October 10, Tuesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from October 9-15 are provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego. Peter is a graduate of U.C. Riverside and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.). He and his wife Jessica have three very active children: Nathan, Abigail, and Jason.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Building in Vain”

Genesis 11:4

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

Do you know the nickname of the city where you live? Mine is named, “America’s finest city.” If you don’t know your city’s nickname, perhaps you can find it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_city_nicknames_in_the_United_States.

Many cities in the US are given nicknames that reveal their civic identities. These nicknames can sometimes provide a sense of community for its residents as well as a sense of civic pride. I do sense a bit of pride about my city having its nickname. Does your city’s nickname give you a sense of pride?

Well, the ancient people also wanted a city with a proud nickname. They congregated together and said to themselves, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens.” The ancient people actually believed that heavens were not too far above the earth. They believed that if only they could build a tower to the sky, they would be allowed to climb up and be like gods themselves.

The story of the Tower of Babel is unfortunately another story of man’s rebellion against the Creator. The story shows an obvious difference between the human opinion of self-achievement versus God’s viewpoint of such activities. In God’s perspective, all human cooperation when it is fueled by autonomy and directed towards self-interest is shallow and impotent. (Mathews, NAC: Genesis)

That can also be said of our lives. We might choose to live a life of autonomy from our God aimed at promoting our name, but it is precisely this life that comes to a crashing devastation. Jesus once asked: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”

Is the life you’ve been given one that is lived in autonomy, or is it lived in an on-going dependence on God? Can a person close to you observe your life and know that you live for God or live for yourself?

If you were a city, what would be your nickname?

Prayer: Lord, I depend on Your Spirit to fill me and guide me today. I ask you even for my “daily bread” knowing that You are my Provider. Help me to live a life that glorifies and magnifies Your name more than any other name on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 66

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 127:1-2 (NIV)
Unless the LORD builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
2 In vain you rise early and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Questions to Consider

Think about the phrase “in vain,” which is repeatedly used in these passages. Why does the psalmist come to this conclusion that unless the Lord is involved, your efforts end “in vain”?
Substitute the word “house” with “family.” In what ways is the Lord building your family? Or substitute the word “city” with “children.” In what ways do you ask the Lord to stand watch over your children?

Notes

All help, all protection, and all blessing come from God; without Him all labor, care, and trouble are vain.
In providing care for children as parents, it is easy to assume that we know what’s best or that we are in control. While it is important to care and provide for our children, the Lord directs us to teach His commands to our children as the most important work as parents.

Evening Reflection

What area of your life still remains autonomous from the Lord? Consider how you can yield that area of your life to the Lord.

October 9, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Jude 3-4

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Churches are filled with many young impressionable believers that can make discipleship exciting. However, at times, it’s unfortunate when someone in the church twists God’s grace into a license to sin. It is true that no person is required to observe the OT Law as a means for salvation; the gospel of Jesus Christ is that Heaven is absolutely a free gift; and no church attendance or offering money is at all required for salvation. This is because when Jesus died on the cross, He fulfilled the OT Law (Rom. 10:4; Gal. 3:23-25). However, the unbiblical conclusion is that there’s nothing that God expects of Christians in terms of a disciplined life in God’s Spirit, and some begin to think, “If I’m saved by grace and all of my sins, past, present, and future, are forgiven, why not sin all I want?”

Do you at times hold to that line of thinking? After many failed attempts to live a holy life, we develop a calloused “so-what” attitude towards sin. However, that thinking is not the fruit of a genuine relationship with God. God’s desire is that we become increasingly more like His Son. Though we can’t do it on our own, God’s grace and His Spirit helps us in our weaknesses as we strive towards holiness. Since God has given us His precious gift of salvation through Jesus, our response is to obey Him out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us (Rom. 12:1-2).

Are there areas in your life where you are twisting the idea of God’s grace?

