July 10, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Mark Chun (Radiance Christian Church) was originally posted on March 19, 2014.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Great Antidote to the Condemning Voice from Within”

1 John 3:19-24 (ESV)

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Adulterous woman The story of the woman caught in adultery out of John 8, illustrates powerfully how Jesus frees us from condemnation. (See below for John 8:1-11.) We are told that the religious leaders brought this woman into the temple courts, in the middle of a crowd having Bible study with Jesus, and demanded a verdict regarding her sin. Imagine the humiliation, the isolation, and the fear of this woman as the weight of her sin was exposed to the church. As the passage unfolds, Jesus speaks the famous words that lead to this woman’s freedom: “If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” One by one, each of these men filled with anger, drop their stones, and leave until only Jesus and the woman are left alone. In that divine moment, Jesus turns to the woman and asks, “Has no one condemned you?” In response to the woman’s answer of “No one, sir,” Jesus sets her free by stating, “Then neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.”
In going through this passage, it dawned on me that not many of us will fall into public condemnation, but we leave ourselves open to a much greater threat: the voice of self-condemnation. Like this woman, we have to get to a place in our relationship with Jesus, where we are free enough to say, “There is no one left to condemn me, not even myself.” The promise of forgiveness that is found in the Gospel is greater than what our fickle hearts often feel. In fact, it is impossible to be freed from our patterns of sin unless we truly receive the love of Christ, and open ourselves to share that love with others. Then and only then, are we able we come to God with the confidence that is promised us through the sacrifice of Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that I would encounter you in such a powerful way that reminds me that you are greater than my heart. Help me to overcome the temptation of self-condemnation and to fight against the accusations of the enemy. May I come to realize that whomever you set free, will be free indeed!

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 12

Lunch Break Study

Read John 8:1-11 (ESV): but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.

Questions to Consider

What was the nature of the trap that the religious leaders set for Jesus?
Why did Jesus bend down to write on the ground?
What did Jesus command the woman to do?

Note

The religious leaders wanted to trap Jesus either by making him out to be an enemy of the Roman Empire or a false teacher. In the first case, no one could pass a sentence of death without knowledge of the Roman authorities. In the second case, if he simply let the woman go, he could be cast as a teacher without moral convictions and little regard for the Mosaic law.
The classic Christian commentaries suggest that Jesus wrote on the ground to remove attention from the condemned woman and to place the crowd’s focus onto himself. This was a way for Jesus to protect this woman’s dignity and personhood.
Jesus did not minimize the serious nature of her sin, even as he forgave her. In a manner that is consistent with both grace and truth, he commanded her to leave her life of sin.

Evening Reflection

Did you struggle at any point in the day with feelings or thoughts of self-condemnation? Did you judge someone else’s sin without grace? Confess yours sins before the Lord and ask for the freedom that comes through forgiveness.

July 9, Tuesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Mei Lan Thallman (Grace Covenant Church), was originally posted on August 14, 2014.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Finding Rest in Him”

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Worn out from a busy ministry and a family responsibility that comes with caring for two young children, I was really looking forward to this summer break. Signs of physical, emotional and spiritual fatigue started to hit me hard. My mind racing with worries, responsibilities and anxieties, I would wake up from my sleep even more exhausted. In my desperation, I cried out to God for help! “Daddy God, please help me. I cannot go on like this anymore.” He lovingly responded to my desperate plea by inviting me to come to Him and drink deeply from his truth (living water for my dry and weary soul) from Matthew 11:28-30.

As I came to Him, I had to humble myself to face my own neediness and emptiness. And I had to shift my focus from myself and my circumstances, to God and Him alone; a shift from striving to survive in my own strength, to receiving His love, grace and power. In coming to Him, God’s rest began to permeate and penetrate my whole being because I was in His presence, in His love, and in His control.

When I started to consider what it meant to take up His yoke and learn from Him, this is what I discovered: Before I can take His yoke, I must be willing to surrender myself and allow Him to be the Lord of my whole life. That means I am no longer in control, for I surrender to His control, His leading, and His use of my life 24/7. I must also entrust all that is dear in my heart to His yoke, His lordship, which includes my loved ones, my ministry, my burdens, my anxieties and my responsibilities. The amazing thing is that laying it all down enables me to find rest and freedom in His unconditional love, and He gives all sufficient grace to accomplish everything that He has called me to do. I can find rest for my soul because I know whose I am. He is a dependable and trustworthy Father who will see me through, and when needed, He will lovingly make me lie down and rest.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that I can come to you any time to receive, refocus, and realign myself under Your yoke (Your lordship) over my life. Teach me how to enter into Your rest and stay there by believing, trusting and relying on You. When I start to go astray, as I often do, please lead me back by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 91:1-16: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Questions to Consider

In Psalm 91:1-2, resting in the shadow of the Almighty is promised to whom?
What practical steps can you take daily to dwell (hangout) with God?
What are the benefits of dwelling with God according to Psalm 91:9-16?

