March 30, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Daily Habit”

Exodus 16:13-26

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. 22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” 24 So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”

The greatest revival of my life began on May 13, 1996. It happened to be the day after I had graduated from Penn. A thought hit me as I was about to dive into youth ministry for the first time: “What if I don’t know the Bible well enough?” So, for the next two weeks, I holed up in my apartment, and aside from eating meals and going for a daily jog, I spent 6-8 hours reading the Bible. Mass reading. Initially tedious, but eventually life-changing. I honestly don’t remember much as hour after hour flew by but I was in love with God’s Word—it was so good! Less than 2 weeks later, I finished Revelation and was never the same. In fact, for the next 3 years, before the Lord called me into full-time ministry, I would continue to read 10 chapters of the Bible daily, reading the entire Bible 10 times those three years. I would have my morning devotional, then read my 10 chapters on the train ride to work.

Experts say it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. That means if you were to start today, you would build a habit by Good Friday! 🙂 You may be thinking, “Just 21 days of waking up early to read my Bible and then it will be easy!” Well, it isn’t that simple.

For the Israelites, manna was a supernatural provision, but it had to be gathered daily: They had to go out in the morning and gather it up. This suggests to us that, if we are to benefit from the Bible, it must require work on our part. We have to gather it up, study it, wrestle with it, and sift through our prejudices to understand what Scripture really says.

The manna that the Israelites gathered up one day would not last until the next day. The Bible should be studied in the same way. It is like eating meals. We won’t die if we miss one meal, or if we fast for one day, but we will eventually die once we stop eating for good. We were meant to eat daily both physically and spiritually. So, as the Israelites had to eat the manna daily for it to do any good, we also need to “eat” God’s Word (Heb. 5:12-14) in the same manner that ruminant animals “chew the cud” (Lev. 11:4)—carefully and meticulously. And this manna will be available until we enter our Promised Land (heaven!).

So how is your hunger for the Word of God this morning? It is a blessing when we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to seek God’s Word and His will for our lives. Thankfully, we have easy access to the Bible. When we cultivate a daily hunger for the Word, He will satisfy the deepest longings of our souls. Are you reading and listening to what God has to say to you?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, only Your Word can feed the deepest hunger of our souls. It is such a blessing today to have easy access to the Bible! Give me a hunger for Your Word and the humility and wisdom to listen to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 23-24

March 29, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Do You Believe in Miracles?”

Exodus 16:1-5, 11-16 (ESV)

They set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5 On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily . . .”

11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14 And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’”

The Soviet Union entered the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York as the heavy favorite to win the gold medal in men’s ice hockey. As previous winners of four consecutive gold medals and filled with a legendary, star-studded group of professional players, the Soviet Union team was considered a virtual lock for another Olympic championship.

Contrastingly, the US team was made up of amateur players with an average age of 21 years old, making it the youngest team in US history to play in the Olympics. It was a bunch of no name college players going against the world’s finest hockey machine. Imagine the US Olympic basketball Dream Team of 1992 (consisting of Jordan, Magic and Bird to name a few) losing to Angola? Not going to happen. But, the “Miracle on Ice” indeed happened when the US beat the Soviet Union 4-3. Every American on the planet probably tuned into the last minutes of the game, and to this day, this match is widely held as the best international hockey story ever.

Well, what about you? Do you believe in miracles? Verse one states that it had been exactly one month since the Israelites had come out of Egypt. The time reference is not accidental: Only a month before they had been miraculously delivered, but now they forgot all about it. Although they had been given a stunning victory over the mighty Egyptians, merely a month later they were complaining because there were hungry. So God promises them manna, which literally means “what is it?” And He would provide manna for the next 40 years. Manna was not a product of some biological organism. It was not man-made; it was certainly not something that the Israelites brought with them out of Egypt. Instead, God provided the manna straight from heaven—a great miracle indeed.

Ancient Israel had no word for “miracle” or “nature.” They expected natural phenomena to tell them something about God. The Hebrew words in the OT, which are sometimes translated to mean miracle, literally mean “sign”—an event that points to some future meaning, or an event that draws attention to something else, usually God. Thus, in NT times, people expected that God would authenticate any disclosure of His intention with miracles. The Kingdom of God is now here (Lk. 17:21) and miracles are indeed signs pointing to this kingdom. Consider the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry at the Wedding at Cana in John 2 that was signified by his first miracle of turning water into wine, or Jesus’ declaration, “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28).

