Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Rebecca Wong, who is currently serving as the Children’s Ministry Director at Kairos Christian Church. Rebecca is a graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in Media Communications.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
“Family Feuds”
Genesis 50:18-21
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. 19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
What is the first word you associate with the word “dysfunctional”? Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be a glitching laptop, a broken zipper, or even a failing organ. I think most people would think of either “family” or “relationship.” Never in the history of mankind has there ever been a “perfect family”—and I think each and every one of us can personally attest to this. We can even see dysfunctional families all throughout the Bible: Adam and his wife playing the blame game right at the beginning of time, their son killing his own brother, Abraham’s family tree of adultery, lies, deceit, and betrayal, and David and his sons targeting each other for the throne—just to name a few of the big ones.
While I hope none of us can relate to any of those extreme cases, family feuds happen to all of us and can be some of the hardest to deal with. But I’ve noticed that in Genesis in particular, a lifetime of family drama amazingly ends in some form of resolution. It’s no fireworks or happily ever after, but over time, we see brothers coming together, reunited by some kind of external factor, which is often the burial of their father. Perhaps this is an indication of that time’s cultural norm, but I think it can also set an example for how we can learn to deal with our own family conflicts. In Genesis 50, after Joseph and his brothers bury their father, they seem to follow this trend and reach the “happy ending” of the story. But reality isn’t so grand. People don’t change so quickly, and out of fear and mistrust, Joseph’s brothers lie to him to save their skin. However, what really stands out is Joseph’s response. I don’t know if he was fooled by their lies or simply chose to overlook it, but he counters their fear with love. He calmly points out how God used their mistreatment of him for the good of their whole family in the end, and even goes above and beyond, promising to “provide for [them] and [their] children” (Gen. 50:21).
Sometimes it might feel easier just to cut people out of our lives—and once in a while, it actually might be necessary. However, rather than giving up on people, perhaps we can take a step away from the situation and simply appreciate how God is working, despite the messiness and the drama. And with our eyes fixed on His goodness, perhaps we can gain a new perspective on a situation that hasn’t seemed to change, and seek to coat others in love and generosity.
Prayer: Father, I ask for harmony in my family and relationships. Please give me supernatural patience, that I can be more like You and show generous love when people don’t deserve it, for You do this and more for me every day. Thank You for being so good even in difficult situations. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 17
Lunch Break Study
Read Mark 3:31-35: Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
Questions to Consider
- Why did Jesus seem to ignore His family?
- How can we measure our priorities?
Notes
- Jesus didn’t cut ties with His family. He makes sure His mother is cared for after His death (John 19:26-27). But in this particular passage, Jesus knew it was necessary to draw boundaries. His mission was to do the work of His heavenly Father, and when His earthly family got in the way of that, even going so far as to say He was out of His mind (Mark 3:21), He had to firmly and clearly draw the line.
- Jesus used His family’s confrontation as a teaching point. He reshaped the worldly view of family values to point to the bigger scheme of God’s work. As believers, we are all now part of the family of God, and this is where our priorities should lie. It’s not that we should ignore or disrespect our parents, but if they get in the way of our obedience to God, we must draw the line and make sure to put God first.
Evening Reflection
Take some time to think about those things that aren’t “sinful” in your life yet might be distracting you from a fuller life dedicated to God: it could be idle entertainment, your career goals, or family pressure. Lift it up to God and ask Him to work in your heart and relieve you of your attachments to these things, so that as you give it up to Him, He can use you for the betterment of yourself and His kingdom.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Charles Graham. Charles is a new intern with Kairos, who came aboard in September of 2017. He is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology to prepare himself for a life of service and ministry.
