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

“Loving the Unlovable”

Proverbs 24:17-18

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,18 or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Someone told me that I should pray for those whom I had difficult time liking.  I was asked to pray that God’s favor and blessing would be poured upon those who really rubbed me the wrong way.  In the beginning as I took his advice, my prayers were so fake, but slowly I found myself praying genuinely for them.  It took time, but God gave me the grace to have compassion for them. Prayer is powerful—it can change our childish attitudes to be more like that of Jesus.

How about you?  Is there someone you struggle to love? Is there someone who just annoys you?  Is there a person who you dislike so much that you feel good when bad things happen to him or her? Spend time being honest with God about these relationships.  You can complain and be honest about why you struggle. You can even tell God all the reasons you have for not liking them. Then after an honest prayer, you need to repent and ask God’s grace to forgive and love them.  Many times, this is not a one-time breakthrough; it could be a lifetime process.  

Write out a prayer of blessing for them.  You might not be able to finish it but at least start it. 

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to love my enemy and to bless those whom I don’t particularly like.  Give me strength to move from praying a fake blessing to having genuine compassion from the heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 9-10

This AMI Devotional QT, prepared by the staff at Remnant Church Westside (NYC), was originally posted on September 6, 2013. 

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“No, God Hasn’t Changed”

Psalm 85:1-7

Lord, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 2 You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin. Selah 3 You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger. 4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! 5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 6 Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? 7 Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.

In many people’s minds, there is a false dichotomy when it comes to understanding the character of God: that the God of the OT is a wrathful deity, while the God of the New Testament is all about grace and love. Yet, when we examine the Old Testament texts such as this Psalm, God is full of grace and love, and as a result, we are reminded that God is unchanging. The psalmist points to the forgiveness of God in the past as an encouragement to ask for forgiveness in their current circumstances. They are able to call on the character of God for his salvation, forgiveness, and grace; for God’s desire is to see people rejoice in Him, rather than to suffer.

The heart of God for us is not that we suffer, but be redeemed; therefore, He calls us to repent so that God would make us right before Him again and again, instead of driving us out from His presence. Yes, God is angry over sin, but He never changes His desire to redeem us. Therefore, God’s anger over sin and its rightful punishment was taken by Christ on the cross.  This morning, God is asking you to readjust your understanding of repentance. If you have been hiding your sins from God, fearful of what He would say, remember that God’s love for you is steadfast. Ask God to cover your sins; because Christ has taken on the punishment, we can come boldly before Him to repent.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 8

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Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 1:12-14: “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Paul’s friends were concerned about him being imprisoned or under house arrest, which meant that he was chained to a Roman soldier 24/7, and guards would switch out regularly on shifts. But Paul reassures them, saying that it is clear that he is imprisoned for Jesus, and that it has been a blessing instead of a curse, since he has been able to share Jesus with his captors. It’s as if Paul was saying, “I’m not chained to them … They are chained to me!”

Questions to Consider

1. In what situations do you lose your courage in sharing the gospel? What are some ways we can overcome our fear in such circumstances?
2. If you were chained to someone for eight hours, how long would it be before you would talk about Jesus? How can you bring up the topic of Jesus sooner than that?
3. Has God placed you in a special environment where He wants you to be a witness? Bring this before the Lord in prayer and ask Him for opportunity and boldness!

Background tidbit:

The reference to the imperial guard in v. 13 suggests a Roman setting, which is one reason it is believed that Paul wrote this letter during his imprisonment in Rome.

Note

1. The mere thought of sharing the gospel makes most people feel nervous and anxious.  One way to overcome this fear is to pray for God’s boldness and then open our mouth to speak.  It would help tremendously if we have thought about what to say beforehand.
2. It is hard to remind ourselves of this inevitable reality, but it bears repeating: Our friend or relative who does not believe in Jesus will go to hell. If that doesn’t motivate us, I don’t know what will.
3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

“Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power” (Ps. 21:13). 

Jesus, You are inviting me to grow in the knowledge of You, to be strengthened with all power according to Your glorious might so that I may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to You. I declare that You will be strong in my daily life and I will praise You.  Tonight, declare His strength over an area where you need to be strong.