I believe that signs still exist today to remind us of God’s Kingdom. Miracles are still as much today a “sign” to announce the kingdom message as it was then. Considering that, are there areas in your life that seem hopeless and against all odds? Don’t give up! Ask the Lord for a miracle. Whether it be a miracle of physical healing or restoring a hopelessly broken relationship, let us wait in eager anticipation, in faith and earnest prayer.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You today with faith so small I cannot see a way out. I want to believe You are able to do more than I can ever imagine (Eph. 3:20). I want to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). God, please bring a miracle into my life. I know that You can do the impossible in my life and I am trusting in Your promises. Thank You for being a God who sees and hears my every need. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 22

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:21-24 (ESV): And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Questions to Consider

What lesson is Jesus teaching the man in v.23, and how does the man receive and respond to the lesson in v. 24?
Why was the father so desperate in his response in v. 24?
In what area of your life do you need God’s miracle? Ask for a miracle.

Notes

Here, Jesus’ power is not the issue, but faith in him is. All things are not possible to be done by the believer himself, but all things are possible to be done for him, by Jesus. That work is done by faith which is a gift itself.
He recognized his limitations in view of the severity of the situation. Ultimately, he put his faith and hope in Jesus.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

The fundamental question you and I need to be more conscious of today is, “Am I living my life in the deep faith of being united to God’s presence or am I living my life as though I am in control of everything that goes on in my life?” If we live our daily lives in the deep and personal union with God’s presence, our deep faith can give us a peace where we strongly believe that our lives are in the hands of God who cares for us.

So, let us live in the greater consciousness and gratitude to God for His caring and compassionate love, where He never fails to work “miracles” for us daily. The greater our consciousness and the deeper our gratitude to God, the more discerning we become in our relationship with Jesus.

March 28, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“From Bitter to Made Sweet”

Exodus 15:22-27 (ESV)

Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. 24 And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.

The Christian life is not easy. Rev. William Taylor, a preacher in New York City at the end of the 1800s, wrote, “We may learn that we are not done with hardship when we have left Egypt.” It is just as Jesus said to his disciples: “In the world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). He warned us in advance that we do not have an easy path to glory.

There will be Marah in your life at times. After the Israelites had sung that great song of Moses and Miriam, rejoicing over what God had done, they marched to their first oasis, Marah. For a large company of people driving animals, the constant search for a well, an oasis, any source of water, would’ve been difficult in the desert.

The problem was that when they reached Marah, its water was so bitter that the people couldn’t drink it. That’s why the oasis was called Marah, which means “bitter.” Naomi uses the same word in the book of Ruth when she tells her daughters to call her Marah because her life had been so bitter (Ruth 1:20).

In that moment, Moses “cried out to the Lord” (v. 25), and the Lord provided a log that when thrown into the water, made the water sweet. “I am the LORD, your healer” (v. 26) presents a new name for God: Jehovah Rapha. The God of deliverance is also the God of healing, and He will take care of Israel every step of the way in the wilderness.

I believe the bitter water at Marah is symbolic of what was going on inside the hearts of the Hebrews. When freedom was not as easy as they had hoped; when circumstances were not what they desired, their hearts began to be filled with the diseases of bitterness and resentfulness. God knew their need for healing from bitterness and He longed to bring that healing to them.

God can heal our bitterness and turn it into something sweet. The next oasis on the journey was Elim, which had 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. A time of refreshing.

Let’s apply this lesson to our hearts today. I invite you to allow Jehovah Rapha to examine your heart. “Are there ways that you are more like the Israelites than you care to admit? When God doesn’t work in our lives in the way that we think He should, does it lead to bitterness? When God’s timing is different than we had hoped, do we harbor resentment against Him? Let Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who heals you) examine your heart and heal you of the diseases that sin inflicts upon us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are deep wounds, broken hearts, and incredible pain that I want to bring to Your throne of grace. Through the power of your Holy Spirit, don’t let my heart become a garden filled with resentment and bitterness. Have mercy on me, Lord; grant me healing, freedom, and lots of grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 21

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Job 5:2: “Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.”

Ephesians 4:31-32. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Questions to Consider

What are the some of the causes of bitterness?
What are some of the consequences of bitterness?
What is the cure for bitterness?

Notes

Much of our bitterness and anger towards others is rooted in our inability to be profoundly amazed at Christ’s love for us in our sin. If you are struggling with bitterness then it may be that the Lord is letting the very sin that is flowing from your inability to see Christ as the means by which you come to see him.
Bitterness is like poison that infects our lives. The author of Hebrews compares bitterness to a root that overtakes our hearts and causes trouble in many other areas of our lives (Hebrews 12:15). Although our feelings of bitterness, anger, and resentment may seem justified, they are not. Instead, they’re hurtful and destructive—to ourselves as well as to the person who hurt us.
We must forgive. “Forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you” is an unbelievably important word from Ephesians 4:32. Because we have been forgiven by God for things that are mortally dangerous, it should open the door for greater grace towards other people. We need to be stunned at God’s grace in a deeper way regularly. Out of that experience can flow grace towards others.

Evening Reflection

I invite you to think of a situation or person where feelings of bitterness have festered. God’s Word teaches us to forgive and instructs us not to let the sun go down while we’re angry. When we do, we give the devil a place to work in our hearts and relationships. Instead of allowing the enemy room to plant relational weeds between us, choose forgiveness, extend grace, and prevent a bitter root from taking hold. Make a commitment to “let go of any bitterness” and to “forgive those who have hurt you.”

March 27, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Am I God-Centered or Self-Centered?”

Exodus 15:1-18 (ESV)

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider[a] he has thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name. 4 “Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. 5 The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. 8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’ 10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand; the earth swallowed them. 13 “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode. 14 The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of your arm, they are still as a stone, till your people, O Lord, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain, the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established. 18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.”

Our self-worth/value is greatly affected by whether we are anchored to a God-centered or self-centered viewpoint. We know that self-centeredness, which originates from our fallen nature, focuses everything on the self, thereby causing our self-worth to become diminished or bloated based on our performance. No doubt that we live in a culture where an individual’s value comes from an external and superficial perspective, rather than from something greater than the self.

Often, we are swayed by other people’s opinions, or comparison to others, which, then, leads us to doubt or question our intrinsic value as God’s child. So we say to ourselves: “My friend landed a better job and makes more money than me. What I’m doing is nothing in comparison”; “My friend is skinny and really pretty. She’ll have no problem getting matched, but what about me?”; “my friends do and say things I don’t agree with. I feel they won’t like me if I disagree with them. I want to be accepted, that’s why I support them, but what if standing up for what I believe in means I’ll lose them as friends?” Given this situation we all face (some more than others), to develop and strengthen our original God-given value, we need to intentionally make the effort to change our perspective, that is to say, it won’t change unless we make that effort.

Notice in this passage that this great song of Moses is completely God-centered, glorifying God from beginning to end. We may think that it took a great leader’s courage to lead approximately two million people out of the land of slavery and into the wilderness. Yet, there isn’t a word about Moses the entire song. The name of God is mentioned twenty-seven times (by my count!), including pronouns referring to God. The song even moves from a celebration of God’s past deliverances to the future victories yet to come. This is the God-centered faith that we are called to live in!

When the people stood at the edge of the Red Sea and Moses told them to go forward, they obeyed by faith. Moses said, “Stand firm and you will see the Lord’s deliverance,” and that is the challenge to faith today. F.B. Meyer puts it very well: Learn what God will do for his own. Dread not any result of implicit obedience to his command; fear not the angry waters which, in their proud insolence, forbid your progress; fear not the turbulent crowds of men who are perpetually compared to waters lifting up their voice and roaring with their waves. Fear none of these things. Above the voices of many waters, the might breakers of the sea, the Lord sits as king upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth as king forever…Dare to trust Him.

In light of this passage, make sure to:

Ask the Lord to show you how He sees you and what kind of value He has assigned to you. Can you think of an example where you connected to your unique value as God’s son/daughter?
Surrender areas of your life where you have allowed society’s perspective to affect how you feel about the values and beliefs you cherish because they are rooted in God’s truth.

Prayer: Lord, I always want to trust in You. Thank You for Your past deliverances as well as the ones that are yet to come. Help me to see things as You do. If more of You is less of me, then take everything from me! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Questions to consider

Psalm 1 is a contrast between two ways in life: the self-directed vs. the God-directed life. What are the benefits of the one who strives to make the Word of God (God-centeredness) the focus, rather than external accomplishments and opinions?
It bears repeating what was asked in the morning devotion: Ask the Lord to show you how He sees you and what kind of value He has assigned to you. Can you think of an example where you connected to your unique value as God’s son/daughter?

Notes

The imagery in Psalm 1:3, paints a picture of several results in a God-centered life:

Stability (“he is planted”)
Vitality (“by streams of water”)
Productivity (“yields its fruit”)
Durability (“does not wither”)
Prosperity (“in all that he does, he prospers”)

Personal response

Evening Reflection

I invite you to think of a situation where you feel conflicted about seeing this situation from God’s viewpoint or a self-centered viewpoint. Make a commitment to ask a close friend what he or she thinks is God’s perspective on this situation; also ask how he or she feels about the perspective you’re taking. How would that impact your proactive approach to the situation?

March 26, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Divine Warrior”

Exodus 15:3

“The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name.”

There have been a couple of near-death experiences in my life. One in particular occurred during a visit to the tunnels of Cu Chi outside of Ho Chi Minh City. According to Wikipedia, “These tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces.”

As I navigated through the maze of tunnels, the walls became increasingly narrow, and fresh air became scarce. The Vietnamese certainly knew that US soldiers were generally taller and wider! Before I knew it, I was stuck in the tunnel, my heavy backpack lodged firmly between the side walls of the tunnel. Panic began to set in! I couldn’t breathe! I thought I was going to die!

At that moment, my Vietnamese tour guide managed to get me out of the cramped quarters, remove the backpack from my shoulders, and led me out of the Cu Chi back to safety. During those panic-stricken moments, I was truly paralyzed. My guide had literally “fought for my safety”.

Today’s passage reveals that our God is a warrior God. After Moses and Israel made it through the Red Sea unharmed, the Lord is called a “man of war”—a warrior who fights for the good of His people. It is in God’s nature to wage war against those who rise up against His name and His children. We can rejoice in that our covenant-keeping God will never leave us nor forsake us. His outstretched arms are always present to defeat the enemies of His Kingdom (Deut. 5:15; Heb. 13:5).

Exodus 15:4-10 talks about God’s weapons. His right hand can control the sea. He is sovereign over the elements and uses them to destroy those who oppose Him. He even displays His power in the form of psychological warfare—His enemies trembling in fear when hearing of the Lord’s salvation of Israel (vv. 13-16).

As ones who live in the new covenant era, Satan and his army fear the power of Christ. Jesus fights for us, with the sword of the gospel to transform nations. Our Lord wields His power on our behalf, so we can truly claim it is our strength. Psalm 28:7 says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” In Him alone we must rely, not our own strength. The Puritan William Gurnall wrote, “The strength of the general in other hosts lies in his troops…but in the army of saints, the strength of every saint, of the whole hosts of saints, lies in the Lord of hosts.” (The Christian in Complete Armour, p. 18)

Take some time this morning to hand over our battles to the Lord of War. He is our divine warrior. David knew this when we surrendered his showdown with Goliath to the Lord by declaring, “The battle belongs to the Lord, and he will help us defeat all of you!” Surrender your fears, your Red Seas, your immovable mountains to the Lord. He knows us, cares for us, and will deliver us for His glory!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask that You take my present battles. In these, I will not lift a finger. I ask You to fight on my behalf. I thank You that You do not allow the battles of life to overcome me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Judges 7:2-9: The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 3 Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 4 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “Every one who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, every one who kneels down to drink.” 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. 7 And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” 8 So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. 9 That same night the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand.