At the end of Genesis 49, we see Jacob pass away. Genesis 50 wastes no time illustrating the immediate effect of Jacob’s death on his son, Joseph. Joseph is crushed at his father’s passing, made evident by his actions: hurling of himself at Jacob’s body, weeping and kissing him. To fully appreciate the sentiment here, we have to grasp the biblical understanding of weeping. When the biblical writers describe an instance of someone weeping, they do not mean soft sobbing and a few tears. No, weeping in their eyes is instead a strong, sometimes uncontrollable act of lamentation. Jacob’s death, in fact, carries such weight that all of Egypt mourns his passing for 70 days, just two days less than that of a Pharaoh’s.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Esther Chailim. Esther, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently serving as the director of ministries at Kairos Christian Church (San Diego) and pursuing a Masters in Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot Theological Seminary.
For many, the end of life often calls for deep reflection on the things most important to them. Some reflect on the great memories they’ve had, while others think about what they would have done differently. In a similar fashion, this final request from Jacob was of great importance to him. Of all the choice words he could have said in his very last moments, he chose to give final instructions on the burial of his body. It’s important to note that though Jacob had been residing in Egypt for 17 years and had quite a successful life there with his sons, he knew his future did not lie there. Rather, he desired to be buried alongside his forefathers in Canaan, because it was the place in which God made his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, promising the land to them and all their descendants (Genesis 28:13-14). In other words, life to Jacob was found in the Promised Land, where he knew he would be in the special presence of the Lord. To Jacob, Canaan was more than just his hometown; it marked a statement of future hope. Thus, the burial in Canaan with his forefathers revealed Jacob’s hope and faith that God’s covenant promise would eventually come to pass.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Peter is a graduate of U.C. Riverside and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). He and his wife Jessica have three very active children: Nathan, Abigail, and Jason.
If you’ve been watching the news lately, you have seen the downfall of Hollywood’s moguls, news anchormen, actors, etc. The victims in Hollywood are finally mustering up courage to tell their stories, leading to the permanent dismissal of men who have used their fame, popularity, and position to abuse women for many years. Many people are probably thinking, “It’s about time…”
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Joshua Chzen who serves as the college pastor at Kairos Christian Church (San Diego, California). Joshua, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Bethel Seminary. He and Sandra were recently married in 2017. 
There’s an old Indian fable about a group of blind men who encounter an elephant in their travels. Since the animal is unfamiliar to them, they begin to feel around to try to understand what they face. As each of them touches a different part, every one of the men reaches a different conclusion about the creature in their path. One man touches the elephant’s ear and decides that it must be a large fan. Another wraps his arms around its foot and thinks he’s embracing a tree. The rest of them think they’ve found a spear (its tusk), a snake (its trunk), and a wall (its side). Of course, none of them are correct. This story is commonly used to illustrate issues of perspective in relation to truth; with only a limited perspective to aid their understanding, none of the men really know the truth of what they’ve encountered. (Of course, someone saw the whole thing; otherwise there is no story to tell—sorry relativism.)
One of the many lessons I try to teach my children is to always be someone who keeps their promises. A few weeks ago, one of my daughters promised me that she would clean her room by a certain day, but when the day had arrived, her room was still not clean. Even though I was disappointed by her lack of responsibility, it was a teaching moment for me; so I explained to her that as God’s children, we are called to keep our promises.
I enjoy watching “transformational reality shows”—they are reality shows where there is a great amount of change from the beginning to the end: for example, shows like The Biggest Loser, Fixer Upper, and Undercover Boss. Whether it be a body being transformed by getting in shape, an old house getting restored, or changes made in a company—positive change gives us encouragement and gives us hope that change is possible.
Often, when people of faith come to confront death, they see life with a greater clarity. Poet Edmund Waller writes:
Yesterday was a sad day as we mourned the death of evangelist Billy Graham. He preached to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history, which was nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories, with “hundreds of millions more” viewing him on television, video, film and webcasts. He continued to do crusades even into his 80’s, and when asked what his purpose in life was, Billy responded, “My one purpose in life, is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.” Billy will be remembered for his impact he had proclaiming the gospel in the world. He lived a life well-lived and finished well.
All Christians experience suffering—whether it be in the past, present, or in the future. But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesn’t tell us how to think about our suffering now. Tim Keller, in Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, puts it like this: