s more tragic is that there are so-called believers who will do almost anything to prolong their stay here on earth and it’s not because they want to do God’ work. I wonder whether this is a case of “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15b).

Prayer: Lord, help me to put my hope only on You. Prepare me for the day of my departure so that I may declare, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (1 Tim. 4:7).

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 12

September 14, Saturday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend, written by Pastor Ryun Chang, was originally posted on February 15, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Which is Your Heaven?”

Psalm 17:13-15

Rise up, O Lord, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. 14 O Lord, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. 15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

The New Atheist, Richard Dawkins, told a story of a clergy who told his dying colleague, “Congratulations! I wish I was coming with you.” Noting that this clergy seemed like a sincere believer, Dawkins, who penned a bestseller entitled, “The God Delusion,” said, “It is precisely because it’s so rare that his story catches our attention. Could it be that [religious people] don’t believe all that stuff they pretend to believe?”

Is this true? To some extent, yes, especially for Americans whose heaven is the good old USA, the land of abundance and prosperity where those deemed as poor there still crack the list of the top 1% income earners when globally compared ($34,000 is all it takes). But, still not satisfied, one reason we do not yearn for heaven is because believers are more enamored by men of this world who are getting all their “rewards” now, than the rewards of seeing God’s face; so, we want more, now! David, always yearning to worship Him, ultimately found this satisfaction when, upon dying, awoke in heaven and saw the face of God. Yes, “better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Ps. 84:10).

Do you yearn to meet Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, President Obama or his better half Michelle, (or, even Trump) or Jesus Christ? What does that say about you?

Prayer: My precious, righteous, and loving God, I yearn to see Your face: I thirst for Your presence, and I hunger for Your word! Who in this world can quench this longing in the depth of my being? Oh LORD, help me to place my hope in Your grace and mercy instead of the fleeting wealth, fame, and power of those whose reward is in this life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 10-11

September 13, Friday

Today’s devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on December 29, 2014. Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia.

Devotional Thought for Today

Proverbs 30:24

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise.”

For those of us living far from home, international students, recent immigrants or workers abroad, living in a foreign country can often make us feel small. The language handicap, for one, always makes us feel at less than 100% – less than fully capable of handling any situation that may come our way; add to that having the perpetual outsider’s disadvantage, never quite knowing how things are really supposed to be, we can feel a need to always be on our guard.

I especially feel this way whenever I am dealing with the landlord of an apartment I am about to rent. Because when you sign a lease, you have no relationship with the person yet, there is so much mutual distrust, and each side is just looking out for their own benefit. On more than one occasion I’ve discovered that I’ve somehow been talked into taking on expenses that were the landlord’s responsibility. These kinds of interactions tire and discourage me, but more than anything, they do make me feel small.

Have you ever felt small? On discovering that someone has taken unfair advantage of you? Or standing before someone berating you for something you didn’t do but unable to find the words to defend yourself? Or maybe simply just facing a huge challenge that you really don’t know if you can overcome? There is anger when injustice is involved, but there is also sadness, fear and frustration that come from feeling helpless, powerless to change the situation. Sometimes being small doesn’t have to do with any actual inherent weakness but being the weaker one in a given circumstance.

The verses following our excerpt for this morning go on to describe the respective merits of ants, rock badgers, locusts and lizards – small and relatively weak creatures that still manage some amazing feats – the main idea conveyed being this: The power of wisdom is that it triumphs over smallness.

Let us be encouraged today that worldly power and strength are not everything, and thank the Lord that his wisdom is accessible to us as we ask (James 1:5).

Prayer: Lord, we are weak, but You are strong. Oh how I need, how I seek, Your wisdom this day. Thank You that You make Your wisdom available to the small. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 30:24-28: “Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: 25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; 26 coneys [=rock badgers] are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags; 27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks; 28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.”

Questions to Consider

What is the weakness of each animal?
What does wisdom enable each animal to do?
Which kind of wisdom do I need most today? Ask the Lord; he is pleased to grant it.

Notes

Ants and badgers have little physical strength/power. Locusts have no leader to organize them. Lizards can be caught easily.
Ants will have enough in the future (winter) because they have saved in times of plenty (summer); coneys are able to find ways to survive in barren environments where there seems to be no way; locusts are able to work well with one another, moving forward as one; the lizard knows how to enter places inaccessible to most.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Was I intentional about seeking God’s wisdom today? If so, in what way did God grant me his wisdom (i.e., teach me to be wise) today?

September 12, Thursday

Devotional Thought for Today

“Cultivating Generosity – Part 3

Matthew 25:20-21, 29

And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master’ . . . 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Today’s passage is from the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). If you have not read the entire parable before, I would encourage you to do so before reading this.

The past few days we have been exploring the idea of generosity. Being generous is tied to righteousness, so if we have received Christ’s righteousness through our faith in Him, we ought to express that through generous living. Further, we can be generous as we trust in God, who is our abundantly generous Father. To close this little series, I want to take a look at the Parable of the Talents. Very often when we read this passage, we think of this parable about using our gifts and abilities for God (partly due to the word talent being used in this passage; note that talent here refers to a unit of money). However, when we interpret it this way, we lose sight of the immediate idea of the parable, that of money.

This parable is about a rich man entrusting money to three of his servants with the assumption that they would use it wisely, according to the interests of the master. In the end, two of the servants use the money to increase the wealth of the master while the other servant simply buries the money and then returns it. Jesus commends the two who increased the wealth of the master but chastises the third. The two faithful ones are then given even more because of their faithfulness.

At face value, this parable is teaching us that what we have, especially our finances, are not our own. They belong to our Master and our Master expects us to use them wisely, according to the interests of our Master. All we have is actually all His. God does not just own the 10% we give in our tithe – He owns everything we have. And God is looking for us to make a return on what He gives us. The return He is looking for is not gained interest, but lives that are transformed. He expects us to invest into the Kingdom. This is God’s invitation to us – sow generously into the Kingdom, invest into the Kingdom, make a return on the Kingdom. This is an amazing invitation that God has given to us and when we accept that invitation, we grow in trust and we learn to live under the goodness of God and our lives become fruitful.

Now, quick disclaimer. The last verse says that to those who have, more will be given. This is not saying that we are guaranteed more wealth if we are generous. Rather, the more we make interest on the Kingdom – through our finances, our gifts, really, our whole lives – the more we see God move and the more we get to be a part of God’s Kingdom work. Generosity is a key avenue to being a part of God’s plan of bringing His Kingdom on earth. He is inviting us to join Him, to bring all that we have, and see an abundance come from what we bring. This is surely something we would not want to miss out on!

Prayer: Lord, may You cultivate a heart of generosity in us. May we not be like the third servant who simply buried his talent. Rather, may we seek to invest into Your Kingdom, to bring all we have so that we can reap a fruitful, Kingdom harvest. May we long to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 8

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 12:41-44: And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions to Consider

Compare what the widow gives to what the rich people give.
Why does Jesus commend the poor widow?
Is your mindset more like the rich people or the widow?

Notes

In total numbers, the rich people likely gave a much, much greater amount than the poor widow. Yet, the widow gave all that she has. We do not know what the rich people gave, but likely they gave an amount that was comfortable for them, enough to feel good about themselves.
Jesus says that the widow put more in than all the rich people because she gave everything she had, out of her poverty while the rich people gave out of their abundance. I heard the following quote recently about this passage: “Generosity is not measured by what you give, but by what you don’t give.” The widow held nothing back, while the rich people likely held much back, even though what they gave was likely a lot.
I know it can be easy to think, “Well I’m not rich so I’m not like them!” But the rich people’s mindset was that they’d give what was comfortable for them. Do you give what feels comfortable or what may cause a little discomfort? The widow gave out of her poverty and she is who Jesus commends to us.

Evening Reflection

This evening ask God show you what could happen through your generosity. Perhaps there could be kingdom work accomplished as you enter on the journey of generous giving! Invite God to give you direction about this.

September 11, Wednesday

Devotional Thought for Today

“Cultivating Generosity” – Part 2

Genesis 2:8-9, 15-18

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . . . 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” . . . 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

The single, biggest challenge to cultivating generosity in our lives is the mindset that we do not have enough. When we feel like we do not have enough, that we need more, we start clenching our fists and holding things tightly. Fear creeps in and we try to control the situation. Have you ever felt that way before? I imagine most of us have felt something like that at some point.

If that is our mindset, when someone invites us to give in some way, like how Paul invited the Corinthians to give in our passage from yesterday, we get anxious and defensive. We can quickly justify why now is not the right time. But when our mindset is “not now, later”, “later” will never come. We will always find a reason to delay generosity. A podcast I listened to recently called this a “scarcity-mindset.”

