Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Pastor David Yoon. David, a graduate of California Baptist University and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is serving at Tapestry LA Church as the college pastor.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
“Backsliding”
Jeremiah 2:23-25
“How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done—a restless young camel running here and there, 24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her. 25 Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.’”
My family had many pets during my childhood years. We had turtles, finches, dogs, hamsters, rabbits and the list goes on. As a child, I was somewhat traumatized when I saw my dog mounting other dogs, or my gerbils chasing and “tagging” each other. If you have ever worked with horses or visited a ranch and seen a stallion in heat, you know exactly what vivid figures God is using to awaken His people to where they are. Animals were given a different kind of sexuality from humans, but it helps us see how we look when we start to lust after everything that comes along or chase any thrill or drive other than God Himself.
Judah had no desire to give up its gods in spite of God’s warnings of the consequences that would come. Among all of Judah’s wrongdoings, their denial of not being unclean or not chasing after Baals is preposterous. Their inability to abandon idols meant denying the freedom that God has given them. Therefore, God tells His people, “This is what you’re like” and uses the imagery of an animal in heat, eager to be satisfied. It must have been a clear message to the people of Judah.
In Jeremiah 2:19 (NIV), it says, “‘Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” Are you backsliding in your life today? Backsliding comes as a gradual process. It may begin with a general feeling of spiritual indifference as we fail to focus on spiritual things but on fleshly desires. It is not over a day or week that our hearts turn into stone, but months and even years that our hearts begin to callous and grow cold to the working of the Holy Spirit. In light of this, reflect on the cross, and be reminded of the love Christ demonstrated for us through His death and resurrection.
Prayer: Father God, I praise You today for Your mercies are new every morning. Help me to see the desires of my heart and give me the strength and courage to fight and turn away from the idols in my heart. My desire is to love and worship You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Hebrews 5
Lunch Break Study
Read Luke 22:31-34: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:60-62: But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Questions to Consider
- How did Peter’s pride affect his backsliding?
- With what expression do you believe Jesus was looking at Peter?
- Peter went out and wept bitterly. What might have this meant for Peter?
Notes
- Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”
- Jesus prayed for Peter and for his faith to not fail. He tells Peter to strengthen his brothers when he has turned his heart back to Him.
- A commentator once wrote, “The tears that Peter cries are the sorrowful, anguished tears of a broken man who has committed a great sin against the Lord, but they are also the tears that mark the beginning of Peter’s journey toward restoration”
Evening Reflection
Our emotions are an important expression of the desires in our hearts. When we are not aware of our emotions and the desires that underlie them, our idols can gain strength and power in our lives. Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. What is God saying through these feelings? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to something that God wants you to pay a bit more attention to.
There’s a story about an eight-year-old boy who wanted a wristwatch for his birthday. This wasn’t just any watch – it was a watch that would play a melody when you opened the cap. As his birthday was approaching, he asked his mother if she could buy him the watch for his birthday present. Sadly, the mom would tell her son that they could not afford it. She was a single parent mother, working multiple jobs to pay rent and bills. This made the boy really sad and eventually he gave up. However, to his surprise, on the day of his birthday he found a small gift-wrapped box next to his bed. It was the wristwatch he wanted! He wore the watch everywhere; at school, he would show it to his friends and play the melody for everyone to listen.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Joshua Chzen who serves as the college pastor at Kairos Christian Church (San Diego, California). Joshua, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Bethel Seminary. He and Sandra were recently married in 2017. 
My love for bargain hunting was passed down from my mom. When I was in elementary school, she began taking me along on her trips to Ross and TJ Maxx. For the most part, I would stick to her like glue as she dug through rack after rack of clothing. Eventually, we would pass by clearance bins filled with movies, computer games, toys, and other junk. I dug through those like they were treasure pits— so focused that I wouldn’t even realize that my mom had moved on to other sections of the store. Not once would it occur to me to ask where my mom was. More often than not, she would circle back for me before I was done scavenging; but there were a few times I finished, only to look up and realize that my mom wasn’t there. Feelings of mild panic would quickly grow worse as I wandered off into the rest of the store with no clue where to look. Fortunately, she usually managed to find me before I started crying.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Charles Graham. Charles is a new intern with Kairos, who came aboard in September of 2017. He is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology to prepare himself for a life of service and ministry.
Have you ever been so sure about something, only to discover later, there was more to learn or realize than what you thought was the whole truth? When something grabs my interest, I love reading and studying about it. Whatever it is, I want to know its ins and outs, its background and everything else there is to know about it. I’m a nerd, and I enjoy obsessive study. When I found Christianity, the same instincts kicked in to the nth degree. Now, ignoring my early theological, epistemological, or other scholarly four-syllable word mistakes, in my pride, I really thought my obsessive study habits put me on the path to truly knowing God. Oh, my naivety!
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Esther Chailim. Esther, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently serving as the Director of Ministries at Kairos Christian Church (San Diego) and pursuing a Masters in Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology.
Three years ago, after sending off our college pastor to serve as a missionary, my role on staff changed from Church Administrator to College Pastor/Director. On paper, this was a step forward, so naturally, I should have felt excitement for this new opportunity; instead, I couldn’t help but feel hesitant about the changes that would soon come my way. I quickly transitioned from a role that I was fairly comfortable and confident with, to one that I felt extremely ill-equipped and unprepared for. As I reluctantly took on the new role, I was quickly met with a great sense of fear, inadequacy and pride. And when I say pride, I don’t mean the boasting kind, but the kind that says, “I don’t measure up” or “I’ll look like a failure.” Like Jeremiah, I felt insecure in my capacity to lead others, let alone a college ministry, and found every excuse to convince myself and others that I was not the right person for the job. My insecurity crippled me from fully embracing my calling and stepping into the role which God had appointed to me in that season.
In yesterday’s devotional on Mark 16:9-14, I wrote about the disciples’ lack of faith and how we ourselves may have unbelief. While trusting in Jesus is a lifelong process, a simple way to exhibit our trust is to obey what Christ has called us, the church, to do.
As someone who has primarily attended non-denominational churches, I am more familiar with contemporary worship songs than classic hymns. However, the few hymns I have sung always resonate with me due to the weightiness of their lyrics. Most recently, I heard “Trust and Obey” for the first time during commencement and was struck by the simple yet straightforward truth in the chorus: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
There are certain times when an individual or organization senses that a monumental change is at hand. For the Jacksonville Jaguars, such a moment came when they rehired Tom Coughlin to be their executive vice president of football operations. Before the hire, Jacksonville had just finished a 3-13 season and missed the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. But when Coughlin came on board, his personnel decisions and leadership brought a heightened sense of excellence. As a result, the Jaguars finished 10-6 the season after and were one quarter away from their first Super Bowl appearance.
A word I often heard when I first began serving in church was investment, as in “who or what ministry should I invest in?” I initially felt uncomfortable with the concept (even as a finance major), but over time, I began to understand how applicable it was. Simply put, ministry done well requires investment: whether its discipling someone, preparing for a Bible study or organizing an event, intentional time and effort is required, along with God’s presence and blessing, for fruit to be produced.
In Where is God When It Hurts? (1997), Philip Yancey describes pain as the “gift nobody wants.” To prove his point, Yancey describes a world without physical pain through the eyes of lepers. As leprosy numbs the extremities, lepers are unaware of any accidental cuts or burns, eventually leading to loss of their limbs. Indeed, our body contains “a remarkable network of pain sensors” that keep us from injury. But what if you are exposed to pain and cannot do anything to change your situation? What if pain was not a warning signal but a reminder of your helplessness?