June 20, Thursday

Devotional Thought for Today

“Father’s Love”

Matthew 7:9-11

Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

I think some of you may know of a group called BTS.  To say my 10-year daughter is a huge fan would be an understatement.  If you saw all the posters in her room you would understand. Recently, I had the opportunity to take my daughter to their concert at the Rose Bowl with 80,000 other screaming fans.  Believe me when I say this – it was not my 1st, 2nd, or even 50th choice of things I wanted to do on a Saturday evening.  However, because I was “lucky” enough to be asked by a good friend if my daughter would like to go, I had a choice to make.  I choose to put a smile on my daughter’s face and went with her to the concert. It’s a memory she will never forget and I was able to earn some solid points in the “good dad” column.

As I reflect upon today’s passage I am reminded of how much our Heavenly Father truly loves us.  His love for us is unconditional and He does not hold back anything back. Because He loves us so, He not only gives, He knows how to give to us. A father would not give his children something that is harmful; he gives his children what they ask for.  How much more would our Heavenly Father do for us? It cannot even be compared. In His time and in His way, our Heavenly Father pours out His love for us and gives us what we need. The ultimate proof of His love is found in John 3:16.  He sent His one and only son so that we may have eternal life.

I was so willing to give my daughter something that would make her happy, even though it was something I really did not want to do.  However, that fails in comparison to what our Heaven Father gave and gives us. In Him, we find the truest expression of unconditional love.  In His love for us He gives us what we ask for—but not everything we ask for. Just like little children who ask for foolish things, sometimes our requests can be foolish.  In the “no” we see God’s wisdom and love for us. As His children, He delights in giving us all that is good and all that is lasting. In His wisdom He does not give us our foolish requests.  That, my friends, is a true demonstration of love.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me the way You do.  In Your love I find comfort, security and peace. I pray that I would be reminded of that love today and that I would be mindful that in Your “no” Your love truly shines through because You know what is best for me.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 15:20-24: So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is significant about his father running to him?
  2. Why did his father put on his best robe, give him a ring, and have him where sandals?
  3. Really consider how much your Heavenly Father loves you.  How does that make you feel?

Notes

  1. It is important to know that once the son decided to return the father, the father’s actions took over.  It is the father’s love that covers all. He waited for his son to return and when his son returned, it was the father that ran to him, hugged him, kissed him.  It truly a demonstration of the Father’s heart.
  2. The robe signifies the son’s cleansing from his life while he was away, the ring symbolizes the covenant relationship between the father and son, and the sandals represent that he is free to come and go with no strings attached.  His is once again the father’s son and not a slave in the house.
  3. Personal reflection.

Evening Refection

To fully grasp how much our Heavenly Father truly loves can be beyond our scope of understanding.  Take some time to put it into perspective and recall moments when you experienced the full love of our Heavenly Father.

June 19, Wednesday

The AMI QT devotionals for June 18-19 are provided Joe Suh who serves as a pastor intern at the Church of Southland (Anaheim, California). Joe, who was a practicing attorney in the area of civil litigation, is currently enrolled at Talbot School of Theology. He and his wife Betty have been blessed with two beautiful children.  

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Forged in Fire”

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Being “forged in fire” means that you have been battle-tested and have come out stronger because of what you have been through.  The ability to withstand the pressure of difficult situations and come out the other side generally makes us stronger. This is why in sports it is better to have a proven veteran lead your team rather than a rookie fresh out of college.  The experience that comes from adversity and struggle is invaluable, and cannot be taught. It is something you have to go through and actually experience. Reading about it or hearing it in a lecture may give you some head knowledge; however, until you struggle through and then process pressure, there can be no true understanding or strengthening.  

Job was a person that truly understood suffering.  However, he understood that he would be tested, he would endure, and in the end, come out as gold. Job 23:10  Job was patient, he showed perseverance and in the end God blessed him with twice as much as he had before.

It seems counterintuitive to “rejoice in our sufferings”.  Why would anyone celebrate the difficulties of life? Generally, I think the human instinct is to avoid suffering and to try to live a life free from it.  However, as Apostle Paul writes, we should rejoice in it! It is a good thing when we go through suffering. When we are in the midst of suffering, it is definitely a perspective that we do not see.  

But Paul reminds us that through the suffering we are forged in the fire.  Our suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  This is a process that we will all go through and we must all endure to get to hope, a hope which does not shame because of the love that is poured into us.  We all need hope in our lives. Hope keeps us going and hope lifts us when we have nothing left.

It is never easy to go through suffering. However, we must keep the right perspective and know that God has a plan for our lives.  Through the most difficult times, the most tragic sufferings, our loving Father carries us through and uses all that is challenging and difficult to plant seeds in our lives that produce the sweetest of fruit.  I am a better man because of the suffering I have endured, and to suffer for Christ is truly a blessing…even if we do not immediately see it.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to have the right perspective on life and not deviate from the right path towards You. When pain and suffering come in my life, remind me of the sufferings of Christ and be grateful that I don’t have to face the consequences of my sin because of Jesus. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 12

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19: Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the “fiery ordeal” they are experiencing?
  2. How do we truly suffer with Jesus?
  3. What suffering(s) have you had to endure for the sake of Jesus?

Notes

  1. The “fiery ordeal” is imagery for the refiner’s fire.  It is to be tested, refined, strengthened and purified.  This is not something that is unusual or strange, but is part of being a believer.  In order to draw closer to Jesus and live a life that glorifies Him, we ought to experience the “fiery ordeal” and become more Christ-like.  The more we are purified, the more we draw closer to Him.
  2. We suffer without shame.  The interesting thing is that the world may see it as foolish to suffer with Jesus; however, to suffer with Jesus is what we all should be doing.  We live our lives by the world’s standards and we seek to chase its dreams with our flesh. However, it should be the other way around. To suffer with Jesus is to surrender to His will and way.
  3. Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

I do not believe that suffering is something we would intentionally embark upon in our lives.  Yet, at some point, because of the circumstances of our lives, we all go through it. Take a moment to reflect on a time in your life when you were truly struggling and suffering.  Pray through it and identify how our Heavenly Father carried you through it. It is always a good reminder to know that through it all, He is there for us.

June 18, Tuesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional by Andy Kim was originally posted on December 14, 2015.

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Hosea 1:2-3

When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you suddenly became famous and made your debut?  Who would be there and what would you be doing? Messing up would not be an option since your precious reputation is on the line.

Well, for Hosea his first debut as a prophet involved scandalously marrying a promiscuous woman who would forever tarnish his reputation. Not what you would have in mind as the perfect debut by any means. Some scholars argue that this story is a metaphorical vision, but nowhere in the rest of the book do we see evidence of this. Reformed commentator John Calvin argues, “It is, in short, an exhibition… placed, as it were, before their eyes in a visible form”—meaning, God is actually calling Hosea to do the unthinkable. The decision to marry her would tarnish his reputation, honor, and even his family line. Why would anybody choose to go through with something like this? It was simple: the Lord said to go, and Hosea did.

I’m sure Hosea had some questions and weighed the costs of his obedience. But for Hosea, obeying God was worth more than his reputation, his comfort, and even more than his own understanding of the situation. Can you imagine if the Word of God had that much authority on your life? Hosea did not know that his marriage would resemble the marriage that Christ would have with His people.  Jesus in the same way would display the greatest act of obedience at the cost of his life to save us.

So today, be mindful of showing the love of Christ to that coworker, fellow student or spouse who, perhaps, isn’t behaving as badly as Gomer, but is pretty annoying nonetheless.  Pray first.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Your life for us. May we learn to trust and obey in Your Word alone. Speak to us today and may we have the ears to listen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 11

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:22-25: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is James emphasizing in this passage?
  2. How are we deceived?
  3. What is the purpose of His Word?

Notes

  1. Simply hearing the Word through sermons and our daily QT’s is futile if we are not putting the Word into action. As disciples of Christ, we are called to outwardly respond to his Word in our lives.
  2. It’s like looking in a mirror and seeing all the blemishes but doing nothing to fix them because of distractions.
  3. Only the Word of God provides a true reflection of who we are and who we are called to be. In this freedom and obedience to His word, we are then spiritually blessed.

Evening Reflection

As you pray and meditate on His Word, how is He speaking to you today? Are you responding to His Word in obedience? Do you take heart to His Word and put them into action? Take some time to reflect.

June 17, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from June 17-23 are written by Andy Kim.  Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) currently serves as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is married to Jane who is a pharmacist, and she is expecting their first child.

 

June 17, Monday

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Devil God is in the Details”

Exodus 37:1-2

“Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.”

Exodus 27:1-2

“You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits broad. The altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. 2 And you shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.

Selective listening. It doesn’t take too much effort to walk away from a conversation and only take away what I want to hear. It’s also tend to ignore what I don’t want to hear, especially things I’ve already heard before. And as you read our passage this morning you may also think, Wait, didn’t I just read this passage a few weeks ago in chapters 25-27? You may even find these instructions for building the temple elsewhere. In fact, it’s these passages I often find myself skipping because it seems repetitive—yet, we see one small, but significant difference.  

If you look in chapter 27, God provides what seems to be the same set of instructions starting with the command, “You shall make….” Now notice in our passage this morning that it begins with “Bezalel made….” So the difference is that these chapters serve as the fulfillment of what God commanded Moses to do. What we see here is an absolute trust and obedience to His word—down to the smallest detail. But it’s the small things that are always difficult to listen to because we tend to minimize them. Or worse, we tend to pick and choose what we hear from Him out of our own convenience. And the issue with selectively listening to God is that it leads to selectively obeying Him.

We are reminded in our passage that what seems small and insignificant in our eyes is absolutely necessary for building His temple. Jesus teaches us, “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much.” For even Jesus, who was God, became small and insignificant in the form of a man to save us. God isn’t impressed with our grand gestures; He’s moved by our faithfulness to His word. May our lives be the fulfillment of His word spoken to us. May we learn to obey Him in all things, not just what we want or is convenient for us so that we live according to His good and perfect will.

Prayer: Father, I confess I only want to hear what I think is good for me. Soften my heart so that I may be sensitive to Your Word. I believe whatever You started in me, You will see it to completion. Purify my desires so that I may faithfully obey You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 10

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:21-25: Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Questions to Consider

  1. We are continuously taught to read His Word as a spiritual discipline. Why should we read His Word?
  2. How does the Word of God lead us?
  3. How has the Word of God been speaking to you? Does your life reflect it?

 Notes

  1. Only His Word can save our souls and so we are to do everything we can to receive it. However, merely listening to the Word does not mean you are actually receiving it. To receive is to do what the Word of God commands. Apostle John in 1 John 2:3 and John 14:21 says that to know Him is to obey Him.
  2. James provides this analogy of a man looking in the mirror. As a mirror reveals a man’s face and the things he cannot see, the Word of God reflects the true condition of our heart. It provides the areas we are to change and grow in. Those who allow God’s Word to direct their lives will be blessed.
  3. Personal Application.

Evening Reflection

When I was young, my pastor would always point us to Colossians 3:23 where Paul writes, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The example he always gave was that even in our study habits, we could glorify God. Either this was the greatest ploy to get us to study more, or it was indeed true. He is to be glorified in all areas of our lives. Whether it is in our work or even the way we interact with strangers, may we be motivated by His glory. Spend some time reflecting and asking God to reveal these areas in our lives.

June 16, Sunday

Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is written by John Lee who serves as a youth pastor at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“In Search of a Perfect Relationship”

Exodus 20:24-25

You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it.

Being recently married I’m often asked, “How’s married life?” And my response has often been, “It’s good, I’m learning to be a better husband everyday.” However, this wasn’t my initial thought going into marriage. I had a romanticized thought that everything would fit perfectly together; that every difference of opinion would be settled in perfect harmony. Deep down inside I thought I couldn’t fail at being a husband.

Soon I discovered that my high expectation created the pressure of having to do everything in marriage perfectly (i.e., high performance). This soon led to judging what was acceptable and unacceptable in our marriage. It came to the point that everything I did or touched had to be 100% perfect in my eyes. Little did I know that this mindset was pushing away my wife when the reason I was doing these things was to draw her closer. I was too busy tinkering with date plans or cooking meals that I didn’t have time to simply talk and rest with my wife. However, if I’m completely honesty, a part of me wanted to be validated for being a good husband by my wife, our family, and friends. So the truth is that I was too busy trying to validate my place in our marriage that I wasn’t fully enjoying our marriage.

Sometimes, in our “marriage” (i.e., relationship) to God, we can become too busy validating our place before God that we forget to fully enjoy our marriage with God. Sometimes, we can feel as though we are not good enough to approach God. Or we are caught in seasons where we feel that the circumstances are too difficult to reach God. Other times, the enemy traps us with the thought that you are failing as a child of God and there’s no hope – “how can you still be struggling with the same issues?” And these thoughts eventually make us feel like we can’t approach God until we perfect ourselves. Yet, God calls us to approach Him so he can perfect us.

When God called the Israelites to build an altar for Him, he emphasized not to build the altar with stones that were cut and decorated by their hands and tools. Instead, they were called to use the stones as they found them on the earth – raw, uncut, and unpolished. Obeying God meant giving up their desire to perfect the rocks so that they could have an altar that seemed perfect in their eyes. It wasn’t up to them to create perfection to approach God. God was reminding them to keep the rocks as they were to build an altar of sacrifice so that they could trust His perfection.

Coming to terms that I wouldn’t be a perfect husband has given me a greater freedom to approach my wife. Realizing that I don’t need to perfect everything in my life allows me to approach God without validating my place.

Maybe there are rocks in our lives that seem raw, uncut, and unpolished. Maybe there are things we’re too busy tinkering with and perfecting that prevent us from trusting God in His perfection. Come freely and lay down lay down your tools. Come raw, uncut, and unpolished to approach our Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Father, cause me to remember You. Many times, I want to perfect myself and be in control. But allow me to give up my tools and come to you even if I don’t feel perfect. And in doing so, may you perfect me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.   

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 9

June 15, Saturday

Todays’ Spiritual Food for Thought is written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Dos and Don’ts of Judging”

John 7:24

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.

I am a long-time fan of San Antonio Spurs of NBA; therefore, I didn’t appreciate the way its star player Kawhi Leonard handled himself before demanding a trade last year.  Insisting that he wasn’t fully recovered from a previous leg injury, he chose to play sparingly during the regular season and sat out the entire playoff in which his team lost in the first-round.  

Fast forward to this year’s NBA playoffs, now that Kevin Durant, a top player, suffered a devastating leg injury while playing with a previous leg injury that apparently wasn’t fully healed, and the fact that Leonard, now playing with healthy legs, just won the NBA championship with his new team, maybe I shouldn’t have been so harsh in judging Kawhi’s motive.  Perhaps, he did what he had to do, if anything, to avoid getting hurt again.

Several years ago, I did the same (judging prematurely) when criticizing Facebook to my daughter Christy.  In response, she (at the time still in college) retorted, “How can you criticize something that you’ve never used.” Oops!  So when I asked her to be my “friend,” that is, after finally getting my own Facebook a year later, she wrote:  “Ohmygoodnessyouhaveafacebookeeeps.”

That wasn’t the first time something like that happened.  In her senior year in high school she was reading three books that were unfamiliar to me, but I didn’t let that keep me from criticizing them; she didn’t like that either! So after reading them eventually, to my amazement, I liked Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller and The Shack by William P. Young (but disliked Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change).  Why? Certainly, content matters (i.e., is it biblical?) but ultimately, in reading a book, the reader is personally interacting with the author, and sometimes you end up either really liking the writer or disliking him.  In this case, I became quite fond of Miller and Young (but not necessarily McLaren).

There is much more to say about judgment than what I am sharing here but for now remember this: to make a right judgment we need to have all the facts!  So do some “research” before judging something or someone! Sometimes, we may need to wait awhile before all the facts are in; at that time, we may discover that there isn’t any need to judge anyone or anything.  

I will leave us with the words of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 7:1-4, that will help us to make a right judgment: “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Prayer: Dear God, help me to check myself before I pronounce a judgment against someone or something, lest I inadvertently become a hypocrite.  Most of all, thank You for not judging me to hell on account of having placed my faith (also a gift from You) in Your Son and what He did on the cross.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 7-8.

June 14, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Jason Sato (who, with his family, will soon head to Japan as a missionary) was originally posted on December 12, 2013.

 

Devotional Thought for Today

“Sowing Tears Today, Reaping Joy Later”

Psalm 126:1-6

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb! 5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! 6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

How has your life been lately?  Has it been a season of much grief and sadness?  The prayer of this Psalmist, crying out to the Lord so that the fortunes of His people may be restored, is no different than a father or a pastor earnestly praying for his troublesome family or congregation.  Reference to sowing, bearing seed, and reaping, an obvious allusion to the agricultural cycle, indicates that the writer has come to terms with the present predicament. Instead of trying to get out of it through whatever means, he will wait and cry out for God’s deliverance; he will sow the tears of hope so that in God’s time, it will turn into a season of reaping laughter and joy.  

What gives the Psalmist even greater confidence is recalling what the Lord had done in the past for the Israelites and the result that ensued: ever expanding worship as the people of God rejoiced while the nations were awed by what God did for them.  

May we approach our crisis in the same way so that it not only deepens our worship of God, but also causes our unbelieving family members and coworkers to notice the greatness of our God.

Do you have any serious or desperate needs this morning?  Spend a moment reflecting on the faithfulness of God to you in the past, worship Him for it, and then bring your request to the Lord.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You have been faithful to me even from the womb.  You have never forgotten or failed me. While I am tempted to give in to doubt and fear, give me grace to remember all that You have done, especially what Your Son has done on the cross for me.  Lord, please answer my cries for deliverance and favor. May the fruit of Your answer be worship in my own heart, among those around me, even unto the nations. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:26-33: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Questions to Consider

  1. What reasons does Jesus give us to not worry?
  2. What questions arise from one who has an anxious heart?
  3. What do we share in common with nonbelievers?  What is unique to believers?

Notes

  1. If our Father provides for the birds who do not plan ahead, then how much more will He take care of us who are created in His likeness? While worrying will not solve anything, circumstances that often produce anxiety can clarify an obvious truth that we often forget: as fragile beings, we must always and totally depend on God.    
  2. What shall we eat?  What shall we drink?  What shall we wear? Certainly, we need food, clothes and other material things but when we try to make a statement about ourselves through these (“Look how cool and sophisticated I am”), that’s a wrong and unhealthy way to handle our insecurity; our security is found in Christ.    
  3. Obviously, all humans share common needs, but those who have become God’s children through Christ are unique because He has covenanted with them to supply all of their needs, provided that they seek first God and His kingdom.

Evening Reflection

Can you recall any moments today when your over-concern for your material needs prevented you from obeying God?  Does your lack of material need tend to draw attention to God’s greatness or your own?

June 13, Thursday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional (P. Barry) was originally posted on March 4, 2014.

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“I’m not perfect, just forgiven”—Is that right?

1 John 1:5-7 (ESV)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Several years ago, I attended a creation vs. evolution debate in which the creationist convincingly demolished the arguments of the evolutionist.  He was witty and well prepared. (He had hundreds of power-point slides to counter all arguments presented by the evolutionist.) While the creationist spoke confidently and passionately, he was also arrogantly dismissive of any opposing arguments.  If the debate was judged on who landed more body blows, he would have won hands down. Of course, he didn’t change anyone’s opinion; debates like this rarely do. At the end, however, he shared the gospel and his own testimony, concluding it with this line: “I’m not perfect, just forgiven.”  Upon hearing it, I was profoundly moved for the first time that evening.

Since then, I’ve noticed more readily those words on many bumper stickers, yet now I ask myself, “Are those words true?”  Are we merely forgiven? That is, can we be comfortable with sins in our lives because, after all, “we’re not perfect, just forgiven”?   While John would agree that we are forgiven, I think he would have issues with the sentiment behind this statement. We cannot claim to be in fellowship with God who is light, if we are walking in darkness (implied in the phrase “not perfect”).  To be in a relationship with God means to walk in his light.

So how do we do this?  Let’s look at verse 7 carefully: “… if we walk in the light… we have fellowship with one another.”  The acid test of our faith and fellowship with God is whether we have fellowship with one another. Praise God that Jesus’ blood does cover all our sin (verse 7), but we’re not just forgiven.  We are also being perfected as we walk in the light together.

Have you been missing out on your church’s small group gathering?  Why not consider participating? Do you go but never really talk? Then consider sharing even a small thing with someone.    

Prayer: Father, I thank You that the blood of Jesus covers all my sin.  I surrender my sin to You again and ask for Your forgiveness. I don’t want to be complacent about my sin.  I don’t want to be complacent about lacking love. I ask that You fill my heart with Your light so that, together with my brothers and sisters, I would be able to walk in light. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 5

Lunch Break Study  

Read 1 Timothy 1:15-17: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why did the apostle Paul consider himself to be the worst of sinners? (Cf.  Acts 7:58-8:3, 9:1)
    2. What is reflected in us when we receive the mercy of Jesus Christ?    
    3. Why is this saying important for believers to accept and trust?  How does remembering this truth affect how you live? 

Notes

  1. Paul was a persecutor of the church, as we see from the passages in Acts.  Then named Saul, Paul was a witness of Stephen’s stoning, “approving” of his execution.  After Stephen was martyred, Paul was “ravaging” the church, putting many of them in prison.  Acts 9:1 tells us that Paul was threatening murder against the church.
  2. The love and grace of Jesus Christ is what is reflected in us when we receive his mercy.  Paul calls it “perfect patience,” which is a great way to describe what Jesus does for us: forgive sins.  More than just being forgiven, when we receive this mercy (i.e., not getting the punishment that we deserve), God’s glory is magnified because it reveals the width and depth of God’s love.
  3. This is such an important truth to remember because it centers our faith and salvation on the love of Jesus Christ that came, not because we earned it or deserved it, but because of his grace and mercy.  It gives us hope, because it reminds us that we cannot sink to a depth where the mercy of Jesus can’t reach us.  Remembering this truth should move us, because it shows us how amazing God’s love is for us.

Evening Reflection

As you walk in the light, are you becoming more aware of your darkness?  How is your fellowship with the Church? What does this say about your walk with Jesus?  Take a moment to consider these questions and then pray accordingly.

June 12, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church in Boston, was originally posted on March 3, 2014.

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Key to True Christian Fellowship”

1 John 1:1-4 (ESV)

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

When I was planning this series of devotions, I scratched these words next to these verses, “witnesses testify.”  John was a witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He had seen him, heard him, and touched him with his own hands.  And so, as a witness, his testimony has great value and encouragement to us since the Gospel is not based on a myth or clever speculations, but on the real person of Jesus.  That led me to this idea: “I’ll write a devotion about how we, too, can be testifiers of Jesus to those people who don’t know Jesus.”

But John isn’t writing to non-Christians, but rather, He is writing about Jesus to Christians. (I know these are supposed to be short devotions but let that sink in for a few moments.)  And he says that the purpose for this is so that they would have deep fellowship with one another, thereby having complete joy.

Is it possible that joy and fellowship are inextricably linked?  And that fellowship and joy happen as we proclaim Christ to one another?  We often think of fellowship as something that happens when people love each other and have things in common.  But John tells us that biblical fellowship happens because Jesus loves us, and we have that in common.  

Considering that, let us be a people who are excited to talk about Jesus to Christians as well as to non-Christians!  Do it today.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!  Now, despite our imperfections, we can have fellowship with You and even fellowship with other imperfect people.  Help me to become a person who proclaims Christ inside and outside the Church, that our joy would become complete!

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:1-4 again: That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Questions to Consider

  1. What are some things that John tells us about this Word?  What can we learn about the Word in relation to God the Father?
  2. Why do you think John emphasizes the reality of “the Word” as he does?
  3. How do you think proclaiming the reality of Christ leads to fellowship (cf. Ephesians 5:18-19)?

Notes

  1. The Word of Life was “from the beginning” and “with the Father” and “made manifest to us.”  Jesus Christ is the manifestation of the Word. He is “co-eternal” and “co-equal” with the Father.  He is not a lesser God nor is he a human who became divine. These were all heresies that existed in the early church.  Interestingly, John doesn’t mention the Holy Spirit here (which he does plenty in John 14-16), perhaps in order to emphasize the divinity of Christ.
  2. Our faith is not based on a myth nor based on an intellectual or a philosophical concept that exists only in our minds.  Our faith is based on the historical reality of God entering into our brokenness to forgive, heal, and reconcile.
  3. Ephesians 5:18-19 points out the connection between being filled by the Spirit and speaking “hymns, psalms and spiritual songs” to “one another.”  When we proclaim Christ to one another, there is a unity that comes from the Holy Spirit filling us. Our fellowship is based upon the deep fellowship that exists between the persons of the Trinity, that we are invited to join.  Note that joy is also one of the fruits of the Spirit.

Evening Reflection

What are you basing your fellowship on?  Do you fellowship based on personality, mutual interest, or even geographical proximity?  If our fellowship is to be built upon the foundation of Christ being proclaimed to one another, how might you fellowship differently?  Who can you encourage with the Gospel tomorrow?

June 11, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The High Priest’s New Clothes Part 2: The Robe and the Golden Plate”

Exodus 28:31-35

“You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment,[c] so that it may not tear. 33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, 34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. 35 And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.

Yesterday, I recounted coming across John 5:39 where Jesus asserts that the Old Testament bears witness to Him. Charmed by the notion, I was excited to be assigned to an OT passage so I could spend time learning how the Old Testament does just that. Previously, I discussed a bit of Exodus 28 and the specifications for Aaron’s garments. My conjecture is that the particularity with which the high priest clothes are made hold some significance that point to Jesus Christ. It seemed that way in Part 1—let’s see if it holds while diving into the rest of the priestly garments.

Exodus 28 also details the build of the ceremonial robe and an engraved golden plate that the high priest is to wear when performing his duties (Exod. 28:31-35; 36-38). It is in these descriptions that the idea of bearing guilt is introduced, and repeated in verse 43. The robe, for example, is fitted with a golden bell and a pomegranate. Verse 35 reads, “And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die,” (Exod. 21:35 ESV). The golden plate has the words “Holy to the LORD” engraved on it, and is worn over the turban on Aaron’s forehead because Aaron is to bear the guilt of the holy things that Israel consecrated to God (Exod. 21:38).

Now, what’s going on here? Does God need to hear bells on Aaron’s robes to know he is coming to refrain from smiting him? Certainly not. Verse 43 injects the idea that these garments are to be worn by Aaron (and his sons), to prevent him from personally bearing guilt. In fact, if Aaron attempts to enter the tabernacle to minister without them, he will surely die. So what’s happening? The priestly garments are bearing the guilt for Aaron. It’s not so much that Aaron is awarded this beautiful uniform because he’s good enough to enter the Holy of Holies, rather, Aaron is given the priestly clothes because he is not good enough on his own. Aaron has his own sin to bear, and so the garments are put over him because they represent someone who is: Jesus.

The priestly garments are a physical picture of the coming Jesus. The all-white pieces boast of His purity, the extravagant pieces boast of His beauty and glory, the function of the garments tell of the function of the Son who bears the guilt of creation and the necessity of the garments speak to every person’s need for Jesus to cover their sins. Jesus did it, but despite this many people hurt deeply from constantly dwelling on their shortcomings. Can we rest and rejoice in what Jesus has done for us, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in and through us?

Prayer: Father, we thank You daily for what You have done for us and continue to do. I pray that Your Spirit would minister to us and heal us, not only of the propensity to sin, but of the guilt and shame attached to it. Holy Spirit, it is promised that You would remind us of Jesus’ teachings and work. Please do so constantly, so we may find joy and rest in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Samuel 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:10: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him;

1 John 2:1-2: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Questions to Consider

  1. What makes John’s statement in 1 John 1:10 particularly challenging?
  2. Discuss John’s teaching about Jesus in 1 John 2:1.

Notes

  1. While most people are more than happy to acknowledge they’re a sinner, the full weight of that status sometimes escapes them. Many people have a sort of “moral scale” in their minds, placing themselves somewhere between the best and worst people in human history (morally). Since they are somewhere in the middle, they conclude they are a good person. However even IF it’s true, the standard by which we are judged is of whether we have sinned, a test we all admittedly fail. Thus, the necessity and graciousness of Jesus’ work increase to infinitude.
  2. John establishes Jesus as our Advocate to the Father. It could be argued just as the high priest cannot enter God’s presence in the tabernacle without wearing the garments, neither can a person enter God’s presence without Jesus pleading to the Father on his or her behalf.

Evening Reflection

Searching for Jesus in the Old Testament is proving to be an enjoyable pastime for me, though I admit I’m a bit of a nerd. I realize while some will share in my newfound interest, others may not and that’s alright. We can all agree where we really need to find Jesus is in our personal lives. Maybe it means waking up a little earlier for prayer, or maybe it means setting aside the phone for a bit and picking up that Bible. Let’s challenge each other as a family in Christ to fix our gaze on Him.