However, God does not desire us to live under the impression of scarcity! In today’s passage, we see the generosity of God in action. He planted a garden for man and then gave to him many and various trees that were “pleasant to the sight” and “good for food.” (v.9) Yes, he did tell him not to eat from one of those trees, but that was probably one tree out of hundreds. God was giving these first humans so much! There was an abundance. And God even showed his generosity by creating another human, specifically Eve. God created life and community. He lavished upon humankind everything they needed.

The contrarian in us is probably thinking, “Well, that was before the Fall; post-Fall, we do not have this abundance.” Yes, things are different after the Fall. But still, through the whole Bible, we see God promising to His people that if we trust in Him, He will provide for us; we will always have enough. Circumstances might not always be great, but we can trust that God will take care of us. Jesus taught us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). God’s desire is for us to return to that Eden mindset, where we recognize God as the generous giver who gives us all we need. In order to have that mindset, we need to trust God.

The mindset that we do not have enough is not a mindset based on circumstances; it’s a mindset based on a lack of trust in our generous God. Our generous God is inviting us into a life of generosity where we can learn to trust him day by day, knowing that He really is the One who will take care of us. So, the next time you think to yourself, “I don’t have enough,” remind yourself that our Father has and will always give us more than enough.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being our generous God. May I never feel lacking in any way. Though circumstances may not always go the way I hope, may I know that You are always in control and You will always provide for me. Help me to trust you more, starting today.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:31-34: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, why should we not be anxious?
What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness?
How can you seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness today?

Notes

Our “heavenly Father knows that [we] need” to be eat and to be clothed. He knows there are things we need to live. But He is good and lovingly provides them for us. The passage also says to not be anxious about tomorrow but to just focus on one day at a time, trusting that God is with us today.
In the immediate context, this means living out the Sermon on the Mount, which is Jesus’s teaching on what life in the kingdom is all about. At the heart of seeking the Kingdom of God is to live as though God is King. And if God is King, not to mention a good King, He can be trusted. We seek the Kingdom of God by trusting in our good King and living according to His ways.
Take time to reflect on how you can do this today!

Evening Reflection

Take time this evening to surrender any way you are being tight-fisted with something. In surrender, ask God for help to trust Him more so that you can live a generous life.

September 10, Tuesday

The AMI QT Devotionals for September 10-12 are provided by Pastor Doug Tritton of Symphony Church in Boston.

Devotional Thought for Today

Cultivating Generosity – Part 1

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

When we think of Paul, we probably think of him as an apostle, a writer, an evangelist, a preacher, a church planter, etc., and indeed he was all those things. But what about this one: fundraiser? That might not be near the top of our list of who Paul was. In fact, it may make us uncomfortable to think of him as such. We tend to get suspicious when people ask us for money. However, when you read his letters, it’s hard to miss how often he mentions the need for Christians to give. He was not blindly fundraising, he had a cause – namely, raising funds for poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem – and he boldly asked the Gentile churches to contribute to this cause. That is the context for the passage above – here, Paul was exhorting the Corinthians to contribute to this collection he was intending to bring to poor Jewish Christians in Jerusalem.

In Paul’s other letters, he does not always explain in much detail why he is asking for the churches to give, but here in 2 Corinthians, especially chapters 8 and 9, Paul covers in length how important it is for Christians to be generous. And Paul uses a key word to describe generosity: righteousness. Righteousness is an important word for Paul because it describes the relationship between the Christian and God. Those who believe in Jesus are considered righteous. This is a righteousness that is given to us by God because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet, here Paul seems to connect generosity with righteousness. This means that in Paul’s mind, those who believe in Jesus, who have been counted as righteous in God’s eyes, demonstrate their righteousness through generosity.

In fact, Paul quotes Psalm 112 to show that generosity is a sign of a person who fears the Lord (see Psalm 112). “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” Righteousness is shown through generosity.

Today, let’s reflect on this idea of generosity. As Christians, we are called to strive for righteousness and often we think of that in terms of the avoidance of certain activities, which is certainly a good start. But as we see in our passage, generosity is a key part of righteousness. So, if we desire righteousness, we must strive to live generously. Perhaps today can be a day you start to cultivate a generous way of life.