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on April 4, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

Why Sing a New Song?

Psalm 33:3 (NIV)

Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. 

As a young Christian, wishing at times that we would sing some new songs during the worship service, I would look to verses like Psalm 33:3 as validation for my desire.  However, upon examining my motivation, I recognized that it was because I was (a little) bored of the old songs (which indicated that my heart wasn’t in the right place).   

So why does the psalmist encourage us to sing a new song to the Lord? It turns out, the answer has everything to do with God and very little to do with us!  We sing a new song to God with our lives and lips as a celebration of the ever- newness of the living God with whom we are in a love-relationship. We sing a new song to the Lord as a declaration that we will not be satisfied with our present understanding of who he is—for he is far greater!  We sing a new song as an expression of trust that God is not only the God of our past but also our present and future. We are to sing new songs because God is still working in us, living among us and shaping and directing us.

Sometimes we can get stuck living in our past glories when it comes to God.  We may reminisce about the days when we were passionate for God and resign ourselves to think that it may happen again.  Well, God is not done with us yet! Let’s ask God today to bring freshness to our hearts even if our relationships with Him have gone stale. 

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You’re not done with me yet, that I have yet to experience and know Your full glory and majesty.  Until then, help me to keep growing in mind and heart, that I may constantly have an urge to sing new songs of Your continuing faithfulness in my life.  In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 7

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Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 43:16-19 (NIV): This is what the Lord says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters,  17who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick: 18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Questions to Consider

1. Isaiah was speaking to the Israelites who would one day be exiled in Babylon.  How does Isaiah introduce God in verses 16-17? Why would this be significant?
2. Why does God ask the Israelites to no longer dwell in the past?  Since God does not contradict himself, what does he mean here?
3. What is the new thing God is doing in Isaiah 43:19 (cf. Isaiah 43:20-21; 2:3; 65:17-18)?

Singing new songs to God does not mean we forsake the old.  God is still the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is still the God of the exodus.  He is still the God who saved and has loved us through Jesus Christ. But God is not done with us yet.  We have not yet given unto the Lord the fullest praise that is due to him because we still haven’t fully comprehended his majesty and worth.  Until that day comes, there will always be room for new songs!

Note

1. In verses 16-17, Isaiah reminds the people of Israel that God is the God of the Exodus, who brought them through the Dead Sea and defeated the Egyptian armies pursuing them.  God is mighty, savior, deliverer and protector. For the Jews living in exile away from Israel this was an important reminder that what God had done in the past he could do it again.
2. It may seem odd that after reminding his listeners about the great work that God did in the past, he tells them to forget the former things and not to dwell in their past.  Of course, God is not telling the Israelites to disregard what he had done in the past; instead, he tells them to forget their former ways. In other words, they are not to live by their old expectations of God, for He is doing a new thing, and certainly not in their old sinful ways of life.
3. The new thing that God is doing in Isaiah 43 is to regather his chosen people in Jerusalem so that they can give him praise among the nations.  God will be praised among the gentiles now as well as the Jewish people.

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Evening Reflection

Are there ways that you have grown in your understanding and experience of God in recent times?  In your journal, write your own song of praise. It doesn’t have to rhyme, be long or deep, but it ought to be authentic, which means it needs come from your heart; then sing your new song unto God! 

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church) was originally posted on March 6, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Despair Not”

Psalm 22:1-2; 19 (ESV)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?  2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,  and by night, but I find no rest. 19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

There are times in our Christian life when God seems distant and when there seems to be nothing but silence in answer to our prayers.  During those seasons, there is always a temptation to give into our doubts and believe that God has stopped listening or that it’s useless to continue seeking Him. We may feel alone in these circumstances but this is an experience that is common to all believers.  Everyone goes through those valleys in their spiritual walks with God.  

Knowing that Christ endured through a much greater abandonment can be a source of comfort in the midst of our distress.  We know that Christ uttered these exact words from the cross (Matthew 27:46) revealing that even the Son of God was not excluded from the isolation caused by sin.  But because we know that he endured the scorn of the cross and overcame, we can have hope that God’s help is not too far off. 

