March 14, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Meal that Nourishes Faith”

Exodus 12:23-27

For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. 24 And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever. 25 When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’” And the people bowed low and worshiped.

The Lent season has already started, and we are about five weeks away from Easter Sunday. This is a great time in the year to consider ways to prepare our hearts to remember the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry before His death and the victory He won for us through the resurrection. Before we consider how we will make room in our schedules to recount the victory Jesus won for us, let’s look at how the Lord in the Old Testament taught the Israelites to remember His works through the Passover meal.

After they had prepared the Passover lamb for their deliverance and before the deliverance actually took place, God instituted the Passover meal as an ordinance that Israel should keep every year as a remembrance of God’s salvation. It would also serve to teach the future generations about God’s salvation for His covenant people. The key spiritual principle to draw out in this passage is from the phrase, “When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.” What is already apparent is that God will give Israel His promise. Israel can look forward to enjoying God’s promise and blessing, but obedience to God’s law, which in this case is the law to observe the Passover, will enable them to continuously live in God’s promise. For them to remain in the promised land for the long haul, they must hold fast to God’s rule and what He requires of them. Where there is grace, there is also a response of obedience required.

God requires His people to commit to observing the Passover, and “re-enacting” the night of their deliverance, because it will lead them to worship God and remember that He is the source of their salvation and the fountain of life. Observing this ordinance regularly will protect them from the temptation to trust in other gods, as they will see other powerful, successful nations worship their gods and be enticed to draw security from their gods instead of from God of Israel. Obeying the Passover ordinance will ascribe to God the worship that is worthy of Him, but the benefit is for the Israelites, for it will keep them steady and faithful to trust in God in their future battles.

How will you make room in your schedule in these next several weeks to remember the victory Jesus won for you? What are new blessings or promises that God is leading you to possess this year? In preparing for these new seasons, what habits do you want to build to regularly recount God’s goodness and making thanksgiving a regular part of your worship to Him?

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You that You are the God of my salvation! Thank You that You place spiritual habits in my life because they lead me back to you and remind me of how You have led me from the beginning until now. Preserve me from my own forgetfulness and tendency to wander. As You lead me to walk into Your plans and promises, teach me to obey what You command so that I can continuously remain in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 1:3-7: Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

Questions to Consider

When and where is God saying these words to Joshua?
What is God promising to Joshua?
What is the most important task for Joshua?

Notes

God is speaking to Joshua after Moses died and when the right time came for Joshua, as the appointed one, to lead the Israelites to possess the promised Land. The Israelites are on one side of the Jordan River and are preparing to cross over to the land.
God is promising that the land which He has promised to give to the children of Abraham indeed belongs to them, even before they go in to physically possess the land. He not only promises the land but His presence and protection as well.
Besides conquering the land, the most important task for Joshua is to keep God’s word close to him and to obey all that he has been taught through the Law. By holding onto God’s word, he will not only be able to conquer the land, but will also be able to continuously possess God’s promise and live in God’s promise.

Evening Reflection

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

What key events and breakthroughs in your life could you give thanks for today? In what way would it breed hope for you regarding the future?

March 13, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“With Your Loins Girded”

Exodus 12:11-13

Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Romans 10:8-10

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

When I was serving in East Asia, one precious moment that I will always cherish was witnessing several natives praying the sinner’s prayer or hearing them process why they want to get baptized. As they declared their faith in their own words, I got to witness new believers “cross from death to life” (Jn. 5:24). After this initial confession of faith, it would take several more steps for these baby Christians—with virtually no knowledge of Scripture—to truly comprehend that the free gift of salvation is available to them by faith, and not by performance, good works, or background. Once the Holy Spirit guides them to this truth, they cheerfully receive the good news by firmly believing in their hearts and sincerely confessing with their mouth.

In today’s passage, God instructs the Israelites to prepare to eat the Passover Lamb and to put some of the lamb’s blood on the doorpost of their home so that they will be passed over during the plague of the firstborn. This is to prepare for the impending judgment upon Egypt and for Israel’s deliverance from slavery. The emphasis in this passage is the manner in which God instructs the Israelites to eat the Passover lamb—“with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand.”