Questions to consider

Judges 7:2 shows that as humans, we will naturally boast in our own work. What do you think Gideon was thinking when his army went from an already overmatched 32,000 Israelites against 135,000 Midianites to only 10,000 Israelites?
In what way is boasting “over”/against God (v.2)?
How does our sinful nature to boast in ourselves change the way we respond to areas of weakness in our lives? (See 2 Cor 12:5-10)

Notes

This was a great test of Gideon’s faith. Although outnumbered almost 1 to 4, God thought his army was too big, and He commanded Gideon to invite all who were afraid to go home. Gideon was probably surprised at the number of men who were afraid to fight and hoped that only a few hundred would leave. But we are told that they assembled in a place where they could see the 135,000 Midianite troops (Judges 7:8). This sight of the huge opposing army must’ve left Gideon and the Israel army afraid.
This explains why the army of 32,000 was too large. Israel could still take credit for a victory if they had 32,000 troops. They could believe they were underdogs who triumphed through their own great bravery or strategy. God wanted the odds so bad that the victory would clearly be His alone. If we really believe the principle, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6), then our smallness does not matter.
Paul was not immune to the danger of pride. No one is. Even the best of God’s people have in them a root of pride, or a disposition to be exalted above measure, upon their receipt of grace from God not common to others. Paul was desperate in his desire to find relief from his burden but knew that God’s method was to give sufficient grace. We don’t really believe God’s grace is sufficient until we believe we are insufficient. Especially in American culture, this is a huge obstacle. We want to be “self-made” and want to rely on ourselves. We can’t receive God’s strength until we know our weakness.

Evening Reflection

From the OT (how God set Israel free from Egypt; how He warred on their behalf in bringing them into the promised land; and how He turned to war against them when they no longer followed Him), into the NT (how the Messiah accomplished salvation by way of the Cross) and ending in the return of Christ and renewal of all things, the Bible is about a God who wars on behalf of His people. Often, we can feel that we are fighting our battles on our own, wondering if God really cares about what we are going through. I want to invite you to surrender the biggest battles that you are currently facing, meditating on the entire counsel of Scripture until you experience God’s peace and His fighting on our behalf.

March 25, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from March 25-31 are provided by Pastor Matt Ro, the Lead Pastor of Journey Church of Atlanta. Pastor Matt, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BS) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.), has been married to Julia since 2006 and they have three beautiful daughters: Ella, Audrey and Claire.

Devotional Thought for Today

“The Art of Celebration”

Exodus 15:1-18 (ESV)

The Rocky Run. You know it. An early morning run beginning in the streets of South Philly, then sprinting along the waterfront of Penn’s Landing, moving to the banks of the Schuylkill River, culminating with a final climb up the 72 steps to the top of the Art Museum. The steps scene in the movie “Rocky” is arguably one of the most iconic shots in film history; it’s an allegory for personal victory and has been copied and parodied countless times over.

Today, we find ourselves celebrating so many things. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, job promotions, a good grade on a test…the list goes on and on. It’s so easy to celebrate something that goes in our favor, and we often remember to thank God for His goodness when things are going right.

In Exodus 15, Moses and the Israelites sing a song to the Lord in celebration and thanksgiving of their escape from the Egyptians through the Red Sea. Verse 2 states, “The Lord is my strength and my defense: he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” It is so easy to remember that God is the reason for anything good in our lives when everything is good. When we’ve experienced a victory, it’s easy to praise and thank Him and give Him the glory.

But what happens when things aren’t so good? Where is our urge to give thanksgiving and praise to God when a loved one is dying, our car breaks down at the worst possible time, or our marriage is falling apart? How can we thank God for being good when we just don’t see the good?

Exodus 15:13 says about the Lord, “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed.” As Christians, we have the ability to trust in God in the good times and bad because we know God’s love never fails. He is always leading us to something better than we could ask or imagine. Praising Him and thanking Him even through the trying times will help give us clarity and discernment, and it will remind us that God really is good all the time.

Do you find it difficult to praise and thank God when times are hard? How do you think your perspective of God could change if you begin to praise Him in all circumstances? Take some time today to thank God for the good in your life and ask Him to show you the good in the situations that may be trying.

Prayer: Lord, you are my strength and my song; you have become my salvation. You are my God, and I will praise you, I will exalt you. Teach me to give thanks always; to bless Your name! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:4 (ESV): “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.”

1 Thess. 5:18 (ESV): “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Question to consider

Based on these passages, why is it important to practice the discipline of thanksgiving and celebration (i.e., rejoicing)?
What are some benefits we derive from giving thanks to God especially when facing difficult moments?
What are you going through at the moment? Regardless, give thanks unto the Lord.