Prayer: Lord, your grace is truly precious. Thank you that you required nothing from me in receiving your salvation. But now that I’ve been saved, teach me daily to give you everything in living for your purposes. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 65

Lunch Break Study

Read Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43: Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them.30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Questions to Consider

At the end of the age, all of the weeds will be pulled up and burned in the fire. However, at this present age, what does Jesus say about the weeds?
Why does owner allow the weeds to remain along with the wheat?
This parable does not teach toleration of illegitimate doctrines in the church. However, at the present age, the church will be faced with ungodly people who attempt to pervert God’s grace. How can you keep yourself from being deceived by ungodly thinking?

Notes

Jesus explains that God tolerates the wicked in the present for the sake of his elect, but will publicly distinguish between the two in the day when the secrets of the kingdom are revealed. God endures the wicked in the present to provide all those who will receive him time to become his followers (Rom. 9:22-24; 2 Pet. 3:9, 15).
Jesus’ primary point is the coexistence of kingdom people with the world’s people in this age. The point here is NOT that we should abandon our efforts to keep the church pure (18:7-14, 21-35); rather, the kingdom remains obscure in the present world and only the final day will bring God’s true children into their vindicated glory and banish the wicked from among them.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Prayer: Lord, I confess that in my sinfulness, I can be great at selective hearing when it comes to the Word of God. Help me to humble myself before the entire counsel of Scripture. Empower me with Your Spirit to agree with Your Word in the areas that are difficult for me to obey. Amen.

October 8, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals for October 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton. Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently serving as a staff at Symphony Church (Boston) while pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary. He is married to Cindy and they are proud parents of Audrey.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

A Mighty Man

Genesis 10:8-12

Cush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went into Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah, and 12 Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.

If the Bible names someone “mighty”, this is important to notice. Typically, God is the One described as mighty, the One who fights for His people like a mighty warrior. David also had his mighty men, the people whom he trusted above all else. But here, we have this person Nimrod described as a mighty man and a mighty hunter, even though he is in the lineage of Ham, the one who was cursed in the previous chapter. In fact, in this genealogy, the story of Nimrod stands out, since he gets a special shout-out, unlike anyone else listed in the genealogy.

But if you look closely at Nimrod’s story, it seems like his legacy isn’t necessarily going to be a good one. For one thing, Babel was in his kingdom, and we know what happens there. Also, it says that he went into Assyria and built some of its cities, including Nineveh. If you know the story of Jonah, you know this is a city that would not be well-liked by the Israelites. Yet still, Nimrod is called a mighty man.

Yesterday, we talked about how the descendants of Noah have a heritage of righteousness and favor, and Nimrod was one of these descendants. Though the legacy of Nimrod, at Babel and in Assyria, won’t be good, he was still someone that was recorded for all time in the Bible as mighty. My encouragement for us is that we stay humble even as God may work through us, and not be given to pride when God does use us one of His mighty ones. Sometimes, the most unexpected people may be the mighty ones. And maybe even God will use us to be mighty for Him. May we strive to be mighty not in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God, that we may be called a mighty warrior for His kingdom. May we all be the mighty ones before the Lord, but, unlike Nimrod, leave a legacy of faithfulness to the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, we acknowledge that You are the true mighty One, for You are the One with strength and power. We confess that we are weak, but through You, may we be mighty for Your kingdom. May you use us to accomplish things that to the world may seem impossible. Yes, Lord, let us be mighty for You!

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 64

October 7, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Table of Nations

Genesis 10:1

These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Genealogies can be difficult to read in the Old Testament. Often, we may think to ourselves, “I can just skip these chapters and move onto the important parts of the Bible.” This is certainly tempting, but these chapters are also God’s word, so we should not ignore them.

In the Book of Genesis, genealogies play an important role. They serve as the transition points between different sections of the Book. Chapters 10-11 essentially serve as a single genealogy (with the story of Babel sandwiched inside), which sets the stage for Abraham. Genesis 1-11 basically is an extended introduction to the story of Israel, which begins in Genesis 12 with the calling of Abraham.

But what is important to realize with this genealogy here is that all these descendants came from Noah. V.32 later in this chapter says this, “These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.” From Noah, the ancient world as we know it came to be. Remember, Noah had found favor in God’s eyes (Gen. 6:8) and was righteous and walked with God (Gen. 6:9). This was the man from whom the nations of the ancient world came to be. The nations of the earth had a heritage of righteousness and favor with God. Thus, it is not surprising that God had called Abraham to be a blessing to the nations (See Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:6-9). God wanted to call the nations back to Himself.

Genesis chapter 10 is called the Table of Nations. Let us remember that our God is One who loves the nations – He is the one who formed them in the first place! There is no nation that is outside the sphere of His love and desire. Today, let’s pray for this world, for the nations, for God to restore these nations back to the heritage of righteousness and favor. May the church, the new Israel (Rom. 2:28-9; Gal. 3:7), be a blessing to the nations!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for this genealogy, thank You that You are not just the God of a select few, but You are the God of the nations. May we remember Your passion to bless the nations, and may you use us to be that blessing. Lord, may we be a people who pray for Your will to be done here and abroad, as it is done in Heaven.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 62-63

October 6, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

All About Jesus

Genesis 9:26-27

26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant. 27 May God enlarge Japheth,[d] and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant.”

My family has this Bible called the Jesus Storybook Bible that we frequently read to our daughter. Though it was made for children, it is surprisingly blessing to read. The authors ensured that each story somehow points to Jesus, rather than some moral platitude as many other children’s Bibles do. As I read this Bible to my daughter Audrey, I’m encouraged as I remember that Jesus really is the plot behind the entire story of the Bible.

As the Noah narrative is coming to a close, it’s important to remember where Jesus is in this story. Our passage for today shows us how God was preparing even back then for Jesus to come. Shem, one of the children of Noah, is the great-great-great-etc…. grandfather of Jesus. Through the line of Shem would come Abraham, then Isaac, and then Jacob, from whom Israel would be formed. This blessing over Shem is a foreshadow of the blessing God would have on His people Israel, and, ultimately, a foreshadow of the blessing that God would have on Jesus.

Today, let’s remember Jesus, the One whom God was always preparing to send, even from the very beginning. All this preparation and planning shows how great God’s love is for us, because as we know from John 3:16, God sent Jesus because he “so loved the world.” Let’s rejoice that we have a God who has power and uses that power to demonstrate His love for us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for your great love for us. May we never take for granted the lengths You went to show us the extent of Your love. May our hearts be glad because we have confidence in the power of Your love. Let that bring us great peace this day.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 61

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 4:4-7: 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Questions to Consider

Why did God send forth His Son?
According to this passage, what do we receive because of our identity as children of God?
In what ways are you living more like a slave than a child of God?

Notes

Verse 5 tells us exactly why God sent His Son: “so that we might receive adoption as sons!” God’s plan all along was to gather together a family, a people who belong to Him. And praise God that He has opened up His family to us through Jesus!
We get the Holy Spirit! V.6 says that “God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts”. Notice how in this passage, each of the members of the Trinity are involved: GOD sent the SPIRIT of his SON. So great is God’s love for us that each member of the Trinity is involved!
Slavery to the world is an easy trap to fall into. We get caught up in the worries and busyness of life, that we forget our identity as children. But as children, we have freedom! May you rejoice in that freedom today!

Evening Reflection

Spend time in thanksgiving tonight, thanking God that He has prepared throughout time to send Jesus for You. It can be easy to take this for granted, but, tonight, consciously thank God and praise Him for sending His beloved Son on our behalf.

October 5, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Clothed with Christ

Genesis 9:20-25

Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. 21 He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. 23 Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said,

“Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.”

