October 25, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Point of Reference”

Jeremiah 48:1-5

Concerning Moab.

Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; the fortress is put to shame and broken down; 2 the renown of Moab is no more.
In Heshbon they planned disaster against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!’ You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; the sword shall pursue you. 3 “A voice! A cry from Horonaim,
‘Desolation and great destruction!’ 4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have made a cry. 5 For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distressed cry of destruction.

One of the privileges of planting an AMI church in Asia is receiving one-year interns. We love our interns! But an inevitable rite of passage when you move half-way around the world is—getting lost. Our interns get lost all the time. One of our first interns got on a bus and ended up in another city—now, that’s lost! So it’s not unusual to find our interns holding their mobile devices to eye level and literally do a pirouette, trying to find their bearings using Google Maps. In a sense, they’re doing what travellers have done all throughout the ages, which is to use a compass to orient themselves to true north (or magnetic north if you want to be picky). Instead of relying on intuition or chance, we look to a more consistent and constant measure. We need this in life as well, which is why the most important voice you need to hear today is—the voice of the Lord your God. And not because He always flatters or pampers—He doesn’t—but we need His voice because He cannot but bring the light of His truth to bear on our hearts. In a world that deals in shade of grey, God’s voice is our True North.

In today’s text, we move from Israel’s Western neighbors, the Philistines, to their neighbors to the East, the Moabites. God gives them a warning that judgment would come upon them as well as the Philistines. There used to be a time when you would cry, “Woe is me!” if you were discouraged or overwhelmed. It’s a cry of self-pity because we usually think we deserve more or deserve better. And if we veer towards feelings of worthlessness, it’s still ME at the center. It’s not an easy cycle to break, and our perspective is often skewed, which is all the more reason why we need a surer reference point to gauge our life’s trajectory. God says to Moab, “Woe to you”—these are words of warning because the Moabites rejoiced in their own “renown.” They took great pleasure in the recognition of others but cared very little for God’s opinion of them. They valued what is fleeting and temporary over what is true and unchanging—to their tragic demise.

Let’s build our lives on the firm foundation of God’s truth rather than the opinion of man or the spin of a short-term deal. One will secure your life, the other will get you lost.

Prayer: Speak, O Lord. I want to hear. Help me to trust in Your wise leadership today rather than live out of neediness or insecurity. Guide me, Holy Spirit, to live a life that honors You! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Questions to Consider

What characteristics about God are emphasized when the psalm writer uses the images of refuge, help, and fortress?
Notice that the context of the psalm writer’s confidence takes place in calamity and trouble. What kinds of trouble does the text hint at?
What lessons can we learn from the psalm writer about dealing with life’s troubles?

Notes

All of these images represent practical aid by means of God’s strength. In verse 1, God is described as a “refuge,” and the idea is associated with the word “strength.” Both a refuge and a fortress offer protection from harm and give confidence to those sheltering within. The psalm writer goes a step further by personalizing God’s help – He is “OUR refuge and strength” and His help is described as “present” rather than distant.
In vv.2-3, the psalm writer lists the sounds of natural disaster to describe the trouble circumstances stir in our hearts. We become anxious and worried, moved by a myriad of voices in our lives (the culture’s dream, the ideal look or figure, a demanding boss, a critical parent, deadlines or goals screaming out to us, etc). In addition, vv.6 and 9 mentions social and political unrest—yet more fuel for our worry or reasons for us to withdraw.
We can deal with our trouble by: (a) remembering the strength and concern of God; (b) listening for his powerful voice (v.6); and (c) learning to turn down the noise of our world so we might hear the voice of God (Be still).

Evening Reflection

Since we live in such a fast-paced world, let’s take a moment to be still. Turn off your phone; put your device to sleep; turn down the noise; and focus all of your attention on the reality that God is with you. He always is—we’re just not always aware of His presence. Try to be silent and reject every other thought. It’s not that it’s unimportant; rather, God is more important. Express to Him your need, and praise Him for He is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

October 24, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“An Honest Question”

Jeremiah 47:6-7

Ah, sword of the Lord! How long till you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!
7 How can it be quiet when the Lord has given it a charge? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore
he has appointed it.”

They say: Time flies when you’re having fun. It really is true. Time flies when you’re at the movies, playing video games, or spending time with someone you love. On the flip side, time seems to slow down when the going gets tough. Ever catch yourself looking at the clock at work? Almost miraculously the day seems to get longer as you wait for break-time, then lunchtime, and then quitting-time. It’s not real— it’s totally imagined—but we still ask, “How long is this gonna last?” We ask the same thing when we’re sick and the dependability of our health is suddenly undermined: “How long?” We ask out of impatience and frustration. But in todays passage, Jeremiah asks, “How long?” in awestruck reverence to God, and maybe even compassionate sorrow for those who must face the judgment of God. And because Jeremiah asks an honest question, he gets an honest reply.

Let’s be honest: judgment is unpleasant, for it reminds us of criticism—usually unfair criticism. It’s no fun. But neither is the righteous judgment of God against sin. God’s judgment is both eye-opening and terrifying. It exposes us for who we really are and reminds us that we have to give an account for the life we live. We’re responsible, and that’s hard. This could be why our response is usually desperation or denial: we become nervous for ourselves and the ones we love, or we just try not to think about it. But adopting a “fight-or-flight” approach to God’s judgment does not help, because we often strengthen false assumptions about God and miss out on true ones. God is NOT indifferent about what we do with our lives or His creation! In fact, God is passionate and emotional and above all—holy. And the more we linger there, the greater our esteem for God will become and the weaker our fascination with the world will be. Let’s face the music. Ask some hard questions. Be honest with God, so that in the end, we might see Him for who He really is: a passionate Creator, a righteous Judge, and a loving Savior.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You that you took the “sword of God’s judgment” for us at the Cross. Help us to trust You with our hard questions and teach us to embrace Your truth—even when it’s hard. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:13-16: For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Questions to Consider

What fears are currently affecting your life?
How does the Holy Spirit give us freedom from our fear?
What difference does the Spirit’s cry (v.15) and the Spirit’s witness (v.16) make in our lives?

Notes

Be as honest as you can. Some of the stress in our lives come from being in denial of our fears and disappointments.
First of all, the Spirit leads us. Jesus describes Him as a Helper, Teacher and Guide (Jn 14:16,26; 16:13). He affirms to us the victory won for us by Jesus and our identity as God’s beloved children. We don’t have to deny our fears; we can trust God with them. Ultimately God’s love secures us and strengthens us to face our fears.
The Holy Spirit makes us confident that we belong to God as His children. He reminds us and affirms to us that this is true. The Spirit even enables us to call God “Abba, Father,” which communicates intimacy and closeness. When you feel far from God, ask the Holy Spirit to show you that you’re not.

Evening Reflection

Fight or flight describes how many people cope with the pressures and stresses of the contemporary life. Did you find yourself feeling desperate or wanting to hide today? How did you respond? Invite the Holy Spirit right now to free you from fear and affirm you in the Father’s love.

October 23, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Judgment is a Flood”

Jeremiah 47:2-5

Thus says the Lord: “Behold, waters are rising out of the north, and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who dwell in it. Men shall cry out, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail. 3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, the fathers look not back to their children, so feeble are their hands, 4 because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the Lord is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.5 Baldness has come upon Gaza; Ashkelon has perished. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourselves?”

A little about myself: I’m a missionary who goes by the title “pastor”; and it’s been one of the greatest thrills of my life to serve God in SE Asia. My family has made two big moves in the last 13 years: first, moving from America to Indonesia; and then moving from Indonesia to Singapore. We came here with a dream of planting a healthy church that would serve God’s purpose among the nations.

One big event that sped up our transition was a terrible flood in our part of Indonesia. I remember waking up to my wife’s scream, jumping out of bed to find that our bed was floating in water—literally floating. The whole house was flooded, as well as our whole neighborhood. Water was thigh-deep everywhere in our home, and everything was drenched. My iphone was submerged in water for three hours, so I covered it in pre-cooked rice for days and prayed for healing—and it worked! It took two days just to get the water out of the house. When I waded through the streets, there were hundreds of dead poisonous centipedes, which makes you wonder where they were all hiding. We spent the next few days cleaning, disinfecting and salvaging what we could. Tragically, many of my books did not survive. Nothing was unaffected, and all of this happened on the very week we were launching worship services in Singapore. I didn’t even have dry clothes. I flew to Singapore and bought clothes to wear on Sunday.

There’s nothing impotent about a flood—irresistible and unrelenting is more like it. This is the picture Jeremiah paints of God’s judgment. It’s like a river surging over its banks at flood season, invading places that had previously been deemed secure. But no amount of running for higher ground would reverse God’s judgment of the Philistines.

To add to the graphic picture, Jeremiah describes not just the sights but the sounds of impending defeat. Men will cry out; people will wail. The earth would shake and tremble as Egypt’s chariots charged near. The only silence would be the response to the Philistine’s cry for help. Horrifying. Dreadful. Final.

This is the bad news that’s part of the good news of the gospel: It’s NOT okay to sin before our God and Maker; we will be held accountable to God for the life that was entrusted to us; and that we must respond to Jesus’ gift of grace before it’s too late. Because either Christ will bear the unrelenting judgment of God in your place—or you will.

You don’t have to look too hard to see the bad news of the gospel at work in the world around us. The reality and weight of sin is evident everywhere. Look at the news. Look at your fears. Look at our reasons for conflict. Remember today how much you need the undeserved grace of Jesus, and extend that grace to someone who needs it as well.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You today for the undeserved grace that we have received at the cross— that You took the dreadful judgment we deserve, so that we might receive the wonderful embrace that You deserve from the Father. Help us to live in light of this grace today and share its wonders with those around us. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 2

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:7-11: Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Before His death, Jesus teaches the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Questions to Consider

What are we told in these verses about the work of the Holy Spirit?
Why does Jesus say it’s better for Him to leave so the Holy Spirit might come?
Is there a person who needs the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit in their life? Pray for them.

Notes

The Holy Spirit convicts the world about our common need for forgiveness (especially the sin of not believing in Jesus) and Jesus’ identity as victorious Savior (going to the Father, the Ascension) demonstrates that He fulfilled the will of God. That’s righteousness. And Satan’s decisive defeat and ultimate judgment demonstrates Christ’s victory. It’s the Holy Spirit who brings these truths to bear on the souls of men.
Because the Holy Spirit is with us and dwells within us (Jn 14:16-17). He teaches us and impresses Jesus’ words to our hearts (Jn 14:26-27). He’s NOT silent, He speaks and declares God’s truth to us (Jn 16:13-15).
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Our cultural moment usually prioritizes the immediate over the eternal; getting results over building character; a good quarter above and beyond a good life. In what areas of your life do you feel this tension? Do you find yourself lost in the rush to achieve short-term goals? Ask God to give you a vision for the eternal investments He is calling you to make.

October 22, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from October 22-28 are provided by Pastor Paul Liu, who pastors the Grace Covenant Church Singapore. He is a graduate of University of Illinois (BA) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He and his wife Ailsa have three beautiful daughters.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God Still Speaks”

Jeremiah 47:1

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

Parenting is hard work! It’s hard because the devil is in the details—diapers, discipline, fashion, fairy tales—and almost every detail leaves a ripple that the eye cannot see. That’s a big responsibility. It’s almost unfair. What parents do AND don’t do—all of this taking place under the weight of pressures both outside and in—matters. Whether they realize it or not, parents are under the scrutiny of watchful eyes and listening ears. All that to say: “Parents, your words are incredibly important.” Words spoken in frustration and anger scar; words aimed to humiliate always do; and worst of all, words left unsaid leave an indelible void in the hearts of children who look to their parents for the building blocks of their personhood. Words are powerful indeed.

Which is why the fact that God speaks is so fundamentally life-changing. If words-left-unsaid can leave a hole in our hearts, how great would be the void if we imagine God to be silent—indifferent to our existence, disengaged from our lives, and uncompassionate toward our pains? We would be cosmically insecure, helpless, and feeling like a small fish in danger of being swallowed by the sharks of life—that is, if God doesn’t speak—but, He does!

The context of today’s passage is international conflict involving several nations at odds. The old enemy of God’s people, the Philistines, are about to be attacked by the Egyptians before they themselves are engulfed by the Babylonian Empire. Philistia was a small fish compared to these empires of sharks. God’s people could relate: Judah was a speck in the dust compared to the Babylonian hoard (who would later conquer her). The Judeans probably felt like everything was teetering out of control. But in that moment, God saw fit to address their demise and identify His sovereignty amidst their uncertainty. What others saw as chaos, God had under control. And the fact that God speaks affirms this to us today: You cannot be lost afloat when your God continues to call. Jeremiah tells us all men and women are accountable to the God who created them—and He is NOT indifferent towards us. He still speaks!