Notes

Thanksgiving and celebration remind us that every success happens by the grace of God. It is important to remember that we contribute nothing to our own salvation, and subsequently, our journey in faith. All our success is from Him, through Him, and for Him.
Thankfulness is not an add-on activity. Gratitude towards God removes pride and opens the door to future blessings. Without it, we would forget what is truly important—faith in God.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

The spiritual discipline of celebration is not just an outward expression. It is also something internal. Joy is something we have to find in our own relationship with God.

Were you able to celebrate God’s blessings in your life today? If not, take some time to celebrate them now.

March 24, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Words Matter”

James 1:19

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Have you ever heard of the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” I’ve found that to be horribly incorrect. Rather, it should state, “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will absolutely destroy you.”

We’ve all been stung by people who have spoken too soon or gossiped about us. We’ve felt the pain of degrading words filled with anger and wrath. We’ve been the target of jokes and ridicules. We’ve also known the joys of receiving compliments and encouragements, as well as experiencing delight in meaningful conversations and familial fellowship. We know firsthand that words carry a lot of power, having the ability to lift us up or pull us down. At the same time, we also know that a lofty praise is not always good for our soul, just as a harsh rebuke can be beneficial for us.

As we grow in understanding and wisdom, we begin to realize that wise words are not simply what we say, but a combination of what we say, when we say it, and how we present it. Let’s take Nathan and David for example. After David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, Nathan was given the task from God to confront David about his sin. Rather than yelling at him in anger (possibly causing David to be defensive), Nathan, with the wisdom of God, presented a story that represented the sin that David had committed. Rather than being defensive, David repented of his sin. There is wisdom in not only knowing what to say, but when to say it and how to present it; that wisdom comes from God alone.

As we head into another week, think before you speak. Ask God to give you wisdom in the words that you say, knowing full well that your words carry much weight and power. Your words have the ability to lift someone’s spirit or ruin someone’s day. They have the ability to bring life or death. May His wisdom rest upon you this coming week, as you tame your tongue to be one that glorifies Jesus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask for wisdom and your Spirit to fill me so that my speech patterns will edify and build up those around me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 17

March 23, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Numbering our Days”

Psalm 90:12

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

One of the most profound things that Moses said was this exact verse – that the Lord would teach us to number our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. But what does that mean to us?

Many of us live as though we were immortal. As a group of relatively young people, we rarely think of death; but the truth is, our lives will pass in the blink of an eye. We are but a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14). With that in mind, we are encouraged to seek the things that are eternal, rather than storing up temporal treasures that are bound to fade away.

Whether it’s having a lot of wealth, or being a person that makes important decisions, we all have a desire to leave a lasting legacy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – God has created us to be a people of purpose and of vision. We want our life to have meaning and will do what it takes to establish a legacy that will be remembered. It is our natural state. We cannot avoid it. But what I’ve learned that has rung more and more true each day is this: If we try to etch our name into history, I can guarantee you that it will fade. It might last a while, but eventually, it will all fade away.

But if we decide to participate in God’s redemptive history, it is an eternal legacy that cannot and will not be shaken. Imagine etching your name in the sand. It might be there for a while. Some names are washed away immediately, while others might last a while longer, but eventually, all are washed away. But if you carve your name into a rock, then it will last forever. Jesus is that rock of our salvation that lasts forever.

Jim Elliot summed it up with the following quote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” So spend yourself in this lifetime. Give yourself to kingdom matters, ushering in the eternal Kingdom of God. Live as if eternity really mattered. May the Lord give us all a growing heart of wisdom, that we would see clearly that our days on earth are numbered, and with that in mind, seek after the eternal, living our lives in a manner that is worthy of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me even when I make bad decisions and turn away from You. Thank You for restoring me time and time again. Hear my cries for help and restore me. I confess to You my failures and that I am in need of you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 15-16

March 22, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Everyone Gets to Play”

Exodus 14:21-22; 26-28 (NIV)

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” 27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.

My children play in a football league where “everyone gets to play.” Regardless of one’s skills or the score, the coach will manage the roster so that every child is given a chance to play the game. It’s clear that some kids are better than others; nevertheless, everyone gets to play albeit in different positions (e.g., not everyone gets to play the quarterback).

