July 27, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally posted on May 19, 2018, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Brokenness All Around Us”

Jeremiah 4:19-21

“Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry. 20 Disaster follows disaster; the whole land lies in ruins. In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment. 21 How long must I see the battle standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?”

“And while potential jumpers often wait for officers to arrive because they may want to be talked out of killing themselves, there are those who never give officers the chance. Detective Canale recalled a man who leapt from a lower stretch of the Verrazano and struck the rocks below. The man was still alive when the detective got to him, though many of his bones were broken, his internal organs ruptured. As the man’s shattered body was secured to a long board and he was administered oxygen, the man, in some of his final words, said he regretted jumping, the detective recalled. ‘I can’t get this right, either,’ the man said, according to Detective Canale. ‘I told him: “We’re going to get you to the hospital. We’re going to try to make it better.”’” – Ruderman, Wendy, “The Jumper Squad,” The New York Times, Oct 5, 2012

Growing up in New York City made me pretty numb to the brokenness that exists all around. From obvious brokenness, like the guy strung out in front of the methadone clinic, to the less than obvious, like the good-looking and well-dressed yet hopelessly insecure and looking-for-love fixtures of the late-night bar and night club scene—it’s everywhere. I admit that though I am a pastor—someone who’s “paid to care”—I oftentimes don’t. I can pretty easily tune out the pain around me and chalk it up to the unavoidable fate of a fallen world. But sometimes something comes along, like the Times article quoted above, that God uses to soften my New York state of heart. It made me think, What happened in that man’s life to bring him to that point? What kind of a beat down did life give him to make him feel like a failure for not even being able to kill himself “right”? It broke my heart.

Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet, and here we see why. He is not an aloof bystander to Israel reaping the wages of her sin, but rather, a family member agonizing over the fate of a loved one: “Oh, the agony of my heart!” What if we could feel that way when we see our brothers and sisters stumbling in sin, or when we look at the brokenness in our neighborhood or city, or when we observe the societal ills sweeping our nation? Surely such is the heart of God that moved the Father to offer His own Son in our stead. May we also develop God’s heart as the motivation for our ministry.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to hurt with those who are hurting and rejoice with those who are rejoicing. Open my eyes to the brokenness all around me, maybe to a brokenness that was closer than I thought—in a co-worker, a classmate, a friend. Take my eyes off of my own worries and enable me to bring life to others, trusting that You will meet all of my needs as I do so. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 2

July 26, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on November 3, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. He and his family are getting ready to leave for Thailand as missionaries with OMF.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Healing for the Wounded”

2 Samuel 13:1-18

In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David. 2 Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her. 3 Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. 4 He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 5 “Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’”6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, “I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand.” 7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. 9 Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone out of here,” Amnon said. So everyone left him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.”12 “No, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me! Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. 13 What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her. 15 Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, “Get up and get out!” 16 “No!” she said to him. “Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me.” But he refused to listen to her. 17 He called his personal servant and said, “Get this woman out of my sight and bolt the door after her.” 18 So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 

While tuning into the news can often be disheartening, a recent encouraging trend has been the “#Me Too” movement. In October 2017, aided by several celebrities, the “#Me Too” went viral to display the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment. This movement eventually led to the dismissals of accused perpetrators such as former producer Harvey Weinstein and U.S. Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. 

While popular culture has only begun to address these tragedies, the reality that survivors of sexual assault face is not ignored in the Bible.  In 2 Samuel 13, we read about how Tamar, a daughter of King David, was brutally taken advantage of by a man who was supposed to protect her, her brother Amnon. Like most victims, Tamar had no desire for such an encounter (v.12), had her refusals ignored (vv.13-14) and was physically overpowered (v.14). After the rape, Tamar was cast aside as if what had happened was her fault (vv.15-18). 

Understandably, Tamar displayed a tremendous amount of grief after this traumatic encounter (v.19). Unfortunately, her brother Absalom instructed her to be silent, and her father, while furious, did not display justice (v.21), an experience all too common for survivors of sexual abuse. The last mention of Tamar in the Bible was that she lived “in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman” (v.20). Perhaps Tamar lamented, for the rest of her life, that her family viewed her to be of lesser importance than protecting their reputation. 

For those of us who have faced any kind of abuse, there are no words that can properly address the grief and loss you have endured. While I cannot imagine what you have experienced, I do know that our God is the healer of the brokenhearted and is able and willing to walk through the pain with you. For those of us walking alongside friends or siblings with such stories, we have been entrusted to have great empathy and wisdom. No matter where we are in life, may we live in light of the Cross, which displays that God Himself did not ignore, but rather endured our pain.  

Prayer: Father, in the midst of the sin in us and in the world, we pray that Your light will shine through, even in the darkest areas.  As Christ implored us to pray that Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, we pray that Your healing and justice would continue to be made manifest in our world—not only when You return, but also in the present. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 13 & Haggai 1

July 25, Friday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 13, 2018, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Spirit of the Law”

Mark 10:1-10

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

Growing up, I suppose I was like most kids, and my parents were like most parents.  And I had several manipulative ways to get what I wanted.  Direct attacks didn’t usually work—my parents would win every argument because they wielded the authority. But, if Mom was in a bad mood, I knew to tip toe around the corner to ask Dad and that would increase the chances of achieving my goal. The sneakiest of all was this: when I knew they both opposed what I wanted, I would try to tell Dad, “But Mom said I could…”—my plan would usually backfire shortly thereafter.

My parents, of one accord, were looking out for my good, but I, as a disobedient child, tried to go around their will. Like the Pharisees, I could only see the rules placed in front of me, around my neck—I couldn’t understand my parents’ heart behind them. 

In my eyes, my parents enjoyed making so many rules so they could restrict me. On the other hand, I wanted more rules so I could take credit for following them. In my mind, I would receive glory for being obedient, instead of my parents receiving glory for creating a good rule. My will was focused on my own delight and my own glory.                   

When Jesus recognizes the hardness of our human hearts, He still sees us with compassion. Though Jesus has all of the authority that His Father has given Him, Jesus doesn’t punish us when we still “don’t get it.” Hard hearts, deaf ears, and blind eyes keep us from experiencing the new life that God desires for His children. 

Jesus and the Father have one will and one mind. For a God who created everything, and knows everything, and sees everything— in our past and our future—there’s little we can get away with. We can try to manipulate the law to serve our desires, but this twists what protection Jesus offers us in His will. 

As we appeal to authority, Jesus guides our minds, our hearts, our souls, our strength to be one with Him, in the fullness of our being. Let us not separate what God has brought together, but wholeheartedly surrender to our Father’s heart and will—even when we think we know better.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise You, for Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. Help us, as your sons and daughters, to know You as our Father, so we can know Your heart for us and for the world. We want to delight in what You delight in with all of our being. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 12

Lunch Break Study

Read: Philippians 3:1-10: Finally, my brothers,1 rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God 2 and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,3 blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . . 

Questions to Consider

  • What are Paul’s reasons for having confidence in the flesh?  In what ways do you put confidence in your flesh? 
  • How does Paul now describe his previous reasons for confidence in the flesh?
  • What is the one thing that Paul now strives for? In light of your previous confidence, what does this look like for you?

Notes

  • Paul was circumcised on the eighth day; he is an Israelite (Benjaminite), a Hebrew of Hebrews, Pharisee blameless under the law, a persecutor of the church. (Personal reasons will vary. Go deep!)
  • Trash and rubbish. He considers all as loss that he may gain Christ and be found in Him.
  • Pressing on toward the upward call of God, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Evening Reflection

As Paul describes his confidence in the flesh as a loss for the sake of Christ, he reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. Even if we don’t carry a physical passport, reflect on how you (tomorrow!) could live out the power that comes from belonging to Our Father in Heaven. 