Prayer: God, thank you that you are the source of righteousness and the example of true generosity. May we strive to be generous in all we do. Let generosity be a regular part of how we live our ways, such that we reflect your character with our generosity.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 112:5-9: It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. 6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. 7 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. 9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Questions to Consider

What does the Psalm say about the outlook of the person who is generous?
According to this passage, what are some of the effects of being generous?
What is stopping you from cultivating a generous heart?

Notes

Verse 5 says that “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends.” However, this does not mean that being generous is a guarantee of good circumstances. Rather, the person who is generous and lends “is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” (v.7) A person who is generous has cultivated a deep trust that keeps things “well” even if circumstances are not good.
They will never be moved and will be remembered (v.6). They are not bothered when things go badly (v.7). There is less fear and more consistency of emotions (v.8). They are exalted for giving freely to those in need. (v.9) There really is so much blessing to be received when you freely give!
Invite God to speak to you regarding this!

Evening Reflection

Tonight, reflect on the ways you have been on the receiving end of generosity. Think of how you felt. Now, invite God to help you to be a source of blessing to others through your own generosity.

September 9, Monday

Today’s blog, written by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church in Raleigh, was originally posted on November 3, 2013.

Devotional Thought for Today

“The Evil Without and Within”

Psalm 94:4-11 (NIV)

They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. 5 They crush your people, Lord; they oppress your inheritance. 6 They slay the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless. 7 They say, “The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob takes no notice.” 8 Take notice, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? 9 Does he who fashioned the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? 10 Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge? 11 The Lord knows all human plans; he knows that they are futile.

If we stop and look around – or sit through an hour of the evening news – we can’t help but come to terms with the abundance of evil in the world. From murderers and rapists to greedy businessmen and self-seeking government officials, to the self-righteous religious folks and the misguided vigilante, evil is all around us. And on the occasion that we pause long enough from our busy schedules and look in the mirror, we find proof within us of what Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn meant when he said, “The line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”

Evil is all around us and even within us. At the heart of all evil is sin. And at the heart of all sin is arrogance (or pride) – thinking that we know better than God, thinking that we are not obligated to submit to Him, thinking we can do things apart from Him, or worse, not thinking of Him at all.

The psalmist laments, in utter frustration, the works of evil he saw in his day. At the heart of all these things is the belief, the lie, that God does not see (verse 7). It’s scary to think that much of the world operates with no knowledge or concept of God. It’s even scarier to realize that the believers often do the same. Not that we don’t know of God, but that we move through our days as though He’s not there, considering and consulting Him little if at all.

These verses are a wakeup call – to remember our God – His authority and sovereignty over all. God sees all, knows all, and is in control of all things. For the wicked, this is a terrifying reality. But for us, it’s a comfort to know that our loving God sits on the throne. And even with all the evil running rampant around us, He is still in control and at work to eradicate it.

Prayer: Lord, before I ever condemn the world for all the evil that it embodies, help me to see the evil within me. Then, compel and constrain me, that is, if I am not willing, to repent. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 5

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24: Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Questions to Consider

What is the common thread in the commands Paul gives in verses 16-18? What does this tell us about how to interact with the current state of the world around us?
In verse 22, Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica to reject every kind of evil. What do the verses that follow tell us about how they’re able to do that?
Why is it important to end with a reminder of the faithfulness of God?

How do Paul’s words encourage you today? Maybe it’s time to rejoice and give thanks even in the face of much evil around you. Maybe God is calling you to pray, remembering His sovereignty and petitioning him to bring forth His kingdom in its fullness. Maybe you’re struggling with the evil in yourself. Submit yourself to God, acknowledging that it’s God alone who can purify you and rejoicing in the fact that He is doing just that in you right now.

Notes

“always/continually/all circumstances” – Through Paul, God is giving instructions that are not contingent upon what’s going on in our lives or in the world around us, but instructions that should be followed at all times. Even when the world seems to be headed to hell in a hand-basket, we can rejoice and give thanks because we know that God is in control and at work. And we pray continually, even in the face of pervasive evil in the world and our own hearts, because we know that all things are subject to the will of God and that His plan is to abolish evil once and for all.
It is through the power of God that we reject every kind of evil. Paul tells the church, and by extension us, to reject “abstain from (or reject) every form of evil.” That’s a tall order! But we are able to do this as God himself makes every part of us blameless and holy. It is the work of God within us that not only enables us to be purged of evil within ourselves, but that will ultimately purge the world of all evil when Christ returns.
God’s faithfulness is our greatest comfort. No matter what is going on around us or within us, we know that God is faithful to his promises to us. He will bring an end to all evil (within us and around us) and will walk with us daily as he does it. Our God is faithful to His people and faithful to His promises. That’s great news!

