July 30, Monday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Christine Li of Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jeremiah 25:1-3

The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. 2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 “For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.”

Pushing Through

The “midlife crisis,” as commonly called, is a phenomenon when individuals who feel dissatisfied with the repetition and pace of their life may desire to make some drastic changes. Factors could range from the unhappy observation that their stamina and energy are slipping or that their best efforts are not applied in meaningful places. Individuals may quit their jobs or begin to spend their time pursuing exciting hobbies that will stimulate them: fast cars, thrilling travel excursions, etc.

Jeremiah might likely have encountered a similar crisis. He has been going to the people for twenty-three years, and still no progress has been made. Time after time, he entreats them to amend their ways, but they continue to rebel. But he has not yet given up. It is possible that, at some point, he must have wondered whether his best years were well spent serving a people who continued to ignore his prophecies. How much longer must this continue?

We will all encounter some hard times and situations that may seem interminably long. What can we learn from Jeremiah to gain some perseverance and not be paralyzed by how far away our breakthrough seems? The most helpful thought I have around perseverance is that it is wholly dependent on grace; it comes from God. Try as we might, we cannot create lasting tenacity in our character. But this is good news for us. Just as Jeremiah perseveres because God continues to equip and send him back to the people of Judah, we too can be similarly strengthened by God.

Do you find that you need strength to persevere? Today, we will not be able to sign up for an ambitious, twenty-year commitment of perseverance. But, we can ask God to make us faithful with each small opportunity that comes our way. By taking a day at a time in His power, eventually weeks, months, and years will pass. Let’s start with today, ask Him to give us the ability and power to plow through, and trust Him to snowball it into a lifestyle of perseverance.

Prayer: Father, You know that I am weak and do not have the natural stamina to stay faithful and perseverant. However, by Your grace, I can be strengthened to stand firm each day. Help me to take each opportunity to be faithful and create a long-term perseverance in me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:4-13: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Questions to Consider

The apostle Paul experienced no shortage of discouraging circumstances, yet he suggests that it is possible to always rejoice. How does he instruct the believers here?
Paul quickly follows with a charge for the believers to put into practice the things they have learned from him. Why is this?
According to this passage, what are the keys to Paul’s ability to stay content in any situation? Let’s take hold of what he teaches and dwell also on the qualities he focuses our attention to.

Notes

Paul says that the peace that comes from God guards not only our hearts but also our minds, and he seems to suggest that receiving peace from God is one crucial component for our joy. The first encouragement is prayer: by drawing close to God, we receive peace that He is settling all things on our account. The second instruction is training our minds: we must contemplate excellent and praiseworthy things (the most excellent and praiseworthy being God Himself as, well as the work He has done in our lives / in one another).
It is likely that the believers do not lack philosophy or theory here. Paul knows it is not just enough to “know” how to receive God’s peace—the power comes from putting that knowledge into practice. By doing so, the believers will experience both the promised peace as well as the very God who gives peace.
Paul’s contentment does not come from the measurement of what he has tangibly but from the internal spiritual richness. To recap what we have observed, Paul cultivates this by bringing all needs before God in prayer to be reminded that God can provide. He also directs and focuses his thoughts on the beauty and loveliness of God. These actions help Paul stay aware of the spiritual realm and God’s presence, which redefines all his experiences.

Evening Reflection

What are your thoughts on perseverance in current situations? Are there steps we can take to receive help from God? Let’s spend some time reflecting on areas how and where we would like God to help us stand firm.

July 29, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals from July 23-29 are provided by Pastor Jason Sato of OTR in Cincinnati. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (B.S.) and Westminster Theological Seminary in California (M.Div.), is married to Jessica, and they have three young children: Jonah, Lily, and Ayla (nine months old).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Book of Naomi”

Ruth 1:1-5, 19-21 (ESV)

[1] In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. [2] The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. [3] But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. [4] These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, [5] and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband…

[19] So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” [20] She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”

That the book of Ruth is named after Ruth is not surprising. Ruth is obviously amazing. She’s like a Bible superhero. But one can argue that the book of Ruth is really about Naomi. The book starts and ends with Naomi and sees Naomi change the most.

In the days of the Judges, God’s people are living in the Promised Land but they’re not following God. They’re doing whatever is right in their own eyes so God disciplines them through a famine. Rather than receiving that discipline, Elimelech and Naomi take their family outside of the Promised Land. This is not the same as moving because you got a job in another city. Being in the Promised Land is a key part of belonging to God’s people.

Elimelech and Naomi experience hardship and, their move to Moab, in effect, says that they are done with this land and with this God. They still believe in the Lord, that He exists and that He saved Israel from Egypt, but they do not trust Him with their lives or with their family.

After Elimelech dies, Naomi does not go back to Judah. Instead she finds Moabite women for her sons to marry, knowing that God has forbidden this because they will lead her sons away from the Lord. Moab is something like 60 miles away from Israel. It was possible that she could have found Israelite wives for her boys, but she does not care to do so. (Or, she couldn’t or wouldn’t dissuade her sons from marrying pagan women.) Then her sons tragically die as well.

Because she has nowhere else to go, Naomi returns to Israel and tells the people of Jerusalem how the Lord has turned her from sweet (Naomi) to bitter (Mara). She left full! Life was so good when she rejected God and His promises but now she is empty!

Naomi has rejected God’s discipline, left the Promised Land, encouraged her sons to become idolaters and then blames God for her misfortune. What is the response of God? To be inexplicably good to Naomi. God blesses her with Ruth, Boaz, and finally Obed (Naomi’s grandson).

We too lose faith and quit on God so readily, yet His loving kindness is steadfast. He continues to give. How often has God blessed us when we are lukewarm, in sin, or hard of heart? What other God loves like the Lord?

Prayer: Father, thank You that You love like no other person ever has or ever will. Time and time again I go my own way. Yet even when my heart is not right with You, You love me still. May I put all my trust in You.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 8

July 28, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“While There is Time”

Jeremiah 24:8–10 (ESV)

But thus says the LORD: “Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat Zedekiah the king of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who dwell in the land of Egypt. [9] I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a reproach, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them. [10] And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they shall be utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.”

In our passage this morning, Jeremiah continues to explain the vision of the basket of figs: The good figs are the people who are sent into exile by Babylon. The bad figs are the people who are allowed to remain in the Promised Land, albeit under the rule of the Babylonians. While the exiles go through a harsher experience initially, they are actually the ones favored by God. Those who remain in the land are tempted to believe that they are more righteous than those who are exiled, and that they can continue on in their way of life.

From high school into the first couple years of college, I managed to get by without doing much work. I slept through lectures, exchanged homework assignments with friends, and crammed before tests. I thought this was a viable way of approaching life. Thankfully, I received a wake-up call in my junior year. With harder coursework, these study habits produced failing grades. While I stubbornly clung to my failing system as long as I could, eventually, I made the necessary changes and finally learned to work hard.

In the moment, I certainly wished that my lackluster effort would be enough. But what if I managed to get through college without ever learning to work hard? Eventually, it would catch up to me and instead of failing classes, I would be getting fired from jobs and the consequences would become more and more serious with time.

The Israelites who remain in Jerusalem or flee to Egypt do not appreciate the seriousness of their situation. They assume that the worst is over, and since they’ve survived thus far, they don’t need to make any major changes in their lives. Rather than being thankful for undeservedly being able to stay in the Promised Land and accepting God’s judgment humbly, they cling to a false sense of assurance and harden their hearts to God and His prophet, Jeremiah.

Sadly, the greater judgment is still to come and the people are less and less likely to be ready for the Day of the Lord.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You often do not give me what I deserve. May I not mistake grace for deserved favor. May I not be foolish enough to linger in sin but repent and turn now while there is still time. Thank You that You are faithful to forgive and bind up the brokenhearted. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 6-7

July 27, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Discipline is Not Rejection”

Jeremiah 24:1–7 (ESV)

After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the craftsmen, and the metal workers, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me this vision: behold, two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the LORD. [2] One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten. [3] And the LORD said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.” [4] Then the word of the LORD came to me: [5] “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. [6] I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. [7] I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.

Oftentimes after I discipline one of my children they want to be close to me. I imagine they want to know that I still love them. And love is truly what biblical discipline is about. We struggle to understand this, but discipline is not the same as rejection.

After generations of unfaithfulness, God sends Judah into exile at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The Lord shows Jeremiah a vision of a basket of figs. Some were very good figs and others were very bad figs. Surprisingly, the good figs are those who are sent out of the Promised Land into exile.

While God is angry with their sin and there is an element of judgment, the Lord has not rejected His people. He is disciplining them for their good. In exile, God’s people are forced to face the ugliness of their sin and are given the opportunity to repent and turn back to God. If the people had not faced God’s judgment, they would more readily rest easy in their sins, and their hearts would grow steadily harder. But God’s desire is that His people turn back before the final Day of Judgment comes and it’s too late for them to do so.

When I was a teenager, I was in a self-inflicted downward spiral and my parents were often frustrated with me. In the midst of a lecture, my dad said, “You’re lucky we haven’t given up on you!” More so now, but even then I knew that this was true. It would have been easier for my parents to leave me alone and let me do whatever I wanted, but they kept loving me the best way they knew how.

In every hardship, God is exposing what is really inside our hearts. He does not do this because He enjoys watching us squirm, but because He intends to minister to us, set us free, and give us a heart to know Him if we will let Him. The Father is not content to let us slip away from Him without a fight.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You desire to show me mercy! Open my eyes that I might see my need and draw near to You. May I know that discipline is not rejection, and that in all things You are calling me back to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 12:5–11 (ESV): 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.

Questions to Consider

In this passage, what is the mark of a child of God?
What is the heart of God in the midst of discipline?
What is meant to be the fruit of God’s discipline?

Notes

Being disciplined is the mark of truly being a child of God. Only illegitimate children are not disciplined.
God does not discipline us because He is fed up with us. Rather, He disciplines us because of His great love for us.
God’s discipline is meant to produce holiness and the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. What moments of discipline occurred? Were you able to respond in repentance and faith? If so, thank God for this outpouring of grace. If not, take a moment to repent and seek God’s face now and thank Him that grace is available to you still.

July 26, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Speak the Word”

Jeremiah 23:16-17, 28-32 (ESV)

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. [17] They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” [28] Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. [29] Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? [30] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. [31] Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’ [32] Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

Let’s say a well-meaning friend tells you that the latest health craze involves drinking bleach. They have read many blogs and heard many testimonials regarding the health benefits of bleach. This friend loves you and is completely sincere. Their heart is “in the right place,” but their advice will kill you.

In the days of Jeremiah, there are many well-meaning prophets who are sharing their dreams and their words from the Lord. They are declaring God’s love and salvation, but they have not been sent by the Lord. Though their message sounds right, they are not declaring God’s Word but their own imaginations.

These prophets, condemned by the Lord, appear to be compassionate, but they are leading God’s people toward death and destruction. They declare peace and blessing on a people who despise God’s Word and follow their own hearts. These words can only harden the people’s hearts and prevent them from repenting and receiving forgiveness and life.

We, too, can speak well-meaning, soothing words that mislead people into thinking God’s love allows them to remain in their sin. A world destined for judgment needs more than a Christianized version of worldly wisdom. With eternal life and death in the balance, we must declare something different than what a nonbeliever might share or agree with.

The ugliness of sin and the wrath of God are not polite topics of conversation, but love compels us to speak with the heart of God and plead that as many as possible would turn from their rebellion and be saved.

May God grant us compassion, courage, and opportunity to speak the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You tell us the truth that we might be saved and given eternal life in Your Son. Forgive me that I am often tempted to speak spiritual sounding lies to myself and to others. Thank You that when we hear the truth and turn to You, You are faithful to pour out Your grace. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 3:14–15, 19-20 (ESV): But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses… [19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…

Questions to Consider

What does Peter claim his hearers have done?
What response does Peter aim for in his preaching?
What is the fruit of such a response?

