August 12, Monday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Charles Choe (Tapestry Church in Los Angeles), was originally posted on December 1, 2014.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“The Wiser Way: Keeping a Lid on It”

Proverbs 13:3 

 “He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.” 

Talking has never been difficult for me. In just about any conversation, I would look for airtime or attention from others. I would be listening, but largely with the intent to angle for an opening, to find an opportunity to speak, to show off how much I know or how funny I can be. Thank goodness it’s been a few moons since then and I have grown somewhat in this area.

In the book of Proverbs, Solomon in all his wisdom, chooses to come back to the mouth, lips, and tongue. Solomon teaches us that guarding our lips is guarding our very life. The man who speaks with no restraint shows no wisdom. Words are powerful and they are to be used selectively.

When you consider your own life and personality, could you honestly say you value silence and restraint? Or are you quick to quip about whatever enters your mind? We live in a culture where the one who gets his point across the clearest and most convincingly is considered the winner. As Christians, we are called to be subversive by not following the patterns of this world. The Bible insists that there is more power in listening than in speaking.

Part of the reason we are impatient to speak is because part of us believes that we have all the answers. We have a tendency to fix things, usually with good intentions, but sometimes we just need to keep our lips together and listen. By listening longer and weighing the opinions a bit more, we are communicating that we do not know it all or have everything figured out.  

Consider this when a brother stumbles and falls. We are so quick to tell others of the law, but how often do we portray the Gospel? How often do we show the love of Christ? We have to trust that, in your listening, the Holy Spirit is working and is going to show them God’s heart. If you are trying to speak just to make your point, you will miss that quiet voice of the Spirit. There is nothing wrong with saying nothing and speaking another day after considering the matter. You don’t have to win every discussion.

Prayer: Lord, help me to listen. In listening more, may Your Holy Spirit speak more to me. Guide me through every conversation and discussion today for Your glory.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 18:15-20: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the reason why you would bring two or three witnesses is to help a brother who is sin?
  2. Why is it important to disengage with people who are unable to listen to correction?
  3. One of the things that plagues most Christian communities is the inability to handle confrontation, disagreement and our mutual accountability when it comes to sin. How well do you do this in area? 

Notes

  1. To listen better and to repent of sin.
  2. They dilute and misrepresent God’s holiness and such standard can spread like yeast to the body of Christ.
  3. Respecting leaders is a matter of the heart. We often get hurt when they admonish, but we must learn to be admonished from out leaders.

Evening Reflection

A final food for thought. We have two ears and one mouth. Does that tell us something about the ratio in which they should be used?

August 11, Sunday

Today’s blog, written by Pastor Ryun Chang, was originally posted on March 16, 2014.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Imitate Well”

1 John 3:11

“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.”

The former NBA player, the great Charles Barkley, perhaps the only man to slam Shaquille O’Neal to the floor, once said, “I’m not a role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”  Many critics, assailing his remark as being irresponsible and evasive, reasoned that professional athletes, whose fans include many impressionable children, have obligations to be positive influences in society. In retrospect, it was a good thing Barkley said that, since he later made headlines for running sizable gambling debts and drunken driving.  

Certainly we need role models, especially children.  One Christian author wrote: “Our world is desperately in need of models worth following.  Authentic heroes. People of integrity, whose lives inspire us to do better, to climb higher, to stand taller.”  No athlete fits that bill better than Tim Tebow, who was previously the quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He thanks Jesus after every victory, has committed to chastity until marriage, and helps the poor, such as building a hospital in the Philippines.  Tebow says that for him, the goal of playing football “is to be a great role model that parents can look at their son and say, ‘That’s someone who is trying to do it the right way. . . . He is trying to honor God and do the right thing.’” That’s great and I’m so blessed and challenged to hear that, but if the Bible says anything at all, it is that sooner or later the so-called “heroes of faith” will disappoint their fans. 

The case in point is the aforementioned author, a leading Bible expositor in America who, after talking about the need for true heroes, pointed to King David as being such a man.  One example he gave to vouch for his character is the time when he crept up unnoticed, and cut off a corner of the robe worn by the sleeping King Saul, a man on a mission to kill David.  Afterwards, David, so conscience-stricken by his action, lamented, saying, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lift my hand against him . . . .”(1 Sam 24:6a).   I wonder whether David himself would have felt comfortable with such flattery or with the idea of becoming a role model for people living in the 21st century.  A man who committed murder, adultery, and evasion of responsibility that resulted in the deaths of 70,000 people (2 Sam. 24:12-17) would have probably said, “No, not me.”  

