September 29, Saturday

The AMI Quiet Time Devotionals for September 29 and 30 are provided by Pastor David Kwon, who is the Lead Pastor of Journey Community Church, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Priceless”

Matthew 13:44-46

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Recently, I read a story about a man named Michael Rorrer of Virginia who, while cleaning out his great aunt’s home following her death, unexpectedly found a chest full of old comic books—345 in total. As he was going through them, he realized that many of these comic books were rare collectables such as the original comic with the first appearance of Superman and the first issue of Batman. Then it suddenly dawned on Rorrer that he had come upon a great wealth of treasure. So, he immediately went to a local pawnshop where it was estimated that the entire collection was worth $3.5 million!

In today’s passage, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as a great treasure. In the parable, we read about two men who found something very valuable, so much so that they were willing to give up all for it. It is a great picture of what is it like when we gain Jesus in our lives. Friends, do you realize what a priceless treasure it is to gain the Kingdom of Heaven? In Christ we find all that we truly need: eternal life and the purpose for which why we exist on this earth.

Furthermore, we need to see that joy was the motivation that led both to sell all that they had to buy the precious field and pearl, respectively; in fact, it was a pleasure to give it all up. The idea is what the treasure is compared to—it is compared to what they had. The conclusion: There is nothing in my possession that is worth more than Jesus; he is to be treasured.

So, don’t treat Jesus as if he is just another important person in your life. He is not just another source for your life to get richer and happier; he is not just an add-on. Jesus is “the life” (Jn. 11:25)! He is everything to us! Notice that both men in these parables had to leave literally everything else to possess this treasure. That is the requirement to live the kingdom life: No conditions. No refusals. No half-hearted commitment. Would that be how we would describe our relationships to Jesus? If not, what is getting in the way of following Christ with all that we have?

So then, take some time today to treasure him. Spend time treasuring him in the Word and worship. CS Lewis in his book “The Weight of Glory” put is like this: “If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Prayer: Lord, may we treasure Christ with all that we are. I pray that we would be willing to let go of everything else to gain more of him. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 2-3

September 28, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Pride and Its Destruction”

Jeremiah 50:1-16

This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians: 2 “Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, ‘Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.’ 3 A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it; both people and animals will flee away. 4 “In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. 6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. 7 Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture, the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’8 “Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock. 9 For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. 10 So Babylonia will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,” declares the Lord. 11 “Because you rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions,12 your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced. She will be the least of the nations—a wilderness, a dry land, a desert. 13 Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate. All who pass Babylon will be appalled; they will scoff because of all her wounds. 14 “Take up your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. 15 Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the Lord, take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others. 16 Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the reaper with his sickle at harvest. Because of the sword of the oppressor let everyone return to their own people, let everyone flee to their own land.

The problem with pride is that it makes us blind to its existence. I experienced this when I moved to New York City four years ago for a new job. Beforehand, I had been working for 2 years and was actively involved in ministry. Thus, I thought I had the “faithful Christian” lifestyle down pat. However, it didn’t take long before trials in corporate culture, church dysfunction and relational conflicts made me realize that I had, and still have, a long way to go.

At its root, pride contains the belief that we can live our lives apart from God, the giver of life. An egregious example was the Tower of Babel, as “they said ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city . . . so that we may make a name for ourselves’” (Gen. 11:4). This spirit of autonomy was also present in Babylon, a civilization that worshipped gods like Bel and Marduk (Jer. 50:2) while taking pride in their accomplishments such as the Hanging Gardens and Hammurabi’s law codes. Thus, God declared that Babylon would be plundered and that “all who plunder her will have their fill” (Jer. 50:10).

In the New Testament, Babylon continues to serve as a symbol of pride, specifically in Revelation 17-18. Depicted as an adulterous woman, Babylon is denounced by God, along with the kings of the earth who committed “adultery with her” and the merchants who “grew rich from her excessive luxuries” (Rev. 18:4). Thus, God pronounced the destruction of Babylon by declaring that He will “give back to her as she has given” (Rev.18:6), just as He declared to ancient Babylon that He would “do to her as she has done to others” (Jer. 50:15).

Ultimately, there are many ways in which the lie of pride can creep into our lives. As many of us do not live paycheck to paycheck (thank the Lord), perhaps we unconsciously trust our wealth to provide the comfort or status we seek. For others, it might be our accomplishments in work or ministry-related successes. Whatever our struggles may be, let us humble ourselves before the Lord to recover the sense of our absolute dependence on God almighty.

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to embrace the thoughts of this world and believe that I make and control my own destiny. Help me remember that this is simply not the case, that every breath I take is only because of Your mercy and grace. Help me to internalize the simple truth that apart from You, there can be no fruit in my life. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 16:18-20: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

Questions to Consider

Verse 18 is probably one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. Why do you think this may be true?
What alternative to pride does this chapter of Proverbs provide?
In light of verse 20, who are the people in your life from whom you could heed instruction? Are you willing to listen to them?

Note

God created the world for us to be His image bearers and to reflect His goodness. Pride is the antithesis of that and claims that we can live our lives apart from God. Thus, it’s not a surprise that anything against God’s purposes will eventually fail.
Verse 19 declares that it is better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed (i.e. the poor). Generally speaking, humble people can be found among the poor or oppressed since they often feel helpless when they are subjected to discrimination and contempt.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Jesus declared in his most famous sermon that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are poor in spirit (Matt. 5:3). Ultimately, this brokenness can’t be manufactured by us but is prompted by God, especially when we are undergoing difficult situations. Let’s ask for that brokenness, which acknowledges the simple truth that we cannot live our lives for God without Him.

September 27, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Nations Rise and Fall”

Jeremiah 49:23-39

“Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like[d] the restless sea. Damascus has become feeble, she has turned to flee and panic has gripped her anguish and pain have seized her, pain like that of a woman in labor. Why has the city of renown not been abandoned, the town in which I delight? Surely, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord Almighty. “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-Hadad.” Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what the Lord says: “Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, ‘Terror on every side!’ “Flee quickly away! Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,” declares the Lord. “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you; he has devised a plan against you. “Arise and attack a nation at ease, which lives in confidence,” declares the Lord, “a nation that has neither gates nor bars; its people live far from danger. Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoils of war. I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring disaster on them from every side,” declares the Lord. “Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it.” This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “See, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might. I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; I will scatter them to the four winds, and there will not be a nation where Elam’s exiles do not go. I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who want to kill them; I will bring disaster on them, even my fierce anger,” declares the Lord. “I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them. I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials,” declares the Lord. “Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come,” declares the Lord.

One of my favorite hobbies is playing board games but one game that I have never finished is Risk. In Risk, each player controls an army inhabiting certain territories and aims to be the last army standing occupying every territory. Battles between players are determined by dice rolls and alliances may form or break throughout the game. What frustrates me about Risk is that it requires several hours to finish, due to the inevitable victories and defeats one endures throughout the game.

Despite my feelings about Risk, it accurately exhibits the truth that nations rise and fall throughout human history. In Jeremiah 49:23-39, we witness prophecies against the people of Damascus, Kedar, Hazor and Elam. In regards to Damascus, Jeremiah prophesies that the nearby cities of Harmath and Arpad will be dismayed at their impending destruction (Jer. 49:23-27). This is significant, as other Bible verses mention these cities as places of idol worship (Isa. 36:19, 2 Kings 18:34). Ultimately, as described in other Old Testament books such as Daniel, these cities were conquered by the Assyrians, Babylonians and Persians as part of God’s sovereign plan.

While not much is known about Kedar and Hazor, we do know that Elam was an ancient kingdom that fought against Abraham (Gen. 14). As a nation who trusted in the bow (Isa. 22:6), God specifically promised that He “will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might” (Jer. 49:35). However, God also promised that “He will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come” (Jer. 49:39); and this promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, as the Elamites are mentioned among the many people present when the Holy Spirit entered the human heart for the first time (Rom. 5:5; Jn. 7:39).

Throughout history, nations have trusted in their military might for their significance and security. However, the Israelites declared that “some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). As changes occur in our lives and the world around us, who are we ultimately putting our trust in? It would be very wise to put our trust in eternal God.

Prayer: Father, it is so easy to trust in my abilities or in my desire to work hard. Help me to remember that all human efforts apart from You will eventually fail. Help me to trust in You and Your sovereignty and work out of my dependence on You. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 42

Lunch Break Study

Read Daniel 2:36-47: (Daniel says to King Nebuchadnezzar who just had a very strange dream) “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Questions to Consider

How is God’s sovereignty emphasized in Daniel’s actions?
How is God’s sovereignty revealed in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?
How is God’s sovereignty reflected in your life today?

Note

Throughout his explanation of the dream, Daniel emphasizes that it is God who reveals mysteries (v.28), not him.
Many scholars believe that the first four kingdoms in the dream are the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. However, the only kingdom that will remain in the end is the kingdom of God.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

It may be second nature for us to forget God in crises big or small. Were there times today when you relied on yourself or others instead of God? Ask that God would help build in you a spirit of dependence on Him.

September 26, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Need for Repentance”

Jeremiah 49:7-22

“Concerning Edom. Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished? 8 Flee, turn back, dwell in the depths,
O inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him. 9 If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night,
would they not destroy only enough for themselves? 10 But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His children are destroyed, and his brothers, and his neighbors; and he is no more. 11 Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.” 12 For thus says the Lord: “If those who did not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, will you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, but you must drink. 13 For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes.” 14 I have heard a message from the Lord, and an envoy has been sent among the nations: “Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle! 15 For behold, I will make you small among the nations, despised among mankind. 16 The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there, declares the Lord. 17 “Edom shall become a horror. Everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters. 18 As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the Lord, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her. 19 Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him[d] run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? 20 Therefore hear the plan that the Lord has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Even the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away. Surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. 21 At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. 22 Behold, one shall mount up and fly swiftly like an eagle and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom shall be in that day like the heart of a woman in her birth pains.”

Although we live in a culture of instant gratification, some people’s short-sighted choices can still surprise us. One such instance arose in The Matrix, which depicts humanity being enslaved to robots through living in a virtual world (i.e. the Matrix) resembling the 1990s. One free man, Cypher, desires to re-enter the Matrix and live in blissful ignorance. Thus, he betrays his fellow escapees over a virtual steak dinner, despite his acknowledgment that the dinner itself isn’t real.

A more foolish choice occurred in the Old Testament, when Esau forsook his birthright to Jacob over a single meal (Gen. 25:29-34). Esau eventually became the father of the Edomites (Gen. 36:1), a people who also made foolish decisions in their dealings with the Israelites. At the time of the Exodus, the Edomites refused to let the Israelites pass through their land (Num. 20:14-21) and later fought against King David and Solomon (2 Sam. 8:14, 1 Kings 11:14-25). According to Jeremiah, they even rejoiced in Jerusalem’s destruction by the Babylonians (Lam. 4:21).

Because of the Edomites’ constant rebellion, Jeremiah prophesied that the Lord will bring destruction on Esau (Jer. 49:8), that He would strip Esau bare (49:10) and that Edom would become an object of horror (49:17). Additionally, the Edomites were known for their stone city of Petra, an ancient military fortress, yet God declared in verse 16 that “you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill . . . though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down”. This came to pass in the fifth century B.C., when the Nabateans defeated the Edomites and removed them from Petra. Consequently, the Edomites no longer exist as a people today.

The story of Esau and the Edomites serve as a stark reminder of our need for continual repentance, as a point of no return does exist. In fact, Hebrews 12:17 declared that it was too late for Esau to repent despite his tears. No matter where we are, let’s repent before our hearts have become too hardened.

Prayer: Father, you know how stubborn and proud I can be. Many times I refuse to admit I’m wrong, even to You. Help me develop the humility to turn away from my pride and turn to You and follow You. May my life be one of continual repentance. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 41

(Once again we apologize for making a mistake with yesterday’s Bible reading.)

Lunch Break Study

Read James 4:1-10: What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Questions to Consider

What in this passage does James identify as the root of sin?
What in this passage does James identify as the antidote to sin?
What are the sins in your life that you have tried but cannot overcome without God’s strength?

Note

James notes that there are selfish desires within us that manifests in coveting, fighting and even killing (v.1-3). Specifically, James describes us as adulterous people (v.4), implying that we turn to other people or things besides God to meet our needs.
In short, humility. We are told to submit ourselves to God (v.7), to come near to God (v.8), and to humble ourselves before God (v.10).
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Part of the process of repentance may involve making amends to those you have hurt. Are there people in your life that have been affected by your sin? Pray for wisdom and strength to take the next step to make things right.

September 25, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“God’s Astonishing Grace”

Jeremiah 49:1-6

Thus says the Lord: “Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom[a] dispossessed Gad, and his people settled in its cities? 2 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the Lord. 3 “Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials. 4 Why do you boast of your valleys, O faithless daughter, who trusted in her treasures, saying, ‘Who will come against me?’ 5 Behold, I will bring terror upon you, declares the Lord God of hosts, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives. 6 “But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, declares the Lord.”

Conflict with others is inevitable but few situations hurt more than betrayal. One example occurs in The Empire Strikes Back when Han Solo and his Rebel Alliance flee to Cloud City to escape the Empire. Upon arrival, the group is warmly welcomed by Han’s long-time friend and Cloud City Administrator, Lando Calrissian. Unfortunately, Lando himself is under the Empire’s influence and soon betrays the rebels by handing them over to Darth Vader.

In Old Testament history, one people group that continually interfered with and betrayed Israel was the Ammonites, who resided east of the Jordan River, between the Jabbok and Arnon rivers. During Moses’ lifetime, the Ammonites had lost some territory to King Sihon (Num. 21:21-35), who was subsequently defeated by Israel and whose territory was granted to the tribe of Gad (Num. 32:33). Despite Israel’s victory, they did not encroach upon Ammonite territory, as the Lord specifically dictated that it was “given as a possession to the descendants of Lot [the Ammonites]” (Deut. 2:19). God’s mercy is even more astounding in light of the fact that Ammonite ancestry originated with Ammon, Lot’s son born through incest with Lot’s daughters (Gen. 19).

In spite of God’s grace, the Ammonites frequently fought against Israel during the eras of the Judges and Kings (Judges 3 and 2 Sam. 10). Furthermore, the Ammonites continually encouraged Israel to engage in idolatry through worship of their god, Molek (Lev. 2 and 1 Kings 11). As Israel had fallen by Jeremiah’s time, Jeremiah’s prophecy against Ammon (49:1) begins with a lament, “why then has Molek taken possession of Gad?” Subsequent verses in this prophecy foretell imminent destruction and terror for the rebellious Ammonites.

However, God declares that “yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites” (49:6). Some scholars suggest that this indicates New Testament fulfilment, as the Ammonites were “eventually absorbed into the peoples of Arabia, some of whom were present on Pentecost”. Thus, it is likely that some souls saved on Pentecost included Ammonite descendants. What an amazing testimony of God’s astonishing grace to humanity!

Prayer: Father, I confess that I am not all that different from the Ammonites. Despite Your many gifts to me, I engage in rebellion and idolatry against You by looking to others to meet my needs and fulfill me. Thank You for Your saving grace; help me lead a life of repentance in step with the faith I declare. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 40

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:5-10: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Questions to Consider

What does it mean to walk in darkness?
What is so important about verses 8-10?
Where may you be walking in darkness right now?

Note

From this passage, as well as other passages from John (John 1), walking in darkness can be described as living a secret life of intentional sin.
Verses 8-10 indicate that sin is inevitable because of our rebellious nature. Verse 8 is probably the clearest indication of this and verse 9 indirectly refers to this as well (it begins with “If we confess our sins…” not “If we sin…”). However, the fact that we have sinned is not as important as our need to confess to God and to others (verse 9), as well as to depend on God for His help.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

As you reflect on your day, how may you have looked to others to fulfill your needs? Take some time to confess specifics to God and ask for His strength for the next day.

September 24, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from September 23-27 are provided by Jabez Yeo. Jabez, an alumnus of University of Pennsylvania, recently graduated from Columbia International University with a M.A. in Muslim Studies. He is currently working in NYC and serving at Remnant Church-E. He hopes to become a missionary.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Suffering Servant”

Jeremiah 49-50 (This week we are switching the order of the chapters studied.)

Jeremiah 7:27-28

“So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.’”

In times of prosperity, it can be easy to ignore certain warnings to one’s peril. Such was the case in the mid-2000s, when almost any American could qualify for a mortgage. Despite warnings from certain regulators and investors, the U.S. government failed to curb the excessive lending. Subsequently, America’s housing market collapsed, bankrupting many lenders and triggering a global financial crisis that lasted for years.

Similarly, around 586 BC, the kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians despite many warnings from the prophet—Jeremiah. While Judah was economically prosperous, there was deep spiritual decline because of the Judeans’ idolatry and disobedience. Undeterred, Jeremiah faithfully delivered God’s word to the unbelieving Judeans (Jer. 7:27-28) and to other nations (Jer. 46-51) amidst intense hardships. Consider the following about Jeremiah:

He was set apart as a prophet to the nations (Jer. 1:5) but preached for about 40 years without witnessing much spiritual fruit or revival.
He ministered to the last five kings of Judah but only one (Josiah) sincerely sought after God. The other four were either exiled or did evil (2 Chron. 36).
He was instructed to remain single and did not have children to carry on his name (Jer. 16:2);
He endured great physical suffering, including torture (Jer. 20:2), unjust imprisonment (Jer. 37:14-15) and suffocation (Jer. 38:1-13). He was even physically abducted (Jer. 43:1-7).

Throughout this week, we will be reading Jeremiah 49-50, which contains some of Jeremiah’s prophecies to the nations. It may be tough for some of us to believe how prophecies to nations that are non-existent today apply to our personal lives. I myself struggled with writing these devotionals due to my lack of Old Testament knowledge. However, we can take comfort in the fact that these prophecies were given to a man who suffered tremendously for his faith and served as a precursor to the ultimate sufferer, Jesus Christ, the one who gave His life for us and was obedient to death (Phil. 2:5-11). Let us trust that God will speak to us as we read His Word.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that Your Word is applicable to our lives, just as it was to ancient civilizations throughout history. Thank You for believers like Jeremiah, who remind me that faithfulness to You and Your Word is possible even amidst great hardship. Build my life so that my character would be refined and that my faith would prove to be genuine no matter the situation. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 39

Lunch Time Study

Read Hebrews 12:1-13: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed

Questions to Consider

At first glance, reading Hebrews 12:4-13 may seem especially harsh or militaristic. Why is this not so?
Jeremiah is surely in the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us today (Heb. 12:1). How can we persevere as he did?
Who are the witnesses in your life (living or dead) that you can gain encouragement from?

Note

Context is key. We are given these commands because there have been others who exhibited faith even in severe situations (Heb. 11). Furthermore, we are told that these same saints surround us today (Heb. 12:1), and that Christ Himself is at the right hand of God the Father (Heb. 12:2), interceding for us (Rom. 8:34). Thus, we are not running the race of faith alone.
The author encourages us to fix our eyes on Christ, just as Christ gained encouragement through remembering the joy set before Him during intense suffering (Heb. 12:2). We need to remind ourselves of the gospel each day, no matter what.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

What setbacks did you face today? How did these events remind you about who’s really in control? Pray that God would help you surrender what is necessary so that your faith would be made stronger.

September 23, Sunday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided Jasmin Izumikawa. Jasmin, a member of the Church of Southland, is currently a high school teacher.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“He Walks with Me”

John 20:15-16

“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher, in Hebrew).

One of the first classes I taught was an English immersion class. The school called it “Creative Dramatics.” This class consisted of students with minimal to no English proficiency. There was no set curriculum and the only core text recommended for the class came out of a conversational English workbook from the 1980’s. Students sat in scraggly rows, chanting basic conversational English phrases back and forth to each other. It was painfully loud, the lessons were dry, and the students sounded like sad, monotone robots chanting in unison, “Where-is the- library?” “Turn-left, walk down-the- hall, then- turn right.”

A few weeks in, I had just enough. Driven to my wit’s end, I halted this tired chorus of GPS voice navigators and decided to fly by the seat of my pants. I scribbled the words of Emily Dickinson on a transparency sheet and slapped it on top of a dusty overhead projector. I recited to my students the poem, “’Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers.”

Their assignment: Translate the poem into their own native languages. They precariously took out their pocket translators and began to write. Translations in Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Indonesian began to emerge on pieces of paper. Almost immediately, I started to see engagement and excitement as students began to collaboratively piece together their understanding and translations of this poem. The next day, they jabbered away in various languages, correcting each other, making suggestions, and revising their writings. Then, I gave them the task of reciting the poem in English, line by line, from memory. As the days went by, the class would nominate students, calling them out to the front by name, one by one, to recite the poem in English and from memory; for the brief minute they stood there reciting, their peers listened, hungrily. Although some words were slurred and choppy, they understood the heartbeat of the poem, and I could tell because the tones of their voices changed, the tempo slowed, and there was joy as their peers patted them on their backs and applauded them. From a classroom of dry, reluctant readers, there was now the presence of thirty-six hungry poets who had breathed new life into Dickinson’s poem. Those words would not mean anything at all if the students could not connect to it, struggle through it, and celebrate it in their own encounters with it first.

Up until the point Jesus appeared before the tomb, Mary Magdalene may have recognized Him only as a teacher. Jesus must have known this, so He says to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God’” (John 20:17). It is as though He was saying, “I’m fulfilling what I came to do. Did you forget I am your Savior? I’m always with you, Mary.” She had now encountered Jesus as risen LORD, living God, and her personal Savior. Her life changed completely. Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the LORD!” Then she gave them His message.

The hymnist, C. Austin Miles, who wrote the words to “I Come to the Garden Alone,” celebrates his personal encounter with Jesus. He wrote:

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear,
The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other, has ever, known!

How beautiful, how life-changing, and how exciting is the life that encounters the living God, our loving Savior? His Word is not a lifeless and disconnected book. It is a living promise that beckons you to join Him in the struggle and in the joy of knowing Him personally. Perhaps you have found yourself in a season of spiritual dryness. Have prayers fallen from your lips? Sing to Him and hold onto His words. Let go of your fears and doubts and be reminded, He is always with You, He embraces you, and calls out to you. Maybe today, more than ever, you need to hear Him call out your name and to walk with Him in the garden alone, to be told you are His. May the LORD bless you and give you the assurance that He is with you.

Prayer: LORD, what an incredible encounter Mary had with You. I want to meet with You in a personal way and walk with You through this life. Your voice is what I want to hear, so open my ears so that I may hear. Thank You for Your assurance that You have never left me. I love You, God! You are so good to me. Soften my heart and help me to let go of my fears and doubts. Breathe life over me with Your words. What have I to fear when You’re right here with me, speaking to me? Thank you, LORD, for being my personal Savior, the living God, our risen King. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 38

September 22, Saturday

Today’s AMI Quiet Time is written by Claudia Robbie who serves at Journey Church of Atlanta.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Matthew 20:28

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

For a while, the Lord has been challenging my idea of servanthood and humility. “I’m older, I’m a leader, I disciple these people, I have kids, I’m tired ….” are reasons I give God when I am confronted to serve in a way that I think is beneath my scope. I can get frustrated when others don’t serve, especially when there is a need. But God has been asking me: “Are you the first to serve when there is a need? Are you a servant or a leader?”

I know I am a servant, but in this season, God has been working in my heart and bringing me to another degree of glory where He has freed me from lifelong lies. He is bringing me to repentance of long forgotten sins, and I realize just how much of my time and mind is taken with ME (my anxieties, desires, hopes, boundaries, etc.). But it ceased being about ME when I said yes to God and I am experiencing this next layer now.

He wants a servant’s heart, not just acts of service so I can get some imaginary merit badge. It’s not just in discipleship, administration, teaching, or counseling (my roles and responsibilities as a leader). I am called to be a servant where there is need, in or outside my church, teaching from the front or on my knees scrubbing a toilet, in public or private, whether someone else has a servant heart or not. Because what floors me about Jesus is that He served me to His death when I was His enemy.

What would it do for those I lead if they see me spent to the end for Jesus, not just in the front or at the top but in the lowly and despised things? What would it do for my heart as a leader if I were the first to clean a toilet or take out the trash? Would it keep my heart tender, soft, and humble before God? Maybe a servant’s heart is God’s protection against pride and self sufficiency for me as I lead.

I am not advocating or suggesting doing more to do more. But we should ask ourselves, Is my heart in a posture of humility and servanthood that I can hear God when He whispers that it is my turn to serve and love with the lowliest of things. Am I free enough from my dreams, desires, agendas, and hopes (even in ministry) that I can hear when God says, “I want you to take out the trash today”?

What is God saying to the servant’s heart He is cultivating in you today?

Prayer: In our busy lives, Father, we become deaf to You. We believe it’s about position, responsibilities, and capabilities, but it’s about You reclaiming us. Teach us to be servants in all that we do as we listen for Your leading. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 36-37

September 21, Friday

Today’s AMI Devotional is written by Jin Ha Lee who serves at Grace Covenant Church in Philadelphia. Jin Ha, a CPA, graduated from Drexel University and is getting married this November. Congratulations!

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Listening Ear”

Jeremiah 38:17-20

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If you will surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. 18 But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.” 19 King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” 20 Jeremiah said, “You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared.”

There was a season in my life when I sought advice from many different older brothers and sisters—I would go to this person to get his advice, call this person to get her perspective, and on-and-on. But, I had a problem. In going to many people, I wasn’t really hearing what they were saying, but I was looking for people to give the answer I wanted to hear.

King Zedekiah was had a similar problem. He sought Jeremiah for God’s Word multiple times and even heard what God said, yet he lacked faith. King Zedekiah was not seeking after an answer from the Lord to direct the course of his life—though he cared enough to seek it—but not enough to respond in faith to it.

The context of this passage was that the Babylonians had been temporarily deterred by the Egyptians. It was only a matter of time before the Babylonians would be at his doorsteps. In desperation Zedekiah sought out Jeremiah—again. Jeremiah gave a clear answer from the Lord: “…if you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live….” It was actually a very gracious response to the mess that Zedekiah created by rebelling against Nebuchadnezzar who had set Zedekiah as king. He had the chance to save not only his life but his family and the city.

However, Zedekiah immediately responds that he’s scared of the deserters mistreating him. Maybe he felt that the Israelites would be upset at him and blame him for the loss, or he felt embarrassed for starting a conflict with the Babylonians that he couldn’t win. In any case, his fears spoke more loudly in his heart than God’s Word. He focused so much on his fears that he missed out on the chance to respond to God’s Word.

Going back to my story, the situation I was trying to handle blew up. But through that experience I was humbled and learned to seek what God has to say through godly counsel more than what I wanted to hear. It was a very valuable lesson! Let’s ask ourselves this question: Am I truly ready to listen and respond to God in faith when God speaks to me? Or am I just going to ignore His word if it’s not what I want to hear?

Prayer: Lord, we want to listen intently to Your Word. Would You please reveal Yourself to us and help us to know You intimately? Please help us to respond in faith, knowing that You are holy, loving, and good. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 35

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 18:9-10: And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Questions to Consider

How did God reveal Himself to Paul during the hardships of missions?
What does Paul’s response show about what he believes about God?
How can we live by faith despite our fears or difficult scenarios?

Note

God revealed Himself by encouraging Paul in a vision. He told Paul not be afraid but to continue his mission for the gospel, knowing that God is with him and that He would protect him. God also let Paul know that he was not alone but surrounded by believers. Up to this point Paul had already been persecuted by the Jews from Thessalonica who chased him out of Thessalonica and Berea.
Paul believed in the Lord and stayed at the city for one year and six months; he had faith that the Lord was with him. His response in 2 Corinthians showed that he believed that God’s grace was sufficient for him, even in difficulties and weaknesses.
Personal response. Zedekiah focused so much on his fears, instead of trusting in God, whereas, though Paul also faced difficult and costly situations throughout his mission trips, he focused on the Lord. Both of their actions showed where their faith was. I don’t think faith is a matter of rolling up our sleeves and blindly jumping headlong into situations in our own strength. Certain situations have legitimate concerns, costs, and fears. But, spending time with the Lord, seeking Him, being in an intimate relationship with Him and the church helps us to move forward in faith by His encouragement, grace, and love. We can ask God to show us and remind us of who He is, and that we could look at Him rightly and step forward despite the fears, difficulties, and weaknesses.

Evening Reflection

How has the Lord revealed Himself to you recently? Although different situations we face may bring about fear, hardship, or even apathy, we can find rest, strength, and joy in the Lord. Let’s ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us, and that we would grow in an intimate and genuine relationship with Him.

September 20, Thursday

Today’s AMI Quiet Time is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon who is the Lead Pastor at Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Thank the Lord for Timely Friends”

Jeremiah 38:7-13 (NIV)

But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, 8 Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, 9 “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” 10 Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”11 So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, 13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Our family recently moved into a new place—but not without some resistance from our children. In our previous home, our children had developed lots of friendships around the neighborhood. They spent hours and hours with friends engaging in all sorts of fun activities, but in moving into a new home, my kids (particularly our 4^th grade son, Nathan) knew that they’d have to start anew the daunting task of making new friends. Soon enough, as our boys began to explore the new neighborhood, they met few other boys who were just as interested in sports, video games, …sports, video games…and more sports and video games. =) That afternoon, Nathan came back home with a big smile on his face and said to me, “Dad, Nick and Tommy are my friends now.” There’s something about good friendships that even children know to value in life.

In this passage, Jeremiah was thrown into a well by the city’s officials. He had been warning of the impending doom of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. God had revealed that the only chance for survival was to surrender. The public officials did not want the Jews to listen to Jeremiah’s prophecies, although the words came from God. So they approached King Zedekiah to obtain a permission to put away Jeremiah. The king, perhaps in despair or fear, barely raises any concern and says: “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” And the officials immediately arrest Jeremiah and leave him at the bottom of a well to die of starvation. Jeremiah was in a bleak and hopeless situation.

However, God sends a “friend,” a Cushite, to foil the plans of the officials and rescues Jeremiah from the well (see https://www.gotquestions.org/Cushites.html). The Cushite could have been severely punished by King Zedekiah for going against the wishes of the officials as well as the king’s permission to put away Jeremiah. With courage, the Cushite changes the mind of the king and carries out a rescue plan in lifting Jeremiah out of the well.

At times, God sends a timely friend. This “friend” might not be someone who is popular with the crowds, nor wealthy. This “friend” might even have been overlooked as an insignificant person. Yet, their timely presence and the encouragement he/she brings may perhaps be the difference between despair and hope.

Today, I’d like to encourage you to be that “friend” to others.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the friendships in my own life. But today, lead me in extending Your friendship to those around me in my workplace, school, church, neighborhood, etc. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Job 34

Lunch Break Study

John 15:12-17 (NIV)

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Questions to Consider

What qualities does Jesus highlight in defining a friendship?
What separates a mere servant from a friend in God’s Kingdom?
What comparison does Jesus use in describing how we are to love others?

Notes

Jesus highlights the quality of laying down one’s life. He also highlights obedience to the command of loving others.
A servant is outside of God’s business plans, while a friend has been invited into knowing everything that Jesus had learned from the Father.
Jesus says that we are to love others as “I have loved you.” It’s a tall order. However, when the Spirit of Christ dwells in your heart, you are moved to love others as Jesus has loved us.

Evening Reflection

How are you being a friend to those around you these days? In what practical ways can you show your friendship and encouragement to few people in your own life?