Notes

They have denied God and killed Him.
Peter hopes to lead his hearers into repentance, that they might turn from their sins.
If the people repent, God will blot out their sins and bring times of refreshing! Peter does not intend to guilt or curse the people but to bring God’s blessing to them.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. Was there a moment when God gave you courage to speak the truth about Him? Was there a moment you were tempted to avoid or downplay the truth of God’s Word? If necessary, confess your fear of man and receive the forgiveness and refreshment of God. Ask for compassion and faith to declare the gospel when God opens doors for you to do so.

July 25, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Defining Moment”

Jeremiah 23:7-8 (ESV)

“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ [8] but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

For everyone, there are defining moments in our lives that are essential to who we are. For Spider-Man, being bitten by a radioactive spider was a defining moment. For Queen Elsa, realizing the power of love was a defining moment. For the nation of Israel, the Exodus from Egypt was a defining moment.

The Exodus is the moment when they were freed from generations of slavery. This is when they become God’s people and His holy nation. At every Passover each year, Israel remembers, first, God sparing His people from the angel of death, second, Pharaoh finally releasing them, and third, marching through the Red Sea to freedom. Israel remembers the Lord as the one who “brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.”

But here, the Lord says they will no longer know Him as the God who brought them up out of Egypt, but as the God who gathered His people from the nations to which He had scattered them.

For the Israelites, the exile is the greatest tragedy possible. Their sins have been exposed. They have been judged by the Lord. They find that they are more sinful than they ever imagined. They may wonder if they are still God’s people at all. And what they find is that God is far more gracious and compassionate than they ever imagined.

For Christians, receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior for the first time is a defining moment. We have been brought from death to life. We are a new creation. We have gone from being children of the devil to children of God. This is incredible, but it is not the only defining moment in a Christian’s life.

After we become Christians, we are not perfect, not even close. In some ways, we are worse. How so? For though we know that Jesus gave His life to save us from sin and death, we still find ourselves betraying Him and pursuing sin nonetheless. If we allow the Spirit to speak to us we find that our love for Jesus turns out to be far more fragile and self-serving than we could ever imagine; but with this realization comes the truth that the unconditional love of the Father for us is far deeper and more faithful than we could ever ask.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You love me after all these years. You have proven Your love time and time again, yet I still doubt and am so easily led astray. Thank You that You are patient and kind, and You continue to walk with me.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 3

Correction and apology: A reader notified that the Bible reading abruptly changed from Hosea (July 21: Hosea 1-2: July 22: Hosea 3) to Ezra. That is a mistake. Sorry. The Bible reading for July 21 should have been Zephaniah 1-2 and for July 22, Zephaniah 3. The corrections have been made. So, if you are following the AMI QT reading plan, please read the book of Zephaniah retroactively. We will read Hosea at a later time. Thank you.

Lunch Break Study

Read Hosea 14:1–7 (ESV): Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. [2] Take with you words and return to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips. [3] Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride on horses; and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’ to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.” [4] I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them. [5] I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; [6] his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. [7] They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow; they shall flourish like the grain; they shall blossom like the vine; their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Questions to Consider

In this passage, how have God’s people turned away from Him?
Who calls Israel to return to the Lord?
If the people repent and turn back to God, what will He do?

Notes

They have not fulfilled their vows (v. 2); they have looked to Assyria for salvation; they have worshiped idols; and they have not cared for the orphan (v. 3).
God’s prophet Hosea does, but Hosea speaks on behalf of the Lord so the Lord, the one who has been offended, actually calls the people back to Himself.
He will heal their apostasy (repair their faith), love them (v. 4), and give them new life and growth (v. 5-7).

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. Did God give you fresh appreciation of His love? Did God give you fresh conviction of your sin? Ask Him for eyes to see His kindness in such a way that it would lead you to repent of your lack of love for Him and ask for a greater devotion to Jesus Christ.

July 24, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

A Righteous Branch

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV)

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. [6] In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

Over the years, I’ve heard many times that America has many politicians but few leaders. Some wonder whether it’s even possible for a leader like Washington, Lincoln, or Roosevelt to emerge in our time. When we read of all the scandals and failures of our leaders, we can grow cynical and imagine that our best option is to submit to no one, and go our own way.

In the time of Jeremiah, Israel finds herself in a similar situation. Over many generations, there have been a few good kings who feared the Lord and ruled with righteousness, but most did nothing to stop rampant idolatry and injustice in Israel. Now God’s people are in exile, and they long for the day that God will send a Messiah to lead them back into the glory of God’s presence.

In our passage this morning, God declares that He will raise up a King filled with wisdom, righteousness, and justice. This King will save His people and allow them to dwell securely. The people of Israel will confidently declare that “The LORD is our righteousness.” Some Israelites may wonder whether it would even be possible for such a leader to emerge in their time. To the ears of a nation in exile, the promise sounds almost too good to be true.

But the people of God do not simply receive what they hope for. God gives us a Leader whose character is truly unassailable. Jesus is not just wise but omniscient. He is not only just, but the Judge of all nations and peoples. Jesus clothes His people in His righteousness, taking upon Himself our wickedness and sin.

We, like Israel, have been disappointed by leaders in the past and are very aware of the flaws of our leaders in the present. We may be tempted to lower our expectations of Jesus to avoid being disappointed, but He is far better than we can imagine! Let’s pray that we might trust in Him and find that He is even greater than we have heard.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You sent Your only Son to save me. I thank You that He is far more glorious, faithful, and generous than words can express. I am so glad I can put my trust in You.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV):

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Questions to Consider

For what reason does the Apostle Paul pray?
What does this passage have to say about the capacity of God to give to His people?
What is the proper response to the incredible generosity and love of God?

Notes

Paul is praying that God would give the Ephesians strength to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ. The love of Christ surpasses all knowledge, so they need supernatural strength to comprehend it and be filled with the fullness of God.
God is able to give according to the riches of His glory. He strengthens through his Spirit. His love is immeasurable. He can do everything that we ask and more.
Worship is the proper response! God deserves all the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus among all generations forever and ever!

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. Did your actions and attitude reflect your hope in King Jesus? Pray that God would replace any despair with hope in Him.

July 23, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The King of Kings”

Jeremiah 23:1–4 (ESV)

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. [2] Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. [3] Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. [4] I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.

Imagine that you are an ordinary Storm Trooper working on the Death Star. The day is going well but here comes Darth Vader and it appears that he’s having a bad day. Due to the terror in your heart, you accidentally trip and fall. Thankfully, he laughs instead of using the force to choke you to death. You realize this is not a healthy working environment but at this point you don’t have a lot of options.

Similar to this storm trooper, people of the ancient world did not have a lot of options when it came to who their leaders were. Kings were often chosen by lineage or by other kings with large military forces. Leaders ruled through fear and with absolute power. They were often more concerned with themselves than with the people they led.

But Israel is supposed to be different. Israel’s kings are to be shepherds of God’s people, caring for them and leading them into the blessing of God. Unfortunately, most of Israel’s kings are no better and sometimes even worse than the surrounding kings.

Thankfully, for God’s people, their human king is not at the top of the food chain. No, the kings of Israel are responsible to the King of Kings! As the Good Shepherd, God declares woe to leaders of God’s people who destroy and scatter the sheep. He will hold them accountable for their evil deeds, and He will gather His sheep from the nations to which they’d been scattered. Despite the wicked shepherds of Israel, the Lord will make His sheep fruitful and they “shall fear no more, nor be dismayed.”

In this imperfect world, our leaders may not always have the heart of the Father whether they be bosses, parents, or pastors. But we are free from the need to judge them because God alone is their Judge. We are free from the need to rebel against them because the Lord will provide for us. We are free from the need to fear or appease them because God is in control. We are free to fear God only and submit to our earthly authorities as He commands us because the Lord is our Shepherd.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are my Shepherd! Forgive me that I am often tempted to take matters into my own hands. Give me faith to trust in You and submit to the leaders you have placed in my life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezra 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Questions to Consider

Why does God appoint spiritual leaders in our lives?
To whom are our leaders accountable?
When we resist our leaders or make it difficult for them to lead us, who suffers?

Notes

God appoints spiritual leaders to keep watch over our souls. He knows that we are often most blind to our own sins and we need others who can speak the Word of God into our lives.
Our leaders are accountable to God. Human leaders like politicians or CEOs are accountable to those whom they are leading, but spiritual leaders are not ultimately accountable to their flock but to God Himself. This is a far more serious thing.
When we resist our leaders, we suffer! God knows that our leaders are not perfect. He does not ask us to submit to our leaders because we trust them but ultimately because we trust Him to work for our good as we obey Him in faith.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on any interactions you’ve had today with a human leader or authority figure. Did your actions and thoughts reflect trust in the Lord? Ask Jesus to give you humility and wisdom so you can honor Him in these relationships.

July 22, Sunday

The AMI QT devotionals from July 16-22 are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is currently serving as a staff at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Failure & Forbearance”

Jeremiah 22:20-23 (NET Bible)

People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon and cry out in mourning. Go to the land of Bashan and cry out loudly. Cry out in mourning from the mountains of Moab. For your allies have all been defeated. ²¹ While you were feeling secure I gave you warning. But you said, “I refuse to listen to you.” That is the way you have acted from your earliest history onward. Indeed, you have never paid attention to me. ²² My judgment will carry off all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done. ²³ You may feel as secure as a bird nesting in the cedars of Lebanon. But oh how you will groan when the pains of judgment come on you. They will be like those of a woman giving birth to a baby.

After a week of reading about judgement of God, it’s nice to end by remembering His forbearance. In v. 21 (and throughout the book of Jeremiah), God repeatedly warned the people of Israel to turn from their wicked ways, that they might avoid judgment. God, in His patience, exercised forbearance (self-control, restraint, tolerance) for a time, that the people might be saved. Yet they refused to listen.

In an article for Christianity Today, one writer reflects on the reality of failure and forbearance. R. O. Blechman is one of the most famous illustrators in the world. In his recent book, Dear James: Letters to a Young Illustrator, he shares a series of letters that he wrote to a younger fellow illustrator. In one of the most poignant letters, Blechman addresses the reality of failure:

“Preliminary drawings and sketches often are discouraging things, pale shadows of one’s bold intentions. Seemingly nonsense, they’re especially dispiriting for beginners … ‘Is that what I did,’ the novice might ask, ‘and I consider myself an artist?!’ … Speaking for myself (but also for other illustrators, I’m sure), my trash basket is full of false starts and failed drawings … There should be a Museum of Failed Art. It would exhibit all the terrible art that would have ended up in trash bins and garbage cans, lost and unknown to the public life.

“Surprisingly, the Bible contains a ‘Museum of Failed Discipleship.’ Over and over again, the Gospels record the ‘false starts’ and spiritual failures of the disciples. Thankfully, they also record Christ’s willingness to encourage and challenge his flawed disciples. We tend to cover up our heroes’ faults; and we’re even more likely to gloss over our colossal flops. Instead, the Gospels allow us to see the disciples’ failures—and most of those stories came from the disciples themselves. This honesty provides encouragement to us when we feel like saying, ‘Is that what I did, and I consider myself a Christian?’ Our security is in Christ who continues to love us even when we stumble and fail.”

Jesus Himself hand-picked twelve disciples, all of whom deserted him in His last hours. As far as we know, only John was even at the cross during Jesus’ final moments. All of them failed miserably, by running from Him, doubting Him, denying Him, over and over again. Yet I do find it comforting to know that God chooses to work through such broken people. One of my favorite passages in Scripture reminds us of this: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; (2 Corinthians 4:7)

One thing we must remember is that our failures and missteps are a product of sin, a terrible debt whose redemption cost Jesus His life. May we never take His sacrifice lightly. But the resurrection assures us that there is life after failure, and freedom and power to live anew. May we also never take that for granted! Let’s honor God’s forbearance today by living fully for God’s Kingdom and His glory.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for your patience and forbearance with humankind as we fail time and time again to live up to your intentions at Creation. Help us to learn to love one another, and to bless the creation which You’ve entrusted to us. Thank You for the means by which I can do this, which is found in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 3

July 21, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Legacy – What Will You Leave Behind?”

Jeremiah 22:8-19 (NET Bible)

“‘People from other nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, “Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?” 9 The answer will come back, “It is because they broke their covenant with the Lord their God and worshiped and served other gods.” 10 “‘Do not weep for the king who was killed. Do not grieve for him. But weep mournfully for the king who has gone into exile. For he will never return to see his native land again. 11 “‘For the Lord has spoken about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but was carried off into exile. He has said, “He will never return to this land. 12 For he will die in the country where they took him as a captive. He will never see this land again.” 13 “‘Sure to be judged is the king who builds his palace using injustice and treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms. He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor. 14 He says, “I will build myself a large palace with spacious upper rooms.” He cuts windows in its walls, panels it with cedar, and paints its rooms red. 15 Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him. 16 He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘That is a good example of what it means to know me.’ 17 But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression. 18 So the Lord has this to say about Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim of Judah: People will not mourn for him, saying, “This makes me sad, my brother! This makes me sad, my sister!” They will not mourn for him, saying, “Poor, poor lord! Poor, poor majesty!” 19 He will be left unburied just like a dead donkey. His body will be dragged off and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.’”

Let’s talk about LEGACY. Merriam-Webster defines legacy as, “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past.” We often employ this word to mean “memory” – how each of us will be remembered. Depending on our age and season of life, this may or may not be a question we’ve pondered extensively. But the older we get, and the closer we come to the end of any season, the more pressing the questions of what we will leave behind and how we will be remembered tends to matter to us.

In today’s passage, the legacy of these kings is abysmal to say the least. Instead of leaving behind a thriving nation that loves God, they left a destroyed city, the survivors of which are in exile. The former city will only be remembered as the site of the Lord’s judgment. Unlike their father, who was a king content with God’s provision, did what was right, cared for the poor and needy, and (as all this demonstrates) knew the Lord (vv.15-16), these kings are awful. They built large palaces for themselves by unjust means – not compensating their workers fairly (v.13) – more concerned about building large opulent buildings for themselves than about building the nation with which they’d been entrusted. They were concerned with accumulating wealth for themselves and did so dishonestly (v.17). They oppressed, defrauded, and even killed innocent people. And God wasn’t having it!

Although we are not in this kind of relationship with God (though I sometimes wish nations still were…), we stand to learn from the mistake made by these kings. So what kind of legacy will we leave behind? We are unlikely to leave a legacy of exploitation and murder (well, hopefully not), but what about one marked by greed, selfish ambition, a lack of care for the needy, or a failure to invest in God’s Kingdom? Furthermore, what kind of world will we leave for those coming after us?

Recently former President Barack Obama finally reemerged in the public sphere to give a lecture in South Africa on the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela in celebration of Mandela’s 100^th birthday. (I highly recommend the lecture and a closer look at Nelson Mandela’s life!) Mandela devoted his life to the fight for equality in South Africa and paid a high price in the process. His commitment to his people, his selfless determination to win justice for oppressed, his ability to forgive decades of imprisonment and horrendous treatment are all part of the legacy he left behind. The host of a satirical news talk show summed up my sentiments well, “Let’s just acknowledge how dope [awesome] you have to be for people to keep throwing you birthdays after you’re dead” (Trevor Noah). I hope I’ll be that “dope” – maybe not on a global stage, but certainly in the lives of those God entrusts to me along my journey. What about you? How “dope” will you be?

Prayer: Gracious God, help me today to reflect on my legacy. At the end of my current season and the end of my time on this earth, may I leave behind, if nothing else, a witness to Your Great Name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 1-2