June 12, Thursday

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

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.

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?

June 11, Wednesday

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

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

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.

June 10, Tuesday

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

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!

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.

June 9, Monday

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

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.

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.

June 8, Sunday

Today’s devotional, first posted on March 18, 2018, is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

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 passed away and proceeded to heaven. At the pearly gates, his guardian angel met him, ready to escort him to his heavenly abode—the place prepared by Christ (John 14:1-3). As they walked, the pastor spotted the church janitor who had died a few months earlier. He marveled at the grandeur of the janitor’s mansion and thought, “Wow, if his heavenly home looks like that, then surely mine must be even bigger and more splendid!”

A little further along, the pastor encountered the elderly widow from the church, who had passed away just weeks earlier. Next to her stood an even more stunning mansion. Again, the pastor thought, “If this woman—all she ever did was cook and clean for the church—received such a magnificent reward for her faithfulness, then surely mine must be far greater!”

Filled with eager anticipation, the pastor pressed on, only to be stopped by the angel. “Here is your home,” the angel said. The pastor looked around, puzzled. “What do you mean? I don’t see anything,” he replied. “Look down,” the angel instructed. The pastor’s eyes fell upon a small house that resembled a doghouse. Shocked, he exclaimed, “How can this be?! The janitor and the cook of our church received huge mansions, yet the pastor—me—gets only a doghouse?” The angel calmly responded, “Well, Pastor, we wanted to build you a bigger and nicer mansion, but you didn’t send us any supplies. So, we did the best we could with what little you sent.”

I first heard this story many years ago and wrote it down as best as I could remember. It’s a humorous yet thought-provoking tale that raises an important question: What does it mean to send materials to heaven now, so that Christ can use them to build our eternal home? These materials, of course, represent the rewards we store up in heaven—“God . . . rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

This naturally leads to another question: Whether rich or poor, whether holding a high position in the church or none at all, are you laying up treasures on earth or in heaven? Jesus instructs us: “Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). And what does that mean? It means investing whatever wealth we have—whether large or small—in God’s work, so that many may come to believe and later thank us in heaven for what we did.

Now that is a mansion worth striving for! So, let’s become long-term investors in eternity.

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: Ezekiel 16

June 7, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on October 6, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian. Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is the Lead Pastor of Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Good Intentions”

Jeremiah 42:5-6

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us. 6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”

I have good intentions all the time: Several times a week, I intend to exercise; I have good intentions to eat healthy; and, as my wife can attest, I even have good intentions to do the dishes, pick up the clothes that I leave on the floor, and clear off my occasionally messy desk. Every January, we all have good intentions to get physically fit, become financially stable, and grow in our relationship with God.

In Jeremiah 42, the people of Israel come to Jeremiah with really good intentions. They proclaim to the prophet, in verse 6, “Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God.” Considering the desperate situation that the Israelites were in, this declaration sounds sincere, and it is filled with good intentions.

There’s a problem with good intentions, though. Good intentions don’t mean as much as we think they do. There is a big difference between intending to do something and actually doing what is intended. Though I may have intentions to exercise, eat better, and to clean, but if I don’t follow through, I don’t get credit (especially from my wife) or benefit from just having thought about doing them. In the end, my unfulfilled good intentions are meaningless. And unfortunately, the same went for the Israelites. They declared their good intentions in this passage, but in the next chapter, we discover that those good intentions were not followed through with obedience.

Having sincere intentions to follow Jesus is a great place to start, but in order for us to experience the full benefits and blessings, we need to trust Him with our lives and live out our faith through obedience. Following Jesus is not merely an internal decision or an intellectual agreement with doctrine, but a lifetime of discipleship: walking with Him, taking daily steps of obedience, and bearing fruit for Him. Let’s not mistake our sincere intentions for a growing relationship with God: John 14:23 says, “If any one loves me… he will obey my teaching….” And let us be a people who resolve to live our lives in obedience, with the help of the Holy Spirit, no matter the sacrifice!

Prayer: God, I pray that I will be a follower of You today. I have thoughts about who You are and what You’re calling me to do; so today, I pray that Your Spirit will help me to walk in faith, trusting You with my life. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 14-15

June 6, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 12, 2018, is provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, who serves in E. Asia as a missionary, is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“Make some Adjustments”

Jeremiah 44:11-14

“Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster on you and to destroy all Judah. 12 I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach. 13 I will punish those who live in Egypt with the sword, famine and plague, as I punished Jerusalem. 14 None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.”

Dieting is difficult since it requires many adjustments to our lifestyles such as: needing to workout, regulating how much food we eat, and even getting the right amount of sleep. While it may sound straightforward, these adjustments are difficult to make, especially when we are too tired, or facing a choice between kale or pizza. But, without making these adjustments, we will never achieve our goal of shedding those unwanted pounds.

In today’s passage, the Jews in Egypt find themselves facing a similar but much more consequential situation. The LORD tells them to “adjust” (read, change) their hearts and return to Judah so that they would not suffer His judgement. Jeremiah warns that God will punish them with the sword, famine, and the plague. So severe is the punishment that not one remnant of Judah will be able to return to Judah with the exception of a few fugitives.

While the sword, famine, and the plague are disastrous, one more punishment that stands out to me is found in verse 12. Jeremiah says, “They will become a curse and an object of horror.” In what sense is this a severe punishment? If you remember in Genesis 12:2-3, God says to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” As evidenced here, God’s purpose for having chosen the Israelites is so that other nations may come to know Him through them. However, because the Jews in Egypt disobeyed the Lord, refusing to adjust their attitudes and follow the Lord, they were about to be removed from fulfilling this purpose. Instead of becoming a blessing to other nations, their disobedience caused them to become a curse and an object of reproach to other nations.

Like the Jews in Egypt, our disobedience can also sidetrack us from fulfilling God’s purpose. To keep this from happening, we must adjust (change) our thoughts and actions to obey Him. Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, says, “When God speaks to you to reveal what He is about to do, that revelation is your invitation to adjust your life to Him. Your faith will be most clearly demonstrated by your actions.” These adjustments can be painful and challenging, but necessary. Remember, when we refuse to adjust, it hinders us from being in God’s purpose.

While this is not easy (much harder than passing up chocolate pie), let us learn how to adjust our thoughts, attitudes, and actions to be in God’s purposes.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You have a purpose for me on this earth. If there is anything in my life that hinders me from fulfilling this purpose, give me strength to make the necessary adjustments. I know that it will be uncomfortable, but it is necessary for spiritual growth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 19:1-10: Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Questions to Consider

Why were people surprised that Jesus wanted to eat at Zacchaeus’ house?
What adjustment did Zacchaeus make? What was the result of the adjustment?
Based on this, how would define repentance?

Notes

The people were surprised because Zacchaeus was a tax collector. In those days, tax collectors were deemed as greedy turncoats who allied themselves with the hated Romans. So, since they were considered “unclean”, a good Jew would not enter their home. Because Jesus was a rabbi, for him to willingly enter a tax-collector’s home was a shock to many.

When Jesus told Zacchaeus his willingness to go to his house, this sinner adjusted his attitude by way of repentance. Thus, he promised to give half of his possessions to the poor, and return four times the amount to those he cheated. As a result, salvation had come into the heart of Zacchaeus (through this faith in Christ).
Repentance is more than changing one’s opinion about Christ (as some teach); it is having the intent and desire to turn from sin. It may or may not happen right away, but through the sanctification process (of the Spirit and word), we ought to and will change.

Evening Reflection

Based on this morning’s devotion, what are some adjustments you feel that God is calling you to make? What are some things that are hindering you from making those adjustments? Take some time to ask the Lord to help you overcome these hindrances.

June 5, Thursday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 26, 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

“Speak the Word”

Jeremiah 23:16-17, 28-32 (ESV)

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. [17] They say continually to those who despise the word of the LORD, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’” [28] Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. [29] Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? [30] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. [31] Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the LORD.’ [32] Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

Let’s say a well-meaning friend tells you that the latest health craze involves drinking bleach. They have read many blogs and heard many testimonials regarding the health benefits of bleach. This friend loves you and is completely sincere. Their heart is “in the right place,” but their advice will kill you.

In the days of Jeremiah, there are many well-meaning prophets who are sharing their dreams and their words from the Lord. They are declaring God’s love and salvation, but they have not been sent by the Lord. Though their message sounds right, they are not declaring God’s Word but their own imaginations.

These prophets, condemned by the Lord, appear to be compassionate, but they are leading God’s people toward death and destruction. They declare peace and blessing on a people who despise God’s Word and follow their own hearts. These words can only harden the people’s hearts and prevent them from repenting and receiving forgiveness and life.

We, too, can speak well-meaning, soothing words that mislead people into thinking God’s love allows them to remain in their sin. A world destined for judgment needs more than a Christianized version of worldly wisdom. With eternal life and death in the balance, we must declare something different than what a nonbeliever might share or agree with.

The ugliness of sin and the wrath of God are not polite topics of conversation, but love compels us to speak with the heart of God and plead that as many as possible would turn from their rebellion and be saved.

May God grant us compassion, courage, and opportunity to speak the full gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Father, I thank You that You tell us the truth that we might be saved and given eternal life in Your Son. Forgive me that I am often tempted to speak spiritual sounding lies to myself and to others. Thank You that when we hear the truth and turn to You, You are faithful to pour out Your grace. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 3:14–15, 19-20 (ESV): But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, [15] and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses…[19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…

Questions to Consider

What does Peter claim his hearers have done?
What response does Peter aim for in his preaching?
What is the fruit of such a response?

Notes

They have denied God and killed Him.
Peter hopes to lead his hearers into repentance, that they might turn from their sins.
If the people repent, God will blot out their sins and bring times of refreshing! Peter does not intend to guilt or curse the people but to bring God’s blessing to them.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day. Was there a moment when God gave you courage to speak the truth about Him? Was there a moment you were tempted to avoid or downplay the truth of God’s Word? If necessary, confess your fear of man and receive the forgiveness and refreshment of God. Ask for compassion and faith to declare the gospel when God opens doors for you to do so.

June 4, Wednesday

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional, first posted on August 8, 2018, is provided by Pastor Doug Tritton. Doug has been pastoring Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia since 2021.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Yoked Part 3 – The Yoke of Lies”

Jeremiah 27:9-11

“So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. 11 But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the Lord.”

When I graduated from college, I bought my first car. The dealership offered a warranty plan—and they assured me it was worth it—where I was guaranteed my money back on the warranty if no issues ever arose with the car after five years. In my naïveté, I bought the warranty; and five years later, having had no issues, I brought all my paperwork back to the dealership, and they said they’d be sending a check in 6-8 weeks. Eight weeks went by and no check. When I returned to the dealership, they said there must have been an issue, reassuring me a check was on its way. Time went by, still no check. I kept going back and kept being given false promises, so I eventually gave up. Sadly, I was duped by a lie.

Though that is a more extreme example, we are often led astray by various lies the world throws our way: promises of happiness with certain products, promises of success with certain programs, or promises of comfort with certain vacations. Lies surround us, telling us we need to be influenced by this or that. These lies want to yoke us to something and thus influence us.

This was what was happening to the people in Jeremiah’s day. False prophets were going around selling a message of peace and comfort, a message of false hope. But the Lord saw through the lies of these prophets and told Jeremiah to warn the people about these lies. Only the Lord knew that truth, for His yoke is best. The other yokes were all lies.

Many of these lies in the world are external, but there are also internal lies we hear from our thoughts or even from the enemy. These lies tell us we are not good enough, we need to work harder or to get this or that job, we need to have the best Facebook pictures or Instagram posts, or we are incomplete without this or that person in our lives. These lies trap us and give us false promises, resulting in anxiety and hopelessness.

Just as the Lord said to the people in Jeremiah, He says to us as well: “Don’t listen to those lies!” Let’s listen to the Lord, for He knows best, as we talked about yesterday. It’s His yoke we need and nothing else, for He is our Good Shepherd.

Prayer: Lord, help me to discern the lies that I hear in the world and in my mind. Help me to hear Your voice, since You are my Shepherd who calls me by name. May I hear You and follow You, while ignoring all other voices and lies. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 11

Lunch Break Study

Read John 10:1-5: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Questions to Consider

Who are the thieves and robbers?
How do the sheep know to follow the Shepherd?
Are you able to hear the voice of the Shepherd?

Notes

They are those who do not enter the sheepfold by the door. These false prophets use lies to get ahead, and they try to take advantage of the sheep for their own purposes. They are not true shepherds. These are the yokes of lies we need to avoid.
They know His voice! This is a great promise for us. We have a God who speaks to us personally, who guides us in His ways. He searches our hearts, leads us away from grievous ways, leads us toward what we need, and restores our souls. He cares for us. This Shepherd is Jesus and He can be trusted, for He knows us and we know His voice.
Hearing God’s voice is an important part of the Christian life. The Bible is full of promises, like in this passage about us being able to hear God’s voice. Today, try listening for His voice. He is faithful and He speaks to us!

Evening Reflection

Tonight, as you go to sleep, take time to quiet your soul. Our minds are often filled with lots of voices – the voices of bosses, friends, and family. Take time to surrender those voices and listen for God’s voice above it all.

June 3, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on July 9, 2018, is written by Tina Pham who, along with her family, is serving in E. Asia as a missionary. Tina is a graduate of Biola University (BA) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Broken Beyond Repair”

Jeremiah 19:1-3

Thus says the Lord, “Go and buy a potter’s earthenware jar, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests. Then go out to the valley of Ben-hinnom, which is by the entrance of the potsherd gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold I am about to bring a calamity upon this place, at which the ears of everyone that hears of it will tingle.

When I was a little girl, I checked out some of my mom’s expensive glassware that she had stored in a cabinet. I thought I was careful with handling glass, but I still managed to shatter one glass right in front her eyes. I had broken a lot things as a curious young girl, but this one I knew was beyond repair and no longer usable. Its shattered pieces could only be swept and thrown away. In this morning’s passage, the prophet is told to purchase a clay jar, only to break it in front of Judah’s leaders (19:10) at the valley of Ben-hinnom, as a symbolic message to the nation of the Lord’s impending judgment, for they had remained stubborn and unrepentant after many warnings. Proverbs 29:1 says, “Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed–without remedy.” In speaking of Judah’s soon-to-happen exile to Babylon, Jeremiah’s prophetic act conveys that it will be a calamity in that God’s people will be “broken,” as one breaks the potter’s clay jar and throws it into the dump.

By standing at the valley of Ben-hinnom, a location that had at that time become the “dump area” of the city, Jeremiah brings the jar there to illustrate that Judah’s exile is likened to a dishonorable vessel that the Lord is removing in His justice and righteousness. Even though this message will cause people’s ears to shudder, it provides the chance for people to hear the call to repent and to become the people who would persevere through the exile in order to rebuild Jerusalem later. The news of calamity serves the higher purpose of pointing to God as Israel’s hope. Their brokenness is beyond repair from the earthly perspective, but God can indeed restore the brokenness of Judah, as the prophet Amos declares, “In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins—and will rebuild it as it used to be” (Amos 9:11).

Have you lost hope in an area of your life, or do you consider anything as “beyond repair”? Allow the Holy Spirit to encourage you with hope this morning that He can indeed provide restoration and newness in the area that seems beyond repair.

Prayer: Dear Father, You are righteous and just. I confess that in the ways that I have dishonored You, I taste the consequences of my sinful ways. Yet, thank You that I can fully hope in You to restore and redeem me. Make me to be like a jar of clay that allows Your glory and power to transform me and to dwell inside of me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:19-21: Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Questions to Consider

(1) In writing to Timothy, what is Apostle Paul’s purpose in this message?

(2) What is the importance of the statement, or seal, “The Lord knows those who are His”?

(3) How have you considered becoming “a vessel of honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work?”

Notes

(1) The background noise to Timothy’s ministry was that there were numerous false teachers who have indulged themselves in quarrels over words (2:14), godless chatter (2:16), and whose false teachings (i.e. the denial of resurrection) have spread fast—destroying the faith of some people (2:18). These teachers’ works were dishonoring to God and unfortunately had “spread like gangrene” (2:17). Therefore, Paul instructs Timothy to “present yourself to God as one approved” (2:15) and to consider the type of vessel he ought to become so that his work is honoring to God.

(2) In the time period and place that Timothy was ministering, there were influential false teachers among teachers who correctly handled the word of truth. Though the influence of false teachers seemed out of control and many of them claimed to be teachers of the Law and appeared to have authority and influence, Paul affirms that “the Lord knows those who are His.” And only the teachings that stand upon the firm foundation of God will stand.

(3) Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Psalm 130:7-8: Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.