That is a picture of God’s community.

In today’s passage, as God is about perform one of His greatest miracles, He invites Moses to play the quarterback, if you will. The parting of the Red Sea is a miracle that is still celebrated by the Israelites today; it was the day of their glorious freedom as they crossed on dry land while the Egyptians were later destroyed. Now, while God could have performed this feat from the heavens, He allows Moses to stretch out his hands in performing the miracle. It’s perplexing to think that an Almighty God, who has all the power over all of creation, chooses to use humans. But there is no denying that God’s desire is to use us to accomplish His works on earth—how wonderful, amazing and humbling!

Therefore, do not doubt that God can and does use His servants to accomplish some of His greatest works. As a follower of Christ, you are certainly one of His servants. God can and will use you. So, instead of assuming that God uses everyone else except you, ask Him to take your hands and use them for God’s purposes and God’s glory.

John Wimber, founder of Vineyard Christian Fellowship and head of Vineyard Ministries International, often said, “Everyone gets to play.” He understood clearly that following Jesus wasn’t a spectator sport—meaning, Jesus wanted everyone to discover their own set of gifts and use them to make a unique contribution towards building each other up in the Lord.

So, stop spectating; instead, stretch out your hands and see what God can do through you. And give Him all the glory for using us despite of us.

Prayer: Lord, use me to serve others. Use me to tell Your story to others. Use me to bless others. Use me to encourage others. Use me to build up others. Use me to perform miracles. In Your name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 14

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 4:8-11 (NIV): Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Questions to Consider

What is the purpose of the gifts you have been given?
Do you think that some gifts are more notable than others? How does verse 11 dispel that notion?
Do you believe that God can accomplish His works through you? Why or why not?

Notes

To serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace.
Whether one speaks or simply serves, “in all things” God is praised.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

In what ways were you able to serve others today? If you missed an opportunity, ask God to grant you another opportunity tomorrow to use your gift to serve others.

March 21, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Standing Firm in God’s Presence”

Exodus 14:1-4; 13-14 (NIV)

Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. 3 Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. 13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

In verses 1-4, after the Lord reveals His “clever” plan to Moses, he leads the Israelites to the edge of the Red Sea, where they are pinned between the great sea and the great armies of Egypt chasing after them. Some cleaver plan this turned out to be—they are now stuck between a rock and a hard place. They can either drown or be struck down by the sword. The Israelites are unaware of the Lord’s plans and cry out with fear and hysteria, ““Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” As their desperate cries get louder and louder, Moses answers the people to do three things:

Do not be afraid.
Stand firm and you will see.
You need only to be still.

In ministry, I’ve learned that fear is the great enemy of faith. Jesus often rebuked his disciples by saying, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” When we are operating or making decisions based on fears, it is certain that faith has no room to grow in our hearts nor in our ministries. The enemy preys on our insecurities and fears to prevent us from living out our faith.

We often seek the Lord’s “plans” rather than seeing the Lord’s “presence” in order to address our fears and anxieties. Without a clear knowledge of the future “plans” that the Lord has for us, we find ourselves immobilized by fears. We think to ourselves, “If God will just tell me His plans, then I will be able to walk by faith.” However, the Lord often gives us something better than just His plans. He asks us to trust in His “presence”, the pillar of cloud/fire, that visibly led the Israelites. Then the Lord tells us, “You need only to be still.”

If you are constantly operating out of fears, spend some time meditating on vs 13-14: “Do not be afraid; stand firm; be still.”

Prayer: Lord, it’s subtle, but I admit that I operate more out of fears than out of faith. Help me to no longer be afraid; to stand firm and be still in Your presence. In Your name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 13

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:6-10 (NIV): “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Questions to Consider

What steps does James encourage the believer to take in order to receive God’s favor and grace?
How does it strike you that the devil actually flees from you when you stand up and resist him?
Is there an area in your life where there is a need for grief?

Notes

To submit to God; resist the devil; come near to God; purify your hearts.
Most average Christians might fear the devil; however, it is the devil that flees when one takes a stance against him and draws near to God.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time confessing your fears and worries before the Lord. Ask Him to fill your heart with courage and faith.