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

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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.  

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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.  

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

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

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

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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. 

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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?

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, originally posted on February 18, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the lead pastor of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan. He holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God’s Generosity”

Genesis 45:16-20

When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan, 18 and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’ 19 And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

My parents came to the United States as refugees who fled from Vietnam.  They, along with my sister who was a toddler at the time, immigrated with no money or possessions, and no knowledge of the culture or English.  You would think that they had little chance of surviving or that they were doomed to live a life of poverty, but what they experienced was far from that.  They were sponsored by a local church that gave so freely and generously to my family. This church helped my parents find housing, taught them English and how to drive, and helped find jobs and even childcare. My parents were incredibly blessed and so thankful for the lavish generosity and favor shown them by strangers.  

I couldn’t help but think of my own family’s story when I saw this passage in Genesis.  When Pharaoh finds out that Joseph’s brothers were in Egypt and that the whole family would be coming to Egypt, he welcomes them with more than just open arms.  Pharaoh not only offers to provide transportation to Canaan and back, but he also tells them that the best of all of Egypt would be theirs.  He goes so far as to say, “Have no concern for your goods”—basically telling them that they didn’t even need their possessions because Pharaoh was going to provide them not just a home, but a fully furnished home with all of the amenities they could ever want.  Joseph’s family was shown lavish generosity and the full favor of Pharaoh.

The generosity shown to Joseph’s family was not by accident, but it was because of God’s covenant and promise to Abraham that his family and descendants would be blessed. This was not just Pharaoh’s favor that they were receiving, but it was God’s covenantal favor and love that was working to show this family that God was with them.

As children of God, we also have God’s favor and love in our lives, and we have the promise of God’s presence working in our lives always.  When I think about my family’s story, I know it was God’s hand working, not just so that we wouldn’t be in poverty, but to show us His lavish love and draw me and my family into a relationship with Him.  Think about your own story or your family’s story.  How have you seen God’s favor at work in the past and in the present as well?  Spend some time reflecting on our lavish and generous God who has been at work in all of our lives.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank You for Your presence and favor in my life. You have been so faithful and generous to me. I pray that I will never forget that You are with me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Hebrews 3

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Lunch Bible Study

Read Luke 19:1-10: He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Questions to Consider

• What did the crowds think of Zacchaeus when they saw him?  
• What led Zacchaeus to suddenly be so generous?  
• How should our hearts be moved to be generous like Zacchaeus?

Notes

• The crowds looked down on Zacchaeus, literally and figuratively. Luke tells us that he was small in stature so he was not likely an impressive man to anyone.  But more importantly, Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a profession that was equated with sin because tax collectors had a reputation of being unscrupulous, swindling people of their money, and lining their own pockets with dirty money.
• Zacchaeus unexpectedly experiences the favor of Jesus.  Zacchaeus seemed to be desperate to see Jesus—he climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse and this drew the attention of Jesus.  Jesus generously honors him by going and staying in Zacchaeus’ house, which must have been an extraordinary blessing for him because he was likely shunned by most of the community.  Experiencing this favor from Jesus leads Zacchaeus to repent and decide to be generous with his great wealth.
• We need to recognize the lavish love and favor of Jesus in our lives, just like Zacchaeus.  When we understand the amazing grace we have received, it should move us to give generously to others as well.

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Evening Reflection

As you’ve spent time reflecting on God’s favor and generosity in your life, how does it make you feel? When I remember the story of God’s work in my family, it fills me with a deep sense of joy and thanksgiving, knowing the personal and intimate love of Jesus.  It doesn’t end there though. Remembering God’s favor in my life leads me to consider how I can be used by God to show His love.  Reflect on that same love for you and ask God to use you to be an agent of His love as well.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on February 18, 2018, is provided by Esther Chailim. Esther, a graduate of University of California, San Diego (B.S.) and Talbot School of Theology (M.A.), is the Director of Ministries at Kairos Christian Church (San Diego).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Hope in the Promise of God”

Genesis 49:29-33 (NIV)

Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

For many, the end of life often calls for deep reflection on the things most important to them.  Some reflect on the great memories they’ve had, while others think about what they would have done differently.  In a similar fashion, this final request from Jacob was of great importance to him.  Of all the choice words he could have said in his very last moments, he chose to give final instructions on the burial of his body.  It’s important to note that though Jacob had been residing in Egypt for 17 years and had quite a successful life there with his sons, he knew his future did not lie there.  Rather, he desired to be buried alongside his forefathers in Canaan, because it was the place in which God made his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, promising the land to them and all their descendants (Genesis 28:13-14).  In other words, life to Jacob was found in the Promised Land, where he knew he would be in the special presence of the Lord.  To Jacob, Canaan was more than just his hometown; it marked a statement of future hope.   Thus, the burial in Canaan with his forefathers revealed Jacob’s hope and faith that God’s covenant promise would eventually come to pass.  

Jacob did not fear death because he knew where he belonged. He knew that death was not the end of it all, and he rested in that security of God’s promise to him.  As the late Billy Graham said, “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.” As believers, our hope is in Jesus Christ who paid the ransom for our sins, so that we might have freedom from sin and walk in the way of righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).  Because of Christ alone, we have victory over sin and death itself.  Therefore, we no longer fear death, but rest in the salvation and eternal glory of Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the Cross and the hope I have in You.  I want to live my life well so that when my time is up here on earth, You will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 2

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Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18: But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak,14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Questions to Consider

• What kind of life did Paul live for the gospel of Jesus Christ? 
• Where does Paul hold his confidence? 
• How can we keep the focus on eternal things?  

Notes

• Paul lived a life that was hard pressed, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.  He was willing to die for Jesus because that meant that others might see LIFE in Jesus.  
• Paul’s life was not easy by any means, but he showed resilience in overcoming suffering because of the confidence and trust in the ultimate glorification of Jesus Christ.  He knew that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ would ultimately bring him salvation and thus never lost heart. 
• Paul encourages the Corinthian church to fix their eyes on what is unseen (the eternal things) and not on the things seen (temporal things).  As Christians serving the kingdom of God, we can sometimes find ourselves caught in the web of the comparison game on worldly matters, struggling to fully devote ourselves to the Lord. But Paul reminds us that our sacrifice to the Lord is not only good, but grants us eternal glory that far outweighs these momentary troubles. 

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Evening Reflection

As you reflect on your life, spend some time honestly asking yourself these questions:  Where do I put my hope and security in?  Do I find myself chasing that “American Dream” and seeking security in my career, family, possessions and/or comfort? Or do I rest in the promises of God, knowing that my final resting place is not here on earth but in eternity with our Heavenly Father?  Ask the Lord how you can adjust your life so that your hope rests in the eternal things.  

REPOST Originally shared on May 18, 2018, today’s AMI QT Devotional—written by an anonymous contributor—continues to offer quiet insight and reflection.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Just the tip of the iceberg”

Jeremiah 1:9-16 (NIV)

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” ¹¹The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” “I see the branch of an almond tree,” I replied. ¹²The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” ¹³The word of the Lord came to me again: “What do you see?” “I see a pot that is boiling,” I answered. “It is tilting toward us from the north.” ¹⁴The Lord said to me, “From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. ¹⁵I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms,” declares the Lord. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah. ¹⁶I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.

Have you ever been so sure about something, only to discover later, there was more to learn or realize than what you thought was the whole truth? When something grabs my interest, I love reading and studying about it. Whatever it is, I want to know its ins and outs, its background and everything else there is to know about it. I’m a nerd, and I enjoy obsessive study. When I found Christianity, the same instincts kicked in to the nth degree. Now, ignoring my early theological, epistemological, or other scholarly four-syllable word mistakes, in my pride, I really thought my obsessive study habits put me on the path to truly knowing God. Oh, my naivety! 

Conventional wisdom would dictate careful, steady study is the best way to learn about something. While this is true, applying this simple axiom to Christianity only gets you so far. A person could bury themselves in the Word, read systematic theology books monthly, and comb through Scripture to learn as much as there is to know about God, and still miss the greater point. Consider your best friend telling you about someone they think you’d love to date. Your friend could tell you about this person’s likes, dislikes and general character. Your friend could even support their claims about this person by pulling excerpts from their personal diary. You could even follow the person on their social media platforms, learning everything about their daily life. When all is said and done, you’ve learned everything there is to know about this person—and yet, your relationship with them has not progressed any further than when you had no idea that they existed. Why? Because you haven’t met them yet. This is how far my obsessive study skills had gotten me before trusted friends knocked some sense into me. 

The reality is, the Christian life is not predicated on knowing about God, but rather, knowing God Himself. While there are worse ways to spend one’s time than studying His likes, dislikes and character, etc., time also ought to be spent alone with God, reaching out to Him in prayer. After an honest pursuit, I’ve come to learn that sometimes, God reaches back. When it comes to spiritual giftings or even stepping into certain roles, I admit—like Jeremiah—that I harbor much doubt. However, in Jeremiah 1, we see God reminding Jeremiah that He will accompany and rescue him. What’s more, we see God sending Jeremiah visions and interpreting them to let him know that He is trustworthy. Receiving images from God is a bit new for me. While I’m certain I’ve had other encounters with the Holy Spirit, seeing prophetic images is not something that comes easy. My prayer is that as my knowledge of God catches up to my knowledge about God, and our relationship builds, that I will learn to listen and wait for Him.

Prayer: Father, learning about You and meeting You are two, very different concepts. I have spent much time on the former, mistakenly thinking it would bring us closer. I now ask for Your help in working on the latter. Though I spend much time speaking to You, please help me to perceive and understand when You speak back. In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 1

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Lunch Break Study

Read John 3:1-10 (NIV): Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?

Questions to consider

• What is Nicodemus’ role as a Pharisee?
• If Nicodemus is so knowledgeable, why can’t he understand what Jesus is saying to him?
• So, why do you think God has given us His Word? Give a personal answer. 

Notes

• As a Pharisee, Nicodemus is a Jewish religious authority. From a young age, Nicodemus was trained to be a scholar of Judaism, giving him far superior knowledge of the Scriptures than that of any ordinary person. If anyone knew how to read and interpret Jewish religious writings, law or traditions, Nicodemus would be one of them. 
• Unfortunately, like his peers, Nicodemus had focused the vast majority of his studies on knowing the Scriptures and following the law as he understood them on the surface. It seems, as a whole, the Pharisees had focused on the what of the Scriptures, rather than the why, making it difficult for him to understand Jesus’ answers. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Like most past times, acquiring knowledge is not intrinsically a bad thing. The key is, however, to recognize the fine line that separates a healthy activity from an idolatrous one. Studying the Word, seeking its wisdom and learning about God are all good things, until they get in the way of your relationship with Him. Oftentimes, good things are the easiest objects to make into idols for ourselves. The remedy, it seems, is to meet with God in prayer and simply ask for more of Him, and for our desire of Him to increase as His presence does. 

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time, originally posted on February 27, 2018, is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the Lead Pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Pride Goes Before Destruction”

Genesis 49:3-4

“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. 4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel, for you went up onto your father’s bed, onto my couch and defiled it.”

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you have seen the downfall of Hollywood’s moguls, news anchormen, actors, etc. The victims in Hollywood are finally mustering up courage to tell their stories, leading to the permanent dismissal of men who have used their fame, popularity, and position to abuse women for many years. Many people are probably thinking, “It’s about time…” 

While it’s easy to point fingers with disgust at the perpetrators, we must remember that this ugly human condition of sin touches all of us. And that sin is called “PRIDE.” We can take the recent events in Hollywood and ask ourselves, “How do we cultivate genuine humility that honors God and honors others?” James 4:6 says that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. But how do we grow in humility? 

Today’s passage reveals the consequences of pride before our God. According to Israel’s customs, Reuben, who was the firstborn of Jacob, should have belonged to the Lord. Reuben should have received pre-eminence among his brothers as the firstborn male. He should have received a double portion of blessings from his father, Jacob. However, none of those rights came to fruition. 

That’s because some years ago, Reuben had defiled his father’s bed with incest. Gen. 35:22 records that Reuben slept with his father’s concubine, Bilhah. That act of incest cost Reuben his rights to his blessings. One pastor suggests that Reuben’s lust was not so much sexual as much as it was political. It was lust for power. He already held the position; however, he wanted more. He wanted to show that he alone possessed the right to rule over the family. In that pursuit of pre-eminence, Reuben lost his blessings. Before we find ourselves in Reuben’s shoes, we must figure out how to put on the virtue of humility. 

One spiritual discipline that is critical for developing humility is prayer. Prayer as an activity can take on different purposes, such as intercession for others and petitioning requests. But at the heart of prayer is the acknowledgment of total and complete dependence on the Lord. A prayerless life signals a vulnerability toward pride and self-righteousness. I tell the leaders at our church, “If you try to accomplish ministry without a prayer life, there are only two outcomes: cynical burnout or self-righteousness.” Prayer reminds us of our lowly position where we receive God’s grace and favor. 

Prayer: Lord, fill me with Your Spirit today. (Take a deep breath to pause.) Lord, fill me with Your Spirit who empowers, enables, encourages, and sustains me to get through today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 9

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Lunch Break Study  

Read Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom; Proverbs 16:5: Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished; Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall; Proverbs 18:12: Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor;Proverbs 29:23: One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

Questions to Consider

• What is consistently the consequence of pride? 
• What is consistently the prize of humility?  
• How do you practically guard against pride in your own life? 

Notes

• In the Lord’s economy, pride does not go unpunished. Destruction follows patterns of pride. 
• The Lord provides wisdom and honor to those who put on humility. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Spend a little extra time tonight in prayer, cultivating a greater dependence on the Lord. Confess your need for Him in every area of your life. 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, which was first posted on June 24, 2018, is provided by a writer who wants to remain anonymous. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Our Real Job”

1 Peter 2:9-12

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

During orientation week of my last job, I was given the opportunity to take a work-personality test. Through the results of this test, I was able to better understand how I tend to work, collaborate with others, lead, follow, etc. It was informative. I appreciated how the test recognized the complexity of our personalities, but it also made think how differently we can think and behave in different departments of our lives. Depending on our position, seniority, comfort level, etc. it is not difficult to adjust to how we put ourselves forward and interact with others.

In our passage today, Peter speaks to believers who are living outside of Israel, in Pontus, Galatia, Asia, etc. (v.1). He tells them they are a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” (v.9). Prior to this verse, he talks about how they are living stones, “being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood” (v.5). What does this look like in their situation? Peter urges the believers to understand they are “sojourners and exiles” in their current environment and to “abstain from passions of the flesh,” or temptations they may see around them (v.11). Instead, he tells them to conduct themselves in a way that is honorable, so that their deeds speak for themselves and glorify the God they follow.

In different areas of our lives, we can play different roles. At church, perhaps you have been serving and even leading a ministry for a few years. But at your new workplace, you don’t know many people and are learning certain skills for the first time. Peter teaches us that wherever we are, whether it’s home or a foreign land, and whoever we are surrounded by—people similar to us or not—we are God’s priesthood. This means everything we do is an act of sacrifice and worship to God. Hence, let us work onto God and treat all people with dignity and honor.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling each and every one of us to be Your royal priesthood and holy nation. Help us to go into this new week, knowing that You have called us to worship You and honor others. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 8

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Though, first posted on April 21, 2018, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Greatest Commandment” 

Mark 12:28-31

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Today’s passage is a well-known story that most of us are familiar with, and it serves as a helpful reminder of what is central to our lives as Christians. Jesus is once again tested by the scribes and religious leaders about the Torah. They are desperate to ruin Jesus’ reputation among the Jewish community in order to put a halt to His ever growing movement. This time they ask Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” to which Jesus rightly answers, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” However, it is interesting that Jesus also tells them what is the second greatest commandment, which is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” The common thread to each commandment is love: love of God and love of neighbor. 

It is important to recognize the order of these commandments. The first must be heeded before the second is made possible. As one commentator says, “Love of God is prior to love of neighbor and establishes its possibilities.” As much as we would like to think of ourselves as loving people, most of us are more self-centered than we’d like to think. We spend the majority of our time tending to our own needs and wants—only using the time and resources leftover for the sake of others. Simply put, we usually come first before anybody else. And it is difficult to find freedom from this posture of self-absorption. 

What we desperately need is to be in a love relationship with God, learning how to love Him with all that we are and be loved in return. This relationship has the effect of healing our selfish tendencies and reorients us to live a life aligned to the kingdom value of other-centeredness. The more intimate we are with God, the more we are filled with love that can be shared with those around us. Without the first commandment, it is impossible to fulfill the second. For this reason, let us dive deeper into a love relationship with God! 

Prayer: Father, help me to fulfill these two commandments. I am very selfish in many ways, often only thinking about myself. Free me from my self-centeredness and help me to love You and others well in my life.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 6-7