March 22, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals for March 22-23 are 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 Thought for the Day

Mark 4:1-9

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. 6 And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.8 And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” 9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior at a summer youth retreat in seventh grade. I still remember the tent that was used as the chapel, and where I was standing when I first experienced God’s overwhelming love and grace. During praise and response, I would lift my hands up to worship God; and at times, I would get on my knees to pray as my eyes filled with tears—my heart was filled with the Holy Spirit. Looking back, this was when my love relationship with God began and a spiritual marker in my life.

In today’s passage, Jesus is teaching through parables—which literally means “to throw alongside” to a large crowd from a boat. A parable is a metaphor comparing a spiritual truth with something from the listeners’ everyday world. Unlike the modern method of agriculture, the seed was sown first and then plowed under. It was important for the farmer to remove the rocks from their fields before planting because nothing would grow on rocks. The parable begins and ends with an admonition to listen carefully. The parable of the soils illustrates God’s offer of salvation and the mixed response to that offer.

When it comes to hearing and listening to God’s Word, having a heart that is like good and healthy soil will allow God’s truth to take deep root and yield thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Yet there are many distractions that can keep us from listening to God’s Word. Jesus gives the example of some seed being devoured by birds, landing on rocky, shallow ground, and being burned up by the sun. Other seeds grew but were chocked by thorns. Though I encountered God and gave my life to Him in seventh grade, He had been sowing seeds through my relationships, church, and His Word throughout my childhood years. However, only when my heart was centered on Jesus Christ and through the working of the Holy Spirit were these seeds able to take root. In light of this, let us ask the Holy Spirit to make our hearts like good, healthy soil –that it will allow His Word to take deep root.

Prayer: Father God, you know the innermost crevices of my heart and soul. Keep me from turning my heart away from You. Allow me to listen and follow Your voice today. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to be “crucified with Christ”?
  2. Does Christ live in you today?
  3. How can you live a life of faith and exemplify the love of Christ to those around you?

Notes

  1. Being crucified with Christ means we are united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection.
  2. Faith is required to live in Christ.
  3. By dying with Christ, we are free from the law.

Evening Reflection

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

End the day by reflecting and putting your trust in God’s sovereignty.

March 21, Wednesday

Devotional Thought for the Day

Mark 3:31-35

And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[c] are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.

If I came to you and claimed I can throw a baseball over 150 mph, you might say, “Nice try, but that’s not funny.” If I can back to you the next day and made the same claim, you might think, there is something seriously wrong with me. If I followed up next day with the same statement without a hint of humor, you will have to conclude I am flat out lying, or there is something mentally wrong with me, or quite unlikely, I might be the god of baseball.  

This is right where the Jesus’ family is finding themselves. They hear the way he teaches, and they are beyond disbelief. Why does Jesus constantly make such outrageous claims, like, “I’ve always existed, I created the world. I’m the ultimate reality. I’ll return at the end of time and your eternal destiny will depend on your relationship to me.” You have to assume he was lying or he is insane or maybe telling the truth.

This was CS Lewis’ famous “trilemma” argument. Lewis says, “the one thing you can’t say about Jesus was that he was a good man, a moral man or a trustworthy leader, because as soon as he claimed to be God, He eliminated Himself from that category, because good people, wise, sensible people don’t go around saying, they are God.”  He’s right. Jesus is either God to be worshipped or he’s a mad man, or a con man. We can’t reduce him to a harmless teacher who goes around saying nice things about loving and forgiving each other. Jesus didn’t give us that option.

Let us remember that Jesus isn’t from India, with over two million gods; he’s among Jews, who are fiercely monotheistic, who believed in a God who is infinitely exalted, holy and perfect; so transcendent, they dare not speak and write his name. To believe Jesus is God, this was against every fiber of their being. What was about Jesus that they were convinced? Why wasn’t he reduced to one of the hundreds of lunatics who have come and gone claiming messiahship. What makes him different from someone like Charles Manson, who is clearly proven to be a complete lunatic?

The New Testament is written clearly to make it obvious to any reader that Jesus is not a lunatic or a liar. The mind of Jesus is most pure, perfect, with His articulations the most profound. No one ever spoke like He spoke; so pure and sublime. Nor was Jesus a liar. If he was, he would be the greatest liar of all time. I mean how did he do it? Sure, there have been other religious figures who claim to be divine or to be the Messiah, but none of them ever got a religious movement off the ground, let alone sustain it for 2,000 years, without the use of a sword or threat of death.

Lunatics don’t heal sick ppl, raise dead ppl and drive out demons. Liars don’t speak the way Jesus spoke, with such wisdom for life. Lunatics don’t attract women and children, nor are liars marked by kindness, mercy and compassion the way Jesus was. You’re left with one option. He is who He claimed to be, that He is God. The evidence is in, virgin born, sinless life, power over the physical world, power over the spiritual world, power over creation, power over life and death. Clearly Jesus is Lord. His family, who knew him best, would ultimately see this truth. Mary remained faithful to the end and tradition tells us James was martyred for his faith in half-brother Jesus.

CS Lewis, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, writes about how Mr. Beaver tells Susan that Aslan (the ruler of Narnia) is a great lion. Susan is surprised, since she assumed Aslan was a man. She then tells Mr. Beaver, “I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” She asks Mr. Beaver if Aslan is safe, to which Mr. Beaver replies, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King.” If you’ve really met the King, he will ruin you, He will ruin your agenda, but it will be so glorious. He will ruin your career trajectory, your idea of success, your retirement plans, your careful, safe, comfortable life, he’ll ruin it all. But oh how glorious it is!

Prayer: God, teach me to see the mind of Christ. Help me pursue Your knowledge and grow in confidence in the Bible today. Your claims are the most beautiful statements ever to be uttered on this planet. Help me to savor them and grow in them . . . In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 15

Lunch Break Study 

Read 1 Corinthians 2:14-16: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

Questions to Consider

  1. How does the “natural” person understand the things of the Spirit of God?
  2. How do we understand the mind of the Lord?
  3. How can you grow today in having the mind of Christ?

Notes

  1. The natural man cannot understand because they are not able to discern spiritually.
  2. We do it by having the mind of Christ.
  3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Which will you heed?

“The mind that is alive chooses the spiritual rather than the fleshly. For example, take our thought life. The world sends a constant barrage of messages to us—politics, world, business, sex, sports, products, and others. God also is sending us messages, messages about His expressed will in the Bible for us, promptings about words to say or not to say, anger to control, or patience to extend.” – TW Hunt

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (Jn. 10:27).

Heed the voice of the Lord.

March 20, Tuesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from March 20-21 are provided by Pastor Charles Choe of Tapestry Church, Los Angeles.  Charles, a graduate of UC Riverside and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Grace, and they have three children: Chloe, Noah, and Camden.

 

Devotional Thought for the Day

Mark 3:1-21

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” (Mark 3:14)

In my youth I was totally confused. I was a tall skinny kid, a wanna be athlete, trying so hard to fit in with the cool kids, even going through a phase of wearing Cavarccis to look like MC Hammer for a while, and then finally, feeling somewhat comfortable with the a more preppy look. In other words, I was totally insecure about what others thought of me and without much sense of my place in the world. Then I met Christ, and there is where I found myself. I realized in Him I was first and foremost a child, the beloved son, of the King.

In ancient times, names were extremely important, and naming was an act of great importance and power; names conveyed an essence. So if you went through a great change in life, you almost always had a change of name. Abram becomes Abraham, Jacob becomes Israel, Saul becomes Paul. And some had multiple names, because it showed how multi-faceted they can be. And almost everyone had a personal name, a true name, the way you thought of yourself, and you wouldn’t necessary share it everyone, only with the ones you had special connection with, because to some degree, it gave that person some power over you. Like when Moses wanted to know God’s name, God says, “I am who I am.” Scholars believe this is Moses trying to get some leverage over God; to know one’s name gave you special access and power.

You might say today, “Yes, but that was back then, they were superstitious; today, names don’t mean anything.” Really? So why do we spend millions of dollars and hire consultants and say, “Please name this company, name this product.” It’s for the same reason why Martha Kostyra became Martha Stewart, or why Reginald Kenneth Dwight chose Elton John as his new name, or why did Marion Michael Morrison become John Wayne? Because you can’t have a cowboy named Marion, can you?

In our passage today, Jesus names the twelve to be apostles. The world appointed, poiema, is used, which is the word used for an artist creating a work of art. In other words, he didn’t look at the twelve and say, “These guys have what it takes” and so he named them apostles. No, he picked them, to do His work in them. This is what Paul meant in Ephesians 2:10, when he said, “You are God’s “workmanship” (poiema), created to do good works. Like an artist crafting a work of art, a poem, painting, or sculpture, God is a Master Artist over our lives.