In our own times of despair, it’s easy to believe that we are alone but the cross reminds us that we have a Savior who not only knows our pain but has suffered through so much more.  To Him, we can cry out and place our complete trust even in the darkest moments.

As you prepare for another day, does God’s presence seem close or is there a distance?  Does it bring you comfort to know that Jesus knows exactly how you feel? Think about how Jesus identifies with our everyday struggles.  

Prayer: Jesus, I take peace in knowing that you have experienced the pain of unanswered prayers and the sense of being forsaken.  But more than that, help me to realize that you endured the rejection and the abandonment at the cross so that I would never have to relive that experience in full.  Give me faith to believe that you are with me through the daily struggles of life and that I can come to you, knowing that you completely understand and identify with me.     

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 6

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  

Questions to Consider

1. How does Jesus function as our high priest? (Hebrews 5:1, 7)
2. What allows Him to sympathize with all our weaknesses?  (Hebrews 2:17)
3. As our high priest, how does Jesus give us hope?  (Ephesians 4:10)

One of the great comforts of the Christian faith is the belief that we have a high priest who is constantly interceding on our behalf.   We are never left to fend for ourselves and made to feel like no one is on our side. Jesus weeps as we weep and rejoices as we rejoice.   

Note

1. Jesus functions as our high priest by acting as both a gift and sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 5:1).  In addition, he offers up prayers and intercessions on our behalf before the Father (Hebrews 5:7). Jesus even now stands in the gap for each of us.  
2. Jesus is able to completely sympathize with all of our struggles and failures because he is made like us in every way.  The humanity of Christ is one of the most comforting doctrines of the Christian faith because it assures us that God doesn’t stand outside of our suffering but has actually entered into our pain.  
3. However, unlike an earthly high priest that can sympathize with us but gives us little hope, Christ provides for us hope for today through his resurrection and ascension into heaven.  Just as he overcame the trials of this world and even death itself, we can overcome our trials through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

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Evening Reflection

Were you aware of the love of Christ today?  Is your heart warmed by the fact that His love is deeper, wider, and greater than you can imagine?  Has there been a tangible experience of God’s love recently in your life? Write about these things.

The AMI QT Devotionals for July 22-23 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang. 

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“What is Worse than Prayerlessness?”

Psalm 5:1-3

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. 2 Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3 In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

Matthew 6:5a

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.

As the head of Israel, King David was a very busy man, but evidently his morning hours were spent seeking God.  He knew that once his day got going, it would be difficult to spend time with Him. This wasn’t a brief and hasty encounter with God, for David pleaded, cried out, and waited on the LORD.  

So, how do you typically spend your morning hours?  Do you think it can be better utilized to promote spiritual growth? As a new day is about to commence, is there anything that tugs at your heart, causing you to worry?  Take a moment to lay your burden before God. Ultimately, our prayerlessness means that we neither trust nor rely on God. 

But an act worse than prayerlessness is praying to be noticed by men in order to be perceived as spiritual—apparently, the religious leaders in Jesus’ days—the Pharisees—made art out of it. Nevertheless, this is something that tempts everyone, for most of us have done the same, perhaps through other “spiritual things” such as, biblical knowledge or church involvement. The core issue is the basis upon which our security is built: our performances or God’s unconditional acceptance of us in Christ?

What’s the trap when we try to earn people’s acceptance through our performances?  It works like an addiction; those who are intoxicated by it will do anything (e.g., tell lies, spread gossips, stage events) to keep their audience.  Before mobile phones became available and affordable, the car phone was the in-thing in the 1980s. Some people, who couldn’t afford this, would install a fake car phone antenna in the rear to pretend that they had one.  What a cover up for insecurity!  How can we overcome living like that?  Based on Paul’s confession in 2 Cor. 12:9 (“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me”) what is one way to deal with our insecurity?  It is willing to be vulnerable through sharing our weaknesses and then share how Christ continues to heal and strengthen those and other areas of our lives.   Try it today. 