In ancient times, both men and women regularly wore tunics, and “girding up their loins” meant to hoist up the fabric above their knees so they could have mobility to run or do the labor. Along with putting on sandals and holding their staff, these actions represent readiness to receive the Lord’s deliverance and is an act of faith, declaring their trust in Him that He will indeed bring them out of the bondage of slavery and that the blood of the Lamb is a sign of the Lord’s Passover. In the Old Testament, this was the way God prepared His people to receive their deliverance from Egypt.

When it comes to our salvation in Christ, the New Testament teaches us to receive salvation by using our mouth and believing in our heart the works of Jesus. Though we are not in the same situation as the Israelites, we can find insight in the Exodus passage for our own faith because the manner in which they ate the Passover lamb should be the posture in our heart by which we receive not only the grace of salvation, but also the daily grace we need for living out our faith.

So, in what ways do you think the Lord is leading you to act “with your loins girded” to show your readiness and faith in His works? Give it a prayerful thought.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your great salvation! As You have led me to receive Your salvation by faith and confession, help me to continue to receive Your daily grace with faith and empower me not to rely on my own strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 9:3-7: I Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you. “Do not say in your heart when the Lord your God has driven them out before you, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. It is not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your heart that you are going to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God is driving them out before you, in order to confirm the oath which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people. Remember, do not forget how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you arrived at this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

Questions to Consider

When and where is Moses saying these words to the Israelites?
What is Moses’ main message?
What does Moses want the Israelites to remember?

Notes

Moses is speaking to the Israelites in the land of Moab, across from the Jordan River. He is preparing them to go into Canaan to possess the land that God has promised to give them.
Moses is warning the Israelites not to mislead themselves to think that they are receiving the Promised Land based on their own doing or righteous works. They are going to possess the land because God Himself “is crossing over before you” (vs. 3) and He is using Israel as His holy nation to execute judgment on these nations. The Israelites of recipients of God’s promise and grace.
He wants the Israelites to remember that they have actually been rebellious and acted in disbelief towards God between the time they left Egypt up until now. Later in chapter 9, Moses explains that the Lord remained merciful and slow to anger because he prayed on their behalf; that is, Moses, pleaded with the Lord to remember His promise to Israel’s forefathers and asked God to display His ability to fulfill His promises (9:28-29).

Evening Reflection

The Passover meal in Exodus signifies the exodus from Egypt and was not the exodus itself. It served as a way to remember and think of the Lord’s salvation. Today, we remember the Lord’s salvation through taking communion as a community of believers. How do you prepare your heart as you partake in communion each time?

March 12, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Called by Love”

Exodus 11:6-7

There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. Moreover, there shall be a great cry in all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been before and such as shall never be again. But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.’

Deut. 7:7-8

The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

One of the privileges I have in ministry is walking alongside young adults as they figure out the big topic named CALLING. It’s an issue many gravitate towards because it’s exciting to think about our purpose and future; but it also leads to a lot of questions and patient waiting since no individuals can get the clarity they are hoping for in one instance. Our instinct is to find out what to do with our lives, but we don’t get that “microwave answer” because calling is actually something that is realized through an ongoing relationship with God and the clarity of what to do matures overtime.

From what we can glean from the Exodus story, God first calls Israel to Himself—to a love relationship with Him. He identifies himself as a Father and Israel is His “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22). In today’s passage, God is about to send a final plague unto Egypt, but the calamity will not hit any of the Israelite homes. The plague will “pass over” them, and the loud cry in the land will cause Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Today’s Scripture shows us that God’s act of deliverance makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. Israel is not only set free, but is “called out” of the darkness of slavery and “made distinct” as a people for God Himself. God calls Israel out of their “former life” to a relationship with Him, in which He would be their new Lord and Master. He called them because of His love for them and His promise to their forefather Abraham, and not based on their works or merit. Through the ministry of the tabernacle and the giving of the Law, they would spend the first season outside of Egypt learning what it means to obey and relate to God.

Later, after being delivered from Egypt, God then reveals His vocational calling for them, which is to be a kingdom priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:6). They would be a vessel through which other nations would get to know God. As Christians, we each have a unique calling, or vocation, to fulfill in God’s kingdom, but the foundation to our vocation is the same, which is a calling to God Himself. We are distinct in that God pursue a relationship with us first, and it is through our response to a relationship with Him that the task He has for us becomes clear. This morning, let’s bask in the reality that God has delightfully chosen to be our Father and calls us to a personal relationship with us.