Before delving into the ancient conflicts of the Near East, ask yourself, “Am I making space for God to speak into my life? When was the last time I heard from the Lord? How am I responding to His words now?”

Prayer: Dear Lord, increase the longing in my soul for Your voice. Remind me that You are neither distant or disinterested—but rather passionate and persistent in Your purposes for me. Speak O Lord, I want to hear…

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Peter 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 32:14-18: For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; 15 until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. 16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. 17 And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust[a] forever. 18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

This passage describes the blessing that the Holy Spirit brings to God’s people – literally described as order out of chaos.

Questions to Consider

What do forsaken castles and deserted cities represent to you?
What difference does the Spirit being ‘poured upon us’ bring?
How does the Spirit’s presence change our relationships?

Notes

Castles represented protection and leadership, while cities represent prosperity and opportunity. The absence of authority in a castle and people in a city is a picture of chaos. It’s life out of order. Life outside of God’s presence is similar.
In contrast to a life in chaos, the Spirit bring life (fruitful field) and vitality (forest). This is consistent with the Holy Spirit’s activity throughout history – active in creation & the agent of God’s new creation through Jesus (Titus 3:4-5).
Surprisingly the effects mentioned here are not merely personal. The Spirit being ‘poured upon us’ results in justice and righteousness – literally fairness and uprightness. It changes how we live and especially how we treat those around us. If you say you have the Spirit, how are you treating the person in front of you?

Evening Reflection

One of the realities of living in a media-saturated world is that we automatically filter out ton of stimuli. We cannot physically process every image and soundbite. It would drive us crazy! This makes it all the more important to prioritize the right voices. Did you tune-into God’s frequency today? What words from God did you receive? How are you responding?

October 21, Sunday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 46:27-28

“But fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel, for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. 28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord,
for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

Sociologists have suggested that 2007 changed the course of history. It was the year that Steve Jobs released the first iPhone and Facebook opened up its platform to anyone who wanted to connect to the new digital age. With the advent of these technological advances, we have seen the world progress in ways we could have never imagined—accomplishing things at a much faster pace. However, it does not come without its downfalls. Nonstop connection to our smartphones and social media has made this the age of anxiety. There are many reasons for this. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others through Facebook or Instagram, always feeling as if our lives are not as fun or meaningful as the ones we see on our screens. Furthermore, the smartphone has allowed us to take our work home and we have become a generation of workaholics. Devices that were supposed to save us time has only increased our work. Due to these things, our souls are tired and restless—weighed down by the pressure to succeed, produce, and live a life worth posting on social media.

In today’s passage we see a word of hope given to Israel. Even with their exile inevitably coming to them, there will come a time when “Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease.” In other words, there will be rest from their enemies and they would no longer have to fight for their promised land. The Jews called this Sabbath rest, where all threats to their existence would be dissipated because of God’s deliverance and love for them. They would no longer have to be restless, always on guard to make sure their enemies don’t destroy them.

And in the same way, this is the hope given to us through Jesus Christ. We live in a restless world where we are constantly fighting to embrace our identity in Christ—different factors perpetually trying to lure us away from God’s truth and tempting us to measure who we are with the standard of the world. And this is a tiring fight. However, there will come a day when Jesus comes back, where these temptations will no longer fight for our identity. We will find true rest in who we are in Christ when the world is renewed for all eternity. Let us continue to fight the good fight of faith knowing that we will find the rest our hearts are looking for when Christ comes back!

Prayer: Father, I confess that my soul is tired from the pressures of this world. I pray that You would give rest for my soul as I find my worth and identity in who You are. Help me to continue to fight the good fight as I find hope and strength from the promise of Your return!

Bible Reading for Today: Ruth 4

October 20, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Surprised by His Grace”

Jeremiah 46: 25-26

The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, said: “Behold, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him. 26 I will deliver them into the hand of those who seek their life, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, declares the Lord.”

In today’s passage, we find a strange and unexpected plot twist. The whole chapter was committed to detailing the sure destruction of Egypt—that God was going to hand over their nation to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians. The scary part was that there was nothing they could do about it. No amount of preparation was going to change their fate, not only because the Babylonians were more powerful, but because it was the inevitable judgment of God that would come to pass. However, we see a sign of grace from God towards the Egyptians in verse 26. Jeremiah proclaims on behalf of God that they will not be completely decimated and their land will be “inhabited as in the days of old.” In light of their sin, God had every right to make them disappear from the face of the earth—but He preserves them in a surprising show of mercy.

I am always surprised by the grace of God. Even as I continue to mature as a believer, there are so many areas of my life that need the sanctifying work of God so that I would be conformed into His image. And yet, in spite of my shortcomings, His grace continues to flow and take me by surprise. Even in my failure, His favor and provisions are so evident in my life. It seems as if His grace and mercy know no end. I know that many of us struggle with the shame of sin and thus distance ourselves from God thinking that we’ve lost His favor. We have a hard time believing that God can still love us because of how far we’ve fallen. But we see in this passage that even a pagan nation like Egypt can be recipients of God’s mercy. Let us not doubt the extent and persistence of His grace in our lives, and as the writer of Hebrews says, let us approach the throne of God boldly today!

Prayer: Father, I am astounded by Your constant love and grace in my life. I fall so short in so many areas of my life and yet, You shower me with Your favor. Thank You for Your persistent love and care! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ruth 2-3

October 19, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 46:18-19

“As I live, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts, like Tabor among the mountains and like Carmel by the sea, shall one come. 19 Prepare yourselves baggage for exile, O inhabitants of Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant.”

In today’s passage, we continue in Jeremiah’s pronouncement of Egypt’s impending doom. It seems that throughout the history of Egypt, the Egyptians had always seen themselves as the super power of the world—towering over other nations as they showed their might in various ways. This was their national identity. However, Jeremiah declares that another empire will come and tower over them, eventually bringing them into exile—this nation we come to know as Babylonia that took the place of Egypt as the most powerful empire in the world. It seems that no matter how powerful you are, it is only a matter of time before someone bigger towers over you.

Many of us build our identity on being the best (or simply really good) at something, whether it’s career success, the amount of money we have, or the skills we possess. For this reason, our sense of value and worth is directly tied to these things. And this leads to two destructive paths. If, on the one hand, we really are the wealthiest or the most skilled, it will likely lead to pride. We will see ourselves as better than others who are not as successful or wealthy. But, on the other hand, if we fail or if someone is more successful than we are (and there will always be someone who is better or more successful than you), our self-worth is crushed. We no longer feel significant and this is very fragile ground to stand on. Our sense of identity will fluctuate depending on these unstable factors.

The gospel provides the firm foundation upon which we must build our identity. We find value not in what we’ve accomplished or the skills we possess but in what Christ Jesus has done for us on the cross. And this is unshakable ground. When we succeed, we are not puffed up with conceit but rather humbled knowing that we are sinners who have been saved by grace—that even the skills and circumstances necessary for success were not due to our own doing but simply a manifestation of God’s mercy in our lives. And even when we fail, we know that we are still loved and valued by the Father because of Christ’s righteousness imputed on us and not our own. Let us build our identity on the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is our firm foundation!

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to find my identity and value in my performance and success. Instead, help me to build my identity on the firm foundation of the gospel. Help me to not only know the gospel in my mind, but for my heart to fully embrace the truths of the gospel into the depths of my identity.

Bible Reading for Today: Ruth 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:1-3: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Questions to Consider

What is Paul’s main command in this passage?
What do you think it means to “set your minds on things that are above?”
In what ways have you set your mind on things below?

Notes

Paul wants them to seek and set their minds on the things above. This is because anyone who truly believes the gospel has died to their own self, and has been raised with Christ into a new identity, a new self.
Since we have been saved and raised with Christ, we ought to deliberately commit ourselves to the values of the kingdom of God and then live out those values, including how we see ourselves. We have been called to put off our own (i.e., old) self, where our identity was built on things of this world leading to much sin. We are to put on our new self by living out our newly given identity we have found in the gospel.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Take some time before going to bed reflecting on the base upon which you have built your identity. How do you find value, significance and worth? Ask God to help you to find your identity in Christ alone!

October 18, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 46:14-17

The word that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to strike the land of Egypt: 14 “Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol;

proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; say, ‘Stand ready and be prepared, for the sword shall devour around you.’ 15 Why are your mighty ones face down? They do not stand because the Lord thrust them down. 16 He made many stumble, and they fell, and they said one to another, ‘Arise, and let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the sword of the oppressor.’ 17 Call the name of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ‘Noisy one who lets the hour go by.’