Evening Reflection

Spend some time interceding for the world around you. Even though much of the world is plagued by the evil of sin, we can pray, just as Jesus instructed, “Your kingdom come! Your will be done!”

September 8, Sunday

Today’s QT blog, written by Pastor Charles Choe (Tapestry Church in Los Angeles), was originally posted on December 7, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Need Not Fear”

Proverbs 16:3, 9

“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.”

During my senior year in high school, I recall meeting with my guidance counselor to discuss my future college and major. For some reason, I felt uneasy and an overwhelming fear accompanying me the whole time I was with her. I felt extremely intimidated in deciding my future, for I thought that whatever decision I made now would be irreversible for the rest of my life. Feeling pressured to make the right decision within the fifteen minutes I was allotted, seemed overwhelming for me.

Today’s verses remind us that we do not need to fret or be anxious because God has a plan for our lives that will ultimately glorify Him and be good for us. We can make our own plans, but unless we’re submitting those plans to the Lord, we will continually find ourselves frustrated and being delayed in experiencing His peace. These two verses point out that God is in control even of our plans and He will ultimately establish them.

Just pause and consider that. No matter what you go through, you can go at it with the assurance that God loves you and knows what’s best for you. And if you are willing to commit your ways to Him, He will unfold His perfect plan for your life. This is a very comforting thought. This means that you don’t have to be so anxious about what to do, whether to move to a new city or stay put, whether to date this or that person, or whether to go left or go right.

What’s more important than trying to make the right decision is the motive behind that decision. Ask yourself: Do I want to major in this career to glorify God? Am I dating this person so that I can gain a partner to serve the purposes of the Gospel? It appears to me that you can’t really go against God or make the wrong decision if you are seeking first His kingdom and righteousness.

Ultimately, it’s about committing yourself and your work to the Lord, and desiring his will to be done through your life each day. This is the kind of person that the Lord is looking for. If we become that kind of a person, then Solomon tells us that our plans will succeed. This doesn’t mean that we’ll always make a lot of money or that our lives will be easy. But it does mean that because our vision for our lives are in line with God’s, we will have peace and joy in Him, knowing that we are exactly where He wants us to be.

Prayer: Dear God, allay my fear by reminding me that You are a good God who has a plan that is perfectly suited for me to glorify Your name. Help me to be patient while seeking Your purpose for my life so that I can be a blessing to others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 4

September 7, Saturday

Today’s blog, written by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on March 8, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Loving Christians as Well”

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

I know Christians who have a passion to share Christ with strangers, but feel ambivalent toward other believers. They show grace and compassion to those who don’t know Jesus, but are highly critical of those of who do know him. Now, this is not entirely wrong since Jesus probably spent more time with publicans and prostitutes (i.e., sinners) than those who considered themselves as righteous before God. On the flip side, Paul tells us that while we are not to judge those outside the church, we are to judge those within the church (1 Corinthians 5:12-13), meaning we are to promote holiness (e.g., sinning less) since God is holy.

However, all of this has to be done in the context of love; otherwise, our witness to the world will be greatly tainted. If we fail to love one another (i.e., other believers and disciples), then the people of the world (e.g., atheists, Muslims, crass materialists) will not know whether we are following Jesus. What would they think of us when they hear us say, “God is love,” but the only thing that they hear and see is us being critical and judgmental of other believers and disciples?

Jesus envisioned his church to be full of disciples who love each other in such a way that their community truly embodies his love for the world. When we are loving one another, accepting one another, being gracious to one another, serving one another, even exhorting one another to follow Jesus (this includes rebuking, of course), then the world will see Christ through us.

The late Joe Aldrich put it this way,

The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their completeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians–when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug in complacent consecration, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.

Let’s be careful that when we point out self-righteousness and spiritual complacency of other believers, that we do not become “overrighteous” (Eccle. 7:16). Let’s be mindful to ground our comments and actions with respect to other believers in true care and compassion.

Prayer: Father, I thank you that you forgive my sins anew every morning. I thank You that the blood of Jesus covers every one of my sins. Help me to live this day, not in an overrighteous manner, but in the freedom that comes from being forgiven and in a right relationship with you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 2-3