May 15, Wednesday

Written by the same anonymous writer as yesterday.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“There Really Is None Like ‘You’”

Psalms 148

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! 2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! 3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! 4 Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! 5 Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. 6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all” deeps, 8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! 10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. 14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!

What is the purpose of all things, the universe and all that is in it? Many say that the universe has no purpose, that it came about by the brute, chance forces of nature and will one day be completely destroyed as it runs out of energy; there was, is, and never will be any ultimate purpose for the universe and the people within. Atheist philosophy professor Quentin Smith sums up this outlook well when he says that the universe came from nothing, by nothing, and for nothing.

The Scriptures, however, reveal the true explanation for why all things exist. Psalm 148 helps illustrate that the purpose for all of reality is to glorify God. All the millions of species of vertebrates and invertebrates, all the billions of galaxies containing billions of stars each, the innumerable angelic host—all these are to declare the glory of God. But why does God deserve all this glory?

Some might think it a bit strange that everything exists to glorify just one person. But the reason why we may feel this way is that the only persons we know are humans, and no human being comes close to meriting this sort of glory. But God is no mere man (Num. 23:19)—he is what the 12th century theologian Saint Anselm called the “greatest conceivable being.” There is nothing that can be thought of that is greater than God; Jeremiah 10:6 says, “There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might” God alone is worthy of worship.

Prayer: Lord, “there is none like You. No one else can touch my heart like You do. I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like You. There is none like You. No one else can touch my heart like You do. I could search for all eternity long and find there is none like You” (MWS). Therefore, I thank You from the very bottom of my heart.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 3.

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 11:36; Is. 43:7: “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen”; “. . . everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Jn. 17:25-26: “O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Questions to Consider

In the verse from Romans, the pronoun “him” refers to Jesus. How does Christ’s glory give glory to the triune Godhead and how does this relate to mankind?
What is the purpose for human life?
What is your purpose in life?

Notes

Jesus was sent by the Father to become the human manifestation of the Trinity (John 3:16). Therefore, Jesus is the primary representative to receive the glory due to the Godhead. Both the Father (John 9:54) and the Spirit (John 16:14), glorify Jesus. What is Christ’s glory? It is his death and resurrection to give salvation by revealing the truth of eternal life. God’s glory is made ultimate when his greatest creation, mankind, is in a love relationship with him. That is why God chose to make us and save us—to glorify himself through an eternally fulfilling relationship with humans: “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3).
The purpose of human life then, is to enter this relationship with God to enjoy eternal life with him forever. That is our ultimate end. For now, our duty on this earth, is to glorify him in all we do (1 Corinth. 6:20), by living holy lives and spreading God’s love upon this earth, which include aiding the poor, encouraging others, fighting for true justice, working hard at our jobs, and ultimately, sharing the truth of God’s salvation.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

How purposefully did you live today? Did you do or say anything that would have reminded someone of eternity? Were you too busy? Jot down some ways you can improve in 2019.

May 14, Tuesday

Today’s devotional is provided by a writer who wants to remain hidden.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“His Excellent Greatness”

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150 gives two reasons why we praise God; we praise him because of “his mighty deeds” and “his excellent greatness.”

Let’s consider the first reason. In the Bible, a pattern of worship is often seen—when God performs some wondrous, glorious act of deliverance for his people, the only proper response seems to be fervent worship. For example, when God parts the Red Sea so the Israelites could cross and escape from Pharaoh’s army, Moses breaks out into an exuberant song of worship: “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). Another example of this pattern can be found in the birth story of Christ. When shepherds see the infant Jesus, knowing that they are witnessing the coming of the Savior, they leave the stable “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them” (Luke 2:19). For Christians today, the ultimate act of God’s deliverance is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save us from wickedness, suffering, and sin. This is why we praise God—because of his mighty deed of remembering us and rescuing us from all that is painful and evil in exchange for eternal life.

The second reason Psalm 150 gives for praising God is “his excellent greatness.” We have already seen that God is a completely perfect being worthy of reverent adoration and praise. In fact, it seems difficult to imagine anyone other than God receiving worship. For example, think about some people greatly esteemed in our global community. People like Nelson Mandela and Malala Yousafzai are surely heroes we might respect, but would they be worthy of worship? Such a response would strike us as bizarre, even crazy—I can certainly admire Mandela and Malala for certain acts of altruism and bravery in their lives, but I surely wouldn’t fall down and worship them and assemble praise services to venerate them for years to come! But that sort of response is exactly what God deserves: “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and praise!” (Revelation 4:11). God, and God alone, is worthy of worship.

Prayer: Father in heaven, You are indeed worthy of all glory, honor and praise from us. What words can adequately capture our personal and infinite God who didn’t spare His only Son on our behalf! That is why sometimes we mutter “groans that words cannot express” (Rom. 8:26). Lord, thank You! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the LORD, is my strength.”

Psalm 77: 1, 4, 11, 19-20: “I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

Questions to Consider

What is astounding about the faith of Habakkuk as he anticipates the coming of the Babylonians who will destroy everything in sight as part of God’s judgment against Israel?
In light of how we usually respond to trials in life, what distinguishes the faith of this “tormented” Psalmist?

Notes

It’s easy to praise God when one thinks about his wondrous creation, perfect character, and mighty deeds as told in the Bible. But it can be so hard to praise God when one reflects on the suffering in one’s life and the seemingly hopeless reality of pain that fills the earth. The first passage concerns this very issue: the prophet Habakkuk was living during a time where he saw so much suffering that God could stop but chose not to: “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” (Habakkuk 1:13). But Habakkuk eventually chooses to trust that God knows what he is doing, that God has sufficient reasons for permitting what happens in the world. Such faith and worship in the face of suffering is unbelievably difficult, but it is the path God’s people must take.
The second passage concerns a time when the writer was undergoing a deeply difficult trial. But his heart is strengthened upon remembering how God took a hopeless situation of seeming defeat at the Red Sea into a great deliverance of freedom. Such is our hope for today. In this life, we will experience all sorts of pain and despair: we will fail, be confused, have heartbreak, suffer depression, lose loved ones, feel utterly crushed; this is what it’s like living in a fallen world. It’s supposed to be hard. But we remember that Jesus Christ has delivered us from all this! We remember that there are better days ahead, a future with the God we worship. What will ultimately deliver us from sin and suffering? Sophisticated behavioral therapy? Better science and technology? More friends? Romance? More sex and drugs? “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).

Evening Reflection

For the rest of 2019, what do you look forward to? What do you dread?

Along with the times of joy and happiness we eagerly anticipate, there are also going to be times of great sadness and terrible pain. But God is with us! We worship a God who has already ensured that we will have an eternally good future with him forever. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me . . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23: 4, 6). With Jesus by our side, we continue on our earthly journey to the gates of the city of God. Praise the Lord!

May 13, Monday

Today’s blog is a reprint of Pastor David Kwon’s AMI QT Devotional posted on December 17, 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

Proverbs 25:28

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

My children love all kinds of dessert – ice cream, cookies, cakes, etc. A few months ago, my wife made a batch of cookies, so I told my kids that they were not allowed to have any until after dinner. But right before dinner, I saw that several cookies were missing, along with a mess of crumbs all over the table. I realized that the gratification of cookies was too much to handle and as a result my kids gave into temptation.

Solomon, the writer of this proverb, compares a person without self-control to a breached wall. The city walls protect the people from all sorts of attacks from surrounding enemies. So the picture the writer gives is that of a city whose walls have been so nearly destroyed as to be without defense against the enemy; likewise, the man who has no restraint over his spirit is also defenseless and exposed to temptations, which eventually leads to sin. He has no defense against anger, lust, and the other unrestrained emotions that are harmful for the soul, as well as to others. Solomon reminds us that we should see self-control as a wall for defense and protection from the appetites of our flesh.

What area in your life do you need to ask for greater self-control? It could be lust, anger, shopping, your speech or something else. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can change us and give us the self-control we need to live a godly lifestyle. Spend some time this morning asking the Lord to search your heart and surrender the areas you need more self-control in.

Prayer: Lord, only You can change my heart that lacks self-control at times in various areas of my life. Through the power of the Spirit, change me and fill me with more of You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Samuel 1

Lunch Study Break

Read 2 Timothy 1:6-8: “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God . . .”

Questions to Consider

What is Paul telling Timothy concerning the Holy Spirit?
Why do you think Paul is reminding him of this truth?
How is this applicable in our daily lives?

Notes

The effective Christian worker must have the power of the Holy Spirit, but that power must be expressed in a loving spirit. The Spirit also gives us self-discipline to flee from temptations and to live a God-centered lifestyle.
We tend to forget the power that is available to us in our everyday lives. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to change as we abide in Christ (John 15) and is not an act of self-will.
We need to be filled with more of Jesus so that we can experience His power and love, and to better minister to others.

Evening Reflection

What are some areas you need to surrender to the Lord so that you would be “protected” by self-control? We need to allow the Spirit to continue to work in our lives so that we would experience his transforming power and grace. Spend some time in prayer.

May 12, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The God of Holiness”

Exodus 26:31-35

“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. 32 And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. 33 And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. 35 And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table, and you shall put the table on the north side.

The word “holy” is one of those words that most Americans find offensive and unattractive. When we label someone as holy, we often associated with words like “self-righteous, weirdly religious, or judgmental”. But when we look at Scripture, holiness is something we cannot avoid especially when we look at the character of God. So what is holiness? John Piper defines it like this:

“When we say that God is holy we mean that, along with the immeasurableness of his greatness, his character is unimpeachable. He cannot be charged with any wrong. He has an infinite love for what is infinitely valuable and an infinite hate for what opposes the infinitely valuable. His delight in praiseworthy things is unbounded, and his abhorrence of what is blameworthy is perfect.”

Today, as we look at the Tabernacle in detail, we are introduced to the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was to be placed. One main thing God wanted His people to see was that the tabernacle was a piece of Heaven on earth. Heaven is where God is; so when God came to live with His people, He brought Heaven down with Him. The tabernacle was the one place in the entire world where people could enter God’s presence; however, there was no way for them to get into the Holy Place! Only priests were allowed to enter because of the holiness of God. This was designed to show the supreme holiness of God – that there is none other and that He is set apart. And because of God’s holiness, He has to punish sin, which is why the Israelites had to be separated from Him in order to spare them of additional punishments they so deserved. In this sense, separation was an act of God’s mercy!

What does this mean for us? First, it means that we should “fear the Lord” (Deut. 6:2). A healthy fear of the Lord means that we are in awe of Him and that we desire to live our lives to please Him. Our God is a loving God, but He is also holy, and certainly not like us. It means having a high view of God, which results in not sinning against Him.

Second, it means we should be “holy has He is holy” (Leviticus 11:44). Our desire is to be like Him in character, purity, and righteousness. We are not called to blend into world but live set apart. Our lives should look distinct and counter-cultural from our co-workers, neighbors and non-believing family members. It does not mean we isolate ourselves from the world, but, as we engage with the world, we should look different in light of God’s holiness.

Prayer: Lord, we thank You that through the Cross, we can now have access to our Heavenly Father. Help us to live holy lives that honor You and make a difference in our world. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Corinthians 13

May 11, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Holy Spirit”

Exodus 26:1-6

“Moreover, you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 2 The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be the same size. 3 Five curtains shall be coupled to one another, and the other five curtains shall be coupled to one another. 4 And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set. Likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set. 5 Fifty loops you shall make on the one curtain, and fifty loops you shall make on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another. 6 And you shall make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to the other with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be a single whole.

For the past few days, we have been reading about the tabernacle and the furnishings that the Israelites were commanded to build. This chapter contains detailed instructions for setting up God’s tent – the tabernacle in the wilderness. Tabernacle in the Bible means, “dwelling place”. It was supposed to serve as God’s own dwelling place so that He could be with the children of Israel.

Today, we no longer have to go to a tent to be in the presence of God, we can invite Him to come and meet us wherever we may be because of the Holy Spirit. Oftentimes we forget that the presence of God can be with us outside of the church doors. His presence, that same presence that dwelled in the Tabernacle, can be with us today in our churches, on our jobs, in our hospital rooms, in our homes etc. What does the Holy Spirit do in our lives?

He Comforts Us – In John 16 when Jesus tells his disciples he was going away to the Cross, he reminds them that the Spirit will be their comforter. He still brings peace and comfort in our darkness moments.
He Illuminates our minds to understand the Scriptures (Lk 24; 1 Cor. 2) –  As one author puts it, “God’s mind is revealed in the Holy Scriptures but we can see nothing without the spectacles of the Holy Spirit” (Thomas Manton)  
He Empowers us for ministry – The Spirit gifts us and empowers us to do ministry (1 Cor. 12:11); and this is done primarily through our witness.

Are you relying on the Spirit in these areas of your life? Let’s depend on Him today.

Prayer: Lord, give me greater dependence on the Holy Spirit in my everyday life. May the Spirit’s working continually be evident in my work, home and witness in the world. Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 11-12

May 10, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Jesus Our Light”

Exodus 25:31-40

“You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand shall be made of hammered work: its base, its stem, its cups, its calyxes, and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. 32 And there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; 33 three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almond blossoms, each with calyx and flower, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. 34 And on the lampstand itself there shall be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their calyxes and flowers, 35 and a calyx of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out from the lampstand. 36 Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it a single piece of hammered work of pure gold. 37 You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. 38 Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold. 39 It shall be made, with all these utensils, out of a talent of pure gold. 40 And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.

When we read of the furnishings in the tabernacle of God, we may look at it as monotonous details that really do not pertain to us today. What does an ark, bread, and a lampstand have anything to do with our daily walk with Christ today? On the surface it may not mean much, but if we look back and see the bigger picture, we see what kind of God we worship.

The lampstand was among the most ornate pieces created for use in the tabernacle. Those familiar with modern Judaism would know that the lampstand looked basically like a seven-branched menorah, resembling a tree with the cups at the end of each branch designed to mimic the appearance of almond blossoms with sculpted calyxes (outermost parts of a flower) and flowers (25:31–36). Many scholars believe that God commanded the floral design in order to remind the Israelites of the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. This is certainly an appropriate conclusion as true life is found only in the Lord’s presence (Ps. 16:11), and this presence was made manifest in the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34–35). Almonds were also a symbol of hope and fruitfulness in the ancient Mediterranean world. So when the priests saw the lampstand these ideas were brought to their minds.

But what symbolic significance did the lampstand have for the people of God?

Jesus is true life, which He offers to all. Whenever light is used in Scripture, it points to the idea of hope, life and joy. In Christ, we no longer live in darkness but we now see with spiritual eyes, and now we can love and serve Him.
We are called to shine for Christ in the world. The world should see the life Christ brings to believers, and they should want to experience this life for themselves.

This should be our desire, that our light would never flicker or grow dim, but to keep shining brightly for Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are the light of the world and You brought life into this world so we could live. May we as Your people continue to shine brightly into this dark and decaying world. Amen!

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Peter 3:8-10: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Questions to Consider

What do we learn about the timing of God? What does this mean for you?
What is our hope according to Peter?
What do you feel you are called to do in light of these verses?

Notes

God’s timing is not our timing and He is sovereign over time—we need to be reminded of that truth daily.
Our hope is that the Lord fulfills His promises. He is faithful to His Word, and we are commanded to trust Him.
The Lord is patient because He does not want anyone to perish. It means we are called to be witnesses for Him and to share the Good News to all who hear.

Evening Reflection

Take some time and think about people in your life who do not know Christ. Spend some time praying for their salvation, and that the Lord would also give you boldness to share the Good News to them.

May 9, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The God of Provision”

Exodus 25:23-30

“You shall make a table of acacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a molding of gold around it. 25 And you shall make a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim. 26 And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs.27 Close to the frame the rings shall lie, as holders for the poles to carry the table.28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these. 29 And you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. 30 And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly.”

When I look back on how we started our church, JCC, I am always reminded of God’s provision through the years. Whether it is a church van, sound equipment, financial and human resources, it is evident that God provided everything we needed at the right time. We still continue to pray and trust that he will provide for us as a church. Have you ever looked back at your life and see how God has provided for you?

Continuing our look at the building of the tabernacle, we will now look at what is commonly called “the table of the Presence”. This table, along with the lampstand, was to be set up outside the Holy of Holies in the Holy Place of the tabernacle where the light from the lamps could illumine the table. This title identifies the most important thing about the table – namely, what was on it. The table in the Holy Place held twelve loaves of sacred bread (1 Sam. 21:6) as well as various plates, dishes, pitchers and bowls. What did this all mean?

We are utterly dependent on God for everything we need. This is what the bread signified. Bread represented God’s provisional care.
God is the great provider. God had been with the nation of Israel from the very beginning and met all of their needs. Week after week, year after year, century after century the bread of Presence was a sign of God’s providence
God’s fellowship with this people. When the priest ate the bread, they were eating the presence of God, gathering around his table. One commentator said it like this, “In the ancient Near East sharing a special meal together was an act of friendship and personal communion. Thus, God invites Israel to share a meal with Him and enjoy him presence.”

Are you trusting God for provision? Let’s trust that He will provide for us, as we are dependent on Him.

Prayer: Lord, we want to recognize that You are the great Provider in our lives. Give us the strength to trust in You every moment of our lives. Amen!

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:25-34: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 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. 34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Questions to Consider

When it comes to the area of worry, what is the main issue Jesus is pointing to?
What is the solution to anxiety over our future?
How can we be comforted by this passage?

Notes

The reason we get anxious about our life and future is because we lack faith. We lack faith that God’s ways are best and that He will provide for us in His time.
The way that we overcome worry is by making His kingdom the highest priority (v. 33). We seek His kingdom and we trust that He will add things that we need.
We can be assured that God knows and cares for our every need. He desires us to trust in and to seek the things of His kingdom.

Evening Reflection

In what areas do you need greater trust in God? Be specific and lift those areas up to the Lord in prayer.

May 8, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The God of Mercy”

Exodus 25:17-22

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 18 And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat.19 Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. 20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. 21 And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. 22 There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.

In 2011, Sandra Walker, a mother of two, lost her husband in a car accident that also caused her to have a life-changing brain injury. At the trial for the accident, in her court statement Walker said she sympathized with the woman who crashed into them—who herself lost a child in the accident—and gave her a hug. “I know she is going through as much pain as I am feeling. I wanted her to know that I forgive her for what she did,” Walker told a local new station. Stories like Sandra’s shows a picture of mercy, which is the topic for today’s devotional.

Mercy is defined as

“compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power; compassion, pity, or benevolence” (Dictionary.com)

Mercy and grace are similar but not the same. Putting it simply, grace is getting favors what we don’t deserve while mercy is not getting the punishment what we do deserve.

As Ark of the Covenant was being constructed, the Law was placed inside the ark, and a lid called the mercy seat closed the box. God knew that Israel would break His law; nevertheless, He would be merciful by covering their law breaking—to guard those who truly loved Him from His wrath. Ultimately, this was achieved through the death of a substitute and the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat itself (Lev. 16). The ark’s cover was used in making atonement for sin as the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat—this showed that sin was forgiven and the people were covered by God’s mercy. What does this mean for us?

We have been shown incredible mercy through the blood of Christ. It is said that Jesus came to “make atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17). It means that we can live each day with gratitude and freedom knowing Christ took on the punishment we deserved.
It also means we can show mercy toward others. When people hurt or wrong us, we can have the strength to show forgiveness and mercy because it was first shown to us. Paul writes, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the mercy You show us when we do not deserve it! Help us to live each day remembering Christ’s mercy for us.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Corinthians 8

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

What should be our response to the mercies of God?
How does true transformation come in our lives?
How can these verses challenge you to surrender in view of God’s mercy?

Notes

It is offering our bodies as worship to the Lord. It means surrendering every part of our lives – physical bodies, possessions, careers, etc. to Him in light of the mercy He has shown us.
Transformation starts in the mind – specifically through the Word of God. The word changes the way we see life, God and others and that’s where we should start when it comes to making changes in our lives.
Take some time and mediate on what this means for you in every area of your life.

Evening Reflection

Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness. – Tim Keller

As we look at the topic of mercy, take some time to think about the following:

In what areas do you need to give to the Lord in response to his mercy on you?
Is there anyone you need to forgive as God has shown his unmerited mercy on you?

Take some time to pray and ask the Lord to reveal these truths to you.

May 7, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God with Us”

Exodus 25:10-16

“They shall make an ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside shall you overlay it, and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it. 12 You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. 13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.14 And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. 15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. 16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony that I shall give you.

Throughout history, mankind has constructed many remarkable structures and buildings. Just think about the Great Pyramids in Egypt, the palace at Machu Picchu, the Parthenon, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. But, probably the most important structure that was ever built in history was the Ark of the Covenant. The very center of God’s presence was the ark, which was placed in the Holy of Holies – the innermost tent in the tabernacle.

Like the other articles in the temple, it was made from acacia wood (v. 10), which was a highly durable wood. The ark was covered with pure gold and it had been treated to remove any impurities (v. 11). Obviously, anything less could not be a fitting piece of furniture for the King of kings. Basically, the ark was a box fitted with poles so that it could be lifted onto the shoulders and carried without being touched directly. These poles were never removed (vv. 12–15), probably so that the ark could be carried off at a moment’s notice. The ark went everywhere that Israel went, even into battle (Josh. 6), and the ark’s constant availability to be picked up and carried off symbolized God’s willingness to go with His people wherever they might go. I like how one author, Daniel Hyde, describes the Ark:

“Here is such a mind-blowing idea about the God of the Bible that we have to pause for a moment. The eternal God who is not constrained by the existence of time, the infinite God who is not bound by the constraints of space, the transcendent God who dwells above and beyond all time and space, and the immense God who fills all time and space condescended to the weakness of His people and became manifest for their benefit in one locale. This God is not bound by time, but He bound Himself to the time-bound experience of His people. This God is not bound by space, but He bound Himself to this box. He is above all creational constraints, but He bound Himself to them. He is everywhere, but He was there.”

One lesson we can apply today is that God’s presence is with us now and forever. In John 17:17-18, Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit is in us which ensures us that his presence is always there and He will never leave us. This means we can have comfort amid pain, joy amid sorrow and assurance that God is with us even when it does not seem like it. Have confidence and draw near to Him!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the story of the Ark of the Covenant because it reminds us that You are a God who is still dwelling in our midst. Thank You that we can come to You freely because of the blood of Jesus!

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 23:1-5: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Questions to Consider

As believers, what do you think it means to not be ‘in want’?
How should this truth free us from anxiety and worry? Why is this important to understand?
How can these verses challenge and comfort you today?

Notes

As a shepherd, He is the one who is our provider. He satisfies my needs. That is the place where God wants to bring us. He wants us to be independently dependent upon Him, to need Him alone.
It also means that he provides for our practical needs such as food, job, possessions, etc. We should never worry or be in want but rather continually trust in Him. Even in the darkest moments of our lives, God’s goodness and mercy follow us (v.6), which ought to give us confidence in our Great Shepherd.
Take some time and mediate on what this means for you in every area of your life.

Evening Reflection

James 4:8: Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Be encouraged that we can have intimacy with our Holy and Majestic God! Take some time in prayer and worship to draw near to him!

May 6, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from May 6-12 are provided by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church (Raleigh). David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.) is married to Helen (“Pie”) and they have three beautiful daughters (Cara, Phoebe, and Ruth).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Giving God Your Best’

Exodus 25:1-9

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. 3 And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, 5 tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, 6 oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, 7 onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 9 Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

When my first daughter was younger, I attempted to help her put together a dollhouse that we got from a yard sale. It seemed easy enough except that this dollhouse came with a list of complicated instructions and required tools, which I didn’t think we had. (We ended up having the tools.) The attention to detail in kids’ toys is nothing compared to the attention God paid to every detail in the tabernacle.

The tabernacle was a revolutionary idea — a place where God would live among His people. God’s instructions were so specific that they would make toy designers scratch their head. What was the reason for so much detail? The items God told the Israelites to use to make the tabernacle — gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, spices, and gems — were not ordinary building materials. These were high quality, top of the line, valuable items. God asked Israel to give Him their best, and He promised to do the same in return (Exodus 25:8-9).

So, what can we learn from God’s instruction to His people about giving? Here are a few lessons:

Giving to God is an important sign of our commitment to Christ. Our willingness to give to the Lord is one of the main indicators of our spiritual health. Generosity is one of the vital signs of a healthy believer and if we are not consistently giving, it probably means we are not growing.
Giving should be done out of gratitude from the heart. When we are touched by God’s grace, we feel compelled to give. There is something about giving to God that makes the heart sing because we know it is worship to Him and it is one of the best ways we can use our finances.
We should bring God the best we have to offer. This is what it means to give from the heart – when we put in our best effort. Many of the items that were used for the tabernacle were costly and that should be the same for us. We ought to give in a way where it is costly but also seeing it as an opportunity to participle in God’s work and mission.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be a generous person especially when it comes to the area of money. May I be a person who views my possessions with an eternal perspective. Amen!

Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:10-13: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Questions to Consider

How was Paul able to find contentment despite writing this letter from a Roman jail cell?
How does Paul connect his contentment with his circumstances?
What is the Lord’s promise according to v. 13?

Notes

He was able to find contentment because Christ was his life and that was all he needed. Paul was able to learn the secret of contentment through his relationship with Christ Jesus.
His contentment was not based on his circumstances. At times he had plenty and other times he was in need; on either situation he knew how to stay content despite what life may have thrown at him.
The Lord gives us strength to find our contentment in Him. We have the power to overcome any circumstance we face.

Evening Reflection

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

“No person was ever honored for what he received. He was honored for what he gave.” – Calvin Coolidge

Today, we were reminded how important it is to give our best to God through our finances. It means living a life of contentment and generosity. Think specifically of some ways you can be more generous. Here are some questions to think about:

How do you want to grow in generosity? (Be specific)
Who will keep you accountable?