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom and discipline  to seek You first in the morning. I lay before You all my burden, for You are gentle and humble in heart, and Your yoke is easy and burden is light. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 5

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Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:1-5: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was this said (Mt. 5:1)?
2. Why was this taught2 (Mt. 16:5-6, 11, 23:2-3)?
3. What was in it for the Pharisees to behave like this?  What were they willing to do to get what they wanted (Mt. 23:5-6; Mk. 11:18; Jn. 7:31-32)?

Notes

1. Jesus said this to a large crowd that had followed him to a mountainside to listen to him.
2. He was concerned that they may learn to act like the Pharisees, their hypocritical leaders (“Don’t do what they do”).  Bad spiritual leadership can really affect people; thus, we need to be judicious in choosing our spiritual leader.
3. Having gotten used to receiving approval from the audience, the Pharisees craved for more and were willing to do anything, like praying ostentatiously before people to impress them (thus, making spirituality a means to a carnal end), or conspiring to eliminate their competition, that is, Jesus (thus, breaking the very commandments they had taught the people to obey).

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Evening Reflection

Were you busy today?  Too busy to pray or too busy not to pray? Write out a prayer asking God for strength to trust Him amid your trials and those things that make you feel insecure.

The AMI QT Devotionals for July 22-23 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang. 

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Anger”

Psalm 4:4-5, 7-8

In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah  5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.  6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Anger is one emotion most of us know all too well; I certainly do.  Now that all my three children have left home to lead their own life—and we’ve good relationships, this despite my many shortcomings as a father—that’s one thing I wish I could’ve done a lot better: being patient over blowing my top. Typically, after my tantrum, I would feel guilty and condemned, mostly self-inflicted but the enemy was always glad to lend a hand to make it worse.

The truth is that, regardless of how one is provoked, an unresolved anger “gives the devil a foothold” (Eph. 4:27), for it will began to chip away at our joy, peace, and freedom in Christ.  Blaming others is always easier but when our hearts are silent before the Lord, the Holy Spirit will show us our faults as well. 

Once, I got really upset at my wife because she interrupted me while I was praying in the morning. (One of our children had called from school for something urgent—for him). Upon seeing my anger, she asked, “With whom are you spending your time?”  The subtext was this: “How can you respond that way if you were spending time with the Lord?”  This, of course, made me more upset. 

Two days later, while I was praying a Scripture suddenly flashed through my mind: “Do not be overrighteous.” That was from Ecclesiastes 7:16a. So, I quickly repented of my self-righteousness and immediately apologized to my wife, who, by the way, vowed never to bother me while I’m praying. (Trying to prove that I truly repented, I invited her to test me by “interrupting” my prayer again; she retorted, “No way.”)

So how was the weekend?  Did anything or anyone make you feel upset or even angry?  What does that say about you as a person and as a Christian?  (The said anger suggested that I was a self-righteous person.)  Before leaving home, ask the LORD to grant you the courage needed to make things right with God and with others.  

Prayer: Dear God, as I start a new week, I desire a life devoid of strife and anger.  Lord, strengthen me to overlook and forgive the faults of others. Help me to not anger others as well. Amen.

 Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 4

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Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 11:15-17 (NIV): On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Questions to Consider

1. Who said this and to whom was this said?          
2. Why were they conducting this business in the courtyard of the temple (Deut. 16:16)?  Was it a bad thing?
3. Why was Jesus so indignant3?  Notice that the business was conducted in the Court of the Gentiles, the only place in the temple where the Gentiles could pray (2 Chr. 6:32).

Notes

1. Jesus said this to the venders of animals and money changers who conducted their business in the courtyard of the temple.
2. Since no one was allowed to appear before the Lord empty-handed, they provided a service for those Jews coming from faraway places who couldn’t bring their own animals for sacrifices. The money changers conveniently supplied the Jewish currency, which they then used to buy the animals—not a bad thing at first.
3. Despite this, the Jews still had a place to pray in the Temple area but not the Gentiles, since their place was now occupied by the Jewish businessmen.  Jesus’ indignation was caused by Israel’s complete disregard for the spiritual welfare of the Gentiles. That’s why the Lord declared that the Temple is a house of prayer for all nations.

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Evening Reflection

Earlier, we reflected on not allowing our unresolved anger to rob us of our joy and peace.  As you look back, did anyone anger you today, or did you anger someone? How did you do deal with it?

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Trust Me”

Jeremiah 42:9-18

“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. 13 But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God 14 and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there,’ 15 then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, 16 then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die. 17 All the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. They shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I will bring upon them. 18 “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: As my anger and my wrath were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so my wrath will be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You shall become an execration, a horror, a curse, and a taunt. You shall see this place no more. 

I recently finished my first season of coaching my son’s baseball team.  That was also my last. A friend of mine advised me to coach, telling me it would help my sports dynamic with my son; the idea being that instead of looking at me as his dad telling him what to do, he would listen to me as the coach, especially if he saw the other kids on the team doing the same.  Maybe it worked for my friend, but for us, we butted heads. Example: I told my son to use a lighter bat because I thought he needed more bat control; he refused. Perhaps it was an ego thing, like telling a dude to drop weight in the gym. I do think that 75-99% of all fathers and sons will butt heads, because sons fundamentally want to prove themselves to their dads (to be fair, I’m sure I have a part in our fights too).  But to some measure, I think my son is kind of competing with me and sees me as someone he has to overcome or exceed, in order to prove he has grown up (sounds like Wild at Heart, John Eldridge).  By the way, I also think that this competing dynamic plays out in less dramatic ways for a many mothers and daughters but  less severe in cross gender relationships, as I think my daughter would love me to coach her soccer teams.  

What bothers/hurts me the most about this situation is that my son totally misunderstands me.  I’m never trying to embarrass him or prove that he’s not on my level; in fact, the opposite is true. I’m trying to put him in the best position to succeed, because when he does well, I get happy.  Sometimes that means checking his pride at the door and using a lighter bat, or it means working on a skill that is difficult for him; but ultimately, it means trusting me.  

Granted this is an oversimplification, but the narrative of the Old Testament can be summarized by the Israelites’ desire to show God that they don’t need Him.  Often it comes across like their goals for themselves compete with God’s goals for them. An example of this is shown in the end of the book of Jeremiah: this time, after their city is in ruins, the Lord tells them to stay in Judah; don’t flee to Egypt.  Perhaps, the people thought the Lord was punishing them more to really drive His point home; yet, what we see is God’s desire for their good. In verse 10, the Lord tells His people that if they stay, He’ll build them back up and plant them. But alas, once again, the Israelites think they know best; they are like the 10 year old trying to show dad how he’s become the man who knows best.

How are you doing with the Lord?  Do you feel like you’re competing against Him—your will  against His? Stop trying to prove you know better or that you’re all grown up—be His trusting child.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to trust that You are good, and I don’t need to compete with You.  Though I want to mature, let me never want to grow so much that I think I don’t need You or I know better than You.  Give me a child-like spirit. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 3 (Yesterday’ reading should’ve been 2 Kings 1-2)

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Waiting Faith”

Jeremiah 42:7-14

At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he summoned Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea for mercy before him: 10 If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. 11 Do not fear the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid. Do not fear him, declares the Lord, for I am with you, to save you and to deliver you from his hand. 12 I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and let you remain in your own land. 13 But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God14 and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet or be hungry for bread, and we will dwell there’ . . .

I believe that faith fundamentally comes in two forms: faith to act and faith to wait.  People generally tend to gravitate toward the former as “real” faith, because people who act in faith don’t just sit around and let the world pass them by; they boldly go out in the name of the Lord and conquer lands and win souls.  These people are like the action heroes of Christianity.  

Rightly so, we admire guys like Hudson Taylor who pioneered missions to inland China, or Jim Elliot who gave his life in preach to the Auca tribe in Ecuador, or even our many AMI missionaries who serve the Lord abroad in various countries.  The Bible even seems to support the notion that faith to act is a superior form. Read Hebrews 11: everyone mentioned was commended for some kind of action. If you need further convincing of this, look no further than the apostle James who declared, “Faith without deeds is dead.”  (James 2:26).  