Prayer: Dear Father, thank You that You have called me to be, first and foremost, Your son/daughter. Help me to be an unhurried recipient of Your grace and love. I praise You because there is no other God like You, who chooses people based on Your love and an invitation to a relationship with You. May Your grace and love empower to respond to Your mission and assignment for me as You make it clear to me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Hosea 11:1-4: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”

Questions to Consider

What kind of relationship does God have with Israel?
What event is Hosea referring to in the first verse?
What does this passage reveal about God’s purpose for delivering Israel out of Egypt?

Notes

Through the prophet Hosea, God reveals that his relationship with Israel is like a father to a son. He loves Israel like a father raising his child – teaching him to walk, taking him by his arms and bending down to feed him.
Hosea is referring to the Exodus event, when the Lord delivered Israel out of slavery in Egypt by hardening Pharaoh’s heart and sending the 10 plagues which eventually caused Pharaoh to drive the Israelites out of Egypt.
He delivered them, not only to set them free, but it was a calling to a relationship with Him. He delivered them so they could enter into a relationship of trust, faithfulness and obedience to Him. Israel had a history after the Exodus of turning to other gods and abandoning God as their God, yet God faithfully kept calling them back to Himself through his covenants and prophets.

Evening Reflection

The apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:13-14, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Reflect on whether you are really living the life of the kingdom of the Son in whom we have received the forgiveness of our sins. This behooves us to ask: Are we still holding onto old grudges that is keeping us from forgiving someone close to us? Perhaps, tonight is the night we let that go—because of Jesus.

March 11, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from March 11-17 are provided by Tina Hsu. Tina, a graduate of Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), serves as the office manager of Church of Southland. She also directs the AMI cohort ministry for interns.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Justice is His Work”

Exodus 11:1-3, 12:35-36

Now the Lord said to Moses, “One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out from here completely. Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.” The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Psalm 103:6

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”

When it comes to asking people for help, we all differ in our degree of courage in asking. Some of us may feel confident knowing the validity of our request, and others of us tend to feel afraid to ask, due to feeling like a burden or inconvenience. In today’s passage, God instructs the Israelites through Moses to ask the Egyptians for articles of gold and silver. In a way, God is instructing the Israelites to ask for justice, for these articles would serve as the wages for all their hard labor under severe oppression. I could only imagine the fear I would feel to approach my oppressor to ask for these materials. However, the emphasis in the passage is that the Egyptians’ response, as well as justice for the Israelites, are all God’s doing.

When the Lord instructed the Israelites to ask for articles of gold and silver, He was preparing to execute the last plague in Egypt which would finally cause Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave. It is my guess that the Israelites would have been overjoyed simply to be delivered from slavery, but God made it a point for them to receive their wages for their labor from Egypt through these articles. Through the nine previous plagues and His acts through Moses, God revealed his great power and might to the Egyptians. Though Pharaoh’s heart only became harder, the servants and people of Egypt saw how the God of Israel was greater than Egyptian power and Egyptian gods. Their hearts changed towards the Israelites and their fear of God grew. They had previously been oppressors, but they began to esteem Moses and to look upon the Israelites with greater respect. The Lord had given the Israelites favor in the eyes of the Egyptians. They would not leave Egypt empty-handed, but would have gold and silver, which would later become material for the tabernacle, the place where God’s presence would dwell. God’s act of justice worked towards their freedom, and they would be freed to serve and worship God.

This morning, let us consider how God is the initiator and finisher of all that is fair and just. When justice is His doing, He causes those whom He wants to lift up to be esteemed in the eyes of others, and He gives great favor to them. Let this passage remind us that our welfare and life conditions are in God’s hands.

Prayer: Dear Father, I praise You because You are a wonder-working God! You look upon those who are helpless in dark places and You work justice and righteousness for them. Lord, I pray that You would indeed work righteousness and justice for those who face oppression. I entrust their lives and future into Your hands. May Your power and deeds cause oppressors to see You, and may their actions change as they witness Your greatness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 2

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:23-25: When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Questions to Consider

What is Peter emphasizing about Jesus Christ?
What is Peter’s message to his immediate readers?
Christ is the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul. How does this speak to you as you face your present, and perhaps difficult, circumstances?

