April 15, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from April 15-21 are provided by Pastor David Son (B.S., UC Berkeley; M.Div., Gordon Conwell). David and his team launched the Thrive Church in Taipei this past November. Stay up to date with the church plant by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Purpose of Rules”

Exodus 21:1

Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.

In 2012, my mom and dad became foster parents to an orphan refugee from North Korea. Prior to coming into our home, he had spent his entire life as an orphan, living on the streets of North Korea. As you might imagine, this was one of the most challenging seasons of my parents’ lives. Their primary objective? To help this child understand that he was loved by his family. Where did they begin? Well, after bringing him into the family, my parents began by setting rules. That’s right, rules!

One by one, my parents began implementing rules to help this kid understand what it looked like to live in his new identity as a child of this family—and these rules were very specific. For example:

Do not steal dad’s watch
Eat slowly/respectfully during dinner
Come home by 6pm after playing in the park

The purpose of each of these rules wasn’t to restrict him, but rather to transition him from his old patterns of living (stealing, hoarding food, wandering off alone) to a new mindset—the mindset of a son.

Today’s verse inaugurates a series of rules given by God to do exactly the same thing. The nation of Israel was birthed into slavery. They were spiritual orphans, with no prior knowledge of what it meant to live as children of God. So, after God redeems them and makes them His… He immediately begins to implement a set of very specific rules. The purpose of these rules? To help God’s children transition from their old patterns of living, to a new mindset—the mindset of sons/daughters of God.

Are you living in the mindset of a son/daughter of God? Perhaps there are specific patterns in your life, right now, that God wants to adjust. Let’s spend some time today reflecting on this.

Prayer: Father, we want to live in the fullness of the identity You have given us. Help us to identify the areas where we are still acting like spiritual orphans. Help us to surrender these areas to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 14

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 12:5-11: And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, what does discipline from God imply?
Why does God discipline us? What is the purpose?
How does the author of Hebrews exhort us to respond to God’s discipline?

Notes

This passage states several times that discipline from God is a feature of being His child. It implies that God loves us, and that He has our good in mind.
Verse 10 says that God disciplines us because: (1) it is good for us; and (2) through discipline we can share in his holiness. In other words, the purpose of God’s discipline is so that we might develop Christ-like character within ourselves.
The author of Hebrews exhorts us to take God’s discipline seriously and not to be wearied by it. Although being disciplined by God may not feel good in the moment, when we understand His purpose we can receive His discipline with joy.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on the type of person you were before you met Jesus. What has changed since then? What has not changed since then? Are there areas that ought to have changed, but haven’t? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal these areas to you as you reflect.

April 14, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Comparison Hinders Love”

Genesis 26:12-16

Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. 15 So all the wells that his father’s servants had dug in the time of his father Abraham, the Philistines stopped up, filling them with earth.16 Then Abimelek said to Isaac, “Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.”

Once, when I was in elementary school, my mother bought me a very fancy mechanical pencil. When I took this pencil to school, I showed it off to everyone. However, in the afternoon, I discovered that my mechanical pencil was missing. I started to look for it everywhere until I found it broken in the garbage can. It took me a long time to learn that my classmate broke it. I couldn’t understand why he would do such a thing but later realized that he envied me.

In today’s passage, we see the same jealousy in the Philistines’ attitude towards Isaac. They first accepted Isaac’s arrival, but when Isaac became rich through God’s blessing, the Philistines began to envy him. Their jealousy did not only concern Isaac since these Philistines felt the same jealousy toward Isaac’s father Abraham when he resided in their land and enjoyed God’s favors. So they seized Isaac’s water and tried to force him out of the land.

In everyday life, we can often experience jealousy prompted by things such as: other people’s promotions and higher salaries, other people’s seemingly nicer families, and even spirituality of other believers. One outcome of jealousy is depriving us of our love for each other; that is, it devours our ability to love others. How so? Jealousy makes us compare ourselves to others, and we cannot celebrate what others have achieved.

Often when we are jealous of others, we protect ourselves by belittling them, hindering their achievements, or surpassing them. God hates jealousy because it prevents us from fulfilling the second greatest commandment: to love one another. We need to understand that everyone is unique and loved by God. We don’t need to be jealous of other people’s strengths, because God gives us His unique gift.

