April 19, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for the Day

Read Mark 12:1-12

“And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.”

The Enlightenment marked a profound change in human history. No longer was God central to the grand narrative of culture; that place was now taken by men and their optimism for humanity’s potential and ability to create meaning apart from God. People began to invest into the sciences and philosophies not as a way of discovering the wonders of God but to gain autonomy apart from Him. This began the secularization of the world in which we find ourselves today; where society has sought to maximize individual freedom and to write its own narrative script. In some sense, it has attempted to kill off God and take over the course of history – seeing it as its own project.

Similarly, in our passage for today, Israel in its own way attempted to distance themselves from God as a way of running their lives as how they saw fit. Here, Jesus is narrating the story of Israel in parable form. Israel is represented by the vineyard and their religious leaders are represented by the tenants. The servants are the prophets of God who were dismissed and killed throughout the history of Israel. The “beloved Son” in the story is Jesus Himself who is cryptically predicting His own fate that will come at the hands of the religious leaders. In other words, this story condemns the religious leaders’ failure to once again recognize those who are from God; instead, they attempt to keep their traditions alive even if it meant killing God’s servants. This is just like the tenants who said “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.”

In many ways, this is the essence of sin. It is humanity’s attempt at killing off God for the sake of our own individual autonomy. I once heard it said that sin is living life as if God did not exist. In our culture, the temptation to follow this course is strong. Everywhere we look, we see the culture telling us to carve our own path, to follow our dreams, and to pursue the things that make us feel good. However, we have to understand that just like the tenants, the life given to us is not ours; it is given to us by our creator God who has a purpose for our lives- a life meant to be lived out in loving submission to His will and plans for us. Today, let us once again surrender our lives to God in prayer, committed all that we have to Him.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for I have often tried to take control of the life You have given me- living for my own purpose. Help me to surrender and give You full control of every aspect of my life. Help me to trust You with all of my life.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship 2 Do not be conformed to this world  but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What is Paul’s main call to the Roman Christians in this passage?
  2. What is the purpose of renewing our minds?
  3. Which part of your thinking reflects the world rather than the thoughts of God?

Notes

  1. Paul is calling them to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. The entirety of your life is called to be sacrificed to God as a means of spiritual worship to Him.
  2. Our minds must be renewed so that we may be able to understand and discern what is the will of God for our lives.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

As we are busy carving out and setting the course for our lives, take some time to prayerfully consider where your life is headed. Does it seem like it is a life shaped by God or shaped by your own hand?

 

April 18, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Read Mark 11:20-25

“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God.23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Recently, I had dinner with a missionary who I’ve known for a very long time. And one of my favorite things about meeting with him has always been the stories he would share about how God has been moving in his ministry. Although each story is different, the underlying thread is the faith that the missionary has in God to do the impossible—whether it’s reaching out to someone who seems hopelessly lost or the huge financial deficit that needs to be resolved by a certain deadline. Each challenge isn’t met with anxiety, fear or trying to work harder to overcome the roadblocks; instead, he chooses to go to God and ask for mountains to be moved.

In our passage for today, Jesus challenges us to do the same. Here we find an interesting story about a fig tree that’s withered as a result of Jesus cursing it; and then, He begins to talk about prayer and faith. What’s the connection? The fig tree represents the temple that Jesus had just cleansed in the previous passage. Just like the fig tree, the temple was useless because it bore no fruit— it was busy with religious activities but did not further the mission of God. For Jewish readers, this was a shocking statement since the temple was the focal point of their religion. Jews who were not living in Jerusalem would face east towards the temple when praying, because it was where the presence of God resided.

However, Jesus in this story is suggesting that the temple no longer functions in the same role. With His coming, the temple has dissolved, and as a result, prayer and faith must be directed towards Him. For this reason, the disciples should not lose heart over the failures of Israel exemplified by the temple; instead, they should have faith in God (v. 22) and pray for the impossible. Their movement is not dependent on an institution but on the God who loves them, the One who would ultimately die for them.

Jesus invites His disciples to pray impossible prayers—like having mountains taken up and thrown into the sea—as they continue in their mission to usher in the kingdom of God. I wonder how many of us approach God in our prayers with that type of faith and audacity. As we try to live for God as believers, do we have faith as we pray? Do we easily get discouraged by the difficulties of life, or do we boldly approach God in prayer knowing that He can pull us through? As followers of Jesus, let us be people of faith. Let’s spend some time in prayer, asking God to move the mountains in our lives for the sake of His glory!

Prayer: Father, thank You that You are a great God who can do the impossible. I ask that You grant me the type of faith that asks with certainty for mountains to be moved in Your name. Help me to trust in Your power and not in my own strength. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Questions to Consider

  1. What are we called to make known to God?
  2. What is the result engaging God in prayer and supplication?
  3. How do you deal with things that make you anxious in life?

Notes

  1. We are called to make known to God about everything. Oftentimes we simply engage God with only the bigger things of life; however, Paul commands us to bring everything before God.
  2. We are given the peace of God. This does not always mean we will understand the struggles and difficulties of our lives, but nonetheless, God will grant us a peace that is beyond our own understanding.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Our busy lives are often full of worry and anxiety. Instead of trying to figure things out on our own, take some time to name them and surrender them before God. Tell Him about all the “mountains” in your life that need to be moved.

April 17, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for the Day

Mark 11:15-19

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16 And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17 And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. 19 And when evening came they went out of the city.

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple has always been one of my favorite stories in the Gospels. It’s a picture of Jesus unlike any other. Oftentimes, we imagine Jesus to be someone who is always peaceful and calm, and yet, here, in Mark we see a display of Jesus’ anger—not only communicated through words, but by the overturning of tables and physically driving people out of the temple! I remember being shocked when I first read about the temple cleansing. Was Jesus even allowed to react this way? Why is this story in the Gospel accounts?

However, when we study the text closely, we see that it was an appropriate reaction. The question that must be posed is, “What made Jesus so angry?” Many of us point to the fact that there was a marketplace set up in the temple courts. Since it is the house of God, commercial activity would be inappropriate. Others suggest that a marketplace was necessary, because people had to buy animals to offer their sacrifices; but what angered Jesus was the unjust manner in which business was done by the temple officials. I would suggest that these conclusions are only half-correct.

When we read Jesus’ response in verse 17, we are offered a clue to the reason for His anger. He says, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?” Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah 56:7, which prophetically spoke of a day when people from all nations would be gathered in the temple of God as His people. In other words, salvation would be offered even to those outside of the nation of Israel. You see, the original vocation of the Jews was not to enjoy the blessings of God by themselves but to be a conduit of those blessings to the world around them—that people might proclaim Yahweh as God. This was the purpose of the Abrahamic covenant.

However, instead of living into that vocation, they were setting up a noisy marketplace in the only area of the temple where Gentiles were allowed to worship. Instead of cultivating an atmosphere conducive for people from all nations to encounter the living God, they were using it as a place of commerce. In other words, instead of a house of prayer for all nations, they turned it into a den of robbers.

Simply put, Jesus was angered by Israel’s failure to live out their calling to be the light to the nations. His anger was fueled by His passion for missions; it was something taken extremely seriously by Jesus. And the question we have to ask ourselves is, “Do we have the same passion for God’s mission? Have we also forgotten our vocation to be the light to the nations as the church?” Just like Israel, many of us have often neglected this calling. It only becomes a focal point of our lives during the summer when we venture out with our short-term mission teams. However, we must remember that we have been saved by God to be a light to those around us. Let us remember this calling and not neglect it like Israel! Let us pray and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him all the days of our lives!

Prayer: Father, forgive me for neglecting the calling You have given me as a missionary. Help me to live out this vocation faithfully and to have a heart for those who are far away from You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 2

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9-10: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Questions to Consider

  1. What is the reason that God has called and saved His people?
  2. Have you lived out your identity as someone that is part of the royal priesthood and holy nation?

Notes

  1. He called and saved His people to proclaim the excellencies of Him. Our salvation is not only for our own benefit, but He has given us a vocation to proclaim and share the gospel message to the world around us—to tell the story of God calling people out of darkness into His marvelous light.
  2. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Consider this statement made by Leslie Newbigin, a missionary from England who serviced in India for forty years:

“Mission begins with a kind of explosion of joy. The news that the rejected and crucified Jesus is alive is something that cannot possibly be suppressed. It must be told. Who could be silent about such a fact? The mission of the Church in the pages of the New Testament is like the fallout from a vast explosion, a radioactive fallout which is not lethal but life-giving.”

April 16, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from April 16-22 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Mark 11:1-11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest! 11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Growing up, I was the type of kid who would try anything. And I would always begin with much enthusiasm and excitement, whether it be learning a new sport or instrument. However, as time passed on, my commitment and passion for my new endeavors would quickly wane. It was because I began to realize what it actually meant to acquire these new skills—the hours of practice needed and the amount of focus necessary for improvement. I wanted fast results and it was not going to come easy, so I quit.  And this happened over and over again. Looking back it is easy to see that initial excitement for something does not necessarily lead to a lifetime of commitment, nor is it a sign of real passion or love.

We find an example of this truth in our passage for today. Mark 11:1-11 is a dense section of Scripture, littered with messianic allusions, two of which are important to consider: First, as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey, Jewish readers would see it as scriptural fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, where the prophet proclaims the salvation of Israel that would be brought about by the coming of a humble king riding on a donkey. Second, it is important to notice that though Mark seldom mentions names of places throughout his Gospel, here he mentions the Mount of Olives. This location reminds readers of Ezekiel 11, where the glory of God departs the temple in Jerusalem and settles on the Mount of Olives. Many believed that the glory of God would return from the Mount of Olives and back to the temple. For this reason, Mark makes sure to point out that Jesus is descending from the Mount to the temple as a way of bringing to the forefront the very identity of Jesus as the return of God Himself. Both of these allusions emphatically point to Jesus as the coming Messiah, who is the God of Israel Himself.

In light of this, the people of Jerusalem rightly proclaim with much enthusiasm: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” They were excited about the possible return of their Lord. However, as most of us know, within a matter of a week the very people celebrating the entrance of Jesus were the same people who wanted to crucify Him. You see, the people were expecting a particular kind of king that would lead them to swift victory over their enemies. However, Jesus redefined the nature of the kingdom. It was about loving their enemies and took the shape of the cross. As a result, the initial excitement and commitment to the movement of Christ waned and people began to leave.

Many of us also begin following Jesus with much excitement. We often have a picture of what discipleship is going to look like that fuels our enthusiasm. However, when God begins to bring us through the journey of transformation that is entirely unexpected and difficult, we begin to lose steam and even faith in the entire process. What we have to remember in moments like this is that discipleship means following the pattern of Christ—not one of easy triumph but one where life comes through death. For it is only through the dying of ourselves in discipleship that we find resurrection life. Today, even in the difficulty of discipleship, let us hold fast to Christ and remain steadfast in our commitment to Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me to follow You. I admit that at times it is difficult and sometimes the road You lead me on is not what I had expected. However, I pray for a steadfast commitment and trust in Your plans for me. Help me to faithfully follow You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-12: But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Questions to Consider

  1. Why does God place His treasure in jars of clay?
  2. What does Paul mean that he is “always carrying in the body the death of Jesus?”
  3. What areas of discipleship do you find most difficult?

Notes

  1. God places the power of the gospel within broken people, like Paul and us, in order to show that the surpassing power belongs to God. The power is much more easily attributed to God if it is displayed through broken people.
  2. As Paul mentions in verse 8, he has gone through much. He has been crushed, afflicted, and struck down; in some sense, he is always dying. However, his suffering and constant dying to himself has resulted in bringing life to those around him through his ministry.
  3. Personal response.

 

Evening Reflection

We live in a culture where success is equated with the absence of discomfort or suffering. However, our discipleship to Christ calls us to die to ourselves and brings us into places of discomfort and suffering. In what areas of your life are you holding onto? Which parts of your life do you need to die to in order to experience the life of Christ?

April 15, Sunday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Your Faith Has Healed You.”

Mark 10:46-52

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Growing up, I used to love going over to my best friend’s house to play. However, I wasn’t allowed to go over to his house until his parents came home. Being an impatient child, I would call his house up to 10 times a day to see if they were home. While most parents would probably be annoyed by my constant calling, my friend’s parents found it endearing that I wanted to play with their son so desperately.

In this passage, we see Bartimaeus sitting by the road begging for money; at this time, Jericho was a wealthy city and many beggars would line up along the city entrance, hoping political elites or traders would give them money. According to Luke 18:35-43, as Jesus walks out of Jericho, Bartimaeus inquires why there is so much noise—it was a commotion that he had never heard before. When he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, Bartimaeus immediately cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” When the crowd tries to quiet him down, he cries out even louder, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus heals him and says, “Your faith has healed you.” Bartimaeus’ desperation resembles a child-like persistence. He knew that only Jesus could heal his blindness, and he wanted to desperately meet Him. While people found his persistence annoying, Jesus called it “faith.”

Sometimes we equate faith with knowing more theology and having more knowledge. However, in the kingdom of God, a child-like faith lets us experience Him. Please understand that theology and knowledge are important because they both facilitate our faith, but they do not define it. In Mark 10:14, Jesus says, “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” God is encouraging us to have a child-like persistence, so that we may experience Him!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You desire for us to experience the kingdom of God. You do not make it a mystery, but You give us a blueprint to follow. Help me to be like Bartimaeus and have a child-like faith. In Jesus name. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Colossians 4

April 14, Saturday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a 2014 blog by Pastor Peter Yoon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Matt. 28:20

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I’m learning that there is a huge difference between vulnerability and insecurity in the journey of faith.

In this passage, Jesus is about to be taken up to heaven, and He understands the fears and insecurities that are gripping the disciples’ hearts as they face an insurmountable challenge of making disciples of all nations. He knows that they will be facing uncertainties, but He tells them that they can trade all of their insecurities for an overwhelming sense of confidence in His presence.

Similarly, in Judges 7, Gideon gathers an army after being summoned by God to fight against the Midianites. Before the battle begins, Gideon would see God reduce the army to one percent of the original number, raising the odds from 4 to 1, to 400 to 1—another insurmountable challenge. Yet God’s presence would go ahead and cause confusion among the Midianites, causing them to flee from a small army of 300 men.

Again and again, throughout Scriptures, people of God are led to circumstances where vulnerability and dependency on God are very real issues. He still does the same today as His church continues to seek His Kingdom.  Graham Cooke writes:  “Insecurity produces unbelief. A paralysis occurs where there needs to be movement and faith in action. People see their own smallness rather than the majesty of God. (The Israelites in Numbers 13: 33 said, “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight.”) Such people are prevented from achieving breakthrough in faith.”

In contrast, vulnerability is knowing that God is happy to send us out as lambs amongst wolves, because He is confident in His own ability to watch over us and work through our weaknesses. When we are vulnerable, we see our inadequacies in the light of God’s sovereignty and power, and we discover hope and faith.

It seems that when facing insurmountable challenges, we can either fix our gaze upon our inadequacies and be completely paralyzed, or we can fix our gaze upon Jesus who is also the perfector of our faith. The difference between insecurity and vulnerability seem so subtle; however, in God’s eyes, the two are as far as east is from the west.

Perhaps some of you are facing circumstances that you know you are inadequate to handle. Look to God in this season and place all of your dependence upon Him. In prayer, express to Him daily of your need for His presence in your life.

Bible Reading for Today: Colossians 2-3

April 13, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Spirit of the Law”

Mark 10:1-10

And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. 2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.

Growing up, I suppose I was like most kids, and my parents were like most parents.  And I had several manipulative ways to get what I wanted.  Direct attacks didn’t usually work—my parents would win every argument because they wielded the authority. But, if Mom was in a bad mood, I knew to tip toe around the corner to ask Dad and that would increase the chances of achieving my goal. The sneakiest of all was this: when I knew they both opposed what I wanted, I would try to tell Dad, “But Mom said I could…”—my plan would usually backfire shortly thereafter.

My parents, of one accord, were looking out for my good, but I, as a disobedient child, tried to go around their will. Like the Pharisees, I could only see the rules placed in front of me, around my neck—I couldn’t understand my parents’ heart behind them.

In my eyes, my parents enjoyed making so many rules so they could restrict me. On the other hand, I wanted more rules so I could take credit for following them. In my mind, I would receive glory for being obedient, instead of my parents receiving glory for creating a good rule. My will was focused on my own delight and my own glory.

When Jesus recognizes the hardness of our human hearts, He still sees us with compassion. Though Jesus has all of the authority that His Father has given Him, Jesus doesn’t punish us when we still “don’t get it.” Hard hearts, deaf ears, and blind eyes keep us from experiencing the new life that God desires for His children.

Jesus and the Father have one will and one mind. For a God who created everything, and knows everything, and sees everything— in our past and our future—there’s little we can get away with. We can try to manipulate the law to serve our desires, but this twists what protection Jesus offers us in His will.

As we appeal to authority, Jesus guides our minds, our hearts, our souls, our strength to be one with Him, in the fullness of our being. Let us not separate what God has brought together, but wholeheartedly surrender to our Father’s heart and will—even when we think we know better.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we praise You, for Your will is good, acceptable, and perfect. Help us, as your sons and daughters, to know You as our Father, so we can know Your heart for us and for the world. We want to delight in what You delight in with all of our being. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Colossians 1

Lunch Break Study

Read: Philippians 3:1-10: Finally, my brothers,1 rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God 2 and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,3 blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . .

Questions to Consider

  1. What are Paul’s reasons for having confidence in the flesh? In what ways do you put confidence in your flesh?
  2. How does Paul now describe his previous reasons for confidence in the flesh?
  3. What is the one thing that Paul now strives for? In light of your previous confidence, what does this look like for you?

Notes

  1. Paul was circumcised on the eighth day; he is an Israelite (Benjaminite), a Hebrew of Hebrews, Pharisee blameless under the law, a persecutor of the church. (Personal reasons will vary. Go deep!)
  2. Trash and rubbish. He considers all as loss that he may gain Christ and be found in Him.
  3. Pressing on toward the upward call of God, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.

Evening Reflection

As Paul describes his confidence in the flesh as a loss for the sake of Christ, he reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven. Even if we don’t carry a physical passport, reflect on how you (tomorrow!) could live out the power that comes from belonging to Our Father in Heaven.

April 12, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Child-like Faith”

Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

I LOVE to do this to my 2-year-old nephew: I would play music via a Bluetooth speaker, but whenever he touches the speaker, I pulse the music from my phone; when he moves his hands away, music will continue. I explained to him that this speaker can sense his touch and only he can stop the music (of course!). Without doubting for a second, he believed me. He would put his hand on and off the speaker over and over again, just to test his “power” and then laugh so happily every time the music stops.  (Poor kid! Aunt is so sorry!)

In today’s message, Jesus tells the disciples to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. So what is so special about receiving like a child? From my little nephew’s example, can you imagine how these children would react after Jesus told them about the kingdom of God? They probably jumped up and down and shouted with joy, just as if they were told that they could eat ice cream all day long. And what would happen after Jesus placed His hands and blessed them? They probably would all cling onto Him, pleading for more—just as how they would beg their parents for more bed-time stories.

As we grow up, all of us have to get on a roller coaster called “life”—the drudgery of work, the loss of good health, unbearable hurts and betrayals which has led to great fear and uncertainties; all these things which can hinder us from believing without questioning that our Heavenly Father desires to greatly bless us. Jesus’ version of the kingdom of God—where there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain—can sound too good to be true, when we look at our version of the “kingdom of reality.”

However, God is not like the naughty aunt playing tricks to a two-year-old kid. He asks His children to trust in a hope that does not put us to shame. He desires to see us trusting Him like a child, so He can reveal to us how He protects His children: “He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). The question is, are we willing to receive this good news as simply as a child?

Prayer: Dear Lord, please grant us a child-like heart today. We want to be more excited about Your Kingdom like a little child, and trust that You desire to bless us more than we can imagine. We place all the uncertainties and fear before Your feet and we say goodbye to all the “what-ifs” that hinder us from trusting You completely. Bless us today as we eagerly plead like a child; place Your hands on us so that all can see Your good deeds and praise Your Name on high. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Phil 4

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 8:14-16: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Questions to Consider

  1. What changes take place after we receive the Spirit of God?
  2. What does it mean for us to be called “children of God”?
  3. Is it difficult for you to cry out “Abba, Father!” when facing difficult moments in your life? If so, what do you think hinders you?

Notes

  1. The Spirit of God reminds us of who we are—that we are no longer slaves to fear but children of God.
  2. The book of Romans reminds us that if we are God’s children, we are granted the “quick-pass” to the Almighty God and His Kingdom. Even better: we are heirs of God! We get to share the eternal glory together with our Abba Father.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Did you encounter a moment where you just chose to simply trust God like a little child today? Did you feel the joy coming out of trusting Him?  Review your day here.

April 11, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“The Wrong Way”

Mark 10:17-31

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”  Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[b]to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

In ancient China, there was a nobleman who rode in a fancy coach on a long journey. On the way, he stopped by and asked a farmer how long it would take for him to reach his destination. The farmer told the nobleman, “You’re going the wrong way! It’s in the opposite direction!”

The nobleman laughed and said, “Don’t worry, my horse is strong.” Then the farmer responded, “You may have a strong horse, but you are heading in the wrong direction!” The nobleman dismissed the farmer’s concern. “It’ll be fine; my coach can run very fast!” Finally, the farmer told him, “The stronger your horse is, and the faster your coach can go, the further it is going to take you from your destination.”

Like this nobleman in that story, the man who came to Jesus totally misunderstands the way to inherit eternal life. The young man thought that if he obeys the law, does good deeds, completes enough achievements, then his series of performances can bring him eternal life. But Jesus tells the young man two unexpected things that he must do to inherit eternal life: First, he is to sell all that he has and give these proceeds to the poor, and next, to follow Jesus. This means he need to give up all of his treasures, to surrender these things which held the young man so strongly, and totally, completely, utterly submit to Jesus. That is the very key to inherit eternal life, which seems to be an impossible standard that no man can achieve. But meanwhile, Jesus also points out that it is only through God that we can achieve eternal life.

As believers who are good at following a bunch of rules, sometimes we are like those who think that through our achievements, laws or performances, we gain the right to inherit eternal life. But, actually, the more we live our Christian faith with this way of thinking, the more we will disown our inheritance of eternal life. Jesus gives us the only right way to do this—that is, as we come to recognize what Jesus did on the cross and rely on Him 100%, then we can truly be humble before the Lord and accept the fullness of His grace.

Prayer: Dear Lord, please humble our hearts and open our eyes so that we can truly understand what You have done for us. It has nothing to do with what we have done, but what You had done on the cross. As believers, we do what we do only because we want to truly know You and build a relationship with You. We want to honor You and glorify You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!

Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 3

Lunch Break Study 

Read Colossians 1:15-23: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[g] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Questions to Consider

  1. According to Paul, in whom do we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins?
  2. In verses 15-18, how does Paul describe Jesus?
  3. How does a clear picture of our redemption and the identity of Jesus will help you to better understand the relationship between you and God?

Notes

  1. Jesus, the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and shows us the love of God. Any attempt to have redemption and the forgiveness of sins without the work on the Cross fails.
  2. Jesus is the image of God and the firstborn; all things were created by Him and for Him, and He has the supremacy in everything.
  3. Everything is made for God and by Him, so it is our desire to bring glory to Jesus through anything we do. God is not our servant, but we are His to do His will and thereafter share in His glory.

Evening Reflection

As believers, we easily fall into relying on our own righteousness rather than the grace of God. In our daily life, we do things that give glory to ourselves rather than give glory to God. Let us take some time to think how we can truly give glory to God though our daily life. If there is anything that can make us self-righteousness, we should repent before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to help us, so we can have a better understanding of what God want us to be rather than what we want to be.

April 10, Tuesday

Devotion for Today

 “First shall be Last.”

Mark 9:30-37

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

A couple of years ago, our small groups went through a workshop called, “When Helping Hurts.” This material taught us the best way to help those without homes, without hurting them. While the material did give practical suggestions, it taught us that the only way to truly help the homeless community was to change our perception of ourselves. Rather than coming from an “I am better off than you, so let me help you” mentality, we need to recognize that we are no different. Because of our sin and our wretchedness, we are in need of Jesus to rescue us. It is only through this lens, that we can truly embrace those without homes. Through embracing the marginalized, we are embracing Jesus.

In this passage, Jesus sits with the Twelve and talks about the “Upside down kingdom.” He mentions in verse 35, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” However, to make His point clearer, He equates welcoming a child to welcoming the Father. How do these two verses connect?

In ancient Israel, children were considered fundamentally deficient and not yet human in a full sense. They were physically small, underdeveloped, and vulnerable.[1] This child represented all people who were disregarded by society; the weak, the poor, the sick, those without homes, tax collectors, and prostitutes.

I believe Jesus is telling us that in order to become first in the kingdom of God, we need to embrace those who are marginalized in our society. More than just meeting their physical needs, followers of Jesus need to welcome them with open arms. Because of our sin, this difficult act requires us to lower ourselves and to see that they are no different than us. This cannot be accomplished by our own strength, but only through the transformational work of the Holy Spirit! Today, let’s spend some time asking the Lord to give us hearts of compassion for the marginalized people of our society. As we embrace the oppressed, we embrace the Father.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are a compassionate Father. Please remove any obstacles in my heart that prevents me from seeing that I am no different than the oppressed. Help me to love them the way You love them. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Phil 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Micah 6:6-16: “My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—and to fear your name is wisdom—“Heed the rod and the One who appointed it.[b] Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah,[c] which is accursed? Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin[d] you because of your sins. You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. eYou will store up but save nothing, because what you save[f] I will give to the sword. You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations.[g]”

Questions to Consider

  1. In verses 3-5, what is the Lord’s attitude when He begins His case against the Israelites?
  2. According to verse 8, what does the Lord require of Israel?
  3. How does the Lord judge the Israelite’s wickedness? (see vv. 14-15)

Notes

  1. The Lord begins with questions which reveal the Lord’s sadness for His people. The Lord reminds them all that He has done for them. Yet, Israelites reject His love by acting wickedly.
  2. The Lord requires the Israelites to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with their God.
  3. The Lord judges the Israelites by taking away their blessing. The imagery He uses in verse 14-15 show that the Israelites will work hard but never reap the benefits.

Evening Reflection

Today, we learned that to be first in the kingdom of God, we need to be last. Jesus gives us a practical advice of how to follow this kingdom principle. He calls us to love and embrace those who are oppressed and broken. Spend some time this evening asking the Lord to give us strength to take the first step to love those who are marginalized in our society.