Notes

Peter is referring to Christ’s suffering on the cross. When insults were directed to him on that day, he did not retaliate or act against his oppressors, but he entrusted himself to the Father. He made it his goal to be the Savior by bearing everyone’s sins on the cross. He did not act as the judge in that moment, but trusted God the Father to be the judge of all deeds.
Peter’s point is that since Christ bore our sins on the cross, we are no longer slaves to sin, but we are freed to live for righteousness. An aspect of living for righteousness is to follow in Christ’s footsteps, which is to not retaliate when we are treated harshly, but to entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly. Peter instructed his immediate readers to submit to their masters in v. 18, even if they are not treated well, as a way of following Christ’s example.
Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1).

Scripture frequently reminds us that man’s authority and power will not prevail against God’s. Are you facing an unjust situation or a situation where you are falsely accused or misunderstood? Entrust your case to the Lord, and invite the Holy Spirit to give you strength to rest in the Lord’s timing and doing.

March 10, Sunday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Retiring Old Wonders”

Exodus 10:14b

“Never before had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.”

Along with many other children in the United States, I believed in the Tooth Fairy growing up. My parents kept up the ruse by making sure the “Tooth Fairy” left money for both me and my brother whenever we lost a tooth. I tried several times to trick her with an old tooth under my pillow, sometimes with a day or a week in-between. Somehow, she always seemed to know when it was an old tooth, and I would wake up the next morning disappointed.

On a more “grown-up” (but no less foolish) level, I have often asked God to give me the same old things based on prior experience. Could He also save me the way He did before on a final exam? Can He miraculously give me a job the way He did before? Can He provide the same kind of breakthrough as He did the last church retreat? The list goes on…

Unlike the problem with the Tooth Fairy, the problem with asking God for the same old things is not that I exhaust God’s ability to deliver, but that I settle for my limited understanding of what He is able to do. If we only ask God to repeat what He has done in the past, we will never learn new things about His power and provision. We will grow familiar and numb to His wonders. This is why certain miracles and works will not be repeated; they fulfilled their purposes in what they taught us about God, and now there will be new things to look forward to.

Brothers and sisters, our God is unfathomably powerful and glorious. We have not grasped the full extent of what He is able to do, nor should we expect to know all He wants to do. Before we launch into our petitions and requests today, let’s ask Him to fill us with expectation that He is able to do more than we can imagine. When we believe and trust that He has more to show us, we will find our understanding of Him expanded. We will no longer keep searching for the things that we have seen before but will trustingly look forward to new things.

Prayer: Father, Your ideas are always better than my ideas. I want to surrender my assumption of what You can or should do. Give me a heart that desires solutions that will glorify You the most. Help me not to settle for yesterday’s wonders but that I would look forward to what new things You can bring tomorrow. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 1

March 9, Saturday

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Heart of Celebration”

Exodus 10:9

“Moses answered, “We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our flocks and herds, because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.”

In her memoir, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom writes of an evening in the Ravensbruck concentration camp, where her sister Betsie insists on thanking God for their living conditions – a barrack infested with fleas. “’Give thanks in all circumstances,’ [Betsie] quoted. ‘It doesn’t say, in pleasant circumstances. Fleas are part of where God has put us.’” While Corrie writes of her doubtfulness, she finds out later that because the guards hated the fleas, this sector of camp was rarely monitored and harassed. As a result, Corrie and Betsie were able to have prayer meetings and minister to women freely, so that even in a dark place they found abundance of life!

This idea of celebration is extremely important. The purpose for Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt is so that they may worship the Lord and celebrate His faithfulness, for God is fulfilling promises made to their forefathers. Isn’t it amazing? The response of the people after receiving their freedom will be to worship the Lord. The agenda does not include complaining about the last several hundred years, regretting lost time and wasted opportunity, or wishing that deliverance could have come sooner. Instead, what the people will do is to rejoice in what God has wrought on their behalf. Moses does not know what the journey out of Egypt will entail, if it will be easy or difficult. But what he does know is that the people will worship God.

While we know that the Israelites will certainly fall short of their intentions (and so do we), we can still learn and aspire to be people who celebrate. Celebration is not only a spontaneous reaction to positive things. Celebration can take place because we plan for it.

So today, let’s plan to celebrate what God has done and will do. Let’s commit ahead of time to giving thanks when we anticipate both good things and hard things happening. Let us choose to celebrate with all that we have and with all those around us. May we ask Him to help us live up to these plans of believing, seeing, and testifying that He has been and will continue to be good to His people.

Prayer: Father, thank You for all Your goodness in my life. Put words of thanksgiving in my heart! Help me to intentionally and purposefully celebrate Your work in my life. Cultivate a habit of praise in my life so that I will become someone who celebrates Your goodness in all circumstances. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 27-28

March 8, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Exodus 10:1, 3

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them!’… 3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh…”

I recently applied to business school programs. It took a lot of preparation – studying for exams, getting recommendations, and writing essays. I was short-sighted to think that the hardest part was applying. The hardest part has been waiting to hear back from these schools. At the time of writing, I have only received rejections so far. While I felt led by Him entering this process, I’ve noticed that my hopefulness has still taken a hit with these decisions. It becomes increasingly hard to start each day wondering whether I will receive news, and sometimes I even go as far as to avoid checking my email. Though this process is far from over, I find that sustaining my hope has been difficult.

If you are tracking with the narrative, you know that we are now between the seventh and eighth plagues. This means that Moses has gone before Pharaoh, stated his case, and received rejection seven times! Yet when God calls him to go again, Moses does so without any recorded hesitation or frustration. Each time, Moses continues to present Himself to Pharaoh – this time could be the last time! The resilience of Moses’ faith and hope to continue seeking out Pharaoh are just as astonishing as the plagues themselves.

In thinking of how to acquire such emotional and spiritual stamina, I wonder if Moses acquired such resilience and perseverance because he understood that hopefulness was not about the reward of what he wished to gain but about the God He believed in. Maintaining hope was not about his ability to drum up positive thoughts. It was possible only because he wanted to demonstrate, for as long as it took, that God is faithful to His people and always delivers them.

Walking in step with God does not always prove to be an efficient or easy path. For Moses, each step of obedience and each ensuing plague further revealed one more aspect of God’s power and glory. So, we can take heart that no matter what the path looks like, it will be paved with His glory. Until He shows us the ending, let’s ask for Him to make our hope resilient in the meantime so we may witness to the world that we have a God who is worthy of our trust.

Prayer: Father, I desire to honor You in everything that I do. Help me to honor You even when I wait for Your answers, and in times when I doubt Your unfailing goodness and kindness in my life. Be near, Lord, to show me Your goodness and remind me of your faithfulness. May Your character be the foundation for my trust and confidence. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 26

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:19-25: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Questions to Consider

What is the hope that we profess to have as believers?
What provides the confidence for us to go before God and hold onto His promises?
As people who take hold of the hope in Christ, what should our natural response be?

Notes

Our hope is that we have relationship and communion with a loving and holy God. As believers, we profess that this is our greatest treasure and reward, that it brings us the greatest satisfaction, and that this is promised for every single moment of our lives from now to eternity.
The crux of our confidence in every situation is that Christ has already opened a way for us to come near to God by His death and resurrection. He has already accomplished the impossible: for sinners to draw near to a holy God. Therefore, we have assurance that we can absolutely draw close. Additionally, God’s faithfulness gives us the assurance that this promise and hope will never be withheld from us.
Holding onto our hope (vertical relationship) flows naturally into our horizontal relationships. When we cling to our hope and enjoy this promised fellowship with God, our response will be to urge others to continue in their love and good deeds and to draw close to each other as well.

Evening Reflection

Oftentimes, thinking of enduring long stretches of time makes us weary before we have even started. Let’s thank God that He provided grace for us to stay faithful today, and let’s ask Him to provide grace for tomorrow. Our God is the God of all hope; He will bring us along as He shows us what is worth hoping for.

March 7, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Diligence in Seeking God”

Exodus 9:27-28, 34

“Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. ‘This time I have sinned,’ he said to them. ‘The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer…’ 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.”

I have found that there is no time like the last month before a big exam. My lifestyle becomes machine-like as my diligence kicks into high gear: I sleep regular hours, I exercise regularly, I even meal prep – all so I can devote additional time before and after work to study. Something is thrilling about living in my best state during a high-stakes season. However, my off-season lifestyle is shameful. Most of these habits drop to the wayside and prove that, at my core, I am loose and undisciplined. One might say it’s normal to not have otherworldly discipline, but it is obvious to me that the urgency of my situation changes my dedication and focus.

We have just experienced a glimmer of hope when Pharaoh surveys the consequences of not letting the Israelites go – all his land is destroyed. He seems about ready to relent and is willing to let the Israelites go and have Moses intercede on his behalf. When the stakes are high, he too submits to the Lord. But once God relieves the Egyptians, instead of repentance and worship, Pharaoh loses interest in seeking God.

Does your level of comfort change whether you seek God or believe you really need Him? In times of relative ease, are you like me, forgetting that we are called to faithfulness? Today, let’s resolve to make habits in our lives so that our spiritual hunger does not wax and wane with circumstance. Big, sweeping plans seem exciting, but small habits that will pay off in the long run. Let’s make time today to dedicate ourselves to seeking God: one more chapter of the Word than usual, or 5-10 more minutes of prayer than usual. Over time, as we build these habits, may we become people who are steadfast and faithful through all circumstances.

Prayer: Father, I want to know You more, but I confess that I am often slow and lazy to seek You. Help me to encounter You and build my faithfulness so that I can gain a faithful, steady heart that is constant in every circumstance and situation. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 25

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Timothy 4:6-16: “If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Questions to Consider

Note that Paul says both physical and spiritual trainings hold value. How does Paul contrast physical and spiritual training?
What are the ways in which we can train ourselves to be godly?
What are ways in which you are training yourself to be godly? What are additional ways in which you can do so?

Notes

It is important to note that they both are valuable, and this should be an affirmation to those who pursue both physical and spiritual training. However, Paul reminds us that spiritual training brings about promise for both this life and the one to come, whereas physical training is valuable for only this life. It is the eternal return on investment in spiritual training that gives it greater worth and value.
First, Paul writes that people must forego “godless myths and old wives’ tales” – aka compelling words that are not filled with the hope and certainty of God’s promises. Myths and tales give us good ideas, but they do not nourish our souls the way that God’s teaching does. In this vein, Paul further encourages Timothy to be devoted to the reading and preaching of the Word. He is encouraged to further pursue the spiritual gifts and also to strive to be an example in all facets of his life: speech, action, love, faith, and purity. Lastly, Timothy is charged to live diligently and let others look into how his life is run – this type of spiritual accountability with his public life is meant to spur him on in godliness.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

How was your time with God today? What are steps you can take to maintain diligence in seeking God? Pray that God will give you these opportunities again tomorrow.

March 6, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Having the Ear of Heaven”

Exodus 9:29

“Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.”

Matthew 6:7-8

“And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

During a recent trip overseas, my mom kept asking if I wanted to go into an unfamiliar store to buy some steamed buns for a snack. She suggested it so frequently that I became curious and asked why she was fixated on these buns. Did she want some herself? It was her turn to be confused: “I thought you said you wanted to try them out!” For the life of me, I could not remember saying so. But it’s likely that I did off-handedly, and my mom was so attentive that she logged it into her memory. I don’t like to admit this, but my parents are always listening, and they always remember things I forget I have said.

While it is clear by this point that Moses and God have a close relationship, Moses’ explanation of ending this plague still seems too simple. He will ask, and the destructive hailstorm will end. Moses knows God is listening, and he knows that once he asks, God will immediately answer.

Do you know that you also have the ear of Heaven? How our prayers and conversations with Him would change if we truly believed that His ear is always turned towards us and that He is listening! Our prayers and words do not get lost on the way to Heaven along with everyone else’s. He catches every word clearly and is keenly aware of what’s on your heart.

Today, let’s respond in awareness that God knows all the words we speak. We can pray with simple faith that our God listens to us; we can pray without overcomplicating or making long-winded explanations and propositions. He is our loving Father, and He is listening. May we rest in this security that our Father’s attention is on us.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You always listen to me. I sometimes come with hesitancy and reluctance, but I want to know that Your ear is always open towards me. Help me to trust and delight in knowing that I have a Father who loves listening. Help me to freely pour out my heart before You today! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 24

Lunch Break Study

Read James 5:13-18: “This Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

Questions to Consider

What are the different forms that prayer can take, and what are the effects?
Why would James say that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective?
Why does James emphasize that Elijah was human, as we are?