A common nightmare people have is finding themselves naked while outside. Why is this dream so common? Why is this a fear so many people have? Maybe you’ve had a dream like this before. Likely, this fear of public nakedness stems from the Fall, when Adam and Eve ate from the tree of Good and Evil and realized their nakedness and, thus, covered themselves.

The passage for today seems to be echoing that shame felt by Adam and Eve. Noah lay drunk and naked, vulnerable, and is found by his son Ham. However, rather than covering his father, he tries to humiliate him further by calling his brothers over. But instead of joining Ham in humiliating Noah, his brothers do the loving thing and cover their father. Just like God covered Adam and Eve with clothes after the Fall, Noah’s sons Shem and Japheth cover their father in his shame.

Being covered by others is an act of love. Because of the Fall, there is sin in us but God’s desire is to cover us in love. He does not want to strip us, to bring us back to that place of nakedness. Rather, God’s desire is to swallow our shame up in His love. Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” The Greek word for “put on” can also mean “clothe”, so God’s desire is for us to be clothed in Christ. Just like Adam and Eve were clothed by God, God wants to clothe us in Christ, to swallow up our shame in love.

Let us today remember our God who does not mock us in our sin and shame, but covers us and swallows up our shame in love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that do not leave us abandoned in our nakedness and shame as Ham did to Noah, but You lovingly cover us. And more than that, You cover us in Christ, transforming us into new people, a people without shame or guilt. May we not forget this reality in our lives. Help us to let shame control our lives, but let us live in the freedom You have given to us.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 60

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 3:26-27: for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Questions to Consider

What is the means of us becoming children of God, according to this passage?
What is the connection between being baptized into Christ and putting on Christ?
How can you immerse yourself in Jesus today?

Notes

This passage tells us that we are children of God through faith. Through faith in Jesus, we enter into God’s plan for us, His plan to call us sons and daughters, bringing us into His beloved family.
Being baptized into Christ essentially means to enter into Him, to have our identity swallowed up in Him. So, when we are baptized in Christ, Christ surrounds us, and, thus, we are putting Him on, like we put on clothes. Faith really then is not about simply belief, but about immersing ourselves, our whole life, into Jesus.
My prayer is that you may throw yourself at the feet of Jesus in intimacy today, not just momentarily, but continually. Draw near to Him, for His love is great! In every area of your live, be immersed in Jesus!

Evening Reflection

Tonight, perhaps you are putting on pajamas or other bedtime clothes. Imagine putting on Christ, like an article of clothing. That is the intimacy that Jesus desires to share with us! Immerse yourself in Jesus tonight, that you may sleep securely in His love.

October 4, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Yes and Amen

Genesis 9:8-11

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Recently, I have come to really enjoy this song called “Yes and Amen” by Housefires. The chorus speaks of the faithfulness of God, that all His promises are Yes and Amen (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). Every time I sing this song, I just want to shout the chorus – I love singing of God’s faithfulness because truly our God is faithful!

This passage for today in Genesis is one of those promises to which God is faithful. Noah and his family had just gotten off the ark after the flood waters had receded, so God promised Noah that there never again would be such a catastrophic flood. God was faithful to Noah through the storm, to save him and his family. He was faithful to maintain His creation in order that that the earth would be repopulated. This promise of God to Noah was not a “maybe”; it was a mighty “YES”. God’s promises are not something to doubt; they are the basis for our faith in Him! I’m sure Noah and His family found comfort in this promise of God as they began to rebuild their lives outside of the ark.

God makes many promises throughout the Bible, and He is faithful to each and every one of them. Let us hang on to the promises of God, knowing that He is faithful. Oftentimes, when we think of promises, we can remember people in the past who have broken promises with us. But let us find peace knowing that God absolutely will not break His promises to us. He is faithful to us and always will be.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being so faithful to us, Your children. There are so many things in this life that can cause us to worry and fear, but may we find peace in the surety of Your promises to us. Let Your faithfulness bring us comfort this day. Help us to find true rest in Your promises.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 59

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 1:19-22: For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Questions to Consider

What does it mean that Jesus Christ “was not ‘Yes’ and ‘No’”?
Why does Paul say that all of God’s promises are ‘yes’ in Christ?
What sign do we have now of God’s continual faithfulness to us?

Notes

Some may fear that Jesus may be faithful at some times, but not at others. But Paul here is saying that this is not true. Jesus is always YES to us, because He is always faithful. This means we can trust Him and the truth of His gospel.
Jesus Christ was the culmination of all God’s promises. Through Jesus we see the fullness of God’s faithfulness to us, that He was willing to be true to us even at the cost of His beloved Son. May we never take for granted the cost of God’s promises, that Jesus had to pay the ultimate price to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to us!
The Holy Spirit! One of the reasons God sent His Spirit into us was to seal us in Him. Because of the Spirit in us, we can trust that God is not letting go of us, no matter what. The Spirit signals that we belong to God, and since we are God’s, we are fully secure.

Evening Reflection

Take some time this evening to reflect on God’s faithfulness to you. Perhaps there is some particular worry on your mind. Surrender that to God and allow His faithfulness to bring you comfort, that you may rest easy in Him tonight.

October 3, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Precious Life”

Genesis 9:4-7

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image. 7 And you, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it.”

Shortly after I got my driver’s license, when I was in high school, I drove some of my friends to the Poconos Mountains outside of Philadelphia for a snowboard trip. The drive would take about two hours, and so it was my longest drive without my parents in the car with me. Before setting off, the mom of one of my friends said to me, “Be careful; you have precious cargo in the car.” For some reason, this stuck with me. The life of my friend was very precious to her mother, obviously, but really there is something precious about life in general.

God did not have to create life, yet He did. As His creation, God cares for life; so as stewards of creation, God calls us to care for all life as well. This doesn’t mean we need to become vegnoans, since a previous verse says that we may eat of “every moving thing” (see verse 3). Yet, we should be mindful of the environment and our impact on it. To recklessly destroy God’s creation is an offense to God and an offense to the role He gave us as stewards.

And above all, God sees the life of humans as precious. Even before the Ten Commandments were given, God gives a warning against murder, as we see in today’s passage. Ending a human life completely goes against the cultural, creative mandate that God had given to mankind. So, when Jesus says that even getting angry at someone is murder (see Matthew 5:21-22), we should take that very seriously. God calls us to love, but anything other than loving those around us goes against God’s design for us, His design for His creation. Let us be a people of love, a people who uphold God’s design for humanity. Let us love not only one another, but also this world that God has entrusted to us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being a creative God. Thank You that You designed this world and us out of love. And may we continue to show that love to one another and to this world. Help us to care for Your creation just as You do. May we not neglect our role as stewards of creation. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 58

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 5:21-24: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Questions to Consider

How does Jesus amplify the commandment against murder?
What is Jesus’ prescription for anger?
Who in your life do you need to be reconciled to?

Notes

Jesus took a well-known command, “Do not murder,” and made it go deeper. Many people can say to themselves, “I’m a pretty good person since I haven’t murdered anyone.” Yet, Jesus shows us that this commandment goes beyond action; the command cuts to the heart. We commit murder even by getting angry at someone else.
Forgiveness! Though many will read this passage and think it’s about not being angry, it’s actually about forgiveness. Unforgiveness, in a way, is like murder – it tears people apart. God’s design for humanity is love, a love shown through relationship.
Don’t just gloss over this final question. Think deeply and ask God to help you see to whom in your life you need to be reconciled to. Ask God for His help to bring true reconciliation and forgiveness.

Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep tonight, ask God for forgiveness in the ways you’ve damaged His creation – whether through anger, unforgiveness, or even through damage to the rest of God’s creation. Ask God to give you His heart towards all of creation.

October 2, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Be Fruitful and Multiply”

Genesis 9:1

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

This command that God gave Noah (which is an echo of the command He gave to mankind upon creation) is called the “Creation Mandate.” Most of mankind had been wiped out by the flood, and so Noah and his family had the responsibility to repopulate the land. Though God commands Noah and mankind to do this, this command is really a sign of love. This is God giving mankind the opportunity to join with Him in creation.

I am a terrible painter—give me a brush, paint, and canvas and maybe I’ll make some “modern art” but, really, there won’t be anything intelligible on that canvas. But if I go to one of those paint nights where an instructor leads me in painting a picture, I can actually make something that looks almost good. By analogy, this Creation Mandate is an opportunity to create, though it really is God who is at work behind us all.

However, in the New Testament, the Creation Mandate changed. Rather than, “Be fruitful and multiply,” the command is now, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We join in the work of God’s creation by making disciples of Jesus, people who are formed into a new creation, who will populate a New Heaven and New Earth. But again, it is God who at work through us—He is the true Creator. Let’s remember that God is still creating and we join in His creation by making disciples, by helping people to know there is a God who wants to transform them into a new creation.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for allowing us to join with You in the continuing act of creation. May we be faithful to this opportunity You have given us. But help us to remember that we do not do this on our own; rather, You are the One who is at work. So, Lord, this day, help us to go and make disciples, to join with You in populating your New Heaven and New Earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 57

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 28:28-20: And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Questions to Consider

What does it mean that Jesus was given “all authority in heaven and on earth”?
With this authority, what does Jesus command His disciples to do?
What is Jesus’ comfort to us as we go about fulfilling this command?

Notes

Jesus had just been resurrected after being murdered on the cross. This resurrection was Jesus’ victory, vindicating His message that the Kingdom of God had arrived. Having gone to the cross, thus fulfilling the mission of the Father, Jesus had now taken His place as the exalted King and, as King, all authority belonged to Him.
Go and make disciples! Before the cross, Jesus had gone and made disciples, but now that His mission was complete, He gave a new mission to His disciples: to continue the work of making more disciples, and thus to prepare a people who belong to God.
Jesus is with us! We do not go out alone, but we go out knowing that God is with us. The Spirit is at work in us, the Spirit that Jesus sent to us so that we could continue His work. So, we do not fear as we make disciples because God is the One working through us!

Evening Reflection

Before going to sleep tonight, ask God to bring to mind one or two people who you would love to see become disciples of Jesus. Ask God for help in reaching out to them and pray for God to move their hearts so that they may know Him.

October 1, Sunday

Today’s AMI QT is provided by David Kwon from Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Our Covenant God

Genesis 8:21-22

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

Recently, my wife and I decided to give our older daughters an allowance based on how well they listen and if they are helpful doing choirs around the house. I have to admit that my daughters were pretty excited about this as it gives them a way to save money and get a gift they want for the future. The allowance system is based on a promise that was made between my children and me and because of their trust in their parents; they know that they will be rewarded.

In today’s passage, we also see a promise made by God to Noah. This promise is called a covenant, which is structured agreements between God and man. In Scripture, God made covenants with, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. In the covenant with Noah, the Lord promised never again to destroy all life with a (universal) flood (8:20-9:17). He also pledges to sustain the seasonal cycle, and thus the general stability of nature.

You might be asking, what’s the point of all of this? We need to understand that covenants were based on God’s love for His people. If you ever doubted God’s love for you, the Gospel reminds us that the New Covenant is the promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise (Luke 22:20).

Spend some time this morning reflecting on His love for you. He loves you so much that He made a way, through Jesus, that we could receive His grace and salvation. Ask the Lord that you would understand and experience more of His great love.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the covenants in the Bible because it shows Your love for us. Even when we fail to keep our end, You still shower us with Your unconditional love because You are the great Promise Keeper. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 56