It was said earlier that our heroes in the Bible often disappoint us.  To that extent, Eugene Peterson offered a refreshingly candid view on David.  He wrote: “The narrator refuses to idealize or glamorize him to show that God’s sovereignty works through just such a mixed bag of human failures and sin. . . . The entire biblical story never lets us forget that it is a God’s story of our salvation, not a collection of moral achievements for use as a moral handbook.  This is the narrative of what God does to save us, not what we do to please him.” What does this mean? The life of David is intended for us to get excited about God, who continued to love and use him despite of him! If David were to say anything to today’s evangelicals enamored with him, or any other human heroes, even Tebow, he might have said: “Please, I am neither your hero nor your role model, only Jesus is.”  

I am sure Tebow would agree with that sentiment as well because he understands, as he said in the aforementioned quote (which I purposely left out), “[I’m] not perfect but everyday [I’m] trying to get better, [I’m] trying to honor God.”  Barkley is no hero, not necessarily because of his weak moments on and off the court (for we all have them, including Tebow), but his declaration is to free him so that he could live any way he desires. Tebow’s declaration, on the other hand, is to limit his freedom so that he does not do whatever he pleases; but in order to please his hero, the one whom he calls “my Lord Jesus Christ.”  It’s a good thing to try to be a hero to the discouraged and deprived people “just as [we] also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1b NKJ).  Inasmuch as salty food creates thirst for water, our lives must create a thirst for Jesus Christ who, like an offensive tackle throwing his body to create a path for his running back, gave up his body to save us.  So how is your life? Is anyone seeing Christ through your life? Or have you given that up for more freedom to please yourself? It’s something to think about.

Prayer: Lord, help us to choose our heroes carefully.  Always remind us that Christ should be our ultimate hero.  More importantly, may we dare to be a hero—someone whom young people may desire to emulate—by a way of imitating Christ in his righteousness and love.  

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 2

August 10, Saturday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend, written by Pastor Ryun Chang, was originally posted on March 2, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“We, too, Are in Recruitment Business”

Hebrews 12:14

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

In 2010, when a well-known pastor of a mega church in Atlanta was accused of using his position to pressure young men into sexual relationships with him, he vowed to fight against the charges; later, his wife of 21 years, who had initially stood by him, filed for divorce.  Perhaps she suspected that the allegations were all true since her husband settled the lawsuits with his accusers, although he never admitted any wrongdoing. Then the pastor’s spokesperson declared, “He will continue to serve as the senior pastor” (i.e., without missing a beat).  This decision gives new meaning to what Jesus once said: “The people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light” (Lk. 16:8b).   

Those who run the Big-Ten Football, which typically generates tens of millions of dollars in revenue, certainly qualify as “the people of this world.”  Thus, when a coach in the conference gets fired, like Joe Paterno of Penn St. or Jim Tressel of Ohio State, it is big news. While the coaches are typically fired for poor performance on the field, neither of these brilliant coaches were dismissed for that; instead, they lost their jobs over an off-the-field issue, the kind that ended coach Gary Moller’s tenure at the University of Michigan in 1995.  

Despite having won many games, Moller was suddenly fired over one incident: public intoxication.  Having lost control after much drinking, Moller was found cursing and swearing, even resisting the police who came to accost him.  Thus, news quickly spread and even casual fans knew what happened. However, the people whom the school officials feared the most were the parents of blue chip prospects who would decide which scholarship offer their son would accept.  Why? First, winning and losing in college football largely depend on recruiting the top players; second, it is the job of the head coach to personally visit them mainly to impress the parents to win their consent.  Cognizant of this, the school officials felt that Moller lost an edge in recruiting because the parents would think twice before sending their kids to be coached by someone behaving like that in public.

How does this relate to us?  Christ called us to be fishers of men (Mt. 4:19) and his “ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Cor. 5:20).  In short, God has sent us out to recruit people to join the kingdom. To be effective in our task however, it will take more than just knowledge and persuasive speech.  The Hebrews writer reminds us that without holiness no one will see the Lord in us, meaning no one will want to join the kingdom as long as we are the recruiter. Perhaps the apostle John had “spiritual recruiting” in mind when he penned, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as he did” (1 Jn. 2:6).  So, how is your walk? 

Prayer: Dear Lord, help my walk with You to be genuine and authentic.  Help me to be holy in Your sight, not through legalism but through a distinguished lifestyle lived out in humility and love. Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 25 and Haggai 1

August 9, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church), was originally posted on March 8, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“The Lord is My Shepherd”

Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)

 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

The twenty-third psalm is probably one of the most beloved chapters in the entire Bible.  It is classified as a confidence psalm because it describes the absolute trust that David has in the personal goodness of God.   It is not a prayer in the typical sense of that word but rather it is a proclamation of what God has done and continues to do in his life.  

For David, God isn’t merely a theological concept, He is both his shepherd and his host.  These are two images of God that David would have been very familiar with from his own life. As a young boy, David was in charge of protecting and caring for his father’s flocks of sheep.  As the king of Israel, David would have known how to treat guests at his royal table. He applied both of those everyday pictures from his life to connect with God.   

Meditate on how God manifests himself in your everyday life.  What reminds you of God on a daily basis (like the laughter of your kids)?  What are some experiences with God that continue to evoke confidence and trust in Him?   

Prayer: Lord, You alone can guide me through the ups and downs of life.  Help me to follow after You with confidence, knowing that You will lead me to quiet waters and green pastures.  Teach me how to rejoice in your goodness as I spend each morning dwelling in Your presence.  

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 24

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:11-16 (ESV): “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Who said this and in what context?  (John 9:40-41)
  2. What are the responsibilities of a good shepherd?  (John 10:14-16)
  3. Who is the enemy of the sheep?  (John 10:12)

The picture of the shepherd and the sheep is an important one in the Bible.  For those of us who have spent our entire lives in urban settings, it’s hard to imagine the emotional connection between a shepherd and his flock.  For the average Israelite of the time, this image would have immediately stirred up feelings of care, protection, and sacrifice.  

Note

  1. This is one of the seven “I am” statements from the Gospel of John.  Jesus said these words to the Pharisees who were harassing the blind man that he had healed on the Sabbath.  Without compassion, they had kicked the man out of the temple for his association with Jesus. (John 9:13-16)  
  2. The duties of the shepherd are to know the sheep by name, to protect the flock even with his own life, and to bring other sheep who are not in the fold.  
  3. The enemies of the sheep are the hired hands who have no vested interest in the flock.  As soon as danger comes, they scatter and leave the sheep to defend for themselves because they have no real concern for them.  Jesus was implicating the Pharisees as hired hands who only cared for their own well-being and not the well-being of the people they were called to minister to.    

Evening Reflection

Have you spent some time worshipping God today?  Has life been so busy that you feel like you have no time to spend in prayer?  Try to take a few moments before going to sleep to pray and listen for the voice of God.  Write down what you feel like He is saying to you.

August 8, Thursday

Today’s devotional, provided by the staff of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego, led by Pastor Peter Yoon, was originally posted on July 1, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“That Which Sets Apart King Jesus from All of His Predecessors”

Psalm 72:1-4

“Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. 4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.”

Psalm 72 records King David’s prayer for his son Solomon.  In this stage of Israel’s history, the king represented the people before God.  Depending on the faith of the king, the people were blessed or cursed. A king faithful to God like Hezekiah brought blessing, whereas an idolatrous king like Ahaz brought God’s curse.  Solomon reigned during the golden age of Israel’s history, but his descent into idolatry began a downward spiral for the nation.

Thank God that our King who represents us is none other than the Son of God!  Perfect in righteousness, justice, and compassion, Jesus brings prosperity to His people.  He not only begins His life and ministry in faithfulness, but He is perfectly obedient even unto death on the cross.

Meditate upon the perfect righteousness and obedience which Christ has accomplished for you.  How does his work on the cross free you from the need to validate yourself today? How does his work on the cross compel you to live with gratitude and joy in your heart today?

Prayer: Lord God, I thank You that You have given us Your Son!  I fail to reflect upon Your righteousness and justice, even in my own home.  My own attempts at goodness only bring greater despair and condemnation. But Your Son is perfect and glorious!  May I live today free from condemnation but filled with thankfulness.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 23

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:1-4 (NIV): James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Questions to Consider

  1. To whom does James write this letter and why?
  2. How are they to respond to the “trials of many kinds”?
  3. What should motivate their joyful response? 
  4. Application:  How can you respond to the trials you face?

Note


  1.  The letter is addressed to the “twelve tribes scattered among the nations.”  Persecution broke out following the death of Stephen causing many believers to flee for safety to other cities and countries (Acts 8:1-4; 9:1-2). As these Jewish Christians attempted to start life over in new communities, they found themselves facing insurmountable obstacles. Their shops and business were being boycotted. Their children were being tormented in the schools. Their wives were being cheated and hassled in the markets. The citizens of the towns hated them because they were Jews, and the Jews of the towns hated them because they were Christians. The believers found themselves isolated, challenged, and harassed by an intimidating world.
  2. Naturally, the believers began asking, “Why is this happening to us? Why must there be so many hardships? What is God doing? What are we to think?” Their former pastor, James, heard about their difficulties and wrote to encourage them that they ought to consider it pure joy when facing trials. Though James refers to himself simply as a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was actually a physical brother of Jesus, born to Mary and Joseph a few years after the birth of Jesus (Mark 6:3). Along with his other brothers, James did not believe in Jesus at first (John 7:1-5), but became convinced after the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:5-7), and went on to become an early leader and pastor of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15:12-13; 21:17-18). 
  3. “Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance”: James urged his readers to “consider it pure joy” when they faced trials. He wasn’t suggesting that they greet every difficulty that came their way by exclaiming, “Yea! Isn’t this wonderful?”  No, Christians are not to pretend that the sufferings of this life are not real and painful. Rather, they are to find joy in the midst of their sufferings, and they do so when they can say it has not come because of sinful choices; when they trust the Father’s loving purpose in it, and when they can look beyond it to see that coming day when all suffering will be over. Sometimes God’s purpose in suffering is to make our faith strong and to make us more like Christ. One aspect of Christlikeness is patience, a virtue James specifically says is produced by trials. Also, God’s purpose in suffering is always to bring glory to himself. The apostle Peter says faith that is “tested by fire” will at last be found to bring “praise, honor, and glory” to Christ (1 Peter 1:7). How does God receive glory in our sufferings? One Christian who has suffered a terrible illness for a long time might say he would not have been able to bear it if God had not been with him to strengthen and help him. That brings glory to God. Another Christian who has suffered financial hardship might say how the promises of God have encouraged and comforted her through it all. When God’s faithfulness to his promises is emphasized, God is glorified. Lastly, we can find strength to face suffering by looking to that unspeakably glorious time when all our sufferings will finally be over. The tears of this life will be wiped away, sorrow will dissolve, and death itself will be finally and forever crushed. Let us never forget the reason we can have this confidence regarding the life to come; it is all due to the redeeming work of our Lord Jesus Christ there on Calvary’s cross.
  4. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Three times Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Do you love Me?” In what ways are you falling deeper in love with Christ? 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to respond patiently when I face trials and difficulties. Help me to deeply understand that You are producing perseverance in my life that will lead towards maturity in Christ. May that understanding produce insurmountable joy in my heart.  Amen.

August 7, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Sam Lee (Catalyst Agape Church), was originally posted on October 1, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Clay in God’s Hand”

Jeremiah 18:6

“O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” 

I would watch my children play with clay. The clay would get stretched, pulled, and dirtied. In other words, the clay would get abused, and eventually the poor clay would be thrown away because it could not be used anymore. Clay in the hands of a child becomes a toy to be used and discarded; clay in the hands of a potter is similar yet very different in a profound way. This clay is also stretched and pulled, yet it is being stretched and pulled not to be discarded but to become something that is valued, useful, and beautiful. The greater the potter, greater the value of what the clay becomes.  A Ming Dynasty vase can cost over $10 million dollars today. You, in the hands of the Master, are worth infinitely more. 

Yet it is not easy to stay in the hands of the Master. Therefore, let’s cast off the things that make us move away from the Potter’s hand. I have learned that staying in the hands of God is not about being silent and just waiting; it is hard spiritual work. There are many different ways we knowingly and unknowingly move away from the hands of the Potter. This morning, I am convicted to concentrate on one area: the complaining spirit in our heart. When we complain, like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are forgetting God’s goodness and power; we are forgetting God’s past work in our life; we are not seeing the future work of God in our life. When we complain, the circumstances dictate our spiritual life instead of who we are in Christ. Comfort and riches become priority, instead of transformation and bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

The very act of complaining is a picture of the clay walking away from the hands of potter. Today, let’s pray through to overcome a complaining spirit. Please remember that God is not molding us to be rich and comfortable; He wants to do much more, much more worthwhile. But to do this work, He is looking for clay that is compliant and moldable; clay that will trust and is completely yielded to Jesus.

Prayer: You know my going in and my going out. You know my innermost thoughts. Sovereign Lord, You have the best plan for my life so I submit to Your agenda and all Your plans to shape me into the person You want me to be. I am clay in Your hands, so mold me, Lord. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 22

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 139:1-8: “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

Questions to Consider

  1. Based on this description of God’s ability, what divine attributes of his are highlighted here?
  2. David mentions several areas of his personal life that God has “searched and known”; list as many as you can. Then mediate on how God knows about your life.

Note

  1. His love (He is a God who looks for us to know us personally); His omniscience (“before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely”); His transcendence (“too wonderful . . . to lofty for me to attain”)
  2. Personal response

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on God’s sovereignty. Did you experience that today?  

Share your story.

August 6, Tuesday

Today’s devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on May 2, 2014.  

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“In Search of a Mentor”

Titus 1:4-5

“To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.  The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” 

Whether our reference is Karate Kid, Star Wars, or Kung Fu Panda, most of us have a certain image that comes to mind when we think of a “spiritual mentor”:  someone who is older, wiser, perhaps unexpected and unrecognizable at first glance, but mysteriously having extraordinary skills and timely advice to pass on to a disciple of the next generation.  Though the disciple is less adept and unfailingly more foolish, the mentor invests in and grooms the disciple to accomplish a mission that, in the end, is uniquely his.

In today’s passage, we get a glimpse of Paul’s mentoring relationship with Titus.  He has entrusted Titus with a mission, to set things in order and finish what Paul himself had started.  He thus sees Titus as a co-laborer, and as he reminds Titus of the task at hand, he continues to provide direction, guidance and encouragement.  Paul begins the body of the letter with, “The reason I left you in Crete . . .” to re-affirm Titus’ purpose there. Had Titus written him, asking, “Why am I here on Crete again?”

Do we have anyone like a spiritual mentor in our lives?  If not, wouldn’t it be good to have one? Someone who believes in us, challenges us, and entrusts us with important tasks as we engage in God’s kingdom work together?  Someone who can help steer us back on course when we lose our sense of direction? If we don’t have anyone like this in our lives currently, perhaps we can consider inviting someone to be involved in our lives in this way.

If we are in the position of mentoring others, whether at work, school or raising our own children, what good example do we see here that we can follow?  Do we think about empowering others by entrusting them with important and meaningful work? Do we stay by their side and provide key help and guidance, giving them the tools they need to tackle challenges and succeed at their task?  How can we become better mentors?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gifts You give me through the people in my life who can be my spiritual mentors.  Thank You also for the privilege and meaningful responsibility You have given me to mentor others. Would You help me to be better at empowering and encouraging them?  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 21

Lunch Break Study

Read John 14:12-13: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Questions to Consider

  1. How did Jesus empower his disciples?  
  2. Jesus speaks these words to his disciples towards the end of his time with them on earth.  What do they show about his perspective of his role and the role of others in God’s kingdom work?  
  3. How can knowing that our own time is limited help us think about investing in others more?

Notes

  1. He promises his help when they ask.  He sends them with the backing of all his authority.  He promises to always be with them in this mission. Do we have the backs of the people we are mentoring in the same way?  When we give them responsibilities, do they have our full support?
  2. He knew it was never the plan for him to do all the kingdom work in his short time on earth.  Once he had accomplished his personal mission, he would be departing with important things left unfinished (just as Paul did in Crete), but he entrusts these to his disciples to complete.
  3. People with a strong sense of responsibility can sometimes feel they need to do everything themselves.  But when we have a sense of how limited our time is, we realize that the most responsible thing to do is to make sure that others can continue the work when we cannot ourselves.

Evening Reflection

Did I make any effort to connect with a spiritual mentor today?  Did I micromanage anyone or just do things on my own because I thought I could do it better?  Or did I entrust others with important tasks? If I haven’t yet, I release control and place my trust in God regarding all these things even now.

August 5, Monday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Charles Choe (Tapestry Church in Los Angeles), was originally posted on December 4, 2014.

 

Devotional Thought for Today 

“Where Are You Headed?”

Proverbs 14:12

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” 

In the children’s book Alice in Wonderland, Alice finds herself at a fork in a road that leads off in different directions.  Seeing the Cheshire Cat, she asks him for advice: “Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” says the cat. “I don’t much care where,” says Alice. To that, the cat responds, “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.” 

The importance of understanding your purpose and living accordingly is clear all throughout Scriptures. For instance, if we don’t have a particular destination in mind, any road will do. But most of the time, we like to travel with a purpose—a destination— before we begin our journey. 

One reason why we sometimes make terrible choices in life is because we do not know the point of life, where life’s path is leading us. If we believe that life is for our own happiness, we will make every decision based on that self-interest. But if we believe, as the Bible says, that life’s goal is to glorify God and delight in Him, our choices in life will look remarkably different. In other words, though we might make choices that may “seem right,” if it does not serve the purpose of exalting Christ, no matter how noble, sacrificial, or meaningful, “its end is the way to death.” 

Take a moment now and consider your ultimate purpose. Do the choices you make serve that end? Whether you are considering a new major for college, a possible job change, or even something more mundane, like choosing to surf that particular website, ask yourself: Do these decisions seem “right” just for the moment or do they serve the ultimate purpose of bringing honor to God? To mature in Christ is to increasingly see that it’s all for Jesus, for his glory. Knowing and living in this truth is the only path to life. 

Prayer: God, make my life count for your glory. Help me not to waste the one life You have given me so that I might live for that one purpose, to glorify You, and help my decisions this day to reflect that choice. In Jesus’ name, amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 20

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:31-33: “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. [32] Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, [33] just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”

Questions to Consider 

  1. What should be the ultimate motivation for everything in life?  
  2. What is one measurable way to determine if we are seeking the glory of God with our lives? 
  3. Why is it helpful to exhale and think twice about the ultimate reason for everything? 

Notes 

  1. The glory of God. 
  2. Paul tells us that he does not seek his own advantage but that of many–that they may be saved. We are to be mindful that the end of everything is to bear the Good News of Jesus for the benefit of others.  
  3. It gives us a proper perspective and keeps us focused on the mission of God. 

Evening Reflection

Every aspect of every Christian’s life has the potential to honor God. How did you do today? Did you attempt to use every opportunity to use it to bring God glory?

August 4, Sunday

Today’s blog, written by Pastor Young Kim of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia, was originally posted on June 2, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“In Search of Wisdom” (2)

Proverbs 2:12, 16 

“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse . . . It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words,”

Amid so many alluring temptations that besiege us, we need wisdom to save us from the foolishness of this world.  While there are many temptations that look very ominous—which, therefore, are easier to turn away from—some look very benign, even good (e.g., social media, worldly definition of success, etc.)!  The apostle Paul declares that “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). Consequently, we can so easily be led astray by lies of the enemy and not even know it. 

What will help us?  It is the wisdom from above that will guide us through all the foolish and destructive temptations.   We need the wisdom from God to navigate through this sex- crazed and success-driven world. Call out for wisdom. James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).  So, cry out for it with confidence. Seek Jesus!!!

Prayer: Jesus save me from the seductive words of this world by filling me with Biblical wisdom.  In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 19

August 3, Saturday

Today’s blog, written by Pastor Young Kim of Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia, was originally posted on June 24, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“In Search of Wisdom” (1)

Proverbs 1:23 

“If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.”

While I like all the books of the Bible, I particularly like the book of Proverbs.  Whenever I read it, my prayer is that my relationship with Christ will be strengthened as I seek biblical wisdom. Proverbs 8:11 states, “For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” 

So, how can we attain wisdom?  Wisdom can sometimes come through a rebuke. Of course, it takes humility to accept a rebuke. It is hard to take, and it gets harder as you get older. But if we heed what is being said to us, it will lead us to great wisdom.  Therefore, be wise and learn from even a rebuke. I pray, as we get older, we will still be humble and teachable. I believe this is the mark of spiritual maturity. 

Prayer:  Lord, give me a humble heart to gain wisdom this day. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 17-18