Notes

Prayer appears in all contexts: in fearful situations to bring comfort and peace; in joyous occasions to sing to the Lord; in physical sickness to declare God’s power over the physical; and in spiritual sickness to witness God’s redemption and renewal. There is a prayer for every season and every circumstance.
The person who is “righteous” – having confessed sins and shortcomings to God and taken on His new life – has been filled by the Spirit. The one who is filled with God’s Spirit prays in alignment with what God desires (and therefore is effective). However, the one filled with God’s Spirit also has greater expectation for what God is able to do; thus the prayers may be more audacious as they require a greater demonstration of who God is, and God will certainly answer requests that glorify His name.
We often risk elevating Biblical figures as above-average men and women of faith, but they were like us and had similar sins and flaws. Knowing that Elijah was a man like us should give us confidence and joy that our prayers, too, can come with a demonstration of God’s Spirit!

Evening Reflection

Did you find that your prayers changed when you reminded yourself of God’s listening ear today? I encourage you to think about how to habitually incorporate this and make it a regular aspect in how you meet with God.

March 5, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Believing Remnant”

Exodus 9:20

“Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside.”

I have some friends at work who are Chinese natives; becoming friends with them is not just a boon to my social life in the office but helps me practice my Mandarin. Two years ago, before Good Friday (a holiday that our company keeps), one of them asked me what I would do on my day off. I replied that I would celebrate with my church. As she asked me what we would celebrate, I quickly realized that my language skills were inadequate to explain why I could celebrate that my God died on Good Friday. After an extremely flustering conversation, I walked away realizing that, despite my upbringing, I never learned the vocabulary of the Gospel in Chinese because I never thought I would talk to someone who wanted to hear it.

The reception from the Egyptians has been hostile, unbelieving, and cold. But though Pharaoh opposed Moses, some of his officials were a believing remnant that God had left for Himself among the Egyptians. There were people there who wanted to fear God. Had Moses not been faithful to appear and demonstrate the works of the Lord, these officials would have been unable to listen to God’s words and respond accordingly.

Today, there are people around us in unexpected places who would like to hear more about the Jesus we profess to love. Our witness consists not only in sharing truths but in demonstrating the love and power of the Spirit. Are we aware that we have been placed around people who desire to know and fear God? Let’s ask Him to open our eyes and our hearts so that we might see and receive them today. May He give us the wisdom and grace to speak His truths to whoever has ears to listen. If we remember that there are people seeking His truth, even in unfriendly and surprising places, then every inch of the earth we cover can be a place of worship to Him today.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You may be found when we seek You. Give me a heart that is aware that others are longing to meet You; make me an instrument who responds to that need. Bring people around me so that I might share the wonder of Your love with them and remember for myself the joy of knowing You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Matthew 23

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12: “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

Questions to Consider

What are the marks of a believer’s life as Paul writes about here?
In the passage, who teaches the believers how to live?
Paul writes two times in this passage that the Thessalonians are living correctly, but he urges them to do so “more and more.” Why? Is this reflected in our own lives?

Notes

Paul writes that believers are distinguished by numerous qualities: holiness, love, and peace. Holiness comes from living in obedience to God – particularly in this case Paul writes about avoiding sexual sins. Love is not just inwards (within the community) but is spread outwards: “throughout Macedonia.” He also challenges them to live quiet lives; the Thessalonians seem to have the need to grow in the area of living winsome lives towards unbelievers.
The believers learn how to live from Paul and his friends – in fact, he reminds them that these instructions ultimately come from God. The truths had been transmitted by the authority of Christ, and the call to be holy comes from God’s Holy Spirit. The ability for the Thessalonians to love generously comes from God – God Himself and the way that He loves is where the Thessalonians take their cues from. It is interesting to us that, though people may be a model by which we are introduced to the things of God, it is still God who teaches and guides us in these aspects of our living.
Paul seems to suggest that they should raise the bar. Perhaps there are deeper, more sustained, and greater ways to live in holiness and in love than what they have known. Or, perhaps Paul writes this so that no one can stay satisfied by the level that has been achieved but will always move towards the highest example set by Christ. He challenges them not to settle for what has been accomplished but always to yearn for more.

Evening Reflection

Did you think about an opportunity to reflect God, His truth, and His character today? Or did someone come to mind that you can begin showing His love and truth to? Let’s pray for God to make more opportunities arise in our lives and for us to be ready to demonstrate His love and truth.