REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotion, originally posted on July 16, 2018, is provided by Cami King. Cami served as a staff at various AMI churches in the past. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Pray Because We Can!” 

Jeremiah 21:1-2 (NRSV)

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, saying, ² “Please inquire of the Lord on our behalf, for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is making war against us; perhaps the Lord will perform a wonderful deed for us, as he has often done, and will make him withdraw from us.”

Many of us have heard stories like this one: “A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls responded. ‘Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won’t feel so lonely.’ That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, ‘If God sent that, I’m sure He also sent a doll!’ And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child’s sincere requests, and 5 months earlier He had led a ladies’ group to include both of those specific articles.” (Dr. Helen Roseveare, mid-twentieth century missionary to the Congo)

Most of our stories of blessed times in prayer come in moments of desperation. This is likely because it’s easier to pray when we face situations which are so impossible that only a miracle can bring us through. But our passage for today reminds me of a lesson God taught me some years ago. In the Old Testament, when people needed to seek a word from the Lord they had to go to a priest or prophet who served as a mediator between them and God. In our passage for today, King Zedekiah went to Jeremiah (a prophet from the priestly line) so that Jeremiah might inquire of the Lord on behalf of the King. 

Some years ago as I prepared sermons on prayer, I sought the Scriptures for the reasons they give us to pray. I found many reasons, but my favorite is this: BECAUSE WE CAN! After the death and resurrection of Jesus, the people of God no longer needed to seek God through a mediator. As believers we have access directly to the throne of God whenever we call on God and we can trust that God not only hears, but through the Holy Spirit, that God also responds. I like to imagine how utterly mind-boggling this truth was for believers in the early church who had never had this kind of access to the presence of God before. 

We have precious access to God when we pray. May we not take it for granted today. 

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You that You hear me when I pray to You. Thank You Jesus that I have unrestricted access because of what You did for me on the cross. Thank You Holy Spirit for dwelling with me and allowing me to hear from the heart of God every day. Lord, forgive for any times I have taken this access for granted.  May I enjoy today the rich blessings that come from intimate communication with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 27

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:14-16 (NRSV):Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested[d] as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Question to Consider

• What are the two commands/exhortations given in this passage?
• What are the reasons we’re able to follow these commands/exhortations? 
• Verse 16 tells us that the end result of the believers holding fast to their confession and boldly approaching the throne of grace is so that they may receive mercy and find grace in times of need. How does this encourage you today? What are the specific areas in your life that make you more aware of your need for grace and mercy? 

Notes

• “Hold fast to our confession” (v.14)—the writer of Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in their profession of faith and confidence in Christ. “Approach the throne of grace with boldness” (v. 16)—come before God boldly in prayer. 
• We have Jesus as our high priest—One who goes before God on our behalf and intercedes (talks to God for us). Furthermore, the One who intercedes for us is both sympathetic—He sympathizes with us in our areas of weaknesses, and holy/blameless – He was tested yet did not sin. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Rend Collective, a contemporary Christian worship band, wrote the song “Boldly I Approach” with Hebrews 4:16 in mind. Spend some time listening to their song of worship this evening. As you do, reflect on the great gift we have in Jesus as our high priest and the freedom He grants us to boldly approach God in prayer. https://youtu.be/4QDnVD7gu5Y Spend some time praying to God about the specific areas in your life where you need grace and mercy today. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Seeing Things in the Right Way”

Jeremiah 16:5-6 (ESV):

For thus says the Lord: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy, declares the Lord. 6 Both great and small shall die in this land. They shall not be buried, and no one shall lament for them or cut himself or make himself bald for them. 

Ocean’s 11 is a classic movie where the lead character, Danny Ocean (George Clooney), plans out an incredible and elaborate plan to rob three different casinos in Las Vegas that share the same vault. It’s not an easy task, and he assembles a team to do so. What’s interesting is that the movie makes these characters such likeable characters that we end up rooting for them. Even though they are committing what we all believe to be a huge crime, we still want them to win in the end—that is, sympathizing for the people who are actually in the wrong. I think it’s a scary thing that filmmakers are able to manipulate our emotions to celebrate what they want us to celebrate: in this case, they want us to celebrate this heist, because the casino owner “deserves it.” Although our feelings are definitely important, they may distort our perceptions of things.

When I read passages like today’s text, I can’t help but feel sorry for Judah. Why can’t Jeremiah grieve for them? Why can’t he mourn for them? Why does God’s discipline have to seem so harsh? Do you sometimes feel like rooting against God because you feel like He is wrong? Why did He have to allow this evil to happen, or why did He have to say it like that? Our sinful nature flips our perception of God’s goodness, and we end up despising God.

I recently heard a pastor share about how airplanes typically have two altimeters (instrument to measure altitude), because what you feel isn’t always what is actually happening. I’ve never flown a plane before, but apparently, sometimes it can be so disorienting that you may feel like you’re climbing in altitude when you’re actually diving towards the ground. So the altimeters are there to tell you what is actually happening, though your feelings might tell you otherwise.  

My point is this: our spiritual gauges can sometimes be wrong. Sometimes, we might call evil good, and good, evil; or we look at God, His Word, His commands, and we don’t feel like He is really for us, or that He really cares about us. We end up cheering for wickedness rather than righteousness. It’s those times where we must come before God and recalibrate—choosing to believe that He is who He says He is, a God who loves us. In this case (and in this passage), a strong-handed discipline for Judah must come, but not without a promise of restoration, which we will touch upon at the end of this week.   

Prayer: Father God, I don’t always understand what You are doing. Sometimes my spiritual gauges are way off, and I just don’t understand why things happen the way they do. Even when I don’t understand, lead me in Your ways and Your truth. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 26

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 12:7-11 (ESV): Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Question to Consider

1. What does this passage list as the importance of discipline?

2. What is the fruit of discipline?

3. What are ways you are currently experiencing the discipline of God? 

Notes

1. Discipline is for all who are considered children. When discipline occurs, it reminds the one being disciplined that they are legitimate children (of God). Sometimes, we don’t care for the discipline, nor do we understand the reason, but we submit to the Father who disciplines for our good.  

2. Discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Those who have been disciplined and have experienced the fruit of discipline are not as allergic to the thought of further discipline, for they know that there is more fruit to come out of the discipline. 

3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Think back to a time where you experienced the discipline of God.  What was the fruit that came out of it? Oftentimes, we are quick to forget the good that comes out of the discipline, but as we reflect on the fruit that was produced, it causes us to welcome the discipline of God rather than to despise it. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 23, 2018, is provided by Myra Huang. A graduate of Juilliard School (B.A.) and The Manhattan School of Music (M.A.), Myra was a long-time member of The Remnant Church, where she faithfully served for many years.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Fear”

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” 

There are so many things we all fear: fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of loneliness, fear of uselessness, fear of not being smart.  In my mind, so many of our fears point to one underlying predominant fear:  the fear of not being loved.  

I started piano at the age of 4, and my older brother started cello at the age of 6.  We were star prodigies in our small town of Portland, Oregon.  I won almost every competition I entered.  You can understand how my identity became cemented in winning—or at least in being successful. My parents had a very violent and tumultuous marriage, ending up with the police at our home a few times a year; but the one thing that brought them happiness was when I did well.  So I learned at an early age that if I did well, it would make my parents happy, and I would receive love.  My performance became my currency to obtain love.

As a concert pianist, I am constantly struggling with the performance mentality.  There’s a phrase in the business: “You’re only as good as your last performance.”  That’s a lot of pressure to live up to.  I have had to spend so much time in prayer surrendering my need to succeed, and to ask God to exchange my anxiety from fear of failure with the peace of knowing that I am loved just as I am.  Living with such anxiety is exhausting, and eventually leads to burn out.  I’m sure many of you can relate.

I am learning how to tend to my identity in Christ.  I’m learning how to make a habit of sitting before God doing nothing but resting in knowing that He loves me.  When I’m busy, I’m learning to release the tension of trying to prove my worth, and to rather lean on His presence and faithfulness.  Much of my prayer life has changed as well.  I spend more time in silence, just being with God and listening, rather than making my supplications. I am meditating on God’s love for me, not because of what I have done, but because He chose me and created me.  The fruit that is born of the Spirit becomes joy and peace.  Only then am I able to understand how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is, so that I may live in step with the fullness of His presence.  

So, today, I invite you to a time alone with God, to contemplate on all the marvelous things He has done and continues to do to show His unconditional acceptance of us. 

Prayer: Father, thank you for times of solitude, for times of slowing down, and for a life that is something more than just merely performing.  Thank You for times to build into myself and the lives of others around me.  Help me to spend this precious time wisely and well. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 25

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Lunch Break Study

(Pastor Ryun)

Read Romans 15:7: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God; Luke 15:20: “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”

Questions to Consider

• Based on how the father treated the prodigal son, what does it mean that Christ has accepted us? 
• What is implied in the statement, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you”?
• Are you struggling with this issue? Is people’s approval of your performance very important to you? Identify one or two areas where you feel the most pressure to perform, and then write out a prayer to the Lord to surrender those areas to Him.

Notes

• The son had been clearly in the wrong, but his contrition or repentance was not a precondition for the father to have compassion for him and showering him with mercy (withholding the punishment he deserves).
• The premise of the command for us to accept one another unconditionally is precisely because we do the opposite, meaning we treat people well when they perform (e.g., performance bonus) and not so well when they don’t. Let’s be careful to avoid doing this, especially if we are parents of small children—because they catch on fast. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

During the business of this day, did I stop to ponder and experience God’s approval of me today, simply because I am beloved in Christ?  Have I made time for resting in Him apart from any merit on my part?  Spend some time reflecting on these matters and ask God for strength to feel less pressure to perform.

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Though, first posted on March 11, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

Mark 2:23-28 (ESV)

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” 

Many Christians today consider the Sabbath to be an archaic, obsolete regulation that is out of touch with our busy and competitive work environments—not realizing that the Sabbath was designed exactly for this reason.  For a moment in our week, we can allow God to remind us that our lives belong securely in His hands—that ultimately, we are not the authors of our own success, and we can stop striving for that unreachable goal.  The problem that we find is that many of us look at church not as a place of rest but just another place to strive.  We do this by reducing the Sabbath to just another obligation that we need to fulfill in order to prove that we are good Christians.  This is what the Pharisees were guilty of, so Jesus tells them: “Man wasn’t made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for man.”  In other words, God doesn’t require the Sabbath for His benefit but for our own.    

One of the great benefits, for those of us who are committed to a Sabbath rest, is the flourishing of our relationships.  All Christian fellowship is dependent on cycles of rest, because you cannot establish deep relationships if you are otherwise consumed by your work and your ambitions.  It’s amazing how much of a difference rest can make in our relationships with one another.  The Sabbath was designed to intentionally put enough space in our lives, so that we could enjoy the relationships God has given us.   But knowing the rich benefits of the Sabbath is still not enough motivation for many of us to take the rest that we need.   

Unless you live with a deep sense of freedom, you won’t pursue the rest that your soul is longing for.  As many of us think about our schedules and our future success, there doesn’t seem to be any other option but to continue this frantic pace.  There are many factors that contribute to these feelings: In this economy, job security is a major concern.  There are hundreds of people waiting to take our jobs if we don’t do well.  Technology is another culprit. We now have the capacity to work anywhere and at anytime—meaning, we don’t have the luxury of clocking out.  Finally, sociologists tell us that for the first time in human history, we now have a society that determines personal identity and worth based almost completely on achievement.  The traditional value of having your identity linked to your family is something that has essentially disappeared 

For all of these reasons and more, many of us feel trapped by our work.   One of the things that Jesus did so well in his interactions with people was to identify the things that enslaved them.  Christianity—more than any other religion—emphasizes the recovery of human freedom.  This connection between freedom and rest is most clearly revealed in Deuteronomy 5:15: in instituting the Sabbath, God tells the Israelites, “Remember you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God brought you out with a mighty hand; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.”  The Sabbath was given to the people of God as a reminder of their freedom.  And whether your master is Pharoah, corporate America, or your own ambition, the results are exactly the same—you feel like you have no control over your time and work.  That is the bottom line definition of what is means to be enslaved.  

In every age and culture, the most dangerous master is the unrelenting lure of success and wealth.  The nature of man can’t help but base his identity on these things that are so artificial and fleeting.  Unfortunately, we are often driven by this master, not realizing the negative impact it has on our lives.  By realizing God’s loving intention for the Sabbath, we can prevent this self-induced bondage and learn how to live life in all its abundance.   

Prayer:  Father, we confess that none of Your commands are burdensome or restrictive.  Everything You teach us is meant for our good and for our freedom.  Help us to learn what it means to rest in You, by observing the Sabbath and keeping it holy.  As we cultivate this discipline, may we experience the renewing effect of the Sabbath on our body, soul, and mind.  Amen.    

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 24

REPOST Today’s AMI Quiet Time Devotional, first posted on March 24, 2018, is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Where Jesus Differs from a Baseball Announcer”

Phil. 2:6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

Trevor Hoffman, who played in Major League Baseball for 18 years, primarily with the San Diego Padres, was an incredible relief pitcher who saved more than 600 games. In 1998, Hoffman was at his best, with a near-perfect save percentage of 98%. So it was long overdue that he was finally elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year.

Ironically, 1998—the year of his dominance—was also the year the world witnessed his imperfection. In the World Series, pitching to Yankees player Scott Brosius—a hitter who had struggled that season with a batting average around .200—Hoffman gave up a home run that ultimately won the game for New York.

A commentator later analyzed Hoffman’s failure, saying: “Hoffman should have started the inning instead of entering the game with a runner already on first base. Relievers don’t mind cleaning up their own messes, but not someone else’s.” That statement stunned me. You see, in the 1970s and 1980s, top relief pitchers were frequently brought into high-risk situations—runners on base, close games—to bail their teams out of potentially disastrous innings. That’s why they were called “Top Firemen”—they were tasked with “putting out the fire.”

Upon hearing that remark, I was reminded of my college roommate from years ago. At the time, six of us lived in a cramped two-bedroom apartment, meaning dirty dishes often piled up in the sink. One Sunday night, I told my roommate it was his turn to do the dishes. (I was frustrated—I had been doing them all the time!) There were enough dirty dishes and pots to take at least 15-20 minutes to wash, yet my roommate returned to our room just a few minutes later. I asked, “Done already?” He gleefully responded, “Yes.” Feeling skeptical, I went to the kitchen to check. The first thing I saw was a stack of still-dirty dishes. It quickly became clear—he had only washed the dishes he personally used that week. He had probably spent more time identifying his dishes than actually cleaning them.

But isn’t this the same philosophy as that commentator’s baseball analysis? “I don’t mind cleaning up my own mess, but I won’t clean up someone else’s.”

If Christ had that mindset, we would all be heading to hell.

People, don’t be selfish! Clean up someone else’s mess, too. Paul teaches us: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves—not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

So “have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. Though He was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God as something to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross” (Phil. 2:5-8).

Prayer: Dear God, change my perspective so that nothing seems too messy or inconvenient for me to lend a hand, especially if it means helping someone know the love of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 22-23

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on August 1, 2018. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Makes Dad Mad?”

Jeremiah 25:37-38 

The peaceful meadows will be laid waste because of the fierce anger of the Lord. 38 Like a lion he will leave his lair, and their land will become desolate because of the sword of the oppressor and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.

While I was mostly a goody-two-shoes child growing up, I still got in trouble quite a bit. Normally, my mom gave me an earful, while my dad was the good-natured Good Cop. Oh, but woe to me on the day that I provoked my dad to anger! I remember this happening twice, both times when I talked back extremely rudely to my mom—the one thing he could not stand. The spanking that ensued on those occasions was a very effective way to indicate that disrespect was one of the greatest offenses in our home. These punishments didn’t cure my impertinence, but you can bet I was more careful because I knew what made him mad.

While I admire how my parents raised me, I felt strange choosing to share this story because, in the church, we rarely value anger, especially God’s anger. However, the majority of Jeremiah’s prophecies warn about wrath and the punishment that all are headed for as they continue in rebellion. Anger, at its core, is the emotion that indicates what we are passionate about or wish to protect. From God’s reaction, we learn how He is fiercely passionate about His holiness and whether it is reflected by His creation. 

As believers, we often live in blissful ignorance of the offensiveness of our sins against God. Of course, we live by His grace because Jesus has already paid for every sin. However, to increase our appreciation for what Christ has done, today let’s take some time to think over our actions and whether they are in-line with our Father in Heaven. We should remember how holy and pure our God is and find ourselves still far from His perfection. And therefore, we can find ourselves more thankful and amazed by the love of Christ that would compel Him to take the Father’s wrath on our behalf.

Let’s not skip over the long passages about God’s anger as we keep reading Jeremiah but be reminded of God’s great mercy for believers. His fury against sin is justified and fearsome – but every punishment has already been paid on Christ. Today, let’s not take the shed blood of Christ lightly but rather rejoice and give thanks for His sacrifice!

Prayer: Father, I am in awe of Your holiness and amazed that You would send Your Son to atone for my sins. Make me humble to remember how Your anger was settled by Christ on my behalf. Give me a thankful, grateful spirit for Your love once more, and help me to live in freedom, now that all my debts are paid! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 21

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 1:5-10: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Questions to Consider

• Verse 6 says that if we walk in the darkness but claim to have fellowship with God, then we are lying. What does this mean? 
• John both exhorts us to walk in the light but also encourages us to admit that we have sins. How do we reconcile the two?
• Having observed that admitting sin and walking in the light are part and parcel, let’s set aside some time for confession and repentance—changing our walk so that it aligns with His.

Notes

• To “walk in darkness” would be impossible if we truly had fellowship with God, for a holy God cannot abide with unholy creatures. If we are closely joined with Him, then we would walk the path of holiness and purity with Him. Walking in the light is an action taken in faith that we have exchanged our old nature of darkness with the new nature of light through Christ. Purposely choosing to walk in darkness would be to reject the fullness of life that God has given us. 
• While the two sentiments seem to be at odds, the passage captures the ongoing process of sanctification, as we are perfect but still being made holy (Hebrews 10:14). Confession is an ongoing process of both recognizing our sin and wielding His power to walk in the light with Him. We may not walk in the light perfectly, but as we stay close to Him, we can walk in the light victoriously.
• Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

Has it occurred to you recently that an aspect of how you are living may grieve and trouble God? Let’s not take that revelation as condemnation, but quickly turn to Him to be reminded by the depth of unconditional forgiveness available to us. Let’s commit our steps tomorrow to Him so that we can live lives that please Him.

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on June 28, 2018, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Getting Rid of Pollution”

Matthew 21:12-14

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

God created the human body to be a miraculous mechanism, possessing the ability to self-regulate. One of its most important processes in self-regulation is its extraordinary ability to cleanse and detox itself. Without detoxing, the toxins in the body will get absorbed into the bloodstream, on setting pollution and damage. This would ultimately lead to death, if it is left unaddressed. Therefore, cleansing is a vital function for the body, which also is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19). It keeps us whole and able to have a vibrant, healthy life. This concept of cleansing is even more important when it comes to our spiritual state.  

In Matthew 21:12-14, we find that Jesus enters the Jerusalem Temple and finds it spiritually violated. Being that it was only a few days away from Passover, many people had pilgrimed into Jerusalem; and there at the Temple, business transactions of ungodly manners were taking place: buying and selling of goods (most likely for animals and items for sacrificing) for monetary greed as well as profitable exchanges of money. Jesus, angered by the corruption taking place in His Father’s house, drives out the evil and declares that God’s house “shall be called a house of prayer” (v.14). Jesus detoxes the Temple in order that it would be an honorable dwelling for the Heavenly Father.

 In this similar way, God wants to cleanse us of anything  that pollutes us, which may grieve the Holy Spirit who inhabits us. He needs us to cooperate with the cleansing process that He takes us through, whether it is by a moment of prayer or for a season through circumstances. His desire is to remove anything that is not in alignment with who He is, as a pure and holy God, and who we are, as His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). In this way, we would not grieve the Holy Spirit, but allow Him to resonate His magnificent glory through us. Cleansing is not a luxury but a necessity to a vibrant, healthy spiritual life that can host and enjoy the Lord’s presence in our lives.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are so good, and in Your goodness I have been made. Thank You for the joy in who I am and how You have made me. The work You do in my life is the process of bringing me more into the fullness of the new person that I am in Christ. I choose to celebrate and give You cooperation to Your lordship in my life!  Amen.

Bible Reading for today:  Ezekiel 20

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-34: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Questions to consider

1. What does it mean that God sanctifies us completely—our spirit, soul, and body?

2. Are there any parts of your soul that needs freedom in order for you to be able to cooperate with the Lord’s process?

3. When is the last time you have experienced the Lord’s faithfulness? Recollect and give thanks.

Notes

1. The lordship of Jesus needs to reign in every part of our being—that is, mind, emotions, will, and body. When we submit to this lordship, we are allowing the sanctifying work of God to take its course in our lives. By this, we would see more of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, manifesting through our nature, as well as being protected from the flaming arrows of the enemy. We are abiding in His will for us.

2. When we choose not to submit to the Lord, we choose self-lordship; and this opens the door for the enemy to have influence over our thoughts and choices. He comes to us in accusation, condemnation, senses of rejection, division, and rebellion. He wants us to agree with him, in order that we may invest our energy to dead works, rather than to works that bear righteousness and life.

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Evening Reflection

This morning we meditated on the importance of allowing God’s sanctifying process to take place in our lives. In the light of this reflection, did you embrace His process today rather than despise it?

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on April 25, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. He and his family are getting ready to leave for Thailand as missionaries with OMF.

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“The Savior Who Understands” 

Hebrews 4:15

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

One of the strongest ethos of Western society is the self-made person. We are trained to think that if we just work hard, educate ourselves and persevere, we will overcome any obstacles and achieve success. I, of course, am no exception. Yet, many of us live unaware of how our decisions are undoubtedly influenced by others. The explicit or subliminal messages you received from those who have gone before you in your family, church, school or workplace affect the “big-picture” decisions in your relationships, ministries, education and career. Even the most trivial of choices, such as where to eat or what movie to watch, can be made through consulting reviewers on Yelp or Rotten Tomatoes.  As human beings, we innately trust someone who has been where we want to go.

Thus, one of the most beautiful doctrines of the Christian faith is the truth of the incarnation. The reality of God in man, the Word became flesh (John 1:14), implies that the troubles we have overcome, experience daily or will eventually face, are not lost upon our Savior. Today, some of us may be enduring a season of physical pain or chronic disabilities that have inhibited us for much of life. Or maybe you are going through the pain of betrayal or the despair of loneliness. As Hebrews 4:15 notes, “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin”. Therefore, the full range of human experience was available to Jesus and He empathizes with our current situations by providing His mercy and grace.  

For the remainder of this week, we will be exploring how Jesus endured the pain of slander, physical torture and abandonment on the road to the cross. My prayer is that through this week, we would more fully believe that no matter what we are going through, Jesus can meet us there. For those of us who seek someone to simply say “I understand,” may we find our comfort in the only person who can claim that for all humanity.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You humbled yourself by taking the nature of a servant, becoming God in man. Thank You that You are familiar with the troubles of this world, including those I face today. Help me to find strength and take heart in You, for You have overcome the world. In Your Name I pray, Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 19

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Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:14-16: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Questions to Consider

• How is Jesus able to empathize with our weaknesses? 
• How does this fact allow us to approach his throne of grace with confidence?

3.  What specifically do you need to approach the throne of grace for? 

Note

• Jesus lived a full human life during his time on earth. He experienced the reality of the 

human flesh through hunger, fatigue and physical pain. He involved himself in relationships with his family, friends and disciples and experienced the highs and lows of such bonds. 

2. Jesus experienced all these things but yet was not found with sin. We can be confident in approaching Him because, first, he will not be unsympathetic when we share our burdens with Him, and second, through Him, we have the power to overcome such obstacles.

3. Personal response

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Evening Reflection

How was Jesus able to meet you today? Spend time thanking Him for providing what you needed when you needed. If you didn’t feel His presence today, ask that He would provide greater awareness and sensitivity. 

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 24, 2018, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is currently planting a church in Tokyo. Please pray for this work.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“A Righteous Branch”

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (ESV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV):

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

Questions to Consider

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

Notes

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

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Evening Reflection

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

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 28, 2018, is provided by Pastor Joshua Kim. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University, Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and Talbot Theological Seminary (Th.M.), is the Lead Pastor of Upper Room Seattle church.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Religion of Just Fulfilling Obligations”

Jeremiah 7:1-7

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the Lord!’” 3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ 5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

Growing up in Salt Lake City, UT, I had the unique experience of getting to know Mormons in close proximity. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met. But many of my friends who grew up in the Mormon church participated simply because that’s what they were supposed to do. I was talking to a high school friend of mine who was getting ready to go on his 2-year mission trip with the LDS church. I was curious because I knew his negative feelings toward the religion he grew up in, which showed in his lifestyle choices. But despite these feelings, he told me, “I don’t know if I really believe in this stuff, but this is what I’m supposed to do.”

We see this dynamic in todays’ passage. One of the central representations of the Hebrew faith was the temple. It was symbolic of God’s presence amongst the people. So when we consider Jeremiah’s prophetic act of standing at the gate of the Lord’s house, physically blocking people from entering the temple, this is a huge deal: he is literally blocking the people from God’s presence. This physical act embodied the judgment of God upon the people.

God wanted to address the attitude of the people who felt safe/justified/righteous/etc. simply because of their practice of coming to the temple and offering their worship and sacrifices. We know from verses 5-7, their lives beyond the temple did not reflect the kind of reverence they may have displayed within the temple courts. In other words, just like my high school friend, their faith was mere token ritual, limited to certain part of their life. It did not transform their hearts, which showed in their lifestyle. And God would not allow this to continue. 

How about us today? If we were to be honest, we have or can remember moments where our thoughts were uncomfortably similar to my friend or even the people in this passage. We are reminded in this passage that our relationship with God is not merely satisfying certain procedures. It is not about fulfilling quotas or checklists. It is a vibrant, love relationship with the Most High God that cannot but transform the way we live. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that You first pursued a deep relationship with us. You did not create us to practice empty religion; you created us to enjoy and experience Your love in ways that bring You glory. Forgive us for those moments where it simply becomes about the physical, religious acts, and change us in ways that only Your love can. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 17

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Lunch Break Study

Read James 2.14-26: What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Questions to Consider

• What is the passage saying in terms of the relationship between works and faith? How might this be different from how we often understand these two things?
• To be clear, what is the passage not saying when it comes to work and faith (specifically in regards to salvation)?
• Take a moment to reflect: in light of this passage, how should we pray for ourselves?

Notes

1. Especially if you pay attention to how the passage is translated, James in verse 18 makes clear that faith is shown BY works. Oftentimes, it is tempting for us to separate the two, especially because of what we will address in question 2. True faith will always lead to righteous works because true faith is transformative. We cannot remain the same when we have a relationship with God in faith. 

2. What we must be careful is that this passage does not suggest that we earn our faith or salvation through works. This is not a prooftext of work-based salvation. It’s perhaps this reason that we tend to shy away from what James wants to get at: our faith must reveal itself in our works. 

3. Personal reflection. Perhaps some of the things you can pray is for courage to live out your life in such a way that reflect who you believe God to be and what He has done for you. Perhaps others, God is calling you to check your busyness in serving or your “works” that might be overshadowing a truth faith relationship with Him. 

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Evening Reflection

Taking the last question from today’s lunch study, pray those things over yourself as you end the day. Pray as one who believes our God truly wants an intimate relationship with us; that God can and will transform us. Don’t forget to take a moment to allow Him to respond. Listen for His voice.