St. Augustine was probably the most influential Christian thinker after the apostles. His contribution to the church has been felt throughout the ages especially in the formation of Christian thought around the Fall. He concludes that the Fall was due to human pride, where Adam and Eve thought of themselves more highly than they ought. Instead of yielding to the boundaries laid out by God (not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil), they chose to trust in their own judgments and ate from the forbidden tree. Pride blinded them from recognizing that autonomous living apart from God leads to death rather than to more freedom and life. In other words, pride always keeps us from seeing our need for God.

In today’s passage, we are once again reading through Jeremiah’s prophetic judgments upon the nation of Egypt. Their doom is imminent and inevitable. At first glance, it would be easy to see God in this passage as one who is simply angry, ready to lash out at His enemies. But when we read carefully, we see a God who had given the Egyptians a chance to repent. In verse 17, it says, “noisy one who lets the hour go by.” Many commentators suggest that the statement meant that Pharaoh did not seek God’s mercy and help but rather chose to go in his own way. Due to his persistent refusal to ask for God’s grace, the hour for repentance had closed and gone by. Simply put, it was his pride that blinded him from his need for God to save him and his nation.

Many of us live with the same type of pride in our lives. Although we might talk about God as if we need Him, the way that we live our lives betray that sentiment. We have chosen to make our own way without His help. However, it is important to learn from the mistake of Pharaoh—that pride always leads to our own destruction. Even in our success we must learn to rely upon God through prayer and a heart posture of need. There is something so attractive about people who wear humility in their daily attire, acknowledging their weaknesses and constantly leaning upon the power of God. Let us be those types of people. Let us be people who see clearly because we have learned to seek God in our lives!

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to become prideful and self-sufficient, and to live life as if I don’t need You. Help me to recognize my weaknesses and my need for you. Teach me how to lean into Your power in my everyday life! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 2

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-6: Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Questions to Consider

What is Paul referring to as his letters of recommendation?
What makes Paul sufficient to be effective in his ministry?
In what tangible ways can you be more dependent on God?

Notes

He is referring to the people in Corinth who have been affected by his ministry in positive ways. In this letter, people are questioning ministry of Paul. For this reason, he says that the validity of ministry is their own change.
Paul says that transformation and the effectiveness of his ministry is not because of anything inherently in himself, but his sufficiency is in God!
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on what Pastor Tim Keller said: “…the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.”

October 17, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 46:8

“Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.”

Recently, I was part of a staff meeting where we were looking ahead and spent some time dreaming and envisioning where our church might be in five years. And from this meeting, we came up with some measurable goals that we want to reach by a certain timeframe. However, at the end of the discussion, our lead pastor made an interesting point. Although it’s great to have several goals we want to check off by a certain time, we cannot presume upon the Lord as if we are entitled to these things—as if accomplishing everything in our plans is the true measure of success. More than planning, it is important to constantly be sensitive to the voice of God in order to remain aligned to His will, even if they are contrary to our 5-year plans. True success for our church is to follow the leading of God, not the plans of man.

In our passage today, we see the grandiose plans of the Egyptians who proclaimed that they would conquer and cover the earth. They were powerful and made plans that they believed they could accomplish. I mean, who would have stopped this mighty empire? However, we know that the main point of this chapter is to vividly illustrate their destruction and the foiling of their big plans. No matter how much they tried to change the course of history with their might, it is always the plans of God that prevail.

For our generation, 5-year plans have become very popular. We love to plan our lives, set goals that need to be accomplished, and do everything we can to make sure it all unfolds just like we had imagined. And then we proceed to bring these plans to God and ask Him to bless them—even becoming bitter or resentful towards Him if our lives do not go the way we had wanted. In some ways, we always want God to adjust His plans to fit ours. But I wonder if we have it all backwards. I wonder how different our lives would look if we are always ready to adjust our plans to God’s—if we remain in a posture of listening rather than presuming that these things are owed to us. Don’t get me wrong—planning is important—but let us always be attentive to the voice of God and be ready to adjust. God’s plans will always prevail and that is a good thing because His plans are always better than ours!