Notes

This was initially promised to Moses (See Ps. 91). This type of psalm that depicts God’s comfort and protection foreshadowed the ultimate comfort and protection found in Christ, meaning this is a promise for us as well.
There is no substitute for an unhurried time with God, and it is a must. Jesus himself practiced this constantly. Mark 1:33 states (NIV), “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
The benefits are: God’s protection and rescue, answered prayers, and longevity.

Evening Reflection

What differences have you noticed in your life as you consciously work on going to Jesus throughout the day, and allowing His presence to carry you, sustain you, and empower you?

July 8, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God Works in Strange Ways”

Ecclesiastes 9:1-3

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

You may have been in this situation before: you’ve invited a friend to Sunday service at your church, and to your surprise, this staunchly atheistic businessman miraculously agrees! You’re not sure whether it’s just to get you off his back, or there’s genuine interest, but all you’re hoping for is that the sermon this week is a “good one.”

My friend Sam was in this exact scenario. He had finally convinced his friend to join him for a Sunday service at his church, but to his utter dismay, the lead pastor was away on a speaking engagement that week; and so the eldest of all the elders took to the pulpit. The old gentleman opened to 1 Chronicles chapter 1. As Sam buried his face in his hands, the elder read in a slow monotonous voice, the genealogy of the Israelite people. Things couldn’t have gone worse. With a long sigh, Sam concluded that his friend was surely never coming back to church.

The service drew to a close, and as soon as the benediction was given, Sam’s friend turned to him, and to Sam’s absolute shock, he said, “Sam, I think I want to become a Christian.” After a short, confusing, yet joyous pause, Sam had to ask, “Wait. WHY?”

His friend replied, “As the old man was speaking about people living and dying, I asked myself, what’s going to happen to me when I die? And then I realized, I need to know more about Jesus.” God certainly works in strange ways (to us, that is).

Solomon brings to light one of humanity’s most avoided, yet most important topic: death. We’re all headed in that direction; from the morally upright to the most crooked of criminals. Perhaps we do not ponder on this truth enough, for if we did, we would be driven daily into the arms of Jesus, the conqueror of death. Today, take a moment to ponder and thank Jesus for His victory over the grave. If there is an opportunity, share this joy you’ve found with a friend, family member, or co-worker.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for Your death and resurrection. The hope of eternal life with You gives meaning and brings joy to the things that I do here on earth. Help me to live in light of the joy of eternal life today.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 1:21-26: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Questions to Consider

Which does Paul say is better: to live on earth, or go to heaven to be with Christ?
What is Paul’s purpose for continuing to live out his life on earth?
If going to heaven is incomparably better, why do we, as Christians, continue to live in the brokenness of this earth?

Notes

Paul says that it is better to be with Christ. The reality of our situation as Christians is that what lies ahead of us, after we pass on from this world, is far better! This is part of the glorious salvation into which Christ has saved us. But why not just end this life, and go on to what is better?
Paul says that remaining in the flesh is “more necessary on your account.” In other words, the reason God hasn’t taken him home is because he has a mission on this earth to spread the gospel and build the church.
As a believer, a glorious, sin-free, pain-free, God-filled life is waiting for us less than 80 years away. But why wait to enter this glorious new life? Because we have a mission to fulfill here, and when that mission is complete, we will enter fully into that glorious life. But until then, each day is purposefully given to us so that we may love others, spread the gospel, build up the church, and expand His Kingdom. How is His Mission influencing the way you live your life?

Evening Reflection

Earlier today, we looked at a passage where Paul had to make a decision: to depart and be with Christ, or remain on earth for the sake of others. Departing seemed much better for Paul, for remaining on earth required much more suffering, sacrifice, and discomfort; yet Paul’s attitude was to remain in the flesh for the sake of the church.

If you think about it, Jesus had made a similar type of decision: He could have stayed in heaven with the Father, which would have been much better for Him; no one would have said anything. But for our sake, he came in the flesh, requiring suffering, (huge) sacrifice, discomfort, and death; and yet Jesus’ attitude was to give himself entirely up for our benefit.

How can we imitate such self-sacrificial love that we see in Christ, as Paul also sought to emulate? Do we love others enough to sacrifice our own comforts and rights?

July 7, Sunday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by a former staff at an AMI church, was originally posted on September 8, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Coveting the Presence of God in our Lives”

Psalm 85:10-13

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. 12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

In looking at the descriptions given to various characteristics of love, faithfulness, peace, and so forth, it is striking that they are described in anthropomorphic terms (describing God’s attributes in human expressions). These characteristics point to an infinite and personal God, who cares deeply about our welfare, including restoring and blessing the land (i.e., meeting our daily needs). In closing the Psalm, the writer is filled with the confident hope that this blessing will flow forth from the One whose very nature is to “prosper you and not to harm you” (Jer. 29:11). However, it is not enough for the psalmist to just receive the blessings; he also desires to experience God’s presence in the very land that the Giver of gifts has so blessed.

If we are honest with ourselves, we often desire the blessings of God, but are lukewarm in our desire for the presence of God. The psalmist knew that God’s greatest blessing was His presence, and so our desire for God should precede our desire for the blessings of God. As we examine our heart today, are there desires for even the good things in life that overshadow our desire for God’s presence? Do we desire good gifts but neglect the Giver of those good gifts? So today, the Lord is reminding us to reorder the desires of our hearts and to place the longing for His presence above anything else.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 9

Prayer: Lord, I want to adore, thank, and declare how beautiful it has been to stare at Your face, the Almighty God! You are the incomprehensible triumphant King and I will remember Your magnificence. Thank You for leading me to see You more profoundly this Lord’s day, looking into Your face as Almighty God. Thank You. Amen.

July 6, Saturday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Charles Choe (Tapestry Church, Los Angeles), was originally posted on December 7, 2014.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Knowing God is to Trust Him”

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. Knowing God is to trust Him. 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: Father, help me to submit myself and my plan to You out of knowing that You are a good God who “plans to prosper [me] and not harm [me], plans to give [me] hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). Most of all, thank You for giving us Jesus to save us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 7-8

July 5, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim of Tapestry Church (Los Angeles), was originally posted on December 28, 2015.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Moralistic Therapeutic Deism”—What?

Hosea 10:1

Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.

The conclusion of a nationwide survey conducted in the early 2000’s by sociologist Christian Smith, who attempted to gauge the spiritual DNA of Americans, was unsettling: Most Americans believed in what he coined as moralistic therapeutic deism, meaning the goal of life is to feel good about oneself and that God exists to serve us. This shouldn’t surprise us since we live in a time when church services aim to entertain rather than to challenge; it’s more about keeping people in the pews happy, rather than challenging them to follow Christ regardless of the cost. Consequently, we’ve produced consumers, not disciples. So then, why did God save us?

Here, in Hosea 10, we find the prophet pronouncing a scathing judgment upon the nation of Israel for exactly the same reason—they were a self-serving people. At first glance, when Hosea writes that “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit,” it seems to be a compliment. However, in the original language it would be better translated as, “Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit for itself.” And this was a serious offense. God as the vinedresser had planted Israel as a vine that would one day bear fruit for others. But instead, they chose a self-centered path. It was all about them!

Israel failed to remember that when God had promised Abraham the nation of Israel in Genesis 12, its primary purpose was to bring blessing to all nations. They were supposed to be a nation that shared God’s blessings with the surrounding Canaanites who served territorial gods that scorned other nations. But unlike Israel, we must not forget why we exist as a community. The church has been instituted, not as a means to primarily serve our own needs, but to be a conduit of God’s blessing to those around us. This means that God has given us the church, our jobs, finances, and abilities as a way to share God’s love and blessings with others. Consider today what God has given you, and begin wrestling with how you can use it all for His glory and for the building up of others. It’s when we live this out that we are most fulfilled and happy!

Prayer: God, help me to see beyond my own needs and desires. Give me a heart full of love and generosity that will allow me to use the gifts and resources You’ve given me for the sake of others and ultimately for Your glory.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 28:16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

Questions to consider

What is the commission given to the disciples before Jesus ascends?
What does it mean that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus?
How have you done lately in regards to living this commission out? Do you share the love of Christ or keep it for yourself?

Notes

He commissions us out to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This means that the church has the responsibility of sharing who Jesus is with the world around us. This prohibits us from making church all about us. It challenges us to look outside of our own spiritual state and to be broken for those who do not yet know Jesus.
Before His risen state, Jesus was a penniless preacher. But now, the situation was much different. No longer did the limitations of the incarnation apply to Him. He now possessed full authority in heaven and on earth. And this is good news because we would not be able to fulfill our commission unless the Jesus who promises to be with us until the end has all authority in heaven and earth. He is the only reason we can accomplish what we’ve been sent to do.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

We live in a culture where giving is not our default posture, and it’s easy to constantly think about ourselves more than ever. How can you work on becoming more other-centered? What are some areas of greed in your life? Do you reflect the generosity and the giving posture of the God we serve? Or do you reflect the self-serving pattern of our world? Take some time to assess the way you live your life in regards to these questions.

July 4, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Direct Line to God”

Psalm 4:1-3

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah 3 Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him.

The truth be told, we often take for granted how God is readily accessible to us (Rom. 5:2); but that’s not something the Israelites in the OT had enjoyed: God was near them but not yet with them. They heard God’s word from the mouth of prophets, but both they and the prophets could never experience “the Spirit himself testify[ing] with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:16). The adoption into God’s family would become a reality only after the coming of Christ (Jn. 1:12) and the sending of the Holy Spirit into our hearts thereafter, thereby enabling us to hear God’s voice from within—based on Scripture (Jn. 7:39; 2 Cor. 1:22; 1 Cor. 7:29; Acts 17:11). This is one main reason “many prophets and righteous people [in the OT] longed to see what [we] see, and did not see it, and to hear what [we] hear, and did not hear it” (Mt. 13:17).

This is to say, what David had longed for is a reality to us in Christ, but are we taking advantage of it? Foremost, if you are still not a believer, you are wasting a golden opportunity to be part of God’s family, along with its many privileges and blessings (and responsibilities to follow). If you are already a believer, then, how is your prayer life? You should really pray, even more now (NT) because we have a direct line to God Himself. Yes, God is waiting for you to call!

So, what are some activities in your life that seem to sap your desire and energy to pray consistently? Prayerlessness is nothing less than not depending on God. Anyone who says, “I depend on the Lord” but rarely ever prays is no different than a politician elected on a pro-environment platform who drives a Hummer! In addition, those who say prayer doesn’t work really haven’t prayed to give it a fair shot, for biblical prayer is not like talking to a waiter; rather it is an unhurried time of intimate dialogue with God and crying out to Him! And He hears you.

Considering this, earnestly evaluate your prayer life: What does it say about your dependence on the Lord (Ez. 8:21-3)? Remember—to add something to our agenda, sometimes we have to make room for it. To pray or to add more time to our existing prayer life, certain activities may need to be eliminated or reduced. My suggestion is reducing the time devoted to internet surfing, such as updating your Facebook and/or perusing that of others! A lot of time is wasted on that activity alone. Pray today.

Prayer: Dear God, I thank You for this privilege of being able to speak to You freely. Help me to draw closer to You because I desperately need You to navigate my life toward where You want me to be.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:1-8: And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Questions to Consider

To whom was this parable said?
Why was this taught?
In the parable (Lk. 18:2-5), the unjust judge is an antitype of God. What is Jesus driving at through this literary device3 (Lk. 18:6-8)?

Notes

Jesus told this to his disciples.
Probably foreseeing the future in which his men would encounter persecutions and trials in carrying out the Great Commission (Mt. 10:17-22), Jesus shared this parable to inculcate in them how they should never give up on prayer.
Through this anti-type, Jesus’ point is even more clear: even an unjust judge will grant a petition presented daily by a relentless petitioner just to get her off his back. But God is completely opposite from this man in character and affection toward those who would petition Him. If He is not granting your request at the moment, there is a good reason for it; but in time, He will grant your wish “if we ask anything according to his will” (1 Jn. 5:14b).

Evening Reflection

We began the day reading about David’s crying out to the Lord. Did anything happen today that would make you do the same? Did you get to pray today? If not, what kept you from praying? Pray about it.

July 3, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Conflicts that Rattle our Security—What Does that Say About Us?

Psalm 3:1-4

O Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah. 3 But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the Lord I cry aloud and he answers me from his holy hill.

This Psalm was King David’s prayer when his own son Absalom, after having overtaken the throne, was looking to kill him. For some people, their own family becomes a seedbed of trouble instead of a place of comfort. Even Jesus’ own family rejected Him at first as the Son of God, believing that he was crazy. In fact, on one occasion, when [Jesus’] family heard [about what he was doing], they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind” (Mk. 3:21).