But every so often, the Bible gives us a glimpse at what waiting faith looks like.  Waiting faith hears the gentle whisper of God that says, “Stay where you’re at, even though the circumstances look bleak.  Trust Me, I’ll turn things around.” In a lot of ways, I think waiting faith is harder than “faith in action”, because when we are doing something, at least we feel like we have some control over the circumstances.  But waiting that requires us to stretch muscles we are not used to moving is easier said than done. It requires us to trust, pray, persevere, hope, and stay optimistic, all of which I would argue are also actions.  

I understand why the remnant of Israel would want to go to Egypt.  Look at vs. 14: Egypt seemed like a land of peace, abundance, and opportunity.  For the last how many years, Jerusalem was a warzone, people went hungry, and the threat of being conquered constantly loomed overhead like vultures circling a carcass.  Simply put, the Israelites were tired, and Judah probably looked like Pride Rock after years of being ruled by Scar. (Did anyone see that movie last night?). So why would they want to hanging on, in Israel?  But despite all this, the Lord tells his people to stay in Judah and trust Him—talk about a seemingly powerless position.  

This morning, let me ask you this: Is there something that you feel like the Lord is telling you to wait on?  Isn’t it funny how it seems like when the Lord wants you to act, He practically shouts, but when He wants you to remain, it feels like He’s whispering?  He’s there—you might just have to learn to distinguish His gentle voice.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to walk by faith and not by sight.  If You want me to wait, let me do so in prayer, patiently, steadfastly, and hopefully.  Help me to trust You, especially when I don’t see a way out of this situation.  

Bible Reading for Today:  2 Kings 1-2

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God’s Will?”

Jeremiah 42:1-6

Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us— 3 that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” 4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” 5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us.6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”

Confession time.  I—like most men—am more sensitive than I let on.  So if someone were to negatively criticize one of my sermons, lessons, how I run a ministry, or even my choice of outfit for the day, on the outside I would appear receptive.  I might even thank them for their opinion—but inside, I would somewhat be deeply wounded. That is why, because of my fragile ego, my wife has learned to ask this question before giving her opinion: “Do you want the truth, or what you want to hear?”  Example: I would ask, “Honey, I just came back from the gym. Doesn’t my chest look huge?” Her: “Do you want the truth or what feels good?” Me: “What I want to hear, of course!” Her: “Massive—I don’t know how you don’t tip over.” Me: “Thanks.”  

Let’s be honest: we don’t always want the truth in our lives, but we want to hear what we want.  Even in our prayer lives, we have said at least one time, “God, tell me what you want me to do, and no matter what it is, I’ll do it.”  What we’re hoping to hear from God is, “Keep on doing what you’re doing.” When He actually says, “Sudan,” we do our best to brush it off as youthful exuberance.  

In today’s passage, Johanan and the rest of the leaders of Judah came to Jeremiah with a request and a promise, essentially saying, “Tell us what the Lord wants us to do, and we’ll do it.”  If you recall from yesterday, the Jews were considering fleeing to Egypt and were seeking the Lord’s stamp of approval with this plan. But as we’ll read over the next few days, they didn’t really want to obey God; they just wanted to hear Him say yes to what they wanted.  

The take home is obvious.  Do you genuinely want the Lord’s will and truth in your life, or do you—like Johanan and the rest of the Israelites—want Him to give you the stamp of approval for what you want to do?  Have you made promises to obey and then went ahead and disobeyed? But the good news is that with the Lord, there are often second chances to obey.  

Prayer: Father, cleanse my heart.  Help me to genuinely desire obedience; give me courage to follow through. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today:  1 Kings 22

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (For context, this is Samuel’s rebuke to Saul after he disobeyed God’s orders to wipe out the Amalekites.): And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Questions to Consider

1. How do you suppose people in the 21st century try to substitute sacrifices for obedience?
2. Why do you suppose Samuel compares rebellion to divination and presumption to iniquity and idolatry?  
3. Are there areas in your life where the Lord is calling you to greater obedience?

Notes

1. Now, instead of sacrificing animals, we sacrifice our service, time, and money.  But even if we’re spending hours in church, small group, or faithfully tithing, we can still be in a state of disobedience.  More than anything, the Lord desires hearts that trust and obey Him.  
2. Divination and idolatry are both similar in that we search out other sources of guidance or allegiance.  In both cases, God is able to meet all of our needs and is worthy of our loyalty. So in this sense, rebellion and presumption are not different than idolatry and self-worship.  
3. Personal application. 

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Evening Reflection

Today’s theme was obedience.  Is there anything you feel like the Lord is asking you to do that you haven’t followed through?  Perhaps you need a friend to speak truth in your life. Whatever steps you need to take, ask the Lord for the courage to follow through.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Lateral Moves”

Jeremiah 41:11-18

But when Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done, 12 they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael the son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon. 13 And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they rejoiced. 14 So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan the son of Kareah. 15 But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. 16 Then Johanan the son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon. 17 And they went and stayed at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt 18 because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

Career-wise, is a lateral move a bad thing?  I’ve had many friends telling me they wouldn’t consider changing companies unless they got increase in salary, position, or both.  The logic behind this line of thinking is that since you have a certain amount of years vested in your current job, you’ve accrued more benefits like seniority, vacation time, 401k matching, etc.  And of course, in your current company, you have a known commodity. You know what your life is like within your current workplace; you know your company’s culture, your boss, co-workers, best places to eat within a five-mile radius; maybe you’ve even found the deserted office to sneak in an afternoon nap.  Changing jobs presents a bunch of unknowns doesn’t it? From commute to office culture, there’s a lot that can surprise you that you couldn’t really pick up during the interview process, and if you’re not being compensated for it, a lateral move could easily turn into a net negative. I find that most people would only consider a lateral move if their current jobs were what they consider “toxic” (horrible bosses, terrible coworkers, unreasonable hours, etc.) 

Perhaps I’m exaggerating when I call the leadership from Ishmael to Johanan a lateral move.  Johanan never executed a coup like Ishmael did; in fact, his defeat of Ishmael was definitely a correction of a wrong, but make no mistake about it, this was no return to the glory days of Israel’s past.  We also see that Johanan still planned to leave the promised land, but instead of going to Ammonite country, he planned on fleeing to Egypt; as we’ll see in the next chapter, the Lord was not pleased with this plan either.  

Here’s my point, change simply for the sake of change isn’t always the best move.  This is why spiritual gift of discernment is so valuable. In one sense, we don’t want to be people who are so resistant to change that we miss what God is asking us to do.  In another sense, we don’t want to be so impetuous that we bounce from one situation to another, and never develop the fruit of perseverance. We need discernment to tell if God is leading us to stay where we’re at or go on a new path.  

What are the circumstances you are struggling with now?  Do you feel like the Lord wants you to remain? Does the other alternate route feel like a lateral move?  Ask the Lord for guidance; generally speaking, I don’t think he’s asking you trade a bad situation for one that is slightly less bad.  

Prayer: Lord, I’m struggling with __________.  I don’t want to change simply for the sake of change, but I also don’t want to remain the same because it represents a known.  Please give me discernment to follow your promptings.  

Bible Reading for Today:  1 Kings 21

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,  but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Questions to Consider

1. What are the prerequisites of discerning God’s will?
2. What are the benefits of discerning God’s will?
3. What are you struggling with concerning God’s will?

Notes

1. In verse 2, Paul tells us that we should not be conformed to the world, meaning, among other things, we shouldn’t have the same value set and worldview of the world.  Perhaps our pursuits and goals are just like everyone else’s; if this is the case, that’s a problem. On top of that we need to have a renewed mind, which among other things, means we need to have the same value set and worldview that God has. 
2. God’s will is good, acceptable, and perfect.  This is something that most Christians do not fully embrace.  Do we genuinely believe that God is good and he wants what is good for us, or in our hearts, do we think that we know what will make us happy, even more than God does?  Until we can believe His will is good, acceptable, and perfect will, we’ll never desire it.  
3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

Today’s theme has been about choices we make.  Is there something that is in front of you that requires a major decision?  Where do you feel he is prompting? Do you believe He genuinely wants good for you?  Take some time tonight to ask the Lord for the gift of discernment.