July 24, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 22, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Finishing Well”

Genesis 47:29-31

And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

Yesterday was a sad day as we mourned the death of evangelist Billy Graham.   He preached to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history, which was nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories, with “hundreds of millions more” viewing him on television, video, film and webcasts.  He continued to do crusades even into his 80’s, and when asked what his purpose in life was, Billy responded, “My one purpose in life, is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”  Billy will be remembered for his impact he had proclaiming the gospel in the world.  He lived a life well-lived and finished well.  

In today’s passage, Jacob is also nearing the end of his life.  He requested to be buried in Canaan instead of Egypt, which was a declaration of his faith in the promise of the land to Abraham and his seed forever (15:17).  This episode at the end of Jacob’s life confirmed the future-oriented character of his trust in God. Faith looks to the future, knowing that the Lord will surely do all that He has pledged to do.  By faith he looked to the day when Yahweh would keep His promise, and he knew blessing would come upon his people if they would trust in God’s abundant grace and obey His commands in the Promised Land.   Burial there manifested Jacob’s trust in God for such blessing—even in death.

How do you want to be remembered at the end of your life?  What would others say about you, especially when it comes to your faith and trust in the Lord.  Let’s continue to be faithful and steadfast until the very end!

Prayer:  Lord, we pray that we would finish well.  The journey of faith is not easy at times, but give us the power and strength until the Day we see You face to face.  Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 11

Lunch Break Study 

Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Questions to Consider 

  • How does Paul describe the Christian life?
  • What does he want to let his readers know about his own walk with Jesus?
  • How did Paul view the end of his life?  How do you view yours?

Notes

  • He describes it as a spiritual battle.  The idea Paul was conveying was a potential fight to the death. This reminds us that the Christian life is a conflict. Once you enter into this new relationship with God, you discover that your adversary, the devil, will try to undermine you. 
  • He remained faithful till the end.  In the original language, this statement carries the meaning of having guarded the faith as an armed soldier would guard his post against enemy attack. Paul was saying that he had not strayed from the truth of God’s Word, but that he lived it out.
  • He knew that the Lord would reward him for his faithfulness—and that was his joy and what he looked forward to.  

Evening Reflection

“The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray. “– Charles (Chuck) Swindoll

As we finish the day with our evening reflection, think about the quote above by Charles Swindoll. Our God will never lead us astray because He is faithful.  It means that we can trust Him with our life, time, money, career, future, family, etc.  Are you trusting God in all the areas of your life?  

July 23, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on November 21, 2018, is provided by Jennifer Kim, who served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Greater Are His Ways”

James 1:19-21

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

 (To continue yesterday’s story) After my running accident, I was told I needed surgery. Devastated—knowing that I did not have the money to pay for the surgery—I shared with a church sister in tears. About a week later, I received a text that this sister had made arrangements for me to attend a healing conference in Georgia. Humbled and overwhelmed, I flew to Georgia with so much confidence that God would heal me. Every passing day I waited for God to do what seemed like the impossible, but every day nothing changed. I left Georgia still in pain and distraught that nothing had changed. But a week after I arrived home, something was radically different in me. That is, it took me about a week to realize God had healed me of my depression during the conference!

In our moments of trial, anger is usually the first emotion we feel. Anger was not only my first reaction during my accident, but it was my perpetual attitude after hearing I needed surgery. Today’s passage teaches us, however, that “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (v.20). How many times have we found ourselves in the wrong place for allowing our anger to get the best of us? In our anger we say things that hurt others, we blame God, and we act in full rebellion to God’s Word. But James calls us to righteousness by humbly accepting the Word planted in us (v.21). We are called to respond to every situation with the truths declared in Scripture. While human anger will always reap works of the flesh, the Word will always reap righteousness in our lives. 

I went to this conference angry and hurting, wondering how I got to this point after a simple attempt to change my life. But God’s plan was always to bring healing and restoration in ways I did not expect. That is the promise in Scripture that God “knows the plan [He] has for you . . . plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11). Whatever you are going through, may today’s passage be a reminder to look to the promises of Scripture instead of responding in human anger. His plans are always good, and we can trust and hope in His promises that never change.

Prayer: God I thank You that I can trust in every word You have declared. Help me to respond to all situations with humility and not in anger. Help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to be angry. In Jesus name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Titus 3:1-7:Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Questions to Consider

  • What reminder does this passage give to all Christians?   
  • What does this passage say regarding what we used to do before God our Savior appeared?
  • Why do you think the author reminds us of what Christ has done for us after telling how we should act as well as how we used to be before meeting Christ?

Notes

  • The passage reminds us to be submit to authority, to be obedient, do what is good, slander no one, be peaceable and considerate, and gentle towards everyone.
  • The passage reminds us we were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passion and pleasure, and we lived in malice, envy, and hatred.
  • The conjunction “but” in verse 4 seems to imply that because God has saved us, we are saved from our old ways and we are able to act according to verses 1 to 2.

Evening Reflection

Today we looked at James’s call to respond in righteousness by the way of the Word in moments of trial. Although our natural response may be anger during times of difficulty, our lunch break passage reveals that because of Jesus’s work on the cross we can respond in obedience and gentleness. Take some time to reflect on the day and write down instances that you may have responded in your old nature. Go in repentance before the Lord, but do not be discouraged, for it is God’s work on the cross that will allow the Holy Spirit to help you overcome. Remember, you are a new creation and God’s mercies are new every morning. 

July 22, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was originally posted on November 13, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff member at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The World to Come”

Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV) 

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

One of my favorite pastimes is engaging my imagination in musings about the world to come. I love imagining what eternity might be like! Most of us have learned about what it is Jesus saved us from. We know intimately our own sin and the brokenness and dysfunction of the world around us. Some of us have even learned what we think God intended before things went wrong in the beginning. But how often have we been taught or challenged ourselves to think seriously about the nature of the new world God is now making (Revelation 21:5)? 

We are not just saved from something but to something—ultimately to Someone (God) and some place (New Heavens and New Earth)—but also to a new reality of life together that we can begin to taste and sense even now. We get glimpses of it throughout Scripture and sometimes see it in the life of the Church—not just in the four walls but in the places where the people who are God’s are living into love that is God (1 John 4:8). So, what will this new world and new life together be like?  

One thing that exists in the Kingdom of God (in this new way of life) is that difference is no longer a point of contention or distinction a point of exclusion. All are one in Christ. A friend once explained to me how she just assumed in heaven we’d all be the same—same ethnicity, same language, same everything—one big, tan family of carbon copies. I think I may have laughed out load. After which, it was my joy to show her in Scripture that God seems to care more about having every kind of person around the throne than melding everyone into one kind of person (Revelation 7:9). 

The kind of world God is making is not one that erases difference. It is one that honors them by giving us the power and freedom to love every kind of person God has made. God knows and loves the good in who you are and where you come from! Yes, we all have equal access to God. We are all one family. But that oneness is not accomplished by erasing or eliding our difference. It’s accomplished through a shared faith and hope in Christ, and shared commitment to the love and truth of God in the midst of our differences. 

Prayer: Creator God, thank You for the care with which You made me. All the good that is in me, who I am and where I come from, are part of Your design. I celebrate Your creativity and the goodness of all You’ve made. Thank You for redeeming this broken world and my brokenness through Your Son Jesus. I trust You have a plan to make all things new. Open my eyes to truly see the beauty in my sisters and brothers in Christ from every tongue and tribe. Teach me today how to live into the reality of oneness with them. In Jesus’ name and for His sake. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV):Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Questions to Consider

  • What is Paul’s main instruction to the believers in this passage? 
  • How are believers to focus on things above and not on earthly things? What do all these instructions have in common? 
  • Of the list Paul gives, what things strike you most as areas in need of attention today— whether it’s things you need to put to death or things you need to put on? 

Notes

  • They are to set their minds and their hearts on the things above, not on earthly things. Instead of being bogged down by things of this world, believers should focus on the things of God and the new world God is making through us.
  • In order to do this, believers must put to death the things that belong to our earthly nature. Paul supplies the Christians at Colossae a list that will help them begin to do this in vv. 5-10. This same list is a helpful place for us to start as well. And in lieu of those things believers are to put to death, Paul also instructs them to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, and being ruled in heart by the peace of Christ. In order to do any of this, we have to remember that “Christ is all and is in all” (v. 11) – in other words, we are all one in Christ. 

What all these things have in common are that they are relational and deal with our interactions with one another. 

  • Spend time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

What we see in the early church are believers just beginning to take steps into the new way of life Jesus has ushered in. If the Kingdom of God was an ocean, they were only just beginning to dip their toes in from the shore. But we can gather much from them about the direction in which things are moving and, by extension, the direction in which we are headed as well as the people of God. So I ask again, what kind of world is God making now? Keeping in mind our reflections from today about our unity in Christ even in the mist of our diversity in many other areas, spend some time reflecting on this question with God.
Consider meditating on the verses below as you do:

9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10)

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. (Revelation 21:1-7)

July 21, Monday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted September 3, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“To Drink or Not to Drink”

Jeremiah 35:1-7 (ESV)

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites and speak with them and bring them to the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.” 3 So I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah and his brothers and all his sons and the whole house of the Rechabites. 4 I brought them to the house of the Lord into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold. 5 Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups, and I said to them, “Drink wine.” 6 But they answered, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, ‘You shall not drink wine, neither you nor your sons forever. 7 You shall not build a house; you shall not sow seed; you shall not plant or have a vineyard; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you sojourn.’

To drink or not to drink, that is the question!  I recently read an article on the latest research on alcohol consumption, and the conclusion of the study was that any amount of alcohol is bad for your health.  (If you are interested, the study can be found here: http://time.com/5376552/how-much-alcohol-to-drink-study/)  We have been told for years that red wine is good for cardiovascular health, but it turns out that any moderate health benefits that you get is outweighed by the other risk factors that come with drinking.  Coincidentally, I also talked with a friend who gave up drinking her daily glass of wine, which immediately resulted in a drop in blood pressure and helped decrease her feelings of anxiety.  

Although we understand that the consumption of alcohol is a Christian liberty (after all, we have been told at nauseum that Jesus turned water into wine by those who staunchly defend their right to drink), we should note that abstinence from alcohol has always been a mark of special devotion.  Going back to the Nazerite vow in Numbers 6, we see that any period of special thanksgiving and focus on God was to be done without any wine for a set period of time.  I believe that it would be beneficial for some of us in the church to make a similar vow, because, in honesty, some of us drink too liberally and without any thought to how easily our liberties can turn into license.   

Sometimes in life, God places tests in our path to refine our resolve and our obedience.  We don’t know much about the Rechabites, but we what we do know is that God recognized their noble character and their willingness to be different from the rest of society.  As Christians, we too are called to be in the world but not of the world.  If our views on alcohol are seen as prudish by the standards of society, then so be it.  In the end God will see the motivations of our hearts and whether we decide to drink or not to drink, He alone can measure the things that have been done for His glory.  

Prayer: Father, I pray that we would honor You with every area of our lives, even what touches our lips and goes into our bodies.  Our bodies are a temple for Your Holy Spirit, and as such, it is not our own but something that has been bought with a price.  Help us to understand that no warning or commandment was given to burden us unnecessarily.  Give us the grace to be credible witnesses to the world by setting us apart from the world.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Hebrews 8

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33: “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 

Questions to Consider

  • What is the abiding “rule” that governs the exercise of our Christian liberties?
  • Why does it matter what others think as long as my conscience is clear?
  • For what higher purpose should we limit our liberties?  

Notes

  • As we think about the liberties that we have as believers, it is important for us to recognize that just because something is lawful does not mean that it is helpful or even good.  Some of the factors that we need to account for is whether something is bad for our health or stumbling to other believers.   
  • In our highly individualized society, we tend to forget that Christianity was meant to be other-centered.  How we affect someone else’s conscience is very important in the way we determine the limits of our freedoms.  Even if your own personal conscience is clear on a certain issue, you still have to take into consideration the conscience of someone whose faith might be weakened by your action.  As Paul writes elsewhere, this is the law of love.   
  • Christians are called to endure limitations to their liberties for the purpose of saving some.  Paul makes it clear that he tries to please everyone, not because he is a people pleaser, but because of his overriding mission in life, which is to bring as many people into a saving relationship with Christ as he can.  If that means not exercising some of his liberties, that is a small price to pay for the chance to win another priceless soul for Jesus.  

Evening Reflection

What does it mean to do all things for the glory of God?   We often fall into the temptation of making the glory of God a cliché instead of a driving motivation for life.   Today, did you make decisions based on God’s glory?   Consider how your life can best reflect the glory of God, just as Christ was the perfect reflection of His Father’s glory.  

July 20, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, originally shared on July 1, 2018, features Pastor Phillip Chen, who is currently in the process of planting a new church—Pillar Church—in Houston. Please lift up Pastor Chen, his family, and the entire planting team in your prayers.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Scars of Remembrance”

Jeremiah 16:14-15 (ESV)

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 15 but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.”

I am dreading the day that I will have to discipline my daughter. When my parents used to say, “This hurts me more than it hurts you” before spanking me, I would mouth back, “Yeah, right.” I didn’t understand how it could hurt them more than me when they were the ones who were punishing me; but I suppose I can say that I understand them now. In the end, the discipline of a loving parent always hurts the parent more than the child. The parents know that the discipline is good for the children, but it’s not an enjoyable experience. 

We’ve been following along this dialogue between the LORD and Jeremiah this week regarding the judgment that is to come upon Judah. The LORD has made up His mind and tells Jeremiah that nothing can cause His wrath to relent. Judah has turned so far away from God that they don’t even know they are sinning against Him anymore. Yet as this conversation draws to a close, it seems as if the LORD can’t help but blurt out a promise of restoration—even before Judah encounters the wrath of God. Not only will they be restored, but their restoration will be more glorious than their initial deliverance—this is a powerful word that the Lord is giving Jeremiah. The LORD is saying that people will no longer talk about the exodus, where God delivered Israel out of the hands of Egypt; instead, people will talk about how God gathered His people back from exile into the land that was promised to their forefathers. 

The nation of Israel has looked upon their deliverance from Egypt as a watershed moment, the forming of their nation as they know it. It is a moment that they can look back upon and declare that their God is not only powerful, but that their God is with them. However, God is promising that their restoration to the land of Israel will be even more glorious than when they first entered into the Promised Land. How is that possible? And why does God choose to give this promise in the thick of His pronouncement of judgment over Judah? 

If we see God as a God who disciplines with the end goal of restoration rather than out of anger or frustration, then we can see why God would give them this promise—even in the midst of this pronouncement. He knows that a very hard time will be coming for this nation, and He wants to reassure them that restoration will be coming.

As we’ve gone through the book of Jeremiah, it is a particularly sad book to read through. Not only is it sad to see the judgment that is coming for the nation of Judah, but it’s also sad to see it from God’s vantage point. Yet the exile is not the end. Discipline may last for a while, but God promises that His people will be restored—and the glory of that restoration will surpass the former glory of their deliverance. Perhaps you are going through a particularly difficult time: maybe you are going through a season of discipline, wilderness, or silence of God. Whatever God may be doing, you can be sure that He has restoration in mind. Hang in there as you look to the light at the end of the tunnel! 

Prayer: Father God, thank You that You always have restoration in mind—even in the midst of discipline. Help me to persevere in seasons of Your discipline, that I may not become hardened or jaded, but rather look on hopefully to the point of restoration that You are leading me towards. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 7

July 19, Saturday 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on April 22, 2018.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Being Tethered to God” 

Mark 12:38-40 

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

I remember going bouldering for the first time with a group of friends. It was fun learning the basics and trying to figure out how to climb the different parts of the wall. As we were resting, my friends shared funny stories of experienced climbers who loved to show off their skills by climbing the part of the wall that others failed to do. It would be in such a way to make sure everyone saw that they could do something no one else could. For them, it was not enough to be good at something; they had to make sure others recognized their abilities.  It was not enough to climb the wall, but they had to look good doing it for others. 

We find something similar in this passage. Jesus condemns the type of religiosity that the scribes practiced. It was not really about God and loving people, but they used their piety to draw attention to themselves. They seemed godly but there was no actual substance of godly character. They prayed long prayers to show off their knowledge and oratory abilities. They took the best seats during meals and in the synagogues and walked around in long robes in order to be seen. Jesus did not approve of such practice of flashy religion—He rightfully condemns it. 

The temptation to be ostentatious about our relationship with God and religious practice still exists today. Many of us use ministry and the church to draw attention to ourselves—we desire positions of leadership to feel important and superior to others. In other words, we can have ungodly intentions that are fulfilled and masked with ministry. It happens all the time. And for this reason, we have to remain vigilant about our motivations. We must intentionally remain tethered to God and abide in Christ as we do ministry. Without intimacy with God, ministry can often devolve into something ungodly. In prayer, come before God and ask Him to help you to minister and live out your calling with the right motivations and with much humility. 

Prayer: Father, I want to confess that my desires and motivations are often a mixed bag, even when it comes to ministry and service in the church. Purify my heart and help me to serve with pure intentions and motives.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 5-6

July 18, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on August 24, 2018, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Life Beyond”

Jeremiah 32:17-20

“Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among other men; and You have made Yourself a name, as it is this day.”

The average lifespan of a person is said to be about 79 years. In comparison to the infinitude of time, a human life is very brief. Perhaps this is why we tend to think in the scope of finiteness. We tend to get caught up in our current situations and gauge our lives in the context of what is happening in the now. It is unnatural for us to think in the scope of eternity. We may even wonder if this is possible to do. 

The Lord, however, is boundless in His thinking and establishes His purpose down to the thousandth generation. After all, He did create the grand expanse of the heavens and earth as it says in Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.”  This perspective of eternity allows us to process the experiences of current day in the greater scope of God’s purpose being established in our lives. This is a purpose that is being resolved in order to take us from one state of glory to another. It is also for us to experience the benefits of eternity now. 

Consider what the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  This extends comfort to us that no matter the current situations that we are facing, we can be confident that the promises of God lie in every problem; and that these promises will bring us out with increased glory and blessing. 

Therefore, let us not be fixated on what we need to see happen now but on the grander scope of the reality that God operates in. We are spiritual beings more than physical. Look not on the things that are seen but gain the habit of processing in the light of God’s truth that is taking you into a greater weight of eternity. This takes stillness. It is God’s desire for us to experience seeing Him and His promises that are found at the center of every problem life brings us.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that I live in the realm of eternity. Through Your finished work on the cross, I have been set into a life that will take me from one measure of glory to another. I am thankful for this and choose to embrace a mindset that is set on Your eternal purposes. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Questions to Consider

  • How have you been living for the temporal?
  • What does it look like to live with an eternal mindset?
  • What are your current “light” afflictions that are helping to establish in you an “eternal weight of glory”?

Notes

  • It is important to be honest with your true values. Reflect on what consumes your thoughts, priorities, and time to gauge whether you have a mind set on the things above or on the things on earth.
  • Consider what a renewed mind looks like. How would it go about processing situations and relational challenges in the light of God’s truth? Eternal mindset looks not at the immediate gains for self, rather to the likeness of God that every situation would mold us into. 
  • Consider how the challenges you are facing now has a promise of God in it to build you more into the likeness of Christ. 

Evening Reflection

In the light of this morning’s reflection on the importance of having an eternal perspective on life, how did you fare today?