This morning, let’s spend some time praying, asking God to examine our hearts. Is there jealousy brewing in your heart? If so, take a moment to repent and invite the Lord to help you see people with His perspective.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I ask You to examine my heart. I know there are many people and things that I envy in my life. Jealousy deprives me of the ability to love others, and it keeps me from seeing Your grace in me. Lord, I repent before You, and ask You to remove the jealousy from my heart and give me the power of love. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 13

April 13, Saturday

Today’s devotional is provided by a brother who serves at an AMI church in East Asia. Thank you.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Fighting Giants in Our Lives”

1 Samuel 17:42-47

He (the Philistine) looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” 45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord ’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

“Blessed Assurance,” written by Fanny Crosby, is a powerful hymn that has inspired so many generations. Crosby, who lost her sight at a young age, declared a victorious future which can only be seen through the faith-anointed eyes: “Visions of rapture now burst on my sight.” In darkness, her hope in the Lord, flashing out through the lyrics, formed into a melody of faith. In fact, her life story became a powerful worship dedicated to God.

1 Samuel 17 describes David’s most well-known battle, fighting against Goliath the giant. Looking down at this young little boy, the giant mocked and threatened him. Yet, with no sword in his hand, David fearlessly declared, “The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands!” David chose to proclaim the victory of God despite how powerful the giant appeared. On that battlefield, he offered his worship to the lord. We can find similar convictions in the book of Psalms. No wonder, David is known as “a man after [God’s] own heart (Acts 13:22)

We all have our own giants to fight against. These giants may manifest as a woman’s inability to have children, an infirmed person’s fight against an incurable disease, or being persecuted for faith in God—the list can go on. When the giant is mocking our identity and threatening our well-being, we all face a choice: “Should I continue to believe that God is good and victorious? Should I continue to bring Him praise?” Both David and Crosby chose to trust God; they chose to declare into their situations that God has won. That is the worship we want to offer to God.

But some might wonder, “What if I am too weak to trust?” Yes, the battle is brutal and frightening, but the good news is that God has put a triumphant song in every one of us, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus declared “it is finished” in front of the greatest giant—death. He rose again three days later to show the world that death has been defeated. For this reason, we have the strength to experience God’s victory in our own situations!

Prayer: Dear God, we praise You not because You have delivered us from all of our difficulties. We praise You because You ARE the victory. During the tough seasons of our lives, may we learn to declare Your victory into our situations; may our faith grow deeper as we seek you daily for the strength to face the day; may Your victory and goodness become our hope that one day we will experience breakthrough. May all these (our stories and our lives) become our worship to you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11-12

April 12, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Fear the Lord”

Exodus 20:18-20

Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid[d] and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

When I was younger, my mom disciplined my siblings and me whenever we misbehaved. Like many Asian parents, the means of her discipline ranged from clothe hangers to rolling pins. I remember vividly our mom telling us to kneel on the kitchen floor to receive our punishment. Because we feared these punishments, my siblings and I eventually learned to obey.

In this passage, as the Israelites were listening to the Lord giving them the Ten Commandments, they witnessed a trembling sight on the mountain. They heard thunder and the sound of trumpets; they saw flashes of lighting blazing across the mountain; in fact, there was smoke on the top of mountain. Understandably, they became so fearful at this sight that they no longer wanted to directly hear the voice of the Lord. Rather, they wanted the Lord to speak only to Moses and then have Moses speak to them. However, in verse 20, Moses reassures them that their fear was positive and healthy because it will keep them from sinning.

In our society, fear has become an entirely negative word. There are so many social media posts that encourage people to overcome their fear of failure. Even in our faith, we often quote verses such as 1 John 4:18 (“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear”) or Joshua 1:9 (“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”). These verses are spoken over people to encourage them. Certainly, it is important to be free from fear; nevertheless, Moses is reminding us that not all fear is unhealthy. In fact, Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This fear was meant to keep the Israelites from walking away from their destiny to be God’s instrument to bless other nations. It is not simply about behaving correctly, but being concerned with what God desires rather than what we desire.

This morning, reflect on this question, “Do you fear the Lord?” Like the Israelites, God desires us to be a blessing to others. However, the first step of becoming that blessing is to fear the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are a God who loves us. However, because of culture and preference, I have forgotten to fear You. Please instill this healthy fear, so that I can walk in wisdom and become a blessing to those around me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 5:1-11: Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Questions to Consider

What sin did Ananias and Sapphira commit?
What was the purpose of Peter asking Sapphira a second time concerning the property?
What was the result of the death of Ananias and Sapphira?

Notes

Ananias and Sapphira sold their land in order to give the proceeds to the church. However, after Satan entered their heart, they decided to withhold some of the money. They thought they could get recognition from the church for being generous while keeping some of the money for themselves.
Peter asked Sapphira a second time because the Lord had mercy upon Sapphira. He did not want Sapphira to suffer the same fate as her husband.
When the church saw and heard what happened to Ananias and Sapphira, it instilled a great fear in the whole church. They knew that God desired holiness, and that their sin had consequences.

Evening Reflection

As you reflect on this morning’s passage, what are some reasons why we have become desensitized to the fear of the Lord? How do you feel this has affected you or the church?

April 11, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“I am a Jealous God”

Exodus 20:4-6

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

In Chinese, “jealousy” is a word that has different degrees of intensity, and each one is described by a different physiological effect. For example, a normal jealousy is described as “吃醋了 chi1 cu4 le,” which means to eat vinegar. However, a more intense jealousy is described as “妒火 du4 huo3,” which means jealousy that burns like fire.

In this passage, we see the Israelites who are set from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. After they encamp near Mount Sinai, the Lord makes a covenant with the Israelites by giving them the Ten Commandments. One way to honor this covenant is for the Israelites to not create an image of anything and then worship it. To warn them about violating the covenant, the Lord describes Himself as a jealous God. His jealousy is so intense that if anyone violates His law, He will not only punish the violators but their future generations as well. Yet, He assures the Israelites that if they obey His covenant, He will bless them for thousands of generations.

Why does God associate Himself with emotion of jealous? Elsewhere, particularly in Isaiah, Hosea, and Ezekiel, God compares His relationship with Israel to a relationship between husband and wife. Of course, in context of a relationship, jealousy has a negative connotation; but it also reveals a person’s deep love and passion for the other. God’s love for Israel runs so deep that any violation of His love causes Him to react fiercely.

Through the story of the cross, we are able to witness God’s deep love and passion for us. We live in a world that is destined for death, yet God initiated a rescue plan for us. In His great love and mercy, He sacrificed His beloved Son so that we could be rescued from death!

This morning, take a moment to play a CD or an instrument, and spend time in His presence. Invite the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s deep love for us.

Prayer: Thank you Father that, even in the Old Testament, You remind us of Your deep love for us. We are prone to forget you, and we turn to other gods to satisfy ourselves. As the church, we are Your bride, and You desire a faithful love from us. Thank You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 9

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 4:7-16: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

Questions to Consider

How does John define love in this passage? (v. 8-10)
Why does John encourage us to love one another?
What are three ways that we know that we are in God and God is in us?

Notes

John defines love in two ways. First, he defines love as the person of Jesus. Second, he defines love through God’s love for us. God loved us and he sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for all of humanity.
John encourages us to love one another because God first loved us.
First, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. Second, when we testify that the Father has sent His Son. Third, when we acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

Evening Reflection

This evening, spend a moment to reflect on if there are any other gods in your life that are stealing your affection. It could be comfort, children, work, marriage, or even ministry. As these idols are being revealed, spend some time in repentance.

April 10, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“No Other gods Before Me”

Exodus 20:1-6

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands[b] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Recently, a pastor and I were discussing the family dynamics of Chinese households in China. Because many families only have one child, these children are doted upon, not only by parents, but also grandparents. Parents spend most of their time and energy working to financially provide for their children. Grandparents, who are retired, spend much of their time taking their grandchildren to and from extra-curricular activities.

While this may seem like an ideal situation, this puts tremendous pressure on these children. Why? Parents and grandparents pour all of their time and resources into their children, so that their children may grow up to become successful, and, in return, take care of them. Thus, a big struggle for parents in Chinese churches is that they begin to idolize their children.

In this passage, after the Israelites have encamped next to Mount Sinai, Moses meets with the Lord. The Lord then directs him to tell the Israelites that if they keep the covenant, then, they would become the most treasured possession among all peoples. Once the Israelites agree to follow the Lord, the Lord commands them to consecrate themselves because He is going to speak to Moses for the Israelites to hear. Quickly He imparts the Ten Commandments for the Israelites to obey, the first of which is, “You shall have no other gods before me” (v. 3).

Upon hearing the phrase, “Other gods,” we often think of physical idols found in temples. While these are certainly other gods, many of us are not tempted to bow down before them. Yet, many of us still struggle with this first commandment. How so? The gods with which we struggle in the 21st century are not made of stone, gold, or silver; rather, these so-called gods are seemingly good things discreetly integrated into our daily lives. Like the example about Chinese families, our gods are anything that we think can save or satisfy us apart from God. These gods can come in the form of our children, social media, finances, degrees, etc. The scary thing is that we do not even realize these things have become our gods.

God puts this verse as the first commandment because He wants to make it very clear—not that He is an egocentric God—that our lives must be God-centered. Our God is the only person who can truly save and satisfy us; turning to anything else will only hurt us in the end.

This morning, invite the Holy Spirit into your heart to make you aware of anything that might be a god in your life. Is there anything in your life that you have become dependent or has become your mode of satisfaction? If there is, ask the Lord for forgiveness and to help you become more God-centered.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for saving us through your son, Jesus Christ. Lord, You call us to live God-centered lives because only You can truly save and satisfy us. You do not want us to live under the lie that these other gods can do the same. If there is anything in my life that has taken your place, please help me turn back to You. In your name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 8

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:19-24: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Questions to consider

Why does Jesus teach us not to store up treasures here on earth?
What does the metaphor in verses 22-23 mean?
Why is it impossible to serve two masters?

Notes

Jesus teaches us not to store up treasures here on earth because these earthly treasures are temporary and will decay. Even in the digital world, cyberspace is not safe from “viruses,” power outages, and the disappearance of backups.
In this passage, the eyes represent the heart. Therefore, if the heart is healthy, then the whole body would be full of light. However, if the heart is unhealthy, then the whole body would be full of darkness.
It is impossible to serve two masters because our heart’s affection cannot be divided. Our hearts will naturally love one and reject the other. Therefore, we must give our Lord an undivided heart.

Evening Reflection

This morning, we invited the Holy Spirit to help us become aware of some idols in your life. This evening, take some time to reflect why these “things or persons” have become idols? What are some ways that you can protect your heart?

April 9, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Consecrate Yourselves”

Exodus 19:9-15

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.”

Evidently, several professional athletes partake in elaborate pre-game rituals. For example, Rafael Nadal, the famed Spanish tennis-player, first walks onto the tennis court with just one racket in his hand. After the coin toss to decide who serves first, Rafael always sprints back to the base-line. During change-overs, he eats an energy gel in the exact same way each time, and he drinks his water and recovery drinks in a certain order, placing them in the exact same position and location each time. Nadal is not the only one with rituals; other athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, and Cristiano Ronaldo all partake in their own pre-game rituals.

To an ordinary person, these rituals may seem superstitious and quirky. However, rituals are tools to help professional athletes to focus on preparing for the game by blocking out unnecessary distractions.

In this passage, the Lord tells Moses that, on the third day He will appear before the Israelites as a thick cloud, so that they may hear the Lord speak to Moses. I can imagine the Israelite camp feeling both nervous and excited. At this point, they had only received messages from the Lord through Moses, but now they were going to have the privilege of audibly hearing the voice of God.

Before appearing to them, the Lord commands the Israelites to consecrate themselves by washing their clothes (v.10), not touching the mountain (v. 12), and abstaining from sexual intercourse (v. 15).

Why does the Lord ask them to consecrate themselves? First, God is Holy and requiring the Israelites to consecrate themselves reveals that He is separate from them. In order for them to be in His presence, they must cleanse themselves of all sin through these rituals. Second, like the athletes mentioned above, God wanted them to be not only spiritually prepared, but also mentally prepared. The physical act of washing themselves, abstaining from women, and not touching the mountain reminds them that they are going to be in the presence of the creator of the universe.

Many Christians, especially me, have forgotten the importance of consecration. There is a lack of preparation when it comes to meeting with the creator of the universe on Sundays. Some of us treat our Sunday mornings like any other day—often scrambling to just make it on time. Yet, this passage reminds us of the importance of having rituals to help us focus on Sunday worship.