Prayer: God, today I seek Your direction and leading. As I plan my life and think about the future, help me to always be attentive to Your leading and give me the ability to discern what is of You and what is not. And most of all, help me to trust in You more than myself!

Bible Reading for Today: Haggai 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Questions to Consider

What does this passage imply about our own understanding about life?
What do you think it means to acknowledge Him in all your ways?
What areas of your life have you leaned upon with your own understanding?

Notes

It implies that our own understanding is not to be fully trusted. Although we often think we can see all aspects of our life’s situation, we have many blind spots that distort reality—leading to bad decisions that feel right at the moment. Our ultimate trust when it comes to planning our lives cannot be placed in our own understanding.
It means that, first, you have sought the Lord and received some blessings from him (e.g., wisdom that leads to making a better decision, an open door, etc.); and then afterwards, you give credit where credit is due by publicly acknowledging and thanking God for His favors. It also means a life submitted to God.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

In the busyness of our lives, it’s difficult to sit before God in a listening posture. Take advantage of the quiet night and ask God to show you His plans. Submit before Him different parts of your life and ask Him what it might mean to be aligned to His will in those areas.

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Prov. 19:21).

October 16, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 46:1-6

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations. 2 About Egypt. Concerning the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: 3 “Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle! 4 Harness the horses; mount, O horsemen! Take your stations with your helmets, polish your spears, put on your armor 5 Why have I seen it? They are dismayed and have turned backward. Their warriors are beaten down and have fled in haste; they look not back—terror on every side!” declares the Lord. 6 “The swift cannot flee away, nor the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.”

In today’s passage, we see the Egyptian empire fighting for its life as they prepare themselves for war against the up and coming Babylonian army. Verses 3-4 illustrate in vivid language the Egyptian’s frenzied preparations for battle. You can almost feel the army’s desperate attempt to muster up as much energy as possible in order to defeat the oncoming threat of the Babylonians. However, immediately in verses 5-6, we see that all their strategizing was for naught. They were surrounded by “terror on every side” and could not escape from the clutches of the enemy. They were doomed to destruction.

It is an interesting passage, to the say the least. Prophets like Jeremiah were commissioned to speak on behalf of God specifically to Israel. However, we see Jeremiah also proclaiming judgment and predicting the fate of foreign super powers. What passages like this were meant to do was to show that God was not just God of Israel but the supreme ruler of the entire world—that it was not the powerful empires like the Egyptians who controlled history, but it was God Himself. No matter how much they tried to survive, we see God using the Babylonians as an instrument to destroy them. They were merely at the mercy of God’s plans.

Simply put, God is the Author of history. We might feel as though that powerful people control the fate of the world, and there is not much we can do to change its course to something more hopeful. But we see in this passage that God is in control. As I read through the news, and see all the evil and injustice that runs rampant, this passage—in some strange way—gives me comfort. In many ways, it feels as though the world has gone mad, divided as ever, but we know that God is sovereign, and that there is purpose to the chaos we experience in the world. Although it is so easy to feel hopeless in the face of the evil, let us as Christians find hope in the God who is the true Author of history! Let us, as believers, pray for the world to be healed in all of its brokenness, in spite of all the terrible things we’ve witnessed.

Prayer: Father, in the midst of the problems I see in the world, it is so easy to become hopeless and give up being the light to a broken world. Help me to find hope in the truth that You are in control, and that Your plan of redemption will ultimately prevail over all things. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 22

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 1:15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Questions to Consider

How and why were things in heaven and earth created?
What are the two main roles we see attributed to Jesus in this passage?
How might this passage comfort you?

Notes

All things were created by Christ and they were all created for Him. What this implies is that Jesus is in control of everything—from the point of creation, to their ultimate purpose. He is the Author of all things. However, not only has He created and given them their ultimate purpose, He is the one that sustains all things.
The first half of the passage (vv.15-17), we see Christ as the Creator. The second half of the passage (vv.18-20), we see Him as the Reconciler, who makes peace by His work on the cross.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

“New creation itself has begun, they are saying, and will be completed. Jesus is ruling over that new creation and making it happen through the witness of his church. ‘The ruler of this world’ has been overthrown; the powers of the world have been led behind Jesus’s triumphal procession as a beaten, bedraggled rabble. And that is how God is becoming king on earth as in heaven. That is the truth the gospels are eager to tell us.”— N.T. Wright