Where people live side-by-side, conflicts are inevitable. I am sure in your work and church, you encounter people who are better or worse endowed than you in terms of education, talent, physical appearance, and socioeconomics. That’s just a fact of life! Wherever humans live, that will always be the case!

Therefore, one source of conflict is dealing with those who seem to be better or less endowed than us. If our measurement is more impressive than that of others, we become condescending toward the latter; but if the reverse is the case, we are given to unhappiness and envy. What does this then say about the basis of your security?

Looking at what happened to David (losing his secure position overnight to his own son), where should our security and confidence come from? What is the theological basis for our security in Christ? Our security is rooted in God’s unconditional acceptance of us, regardless of our demerits. Romans 15:7 declares, “Christ accepted you”—just as we are, in him.

So what are some practical steps we need to take (2 Cor. 10:12)? One practical step is refusing to compare ourselves with others. Learning to be content is the key. Are you content in Christ?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this wonderful new day of experiencing again your amazing love & grace. I lift up to You every member of my family that each may know the surpassing love of Christ and be found in Him!

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 18:9-14: He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Questions to Consider

To whom was this parable said?
Why was this said?
Why is humility so important in being justified (i.e., saved) by God (Eph. 2:8-9)?

Notes

This was said to unnamed people who, like the Pharisees, mocked others on account of their flawless obedience to the requirements of the Law.
This was said because Jesus wanted to make sure that his hearers understood what God was looking for: a humble and penitent heart over those who are intoxicated and impressed with their own religiosity.
Without it, humans will boast that their good works, at the very least, nudged God toward saving them. When good works are added, according to Paul, we fall away from grace (Gal. 5:4-5).

Evening Reflection

Though family relationships can stress us out, they can shed much light on God’s love and grace as well. Did you have any interesting experiences with anyone in your family? Have you resolved the last family conflict? If not, then ask God to give you the strength to reconcile. Don’t delay. Trust God who, in all things, including our conflicts, works for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28)? Even as we pray for and love our family, we look to God for comfort; He alone is our deliverance and our security!

July 2, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“It Rains on Everyone—No Exceptions”

Psalm 1:6, 2:7-8

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish . . . 7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

While serving as a youth group leader many years ago, I once asked my students to draw a picture of the parable of the wise and foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27. And I still recall what Fred drew: While the rain fell, the streams rose, and the wind blew and beat against the house

built on sand, the sun was shining from above the house built on rock. Even though I was only a young man at the time, I knew enough to tell Fred that that’s not how life works; neither does faith.

If you haven’t discovered it already from the laboratory of life, God never guaranteed a problem-free life. Recall what David said: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadows of death . . .” However, the LORD did promise to give us sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9) to overcome whatever trial and tribulation that may come our way. It could be a problem quickly (or eventually) fixed (don’t we all wish that) or experiencing “the peace of God that transcends all understanding, . . . guard[ing] our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7)—even though our circumstances remain the same. Why would God do that for us? It’s because we have been adopted as His sons and daughters through faith in Christ! Therefore, He deeply cares for us. For that, we are eternally thankful and grateful!

Can you recall a time when you really felt God’s presence while going through a tough situation in life? What did you learn about Him at that time? My 30s was very disappointing because much that I had planned and hoped for in ministry didn’t materialize. But, during my 40s, while serving as a missionary in Mexico where I had so much fun, I came to see that God prepared me through many disappointments in my 30s so that I could be part of a meaningful and fruitful ministry later; for that, I am so grateful the Lord.

Are your present circumstances quite difficult to bear? Take a moment to see with the “eyes of our heart” (Eph. 1:18) a God who cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).

Prayer: Dear God, I praise and thank You in all circumstances, even those that are very difficult because You allow them so that I may not rely on myself but on You. LORD, remind and motivate me to come to You daily for a moment prayer and reflection

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 17:11-19: On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[a] who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well

Questions to Consider

Who said this and to whom was this said?
Why was this said?
What is the subtext to the fact that only the Samaritan (i.e., an outsider) returned to thank Jesus (Mt. 20:16)?

Notes

Jesus said it to a leprous Samaritan who returned to thank the Lord for healing him.
Because nine other lepers, all Israelites, failed to express gratitude to Jesus for healing them.
The Israelites who were supposed to be closer to God had ungrateful (entitled) hearts toward Christ while a man whom the Jews saw as distant from God (being of a mixed race and religion) showed a sensitive heart. This shows that in the spiritual world, the last can be first (when the spirit of humility and gratefulness is embodied) while the first can be last

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on God’s protective presence. Was today more difficult than other days? What happened?

And for Lunch Break Study, we dealt with the matter of gratitude. Honestly assessing your life, do you find yourself thanking God more or complaining about your life? What is keeping you from being grateful to Him? What will help you to become more grateful? How about recalling our miserable existence before coming to Christ; not measuring ourselves with others who appear to have more on the outside. Anyway, as you start the new month, can you think of anything that you can be thankful for right now?

July 1, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from July 1-4 are provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Your Choice Matters”

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Many years ago, I rebuked a young Reformed seminarian who discouraged one of my congregants from praying persistently because, according to his theology, her praying was tantamount to trying to “bend the arm of God” (his wording). He kept insisting that we don’t need to pray like that because God is sovereign; I kept telling the seminarian that this congregant was no different than the persistent widow who never stopped pleading (Lk. 18:1-8).

I have no doubt that those who mindlessly champion the doctrine of the sovereignty of God, will not like the point I am about to make but Psalm 1:1-3 gives me no choice: God, precisely in His sovereignty, has given human the free will to choose Him and His ways. Here, we see that the Psalmist chooses to delight in God’s law instead of heeding the counsel of the wicked. Joshua would’ve concurred, for he told the Israelites shortly before passing away: “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Jos. 24:15b).

And the LORD will honor our choices; that is to say, if some choose to reject Christ and his offer of salvation, God will not treat their decision as if they had chosen to believe Christ. Seeing from this standpoint, universalism, which postulates that everyone will go to heaven regardless whether one believes Christ or not (e.g., “the Gospel of Inclusion”), is an insult to humanity (“your decisions are inconsequential”) and an affront to God’s attribute of love (which accords humans the freedom to rebel). Actually, there is no greater privilege than God treating us in this manner: it not only shows His love for humanity, but the undeserved dignity bestowed upon us as well.

And to choose God and His ways every day, without the intake of His word along with the enabling power of the Spirit (in prayer), we are bound to make poor choices, or as the Psalmist says, “walk in the counsel of the wicked.” Why? For one thing, we are inundated with so many alluring temptations. Thus, disciplining ourselves to have meaningful time with God on a daily basis (“day and night”) is not an option but a spiritual necessity.

There is no better time to start on this than the first day of a new month! As we start July of 2019, reflect on the kindness of our God, who does not want “anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). Offer a prayer of commitment to keep your time with God.

Prayer: God, bless and keep me today so that I can make better decisions throughout this week. Strengthen me to overcome my fear of man so that I can make the kind of choices that would honor Your Son Jesus.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 2

Note: Oops. Yesterday’s Bible reading should have been 1 King 1, not 2 Samuel 25.

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 7:13: Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Before reflecting on this verse, let’s find out what Jesus had in mind (that is, teachings that led people astray) when he said this. Among the several religious sects at that time vying for people’s attention, two stood prominently: Sadducees and Pharisees.

Questions to Consider

How would you describe the teachings of the Sadducees (Mt. 22:23, Acts 23:8)? Why would such teaching lead to the “wide gate”?
How would you describe the teachings of the Pharisees? Why would such teaching lead to the “wide gate” (Mt. 23:13; Mk. 7:5-13)?
What would be some wide gate teachings of today that affect how we think about God and salvation?

Notes

The Sadducees correctly upheld that the written law of the OT alone was binding; however, their interpretation rejected the spiritual world as well as miracles such as the resurrection. They were like the liberal theologians of today whose rejection of the essential Christian doctrines has emasculated the gospel.
As for the Pharisees, despite adding many oral traditions to Judaism, making them equal to the Scriptures, they upheld the spiritual world. But it didn’t matter as these extra teachings kept people from entering the kingdom of heaven.
Universalism (“Everyone is already saved”) or religious pluralism (“All religions lead to the same God”). A quick response can be gleaned from Acts 4:12, Jn. 14:6 & 1 Jn 5:12.

Evening Reflection

Matthew 7:13 can easily be applied to our everyday living. For instance, entering through the narrow gate implies making a choice that would honor and please God even if it does not tangibly benefit us, at least at the outset. Are you facing a situation where you need to make a decision but aren’t sure what to do? Are you weighing the short- and long-term benefits? If you were to make this decision based solely on this passage, what would that be? It comes down to this: Do we trust God? Christ assures in this way: “Trust in God; trust also in me” (Jn. 14:1). Write your thoughts: