July 7, Friday

The AMI QT Devotionals from July 3-8 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, has recently completed his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco (and also soon to be married 😊).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 15:1-4

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

When we were young, my friends and I spent hours playing as superheroes, using whatever we could find around the house for weapons. Our fantasy battles were the stuff of legends, complete with sound effects from our mouths. My favorite superhero was always Batman; for me, he seemed to be the most human while still standing toe-to-toe with all the other supernaturally-powered heroes. As I look back at my decision, I wonder if it was because I thought he was the closest I could get to making this fantasy a reality. It was my own fairy tale where I would fight crime, save lives, and be the hero of a dark world. We all enjoy such fairy tales and fantasies—many of them also being the story lines for most Hollywood blockbusters. Theologian Matt Smethurst explains it as “a gnawing suspicion—a hope—present deep within us, that our world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be and isn’t the way it always will be.” In fact these desires point to an underlying reality which we inwardly sense to be somehow true—that perhaps there exists something greater than the broken and finite reality we live in today. And we all hope one day it will come to pass.

Today our passage clearly speaks of this day: a time when all things will come to an end, where the beast has been conquered and God’s wrath has been completed. That heaven is not merely another fantasy or figment of our imagination, but it is a reality for those who believe. Commentators note the parallels between this passage and that of Exodus 15, but the difference being that this passage points to the final exodus—heaven. That since the beginning of time, the story of redemption and freedom for God’s people was never meant to be yet another fairy tale, but a reality made possible through Christ. And so, may our hope be strengthened by the infinite value of the kingdom that awaits us; it is a reality that our minds cannot fully grasp, so impossible it is to overestimate its wonder and glory. May we always remind ourselves that we are simply sojourners in a broken world—that though we may struggle in this world, there will come a day in which all suffering will cease and we will spend eternity in His glory. As we finish this series in the book of Revelation, may He create and renew your hope in what is to come.

Prayer: Lord, restore my hope in Your kingdom that awaits us. We confess that many times we minimize the gospel message to a mere a fairy tale, or we take for granted the life to come after this. Lord, thank You that You have already prepared a place for us for that time. Until then, give us the strength to endure and persevere here on earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Questions to Consider

What is our responsibility as God’s people?
Why does Peter call us “sojourners and exiles”? How does this affect the way we live?
Spend some time reflecting on your life. How would you identify yourself in this world?

Notes

Our first responsibility as His people is to realize that we have been chosen by God. The words “royal priesthood” and “holy nation” can be traced back to the OT. As the job of the priest was to lead the people towards God, God calls us to lead others to Him. This is only made possible through Christ who stands as our High Priest and Mediator, reconciling us once and for all to the Father. This is the excellency that we are called to proclaim to others.
Charles Spurgeon defines the meaning of sojourner to our position and our character. First, we must know that our home awaits us. Secondly, being a sojourner means we should expect to be treated by the world as strangers who do not understand us. Just as when we visit a foreign country and they do not understand our culture or our language, as God’s people we should set ourselves apart in our character. However, this does not excuse us to keep to our own ways, but Peter calls us to live honorably to the world, that they may see the good deeds within us. But more than how we appear to others, we are also called to be strangers to the world in our hearts. In the same manner we would be cautious in a foreign land, we must be cautious and weary of the desires that this world encourages to follow after.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Sometimes being a Christian is difficult. Often we must deny ourselves many things that bring some type of enjoyment to our lives. However, we forget that for every refusal, we are saying yes to the true joy and hope that awaits us. Spend some time reminding yourself of the wonderful hope we have in eternity and may you be renewed by this truth. What are the areas in your life which you struggle to relinquish? Spend some time asking that His Spirit will empower you, for we know that those who live by the Spirit will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

July 6, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:7

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Growing up, there were two things I feared: heights, and my father calling my full Korean name in that tone. That could only mean I had messed up to the point of no return. From growing up in such a success and performance driven environment, the fear I still battle with to this day is that of failure. My fear continued to grow because success was always relative to a worldly standard— one I could never achieve because there was always something more to do, someone better than me. When I think about the word fear, I can only have a negative reaction to it. So imagine my confusion when I read passages that tell us to “fear” God. How can one fear God? How can that be good?

Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, wrestled with the biblical meaning of “fearing God” by making a distinction between two types of fear: servile fear and filial fear. He defined the first as a prisoner in a torture chamber afraid of his jailer or a slave in the hands of a malicious master; while a filial fear (from which we get the word ‘family’ in Latin) is like the fear a child has for his father. In both cases fear is the response to a source or, in these examples, a person. The first is in regard to a malicious master, and the second is to a loving father. In the second case, the child is afraid to displease his father out of love and respect, leading to a sense of reverence and awe for him. Because of this, the child wishes to please his father for the sake of respect. In fact, the word fear is always found in the context of reverence and worship as a response to God’s glory and majesty. Unlike the servile fear of failure I struggled with, we can find freedom in the fear that God commands us. It is fear based on the loving yet glorious character of God, a God who deems us worthy and pleasing through the standard that was fully met through Christ.

Luther concludes by warning us to not take advantage of this grace and slip into a casual relationship with God. To fear the Lord is to have a sense of awe and reverence to Him while at the same having a personal intimacy through Christ. May we fear Him and give Him glory. May we find freedom from the fear of man as we seek to glorify Him.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for making a way to the Father. We confess that many times we take advantage of the grace You showed us. Lord restore our sense of awe for You while deepening our intimacy with You. Help us to live this day seeking to give You glory in all that we do. May it not be out of a servile fear, but a filial fear knowing that you are indeed a good Father. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 17:6: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:8-12: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Questions to Consider

Compare these two similar accounts of God commanding Moses to give the Israelites water.
What can we glean from these two passages?
How does this apply to you? Do you find yourself comparing past experiences to what God is doing today?

Notes

The most notable difference is God’s response to Moses in the second account. It seems that even after Moses strikes the rock as he did in the first one, God accuses Moses of disbelief. In the first passage, God calls Moses to strike the rock to produce water; while in the second, God calls Moses to speak to the rock. Instead of speaking, Moses strikes the rock, this time doing so twice and repeating what he did in the past.
God doesn’t want us to trust in our past experiences. Many times we can find ourselves comparing ourselves to our past experiences and trying to chase after them in our present. We don’t realize that when we do this, we could be robbing ourselves of what God is trying to teach us today. Experience-driven Christianity can lead to a weak faith. God doesn’t want us to chase after our past, but to chase after Him. When we seek Him, new experience will come. Note: God does mention throughout the Scriptures to remember the past. But these are in context to remember who God is and His promises, and so experiences should only strengthen our faith in who He is.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

W. Tozer, a renowned American pastor in the mid-20^th century, said, “I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion… I want all that God has or I don’t want any.” Spend some time reflecting on this thought. Surprisingly, we can get caught up with chasing after experiences at the cost of seeking God’s presence. Take a moment to simply be still in His presence. Perhaps even ask God that He would reveal Himself in a new and fresh way.

July 5, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:6

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.”

I hate shopping—and certainly, growing up with an older sister and mom who enjoyed it did not help. While they scavenged the stores, my usual choice of activity was limited to sitting on the bench outside, looking lost and helpless as I waited—what seemed like seconds to them, felt like an eternity to me. But on this day, while waiting, I saw a middle school student and his pastor looking at me from the corner. At the time, I was serving as a youth pastor and already guessed what they were up to. The boy then awkwardly and nervously came and sat next to me. A part of me thought this could be a good teaching moment and could make it difficult by refusing to listen or ask difficult questions about his faith. However, I chose to be a good Samaritan and take in everything he had to say. With his legs shaking and his voice quivering, he began his small talk, asking how my day was going and then proceeded to the “talk.”

I mean, did I look that helpless and miserable? It was funny and a little offensive to think that this kid was trying to share the gospel with me—a youth pastor. He was so nervous that he accidentally started with “You’re going to hell.” After his cute attempt, I calmed his nerves and let him know that I was already a believer. Instantly, he gave a huge sigh of relief and smiled, telling me that much of his fear was that I wouldn’t accept his words. In that moment I felt the Lord convicting me and teaching me through this kid. First, He was asking me when was the last time I shared the gospel with someone (at least this kid tried). More importantly, He was revealing how my lack of sharing stems from the fear of being rejected and the hearer not believing. But in today’s passage, it reminds us of this: Whether literal or not, “the great task of spreading the gospel in the world will be finished by God Himself through his angels.” Yet how often do we elevate ourselves, thinking that Christ will not return unless every nation hears the gospel through our own evangelistic effort—or even to think that the conversion of the soul is up to us.

It is for this reason, Christ commands us to be a witness (Matthew 28)—which is the act of giving one’s testimony from you experiencing the event. Christ calls us to experience Him and simply testify the gospel work in your life to those around us. Although we do play a role in His work, we are not the main agents. May this truth release the pressure of sharing the gospel, and that we may trust in the full power of the gospel and let His Spirit move the heart. There are no barriers and people groups He cannot reach. May we—like this kid (hopefully with better words)—not be ashamed to share the gospel to those who are helpless and lost until Christ returns.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that You would give us a heart for the lost. May our experiences with You overflow into a testimony for others to see who You are. We confess that salvation will only come from you; may we just be good witnesses of Your truth. “O God, grant us to know you in such a way that the fire of our wonder becomes an unquenchable flame of witness to the world” (John Piper). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 2

Lunch Break Study

Read James 2:17-26: So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Questions to Consider

What is the relationship between faith and works?
What is the difference between the two examples of people living by faith in the lives of Abraham and Rahab?
What can we learn from Rahab?

Notes

R.C. Sproul tells us that while both are distinct, they are both inseparable. Borrowing from the belief of the Reformed, “We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” This means that while it is our belief in Christ’s redemption that saves us, such a belief demands a response in our actions—that if we truly believe and have faith in Christ, it will inevitably lead to works of obedience.
Abraham had the high honor of being known as the father of faith and a friend of God. Not much is known about Rahab, other than the fact she was a sinful woman and a harlot. More importantly Abraham was a Jew and Rahab was a Gentile. To think Gentiles could receive salvation was blasphemous. However, James writes that both exercised a saving faith, regardless of their background.
As it was credited to Abraham, Rahab was credited with this “saving faith.” How? When the two spies approached Rahab and delivered what God had said about the city, she believed. She heard the Word and knew that her city was indeed condemned. She not only responded in her mind and emotions, she responded with her will; in other words, her belief led her to action. Spend some time applying this truth to your life.

Evening Reflection

In an interview with Pastors Timothy Keller and John Piper, a story is mentioned about a woman who had been struggling with this idea of faith and works. She explained that it was “scary” because “if you’re saved by works, there’s a limit to what God can ask of you. You’re like a taxpayer, you’ve paid your dues, and he can ask certain things of you, but not anything. But, if I’m really saved by grace, because of what Jesus has done, there’s no limit to what he can ask of me, and my obedience would have to be unconditional.” And here is the crux of their discussion: We are saved by faith alone, therefore our response is gratitude that manifests in wanting to do things for the One who saved us. (Taken from Church Leaders, “John Piper and Tim Keller Discuss: We Are Saved by Faith Alone, but What About Sanctification?” by Megan Briggs)

Spend some time reflecting on this truth. Think about your faith and belief in Him. Does it lead to some type of outward transformation? How is the goodness of the gospel revealed in your life? Remember, it’s not about a “we have to,” “but a get to” as we serve Him simply out of heart of overflowing thanksgiving and love.

July 4, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Finding your Brand . . . in Him”

Revelation 14:9-11

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

We live in a world driven by branding. In fact, business experts show us that NIKE has taken the lead in the sports industry because of their branding strategy—spending over $1 billion a year in advertising alone. From the mundane, such as what we wear, to the more significant, such as where we work, it’s all about the name. It’s amazing how a small piece of accessory with the word NIKE on it can be priced 10x higher than a non-name brand, even though it is pretty much the same thing! Even more importantly, it’s so easy for us to tie our identity to the name of the school we graduate from or the company we work for. In fact, experts emphasize the importance of “finding your brand” and “selling/marketing yourself ” as the way to success. Now, striving for such things is not bad in and of itself; however, when we allow these things to claim our identity, we become subject to the very products of this world.

In this passage, whether literal or not, the writer makes it clear that in the end we will all be accountable to a name. That name can either have your name on it or something else in the world; but only those who are marked by His Name will be able to partake in the celebration before the throne of Heaven. Commentator Mounce writes, “When judgment comes there will be no room for ambiguity; people will have by their mark declared their master.” There is no room for negotiation in this matter. May we never find our identity in names of this world, but remember that we are forever branded and marked by Jesus Christ. For only in this name do we find true salvation and redemption for eternity. This is good news because this is the one name that cannot be earned, but can only be given by His grace. While this world continues to be enslaved to the needs of this world, we are freed by the Name above all names, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

With that we have been given the responsibility of carrying that Name in a manner that is worthy. Charles Spurgeon challenges the church to “not come and take His name and then dishonor His Character.” In other words, taking upon the name of Jesus comes with the responsibility of following in His character. As we start this morning, ask yourself this: What do I want to be known for? What would the people around me say about me and my branding?

Prayer: Lord, may we find our identity in the one name above all names—the name of Jesus. We confess that many times we associate ourselves more with this world and lose ourselves to the needs of this world. Father, may our lives reflect Your character so that others may see we are of You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 8:1-5: “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

Questions to Consider

Why does God humble us?
Why is humility good for us?
What are the areas in your heart that you cannot let go and trust Him in?

Notes

Humility is not something that we can artificially produce, but it comes from the Lord. To be humble is to obey the Lord. Many times we allow external circumstances to harden our hearts that deter us from His will. God will use circumstances to humble our hearts so that we will not forget it is God who leads us and provides for us.
Humility teaches us to remember to not trust in our own abilities or even what the world offers (the daily bread); rather, we are to remember that it is God who provides for us, even our daily needs. God humbles us out of discipline (verse 5), and we know that in Hebrews 12:6 that God disciplines the ones He love. Humility stems from His love for us.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Humility can be difficult and can be so easily confused with a false humility. Remember, humility is not necessarily about the external appearance but the internal attitude of your heart. It is the full surrender and acknowledgement of our own weaknesses while having a full understanding of His sufficiency. May we trust in His provision, believing that He truly has the best in mind for us. Spend some time reflecting on the areas in your life where God is teaching you about humility.

July 3, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:1-3

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

I recently met a new believer who stayed for the praise portion of both of our services back to back. Her reasoning was quite simple: she said there was something tangible about God during the praise, and that seeing others worshipping together drew her into the room. For some this is still true, but for others the praise portion of the service can be sometimes a buffer time to find parking, as long as you’re in time for the message. But it’s true that worship can sometimes become mundane and even a little repetitive.

In fact, this was the situation that worship artist Matt Redman and his church found themselves in. So the pastor of the church did the unthinkable: he literally stripped all the sound equipment and instruments until only the voices remained. Can you imagine that? If you’re a little self-conscious about your voice, this sounds like a nightmare. But out of this bold move, Matt Redman wrote the famous song “Heart of Worship” that would recapture the purpose of worship for their church.

The reality is that our feelings may come and go, the style of worship may change, but worship will not. In fact, when we worship we are partaking in an eternal act, and what we do here on earth is merely a glimpse of what is to come. It is one of the few things we know we will continue to do for eternity. Our passage describes of a worship so unfamiliar to our earthly ways –and yet so glorious! We will all join in and sing a new song—a song of our redemption and final return to Jesus; a song that is no longer about how much we need Him or about our sufferings, but a complete redirection of our attitudes and hearts solely focused on the Lamb.

Metaphorical or not, I personally do hope that the praise in heaven will be like the “roar of many waters” and the “sound of thunders” where we all praise His magnificent name. Oh, how glorious that will be! May we never lose the wonder and awe in our worship. May we never simply become consumers of worship, but always find ourselves as active participants responding to His majesty and glory. Consider it a good practice for what’s to come!

Prayer: Lord may we never lose our wonder and awe in worship. May we begin this day with an understanding of Your glory and respond in worship. May our worship services be immersed in Your splendor and majesty. Bring us back to the heart of worship. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 6

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

How would you define worship?
What is Paul saying about worship in this passage?
What would this mean for your life?

Notes

Personal response
Worship is not simply a one-time event we do on a given Sunday. In this passage, Paul uses a different word for worship—latreuo (used over 90 times in the Bible, usually meaning “to serve”) compared to its more common counterpart proskuneo—meaning “to bow down” in the sense of reverence and respect. Paul is reminding the Romans that worship is not just an outward one-time experience or limited to a localized event, but as John Piper says, “an inward, spiritual experience that has no bounds and pervades all of life” in which we become a living sacrifice.
Our entire lives and all that we do must be worship unto Him both outwardly and inwardly. As Paul says, it requires a complete renewal of our intellect in response to the grace that God shows us. Because of this, worship does not stop when the team stops playing on Sundays, but it is both our Sunday worship and the rest of our days.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thinking about the concept of worship. What comes to mind? Instead of praying your to- do list and your requests, spend some time simply adoring and giving Him praise. Then, reflect on areas in your life that can be offered as worship unto Him. May your worship always be a response out of His infinite glory and love.

July 2, Sunday

The AMI QT devotionals from June 26-July 2 are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, recently completed her M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Battle is Fierce, But The Victory Is Sure!

Revelation 13:11-18

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

A saying I heard often in my church culture growing up was, “Sometimes you just have to go through!”—meaning, there are times when you have to walk through a tough situation because there is no way around it. You have to go to through the wilderness to get to the Promised Land. It isn’t fun, but it’s a necessary part of the journey. But whenever this saying was offered, there was always an understanding behind it that God is still in control and is working things for good and for His ultimate end.

In today’s passage, we see a scary scene. John gives us a look into the Beast’s (Satan) efforts to thwart the work of the Lord and pursue his own ends (in opposition to the Kingdom of God). It isn’t fun, but it is part of what will come, even as God is working things out for His good purposes. One thing John is told (and that we are told by extension) is that wisdom will be required for God’s people to discern what’s going on in the midst of the Enemy’s schemes (v. 18). That’s an important reminder for us today!

There have been many times throughout the history of God’s work in this world where God’s people had to walk through a dark and confusing time in order to get to the good ends God had in store. All looks lost in the middle, but the end always brings a joy and glory far beyond what could have been imagined. The most notable of these moments, of course, is the cross. Friday night seemed like all was lost (the Enemy himself was even rejoicing), but we know the end of the story. It was just something we had to go through in the war to walk into the victory.

S.M. Lockridge’s Easter sermon is famous for his portrayal of this truth as he recounts the darkness of Friday (the crucifixion) with the hope of Sunday (the resurrection) in view. May this brief excerpt remind us that even when the Enemy is raging war, we know that our victory is sure!

It’s Friday –

He’s hanging on the cross feeling forsaken by his Father.

Left alone and dying.

Can nobody save him?

Ohhhh!

It’s Friday but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday –

Hope is lost.

Death has won.

Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a laughing’

It’s Friday –

Jesus is buried.

A soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled in its place.

But it’s Friday. It is only Friday.

[AND WE KNOW] Sunday is a comin’!

Prayer: Almighty God, no matter how fierce the battle, help me to remember my victory in You. Help me to stand firm in every battle that comes my way today. Give me wisdom to discern beyond my own understanding. To the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 5

July 1, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Heavenly Help in the War

Revelation 12:7-12

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

One of the many sermon podcasts to which I listen weekly is from a pastor in Chicago. Recently he talked about the reality of angelic protection over the people of God. He told stories from his youth that led him to believe firmly in angels and their active protection in his life. One story was of a time he was being bullied at school when, seemingly out of nowhere, the bully appeared terrified and began backing up, as though he were seeing something Charlie (the pastor) couldn’t see, then ran away. I guess only Charlie and God really know what happened in that movement (and also the bully, I suppose), but he is fully persuaded that there was a heavenly being (an angel) protecting and defending him that scared off his attacker.

When I was in high school, my father was pretty sick and in the hospital for a while, and my family was really scared. He had to have a pretty risky surgery, and we weren’t sure how things were going to turn out. There was a stranger who came to see us in the hospital one day and spoke the kindest and most encouraging words to our family. He reminded us that God was with us and assured us that things would be OK. He said some other things to my parents that I didn’t hear and then left. We were so uplifted and strengthened in heart, but we were also so caught off guard that we didn’t even ask him his name. So my mom sent me running out right behind him to ask, but he was gone—I mean, this man was literally nowhere to be found. No one at the nurse’s station had seen anyone come or go for quite some time. No one knew of any guests fitting the description I gave. To this day I wonder if he was a messenger from the Lord.

Our passage today reminds us that there is a heavenly host fighting a spiritual war on our behalf. God has deployed His angels to fight and win the victory over our Accuser and Deceiver, Satan. And their victory is sure! I don’t know too much about angels and how they operate in the world today, but what I do know is that God has an army of heavenly beings on His side, and somehow together they are working all things for our good and God’s glory. Not only this, but the whole earth rejoices at their victory and our salvation from sin and freedom from the reign of the Enemy. It’s an incredible scene. Let us take courage! The Lord and His angels and even all of creation are on our side.

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to remember just how much help You’ve given me today. Not only the greatest Helper (Your Holy Spirit) and the community of believers (the Church), but also the Heavenly Hosts are for me because You, Father, are for me. Thank You for that truth. May it strengthen my heart today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 3-4

June 30, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Fight the Good Fight

Revelation 12:1-6

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

In today’s passage, God fleshes out for John the activity of Satan against the Kingdom of God. There is a ton of symbolism in these verses and there are differing opinions about how to interpret some of the signs—particularly the woman mentioned in verse 1. The dragon represents Satan and if we take, as many do, the woman to represent Israel/the people of God (giving birth to the Messiah in verse 5), we get a glimpse of Satan’s very active efforts to destroy Christ Jesus during His earthly ministry—efforts that were obviously unsuccessful. (Not even the grave could hold Jesus down! Hallelujah!) But when unable to destroy Jesus Himself, Satan turns to the next best thing, God’s people, and seeks to destroy them.

No matter how you slice it, the Bible teaches us that spiritual warfare is a very real thing and a regular part of the life of the believer. Reading Revelation reminds us that we are caught up in God’s great plan to save the world and eradicate evil from all of creation. It’s exciting and comforting as we read of God’s triumph over evil. But it behooves us to remember that this is all being accomplished through a war that’s going on in the spiritual realm—a war that we can’t always see or perceive but very much affects the lives of Christ-followers. As the old song goes, “We are soldiers in the army of the Lord!”

So what do we do? We choose to be alert (aware of the war and listening for any marching orders from our Holy Commander), take up our armor (in the Word of God and prayer), and fight (whatever the situation, by the power of the Holy Spirit). And we do so with the confidence of knowing that we have the Almighty on our side, who protects us and empowers us, and that we are fighting battles in a war that has already been won. The victory is ours! We just have to seize it!

Prayer: Almighty God, I acknowledge today that there is a war going on, and I thank You that it is one where You’ve already made way for victory for all those who trust in You. Help me to be aware of any way You’re leading me to fight and equip me with the necessary tools for battle. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and havingput on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Questions to Consider:

According to the passage, what is the purpose of taking up the “full armor of God”?
You’ll notice in v. 11 that Paul said taking up the armor allows us to “stand firm.” What does this word choice tell us about who is really fighting our battles? What, then, is our role in fighting?
What are the tools God has given us for battle? List each one and think about what it means. Which ones, if any, might you need to focus on in your life at this time?
What instructions does Paul give us in v. 18 to aid us in spiritual battle? Why does he tell us to do this?

Notes:

So that we may be able to stand firmly against the schemes of the devil. Oftentimes our spiritual battles are won or lost long before they actually occur because our success is contingent upon our preparation. If we choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and take up our armor, we will be prepared when the battles come.
We are not fighting our own battles; God is fighting for and through us. But we do have to do our part by showing up and staying put. Regardless of where God leads us and no matter what circumstance we face, we have to stay put (in our obedience to God and continue our posture of surrender before Him) to experience the kind of victory Paul guarantees is available to us in Christ.
Our armor is as follows: the truth (girding our loins), righteousness (as a breastplate), the gospel of peace (and preparation for our feet), faith (as a shield to extinguish the arrows of the evil one), salvation (as a helmet), and the word of God (as the sword of the Spirit). Spend time reflecting on the areas in which you may need to fortify your armor.
Pray! Paul calls us to pray because in doing so, we will be alert and aware of what’s going on in the spiritual battle and able to persevere and petition on behalf of our fellow soldiers. We don’t only need prayer for ourselves but we also need to support one another in prayer.

Evening Reflection

Romans 8:37-39: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Spend sometime praying through this passage allowing its truth to encourage your heart as you continue to fight the good fight.

June 29, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Glory That Is To Come

Revelation 11:15-19

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Now is the perfect time to pause and really think about the glory to come when the Kingdom of God is here in its fullness. If you’ve been tracking with us through Revelation, by the time you’ve finished chapter 11, you may have let out a huge exhale after reading about the strife and painful anticipation in the chapters leading up to it. Furthermore, if you’ve been doing the Christian life long enough, you have likely experienced your own longing for what’s described in the verses above. The two words in these verses that strike me most are “has become” in verse 15. This idea that all of the things in this world, all our pain and suffering, all our faithfulness and obedience, all our ups and downs, all of it, every single part, are becoming something – something beautiful and abundant for those who fear God – really leaves me speechless.

An excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce: “‘That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. …‘Ah, the Saved… what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery turns out, when they look back, to have been a well; and where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.’”

If you have read quickly through the passage for today, take a moment to slow it down and read them again. No matter what we are presently going through—the good and the bad—we should overflow with praise when we take time to think and begin to picture the incredible work God is doing and the unimaginably delightful end toward which we are headed as His people. May we take time today to really meditate on the promises of God and the truths we know about His coming Kingdom and allow our hearts to be filled with worship and hope.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are truly awesome and worthy to be praised. As Paul articulated so well in 1 Corinthians 2:9, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what You have prepared for those who love You. Give me a more vivid picture of Your coming Kingdom today and allow that picture to fill my heart with hope and worship. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 65:17-25: For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness. 19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. 20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed. 21 “They will build houses and inhabit them; they will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 “They will not build and another inhabit, they will not plant and another eat; for as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. 23 “They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity; for they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them. 24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Questions to Consider:

In the biblical text, the word “for” often points to purpose, reason (explanation), or result. According to vv. 18-19, what is God creating His people for (i.e. for what purpose, to what end, for what reason)?
What are some of the things God promises in this new creation He is making? What does this tell us about the kind of God we serve and the kind of existence He wants for His people?
Read through this passage once more. What strikes you most from the text and why? In what specific ways are you encouraged or challenged as you think upon these verses?

Notes:

God is creating His people for rejoicing and gladness! And He himself wants to participate in it! While so many of us walk around with a negative or overly stoic view of God, here we get to see His merriment and His delight. God creates His people for joy—that’s their chief end and where He is taking them.
While the theology around this passage gets a little complicated (esp. when trying to pinpoint the exact fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophetic words), it does paint a picture for us of just how good a Father and Creator God is and what kind of existence He wants for those He calls His own. Some things to note about the new creation: death will lose its power, the people will enjoy and delight in the work of their hands/their blessings from God (e.g. their homes, the crops, etc.), their offspring will be a godsend and be righteous instead of being full of calamity, God will hear and respond to their needs before they even call, and there will be peace where not previously possible (e.g. between the wolf and the lamb).
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce has been for me the greatest human fumbling at describing the reality of Heaven and Eternity. Let’s read a little more of the brief excerpt from this text that we read this morning:

“‘That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say “Let me have but this and I’ll take the consequences’: little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man’s past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man’s past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why, at the end of all things, when the sun rises here and the twilight turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say ‘We have never lived anywhere except Heaven,’ and the Lost, ‘We were always in Hell.’ And both will speak truly.’ …‘Ah, the Saved… what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery turns out, when they look back, to have been a well; and where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.’”

While remembering the end encourages the faithful, it should also serve as a warning for the unfaithful. And truth be told, there is a little faithfulness and unfaithfulness in all of us. What are the areas in your life where you declare in your own way, “Let me have but this and I’ll take the consequences?” Spend some time in repentance before God offering those areas to Him, remembering that you are ultimately trading trash for treasure.

June 28, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

It’s Not Over Until God Says It’s Over

Revelation 11:7-14
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

I’ve spent much of my time studying Revelation in preparation for these quiet times in worship and adoration of God. His power and majesty are just so evident in John’s visions (even as I struggle to fully interpret the particulars of the events). Today’s passage is no different. God’s prophets, with all the power and authority that we talked about yesterday, complete the mission God has given them. But then something unexpected (to me at least) happens—they die. God allows their lives to be taken and the wicked to rejoice over them. It’s a terrible scene. But, as is always the case with God, death isn’t the end of the story. God breathes life back into them—just to show off, it seems, since their work is already done—and brings them up to heaven with Him while the world watches.

The older I get and the longer I walk with God (and get to know those who’ve walked with Him a long time), the more I encounter seasons of unexpected disappointments. In devotion to God, we find ourselves thirsty in the wilderness. In obedience to Him, we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a storm on the sea where death seems imminent and all seems lost. In those times I am reminded of the saints who have gone before and the end of their stories. No matter how dark the clouds and even when death itself comes knocking at our door, we know who has the last word. We will not be taken out of the game before our job is done, and we won’t stay down forever because when the time is right, God’s people will absolutely get up and rise to abundant life with Him.

I am reminded of an oft-quoted dialogue at the end of The Lord of the Rings, where Sam asks Gandalf if everything sad is going to come untrue. We can take heart, no matter what twists and turns our journey brings, because we know Who sits on the throne, the good work He is accomplishing, and the end of the story He’s writing—an end where all the sad things do indeed come untrue.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and Your power at work in me. Thank You for calling me Your child and friend and making me Your ambassador in the world. May I not squander the authority and power You’ve given me to accomplish Your purposes (even in small ways) as I go throughout my day today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-28: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Questions to Consider:

What do Jesus’ words in verse 24 remind us about the nature of discipleship (or following Jesus)?
What promise are we given in these verses if we choose the tough road of discipleship? How does this encourage you in your walk with God today (in light of the specific things you’re facing)?
What are some ways God is calling you deeper into genuine discipleship? What, if anything, is holding you back from the kind of pursuit of Jesus that we read about in the verses above?

Notes:

Discipleship is costly. We offer our whole lives (Romans 12:1-2) to the Lord and that offering is often painful and difficult (because of the nature of our fallen hearts and this fallen world). Discipleship in this verse has four components: we come after Jesus (surrender), deny ourselves (saying no to what we want), take up our cross (willingly participate in the work God has for us to do—even the costly kind), and follow Him (take our direction and cues for Christ through His word and Spirit). There is nothing easy about it!
We are promised that if we choose to lose our lives (literally and figuratively) for the sake of Christ (or in pursuit of Him), we will be granted life—a true and abundant life. And we know from other passages that we taste that life even now, while we’re still on this side of heaven (Mark 10:29-30). Spend time considering what specific ways that promise encourages you today.
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: No Reserves. Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: No Retreats. Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. A waste, you say! Not in God’s plan. In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words No Regrets. (Dec 31, 1988 Daily Bread)

I first read this story as I prepared for a short-term missions trip and have returned to it often as a reminder that there is nothing wasted in God’s economy. Are you living with no reserves, retreats, and regrets? If no, why not? What are the areas in your life that you are keeping reserves? When are the moments when you tend to retreat? Spend some time offering those areas to God so that when it’s all said and done you too can say you have no regrets!