Do you see then, everything that you are and that has happened to you—your gender, your nationality or your parents, or even your troubles—all of these things are just brushes or hammer and chisel, something the Great Artist has been using and will use to make you into a work of art. Think about that. A work of art, of course, is valuable and beautiful, but even more, it’s an expression of the inner vision of the artist. That’s you—you’ve been made for some good works he’s prepared beforehand, and that inner vision of God has for you, that’s your true identity and calling.

The beauty of the Gospel is that we have a name, that God knows us by name. We have been plucked out of the depths of hell and been given a new name. Even more than that, what gives you unique purpose, what gives you a sense of distinct value, is when you see yourself able to live out your calling.

Prayer: God, teach me to be generous as You were to me. Increase my capacity to give both of money and time to those who are in need. Give me a greater understanding of the Gospel, what You did on the cross on my behalf, so that giving to those who are hurting becomes an increasingly joyful action. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 14

Lunch Break Study 

Read Ephesians 2:1-10: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Questions to Consider      

  1. What is at work in the world and in the sons of disobedience?
  2. How does God counter the work of the evil one in the world and in our hearts?
  3. How have you seen the cosmic picture of what God is doing in your life in light of verse 10?

Notes

  1. Satan, who is referred to as “the prince of the power the air” in verse 2.
  2. He works through the love of his Son, showing us mercy even while we were in sin.
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Before you go sleep tonight, mull on this:

“We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.” -Mother Teresa

In the Lord’s eyes, you are that important. Does that do anything for you? It should!

March 19, Monday

Today’s AMI Devotional is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who serves at Symphony Church in Boston.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Dirty Job”

Genesis 46:31-34

Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

There used to be a TV show on the Discovery Channel called Dirty Jobs. The title gives the basic premise of the show: the host would go around the country and join actual workers for a day, doing their “dirty jobs” that were uncomfortable, hazardous, disgusting and sometimes all of the above. Some of the examples of the dirty jobs that he did were sewer inspector, pig farming, mosquito control officer, and diaper cleaner. None of these jobs are at all appealing, but they are all necessary because someone has to do them.

If the Egyptians had TV and had their own version of Dirty Jobs, they definitely would have aired an episode involving shepherds. We’re told in verse 34 that “every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” We don’t know why exactly the Egyptians so disliked shepherding, but we can guess that it was mostly due to the fact that shepherding was a dirty job. It was physically taxing as shepherds were outside all day long and likely slept in tents at night, still tending their flocks. They were separated from most of general society, outside city walls. The work of a shepherd was constant because sheep are very needy and not the brightest of animals. Shepherds had to lead the sheep to food and water, they had to defend them from predators, help them if they had fallen into ditches, and keep them away from danger. And of course the job itself was dirty, because sheep, of course, aren’t exactly the fluffy and white animals that we see in children’s books; they are dirty and smelly and so were the shepherds. We don’t have to wonder too much about why the Egyptians despised shepherds.

When we consider how despised shepherds were, it’s amazing to think that one of the most prominent and important descriptions of who Jesus is to us is that He is our shepherd. We can understand that Jesus is our king or that Jesus is our judge. He is God, so He has authority and power, and He is to be revered and honored as such. And yet, Jesus is our shepherd. What the Scriptures tell us is that Jesus took on the dirtiest and toughest job, and it didn’t just last for one day. He leads us, His flock, from danger and to food and water. He helps us when we fall down. He attends to our needs. Jesus Himself got “dirty” when He took our sin on the cross, and He was despised by humanity and separated from God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep.

So today, let us remember our shepherd who loves us and did the toughest and dirtiest job imaginable so that we could be with Him.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us. You have come into the messiness of my life to show me Your love for me. Thank you Jesus for your amazing love and care for me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 13

Lunch Break Study (P. Ryun)

Read Luke 15:11-13: And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

2 Tim. 4: 10a: For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

Questions to Consider

  1. Although parables are fictitious stories, they are based on the lives of real people. So why would a young man want so desperately to leave his family?
  2. Spiritualize your answer to the first question. Why would some of us want to leave the Father’s house?
  3. There is a saying that goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” For those us who have wandered off from the Father’s house and stepped into the world, how has your experience been? Decent? Yes, perhaps at first. Why don’t you come back, today! If you know someone like that, then pray for that person right this moment.