While I am not advocating for us to be like the Israelites, I am encouraging us to find certain activities that may prepare us for our meeting with the Lord. It may be sleeping earlier on Saturdays, so that we may wake up earlier for service. It may be playing a worship CD or Bible mp3 on the way to church. Or, as a family, pray together in the car. Whatever it may be, these actives will help shift our focus from all the distractions around us unto the Lord.

This morning, what are some ways that you may better prepare yourself for Sunday worship? After you have thought of certain ways, make a commitment to the Lord that you will better prepare yourself this year. Remember, it is a great privilege to be in the presence of God, and we must give Him our best.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are a God who has made a way for us to enter into your presence. Help me not to take this privilege lightly. If there are adjustments that I need to make to better prepare my heart, please remind me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 7

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 3:1-17: Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” 6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Questions to consider

Why did Joshua tell the Israelites to consecrate themselves?
Through parting the Jordan River, what was God revealing to the Israelites about Joshua?
How was the Lord going to guide Israel through the Promised Land?

Notes

Joshua told the Israelites to consecrate themselves because the Lord was going to do amazing things among them, namely, parting the Jordan River. (v. 5 & 14-17)
Through parting the Jordan River, the Lord wanted to reveal to the Israelites that Joshua was the chosen leader after Moses. Just as God parted the Red Sea during Moses’ time, God was going to part the Jordan River during Joshua’s time. (v. 7)
The Lord gives Joshua strict commands that when the Ark of the Covenant begins to move, all of Israel must “move out from their positions and follow it.” The Promised Land was a new territory, and the Israelites had no idea which direction to go. Therefore, the Lord commanded the Israelites to follow the Ark of the Covenant.

Evening Reflection

Consecration is important because it prepares our heart, spirit, and mind to meet with the Lord. He is the creator of the universe, and He deserves our best. What are some reasons why you forget to prepare yourself before meeting the Lord? Take a moment to meditate on this question.

April 8, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from April 8-14 are provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson and his wife Annie are serving as AMI missionaries in E. Asia. This past January they became brand new parents! Congratulations.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Accepting the Invitation”

Exodus 19:1-6

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There, Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Do you remember the feeling of receiving an invitation to a friend’s birthday party? I remember always feeling really excited because I anticipated the games, the cake, and the goody bags containing Pokemon cards. Looking back, I think I was really excited because out of some thirty students in the class, I was chosen to attend—and that made me feel special.

In this passage, the Israelites had just been rescued from the hands of the Egyptians. The Israelites were trapped between the Egyptians who chased them and the Red Sea. While all seemed lost for the Israelites, the Lord parted the Red Sea for them to cross. But, the Lord kept the Egyptians from crossing themselves; instead, they all drowned.

From the Red Sea, the Israelites entered the wilderness of Sinai. And after encamping near Mount Sinai, Moses climbed up the mountain where the Lord met him. It is here when God made a covenant with the Israelites. The stipulation of the covenant was that if the Israelites obey the Lord’s commandments, then they would be called God’s most treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

What was the purpose of this covenant? Recall that in Genesis 12 God had made a covenant with Abraham concerning His descendants. He said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (12:1-3). The Lord was inviting the Israelites to fulfill their purpose and, as Abraham’s descendants, to become a blessing to other nations. Through the Israelites, the Lord wanted to restore fallen humanity.

Like the Israelites, we have the privilege of being God’s treasured possession through His son, Jesus. However, God has set us apart, not only to enjoy His blessings, but so that we can become the channel of God’s blessings to the people around us.

Often, we get lost in the routines of work, family, and friends, and forget what God is doing in these spheres. Thus, we must remember that God is always working in every aspect of our lives, and there is a reason why we are in our situations. Through you, God’s treasured possession, God is inviting you to be part of His work of restoring humanity! Will you accept His invitation?

This morning, take a few minutes to think about your workplace, family, friend circle, and invite the Holy Spirit to help you become aware of what God is doing in these areas.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 6

Lunch Break Study

Read John 5:1-19: Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Questions to consider

How long has the man been an invalid? From his point of view, why can’t he get well?
Why did the Jewish leaders persecute the invalid man and Jesus?
When does the Son do the Father’s work?

Notes

The man has been an invalid for 38 years. He cannot get well because no one is willing to carry him into the water.
The Jewish leaders persecuted the invalid and Jesus because they were doing work on the Sabbath: the invalid picked up his mat and Jesus healed the invalid.
The Son can only do the Father’s work when He sees His Father working. Therefore, the Son must wait, see, and recognize when the Father is moving.

Evening Reflection

This morning, we invited the Holy Spirit to help us become aware of the what God is doing in different spheres of our lives. This evening, ask the Lord to give you wisdom in how to join Him. It is a privilege to be invited to be part of what God is doing around us.

April 7, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“You Gotta Want It”

2 Kings 2:9-14

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

“Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary”: In Dead Poets Society, John Keating (played by Robin Williams) used these words to inspire a group of young English students to aspire to live lives of significance. He reminded them that in just a few short years, they would be dead and fertilizing the flowers of the field.

Much of our millennial generation would agree with Keating – that life is short and therefore should be lived to its fullest. How this plays out, however, varies greatly by individual. Some throw themselves into making the next hot app, dreaming of millions (if not billions) as they program away into the night. Others look for meaning in experiences, whether through travel or thrills or drugs. Still for others, romantic love is the answer. Whatever the path, meaning is the goal.

Elisha was no slouch himself. When his master Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven, he asked for a “double portion of [his] spirit.” In other words, he wanted everything that Elijah had – the prophetic ministry, the power and the miracles. He wanted to be great in the kingdom of God. The fact that this was “a difficult thing” did not discourage him. Someone once said that if something isn’t difficult to do, then it probably isn’t worth doing. Elijah assented to his request, but not without condition – Elisha would have to witness Elijah’s ascension in order to receive such power. In other words, such power must be actively appropriated, not passively received.

In Acts 1:6-11, we witness a strikingly similar event. Jesus is taken up into heaven before the disciples’ eyes, and a few days later on the day of Pentecost, the disciples are filled with incredible power (as evidenced in Peter’s sermon as well as the ensuing miracles throughout the book of Acts). What cannot be missed, however, is what took place between these events— “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” The power of the Holy Spirit did not come upon casual observers or slack disciples – it came upon a people actively seeking the promise of the Father through prayer.

God wants us to live lives that count, and He provides the means to do so – the power of His Spirit. We can be great in the kingdom of God. But we have to go after it. What kind of life do you want to live? There is nothing stopping you from living it, no matter what your life circumstances. God’s grace is sufficient for you. But you have to take hold of it through radical, believing, faith-filled prayer. Carpe diem!

Prayer: God, I don’t want to live a lukewarm, defeated, mediocre Christian life. I want to live a radical, power-filled, miracle-witnessing, sin-overcoming life! Forgive me if I’ve settled for anything less. Give me the faith to believe that no matter how difficult, it can be achieved through Your Spirit. Give me a heart to pray. Give me a passion to pursue. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 5

April 6, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“There is No Substitute for God”

2 Kings 1:1-4:

After Ahab’s death, Moab rebelled against Israel. 2 Now Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, saying to them, “Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury.” 3 But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 4 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!’” So Elijah went.

It’s obvious that in this passage God is upset at King Ahaziah because he didn’t inquire of Him as to how his illness would turn out. What is interesting, however, is the king’s reaction to the news from his messengers regarding the “stranger” that they had met on the road. Through nothing more than a description of his outfit, Ahaziah knew that it was the prophet Elijah (v.8). What we can see from this is that Ahaziah was very much aware that there was a prophet of the Lord in his land, yet he had no interest in inquiring of the Lord through him. For this, he was condemned to die from his wounds.

We take encouragement from this passage that we serve a God who wants us to inquire of Him. Imagine that!—being invited to ask for wisdom and knowledge from the source of all wisdom and knowledge! Our struggle, however, is that too often we don’t take God up on His generous offer. We’ve replaced God with Google or friends or medical professionals. Not that any of these things are wrong—these things can all be a blessing—but the problem comes when these things effectively replace God in our lives. Inquiring of God through prayer is considered impractical. Like Ahaziah, we know that He’s there and He’s real, but in times of trouble, we go elsewhere for answers. That displeases the Lord. Let’s be smart and seek God at all times.

Prayer: What do you need to ask God about today? James reminds us that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (1:5). Spend time inquiring of the Lord.

Bible Reading for Today: Romans 3-4