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
“Time Flies…”
Genesis 29:15-20
Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16 Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
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?
Here’s my point: many of us know how to invest long periods of time into things we deem important—such as school, a training program, or that horrible job! Unfortunately, when it comes to spiritual matters, character, or ministry, we’ve become immediate-gratification Christians. For example, if I were to give you a regimen that would help you either overcome an addiction, grow in a particular area, or grow a ministry, but it would take seven years before you saw lasting fruit, would you take it, or, does seven years seem too long? Most of us probably wouldn’t, figuring we can accomplish our desired goals in a fraction of that time. But this morning, let me remind you, for the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day (2 Peter 3:8). Many of the important things in life—like godliness, character, and wisdom—are going be lifetime investments. When we just accept that, then we can learn how to enjoy the process.
This morning, think about some spiritual things you’ve always wanted to accomplish but seemed too difficult or too time consuming: such as becoming a real Bible scholar, having a deep prayer life, becoming a small group leader, growing in a ministry skill, or memorizing the New Testament. Let’s not get discouraged because expertise won’t happen in a week, but let’s enjoy the investment and the time it takes to know and walk with our Lord. And trust me, He is changing you through the process!
Prayer: Lord, I have always wanted to do ________ . Please give me strength and perseverance to start this venture with You today. Help me to see You working in my life through the process. And thank You that You are the one who began a good work in me and will carry it through to completion until the day of our Lord. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 52
Lunch Break Study
Psalm 90 (Read the entire Psalm; only portions are provided): Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night… 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
Questions to Consider
- What do we learn about God’s nature from this Psalm?
- What do we learn about the nature of man from this Psalm?
- What was the psalmist’s request (vv. 16-17), and how does that serve as a model for us?
Notes
- God is eternal and exists outside of time. Before the universe existed, He was there. He currently exists in the past, present, and future, and therefore always have perfect perspective.
- Compared to God, our span is insignificant, and our vision and understanding are limited.
- The psalmist asked for two things: First, he wanted people to see get awestruck by God’s eternal power, and then he asked that the work of His hands be established forever—in other words, an eternal legacy.
Evening Reflection
Today’s theme was time. On one hand, we do have time, so we need to be willing to take time to invest in the things of the Kingdom. On the other hand, because our time is brief, we need to be willing to take time to invest in Kingdom things. This evening take some time and ask God to show you what you should be investing in.
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.
The AMI QT Devotionals from December 4-10 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.) currently serves as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco. And this past November Andy got married… to Jane. Congratulations.
After a few years of working in corporate America, I felt the Lord calling me to pursue full-time ministry. The conversation I had with my boss would be one to remember. To provide some context, my boss was a devout Hindu who knew I was a Christian—way too devoted to church work. That day, I stepped into her office and gave her my resignation, explaining that I wanted to pursue full- time ministry. After much disbelief and negotiation, she allowed me to work on a flex schedule that gave me enough time to focus on ministry. But more than these benefits, it was her passing remark that I cherished: She said, “Andrew, you put out good work. But more than that, I feel like having you on my team means I have God on my team.” She joked saying that she wanted all the extra good karma possible, but even if it was a joke it meant everything to me.
Moving is stressful because it means finding a place to live in a crazy housing market, adjusting to different cultures, and embracing a new community. In the midst of this chaos, what we deem as non-negotiable keeps us sane: For some it’s an in-unit washer/dryer; the school district; bathroom water pressure; the type of people; nearby friends; etc. The general rule of thumb is that if you can secure what is non-negotiable to you, then you should sign the papers—or else you might lose it. And in the Mosaic period, the most important non-negotiable was a source of water.