The AMI QT Devotionals from December 17 to 24 are provided by Pastor Yohan Lee of Remnant Church, New York City. Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology. He is married to Mandie, and they have four adorable children.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
Give me a Break
Genesis 29:31
When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
My wife and I recently purchased our first home. I don’t know if it’s always like this, but I feel like our home buying process was not the most civil affair—the seller and I fought over everything, from the price of the house, to repairs, to appliances, etc. To make matters worse, during the final walk through on the day of closing, we noticed that this guy switched out the washing machine, claiming that the one that was supposed to come with the house broke. Who does this?!?! What a childishly crooked thing to do!!! I didn’t believe it then—and I still don’t— but in the end, I wasn’t going to let my family go homeless over a washing machine. So I just kind of seethed internally for a while.
Fast-forward a couple of weeks, as we are meeting families in our new town, we catch wind that the house sellers are now living with their parents (small town gossip). My wife and I start to feel bad because we assume that these people are getting a divorce, or someone lost a job, or are experiencing some other financial hardship. Well, instead of bad-mouthing these guys as crooks, I start thinking things like, Wow, I’m such a jerk. Maybe these guys needed the money more than I do. And I don’t know how serious I was, but I found myself saying things like this, “If I’d have known these guys were in a financial crunch, I would have given them the dryer too.” Again, I’m pretty cheap, so I don’t know how earnest that comment was.
If you’re familiar with the story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, you know what is going to happen in chapter 30… a soap opera style baby-making contest. What might surprise you is that God played a critical role in this drama. He is the one who opened Leah’s womb, and by implication closed Rachel’s for a season (see also 30:2). Now, before you go jumping to the conclusion that God caused all the drama in Jacob’s house for fun, look what the Bible says about His intention: He opened Leah’s womb because she was so hated. Did you get that? All this drama came because God was showing compassion to Leah since she was hated.
So many times we see bad situations from only our side of the struggle, and we jump to the conclusion that God is punishing us or something worse. But perhaps what we don’t ever think about is that there maybe someone on the other side of the equation who just needs a break more than you do, and maybe God knows that you’ll bounce back. Perhaps that guy who got the promotion, which you felt like you deserved, has six kids at home, or maybe he is a crisis in his life, or just needs something to go right for him—only God knows. In the end, we have to believe that God’s sovereignty reigns, and He has a purpose for everything.
Prayer: Lord, give me perspective to see other people’s needs, even when mine seem so pressing. In times when I don’t see, give me grace and patience to submit to Your ways. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: 1 Corinthians 2
Lunch Break Study
Read 2 Peter 3:8-10: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
Questions to Consider
- Based on the passage, what were the first century Christians waiting for?
- What does Peter give as God’s rationale for delaying?
- Honestly, how do you react when the Lord shows kindness to people who don’t “deserve” it?
Notes
- From v. 10 (and vv. 1-7), it seems that many first century Christians were eagerly awaiting for the Lord’s return, likely because they were facing trials in their faith.
- The Lord has not returned because He is showing His mercy; He is waiting for sinner to repent and believe.
- Hopefully, you respond by rejoicing, but, of course, this is a personal question.
Evening Reflection
Today’s theme was perspective—more specifically, seeing things from other people’s perspective. Is there someone you’ve had a hard time forgiving? Have you tried to look at life through his/her eyes? Where is God leading you in this matter?
I’m going to break one of the fundamental principles of hermeneutics for this morning’s devotional—the principle that if it’s not in the text, don’t make stuff up! That being said, am I the only one who has a hard time believing that Jacob didn’t realize that Laban had pulled the old bait and switch on him during his wedding night? Yes, I know they didn’t have electricity back then, but how dark was it in their tent? Pitch black—like 100 feet deep in a cave kind of darkness? I know times were different then, so I don’t expect Jacob to get all Song of Songs romantic, but didn’t he even say “Hi” to her that night or any kind of conversation beforehand? What kind of a “pig” doesn’t even talk to his wife on their wedding night? Without getting too graphic, wouldn’t you expect a bride who was about to consummate her wedding to at least take off her veil, and even if she didn’t, wouldn’t Jacob have been able to tell that this woman did not have strong eyes, that she clearly had “weak eyes”? What’s the point of mentioning her eyes (v. 17), if they don’t help you tell the difference between Leah and her sister?
When it comes to time, I think we all understand that old saying, “The days are long but the years are short.” When we look back, doesn’t it seem like your time in school, dating your wife, your kid’s childhood, your 20’s (30’s or 40’s), time you had with your parents, etc., just whizzed by? But when you look ahead, don’t things like finishing school, getting married, raising kids, retirement, seem like a never ending series of never ending days? This is why I don’t get how in v. 20, it says that Jacob’s love for Rachel made seven long years (2,555 days, not counting leap year) of labor feel like just a “few days.” When I was waiting to get married, there was only about a six month gap between my engagement and wedding—that time felt like forever to me! But perhaps Jacob—that heel-grasping deceiver—was more patient and more loving than I?
Today’s AMI Devotional QT is provided by Jasmin Izumikawa. She is a member of the Church of Southland and is currently a high school teacher. She has lived the miracle of healing through the prayers of her AMI church family through her battle with lymphoma.
There are times when everything looks very grim to me—so withered and dead that I have to remind myself what the garden looked like during the peak seasons. In the winter, we see very little growth, but to have a thriving garden in the spring and summer, it is necessary to wait with hope. When we see no bud of growth, we trust knowing what it will become, for a garden is built from hope. This empty lot of soil will be full of blue Hyacinth and yellow Ranunculus in the Spring, and in the warm summer, full of heirloom tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. In my waiting, that is what I hope for.
We are still facing the old power structures of the past—of powerful men using their positions to manipulate those who are vulnerable to do their bidding. This has been a story that has been perpetuated from generation to generation. It is the story of sin.
If you rushed through the verses above, take a moment to go back and read them once more (consider reading them aloud). What an amazing promise! We serve an awesome God who makes incredible promises to His people—promises of provision, prosperity, posterity, protection, and presence (His very presence with His people). What more could we ask for?
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Jonathan Cho. Jonathan recently graduated from Emory University in 2017. He currently serves as an intern at Journey Church of Atlanta and specifically works with the college leaders of the church.
A friend once asked me, “Who did you make happy today? Why did you make them happy?” As I attempted a response, I realized it quickly became a list of who I want to please. When I got to the second question, I realized just how much their opinion of me shaped and defined my principles and values. I found myself stuck in the same cycle of the family in this passage.
“Build your ark, the flood is coming.” That’s what I constantly heard in prayer during junior year of college. Little did I know that my family doesn’t look much different from Isaac’s. I saw my family as a typical Chinese-American family where we all be independent, only talking when the topic was money or grades. It wasn’t great, but I was comfortable. Then, my mother called saying that my father was having an affair for two years. I was shaken. I had just raised my head above the flood waters of my depression and now this. I couldn’t understand what God’s plan was, but God showed me that He could redeem human failure and paint a glorious picture. It wasn’t ideal, but for the first time, I was able to talk to my parents honestly. I opened up to my mother and counseled her through the story of God’s faithfulness in my depression. I was upset with my father, but I saw that the brokenness he exhibited is the same depravity God saves all of us from.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Jennifer Kim. Jennifer, a graduate of Boston University, spent a year in Shanghai as one-year intern from 2013-14. She is currently serving as a staff at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey), while attending Alliance Theological Seminary.
I have a vivid memory of when I was six years old, being filled with so much pain and confusion as I saw my dad leave on a cab headed to the airport. My parents had made the decision to open up a new branch of their business in Brazil in hopes of fulfilling the American dream for their kids, while my mom continued to run their business in New York and taking care of my ten-year-old brother and myself. Looking back, my parents could never have imagined the cost of their decision: a family divided for over two decades with consequences that our family is still overcoming.
The AMI QT Devotional for today is written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church. Andrew is currently studying (M.Div.) at Fuller Theological Seminary. He and Jessie were married in 2014.
In today’s passage, we see the beginning of a story marked by deception and lies. As Isaac senses the nearness of his own death (although he would live for another 30-40 years), he feels the need to finish up some family business before he passes. However, the fact that the author of Genesis points out Jacob’s blindness is a hint on how the rest of the story will unfold. He plans on passing down the patriarchal blessing to Esau in exchange for a delicious meal. This seems to signify two things: First, it is comical in one sense to exchange the father’s blessing for a single meal. It seems as though Isaac does not understand the value of what he is passing on. Second, Isaac is apparently blind to the fact that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob in exchange for a meal. The irony of this situation is easily seen. And this is only the beginning of a chapter which exposes the brokenness of all the characters involved.