Note

  1. It is always a combination of things, right? First, the dull life of a farm boy makes a person feels like they are missing out; second, the rumors of great fun and opportunities in the city lure them as well. What they don’t hear about is the emotional, financial and spiritual cost of trying to find that life. Many have been and continue to be disappointed.
  2. Besides the typical reasons such as loving the world, which is what sidetracked Demas from the narrow path, one other reason can be the unhealthiness of the spiritual community of which you are a part, that is causing more pain than joy. My suggestion: Don’t go the world where more pain awaits; instead, first address your legitimate concerns with your leaders; second, if all else fail, then, look for another fellowship, but know that as long as humans are involved, nothing will match your idealism.
  3. Come on, think of someone! You know a lot of these people. Care enough to pray for them.

Evening Reflection

As we wrap up this day, ask yourself this question: Am I the kind of person who is willing to take on responsibilities at work or church that no one wants to take on? Of course, this question needs to be tempered with other considerations, but I am talking about our basic orientation and attitude. Mull on Philippians 2:5-8 and examine what is in your heart.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross

March 18, Sunday

Today’s AMI Devotional is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Matt. 6:19-20

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The senior pastor of a church died and proceeded on to heaven. At the pearly gates, the pastor’s guardian angel met him to escort him to his heavenly abode—otherwise known as a place prepared for us by Christ (Jn. 14:1-3). Along the way, the pastor spotted the church janitor who had died a few months earlier. The pastor marveled at the grandeur of the janitor’s mansion and thought, “Wow, if his heavenly home looks like that, then surely mine must be bigger and more splendid!”

Then the pastor ran into the old widow of the church who had died only a few weeks earlier. Next to her stood an even more stunning mansion. The pastor again thought, “If this old lady—all she ever did was cook and clean for the church— if she got this big of a mansion as a reward for her faithfulness, then surely mine has to be much greater!”

The pastor, still enraptured by his anticipation, was suddenly stopped by the angel, who said, “Here is your home.” The shaken pastor said, “What do you mean? I don’t see anything.” The angel said, “Look down.” The only thing the pastor could see down there was a house that reminded him of his dog house. The pastor shouted, “How could this be?! The janitor and cook of our church got huge mansions but how come the pastor of the church only gets a dog house?!” The angel said, “Well pastor, we wanted to build you a bigger and nicer mansion, but you wouldn’t send us any supplies, so we did what we could with what little you sent us.”

I heard this story told many years ago and I jotted down as best as I could remember. It is a funny story that raises an important question: What does it mean to send materials to heaven now so that Christ can use them to build our house for us? These, of course, are our rewards stored in heaven—“God . . . rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11:6). This raises another question as a way to answer the first: Whether you are rich or poor, or hold a high position in the church or no position at all, are you laying up yourselves treasures on earth or in heaven? Jesus tells us to “use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into the eternal dwelling” (Lk. 16:9). Meaning what? Invest your wealth, whether it is much or little in the eyes of the world, into doing God’s work; so that as a result, many may believe and will thank you in heaven for what you did. Now that’s a big mansion. So let’s become long-term investors!

Prayer: Dear God, help us to count the number of our days and prepare for our end accordingly. Remind us to invest into our eternity while living in this world. Help us to fix our eyes on the Lord. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 12

March 17, Saturday

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

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Daniel 10:12-13

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.”

Eph. 6:12

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,…and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Perseverance in prayer can be wearisome, especially when our prayers seem to be unheard and unanswered. Perhaps you have brought your prayers to the LORD, time and time again, only to hear no answer or to see no changes after. The temptation to stop praying then becomes great, but that is when we need to persevere in prayer. “Ask . . . seek . . . knock . . . and you will find and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). How often we may have missed an answer to our prayers because we did not persist in our prayers.

With the coming of spring, I spent a weekend planting seeds to start growing in the greenhouse. It took several hours to sort the seeds, prep the soil mixture, label each variety, and carefully place a small seed in each pot. After what I felt was a job thoroughly done, I returned a day later to the greenhouse to check on them. To my great discouragement, I found the small greenhouse had fallen to the ground, trays in disarray, and seeds drowning in a swampy puddle. Overnight, the wind had knocked down the greenhouse along with all of the newly planted seeds inside. I quickly salvaged what I could and returned the next day to plant new seeds in new soil again within a more secure greenhouse.

Perseverance in prayer reminds me of my experience with the greenhouse. I must “visit” my prayers again and again, and to see my prayers answered I must pray continuously, because we know Satan works hard to hinder our prayers from breakthrough (e.g., keeping a prayer journal may be helpful to do this).

Daniel’s prayer was answered the moment he began to pray, but the angel delivering the answer was thwarted by the enemy.

Do not lose faith as you persevere through days, weeks, months, and even years for prayers to be answered. Remember the parable of the persistent widow, through which the Lord taught us that we “should always pray and not give up” (Lk. 18:1). Soon there will be breakthrough, like seedlings from a well-watered greenhouse. Overpower the enemy with your constant prayers and wait with assurance that God delivers at the right time.

Prayer: LORD, help me to live a life of persevering prayer. I sometimes feel defeated when I see that another day goes by without change or an answer, but I trust You and believe that You will deliver the answer in the right time. The enemy may try to knock down my prayers, but I will continue to pray. I wait for You alone and I want to experience and recognize Your voice and assurance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 10-11

March 16, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Psalms 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

This passage often comes to mind when we think of babies. For me, I come back to this passage every time a circumstance has whispered the lie that I was unknown or insignificant. The psalmist’s words remind me of how intimately my Creator knows me and has formed me. Our God is so big and sovereign, yet He knows what each of our days will hold.

These verses took on a new light during my pregnancy, when I started to think about how that process was currently taking place in the new life within. It made me think about how each person—not just me— is known intimately by the Lord. When I think about how the Lord has created and purposed an unborn child, I am filled with awe at His sovereignty, and it gives me much comfort.

Pregnancy is a funny thing in that it is a very outwardly obvious circumstance—even strangers can observe this personal part of me and comment about it. Most of the time, I welcome people’s comments for they are funny and strikes up interesting conversations; but inevitably there is well-meaning advice that stirs up anxiety or doubt. However, God’s promise to us in this psalm reminds us how deeply we are known and cared for. In addition, He is sovereign and in control. There is no circumstance we encounter where His help and His presence is not found.

Is there a circumstance in your life today that is making you anxious? Have you taken time to remember God’s promises of who you are and who He is as your Creator?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to trust You more. Help me to see where I have built for my own glory and labored in vain. I want to depend on You. If you are dismantling something in my life, help me to see it as discipline from my Heavenly Father (Heb. 12:7). Help me to trust You as You build up a new thing in my life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Phil 4:6: 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.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does Paul encourage believers to do when then are anxious?
  2. What is the result of this action according to Paul?

Note

  1. Paul encourages believers, with thanksgiving, to pray and petition and give our requests to God. This means we come with humble hearts, thanking God, not demanding the fulfillment of our needs. At the same time, we are encouraged to be honest with our requests.
  2. When we meet with God in prayer, we are given supernatural peace that comes despite difficult circumstances, as we remember who He is and His promises.

Evening Reflection

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are so sovereign and yet You draw near to us. Thank You that you know us fully and completely, yet You choose to love us. Remind us that Your love is not earned, but is based on our position as children of God purchased by the costly blood of Jesus Christ.  When we forget this, we are tempted to be anxious and fretful. Root us again today in the promises of Your Word. Amen.

March 15, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals for March 15-16 are provided by Joanna Tzen.  Joanna graduated from U. Penn and currently works in Philadelphia.  She married Paul in 2014, and they attend Grace Covenant Church. They are expecting their first child any day now!

  

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Luke 2:25-32 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Waiting is a part of life, whether it’s as simple as waiting for the bus or waiting for God to move in a particular area of our lives. Simeon was waiting to see the Messiah in his lifetime. This passage tells us he was righteous, devout, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit moved him to visit the temple courts where he saw Jesus. Verse 29 tells us Simeon was a patient man. He was an old man ready to go home to the Lord was waiting for his time to come. Once he saw Jesus, his purpose was fulfilled.

Have you ever waited with such purpose as Simeon did? I know when I find myself waiting, I get impatient, sometimes borderline hopeless, if I have waited for what I feel like is a long time. It’s easy for me to lose focus on what I am waiting for.

I currently find myself in a very different kind of waiting season. My husband and I are expecting our first child in April. There is a sense of purpose and expectancy, along with a lot of trepidation, but also joy! It’s a different kind of waiting because there is a due date in sight, but there is still the uncertainty of how life will change after the waiting ends.

I’ve often thought about prayer as birthing something into the spiritual realm. It requires waiting and trusting in God. As I count down the days until my child’s birth, I’m thinking about how my own spiritual birthing experience has prepared me to depend on God in a similar way.

Is God working in your life right now through a season of waiting? If so, how is He calling you to display the trust and focus that Simeon had in his life as he waited for the Messiah?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me first (1 Jn. 4:19) when I was completely unlovable. Forgive me for the things I have put before You and trusting in others more than I trust You. Remind me of Your faithfulness. Thank you that You never let me go. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 8

Lunch Break Study

Read Lam. 3:24-6: I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean in verse 24 where Jeremiah says, “The Lord is my portion”?
  2. Why does this allow Jeremiah to wait?
  3. What can be learned while waiting? Do you recall what Abraham learned about himself while waiting for the Lord to deliver on His promise 25 years after it was made (Gn. 12:4, 21:5)?

Notes

  1. This refers to the territories that the tribes of Israel had. The Levites did not have a territory and the Lord was their portion. Jeremiah understands, in the same way, that the Lord is enough for him. The Lord is his security and his provision, much more so than anything that is physical.
  2. Knowing that the Lord is his portion, allows Jeremiah to wait because he trusts in who the Lord is. He knows the Lord is good (v. 25) and he keeps His promises. This hope (v. 25) allows Jeremiah to wait quietly (v. 26) upon the Lord.
  3. Abraham tries to fulfill God’s promise through his own human strategy: first, after waiting for 10 years he simply assumes that his servant Eliezar would be his inheritor (Gn. 15:2-3); then later he marries another woman who gives birth to Ishmael whom God rejects as the fulfillment of the promise (Gn. 21:10). What does this show about Abraham, the so-called the father of faith? No one has an unwavering great faith in God; that is to say, if we are to have great faith in Him, it will be the result of falling on our faces many times because of our lack of patience while waiting on God. As God was gracious to Abraham whenever he felt short, thereby never abrogating the promise made to him, it is through God’s infinite grace that we learn to trust Him and His goodness.

Evening Reflection

Lord, thank You that You walk with us in every season, particularly in times of waiting. The truth is that all of our waiting pales in comparison to waiting for Jesus. Fortunately for us, Jesus is already here. In every moment of waiting, may we have much joy and peace, because we understand the Messiah has already promised and secured for us our greatest need—a relationship with the Heavenly Father that can never be broken.

March 14, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Habit of Inquiring”

1 Samuel 23:1-12

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.

Twenty-two years ago, when my boyfriend Kirt (now my husband) informed me that he was coming to visit me in Taiwan with the intention of marrying me, my immediate thought was to pray and to call my college professors Dr. Gray and Dr. Charalambakis.  They both knew me well through three plus years of college and also got to know Kirt when we began dating. Being the only Christian in my family then, I valued their counsel and blessing above my own mother’s approval and blessing, before I could move forward with the relationship. I didn’t fully trust myself with the decision, and I wanted confirmation on what I was hearing from God. Because of their genuine love for me and their solid witness of having an intimate relationship with Jesus and a Christ centered marriage, I knew I could trust them.

God described King David in Acts 13:22 as a man after His own heart.  When our church was reading through 1 & 2 Samuel, one repeating phrase that caught my attention was: “David inquired the Lord” (1 Sam 23:2,4,12; 30:8; 2 Sam 2:1; 5:23). I believe David became a man after God’s own heart because through the years, he developed a spiritual discipline to depend on the Lord through prayer.  He took time to lay his concerns before God, seek His direction, wait for a clear answer, and then take action according to what he heard from God. His discipline formed a lifelong habit and became a foundational core of his character.

In our postmodern age, it’s so easy to follow after our own plans and expect God to stamp His blessings upon our plans by orchestrating events to line up according to our liking.  When things do not go as we expected, we easily turn against God in anger, disillusionment, and in extreme cases, abandon our faith all together.

May we be reminded once again that a man’s life is not his own (Jer. 10:23). The steps of a good man are directed by the Lord (Ps. 37:23).  In order for God to direct our steps, we must take the time to inquire Him through prayer. And we must remember that prayer is a two-way relationship: we don’t just tell God what we want and what we would like for Him to do for us. Take time to ask God what is on His heart for you for this particular situation, and to help you to see things through His perspective.  Wait to hear from Him and make necessary adjustments, or take proper actions to carry out His will.

Prayer:  Draw us near You, Lord, and tune our ears to hear Your voice, so we might walk accordingly. Let us taste and see the sweetness and goodness of Your very presence and wise counsel. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 7

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

  1. What are some of the burdens or needs you are carrying?
  2. What makes trusting God so hard to do?
  3. Have you taken these burden before the Lord and ask for His help?

Notes

  1. Jot them down and then take some time to meditate on God’s truth and promise.
  2. If we are really honest, it is fear—that God may take you to another direction. The only way to overcome that is to trust in His goodness, that He does what is always best for you.
  3. Pray this: “Holy Spirit, would you please use this verse to cultivate in me the habit of turning all my concerns into prayer throughout the day?”

Evening Reflection

Did you notice the difference it made by simply casting your cares upon Him and rest in His love and provision for you?  Take a moment to offer Him a simple prayer of gratitude for His constant love and care for you.

March 13, Tuesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from March 11-13 are provided by Mei Lan Thallman.  Mei Lan is originally from Taiwan and a graduate of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (M.A.) in Kentucky.  She is the wife of Pastor Kirt, who serves at Grace Covenant Church (Philadelphia).  They have two children, Nate (14) and Naomi (12).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Test of Leadership”

1 Samuel 15:17-26  

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” 20 “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel!”

One challenge of teenage parenting is how to handle selective hearing and obedience.  When I ask my teenagers to put their iPhones away, they usually respond with selective hearing— meaning, they act like they do not hear me.

In today’s text, we see that God chose Saul to be the king over Israel. Saul rose to kingship overnight from a nobody to the first king in Israel’s history. The limelight of kingship soon revealed many flaws in his character.  Essentially, the core of his character failed under the pressure of leadership. The most important test of Saul’s leadership was his obedience to God’s instructions. In 1 Sam, 13:8-12, when Samuel showed up later than expected, Saul gave in to circumstantial and people pressure and took matters into his own hands to perform a priestly job that was outside of his responsibility as a king.  In 1 Sam. 15:17-26, he disobeyed God’s instructions again and attempted to justify his selective obedience to the prophet. Through his examples, we see that partial obedience in God’s eyes equals disobedience. Therefore, God could not trust Saul to carry out His will for the nation of Israel, and God was grieved that He appointed Saul to be King (1 Sam. 15:35).

Our obedience matters a great deal to God. Do we trust Him enough to obey Him at the risk of losing face, reputation, or popularity?  Many of us dream about doing great things for the Lord; but the fulfillment of that dream begins with where we are now in our home, school, work, and church. Are we dependable and trustworthy to diligently and responsibly carry out the tasks that are entrusted under our care?  If not, how can God entrust us with bigger responsibilities?

We must set our mind to please God over pleasing people. In both instances stated above, Saul heard and understood God’s instructions to wait for Samuel and destroy all of the enemy, including their livestock. Instead of leading the Israelite army to please God by their total obedience, he succumbed to the pressure of pleasing his soldiers over God.

May we learn from Saul’s example and tune our ears to hear God’s word and train our heart to respond in total obedience in all circumstances. Small acts of obedience build our character and get us ready for bigger tasks requiring more obedience.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please forgive me for grieving Your heart by my selective hearing and partial obedience.  When Your Spirit prompts me to forgive, go out of my way to serve, or be the first to apologize, help me to quickly respond and obey.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 3:7-9: Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.”

Questions to Consider

  1. What does it mean to harden our hearts toward God’s voice?
  2. How does disobedience lead to unbelief and rebellion?
  3. Has the Lord been saying something in your heart that you need to heed to, but you haven’t responded? Today is always the best time to comply.

Note

  1. Though this can happen in several ways, one of them is by not abiding by what is clearly commanded in Scripture, because doing so will cut in on your profit and/or fun.
  2. Disobeying God today makes disobeying God tomorrow that much easier. Proverbs 29:1 says (NIV), “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.” Each time a person rejects God’s call for repentance, his or her heart gets hardened, which eventually would prompt God’s discipline (Heb. 12:5-11).
  3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Lord, please reveal to me specific areas of my life where I have compartmentalized hearing the truth.   In what ways have I been hardening my heart by refusing to do what I know is the right thing to do?