November 4, Saturday

The AMI QT Devotionals from October 30-November 5 are provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, serves as staff at Kairos Christian Church, while studying at Talbot School of Theology. He is married to Annie. They will soon leave for E. Asia to serve as missionaries.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Get Your Hopes Up!”

Genesis 18:16-21

When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

“Are you serious? Again?” was my response as I read that a 29-year old man named Sayfullo Siapov used a truck to plow through a lower Manhattan bike path this past Tuesday. I had the same response for all these senseless killings that have been happening in United States: from Charlottesville to Las Vegas and now New York (and before the ink is dry, another random violence took three lives in Colorado). Considering this (and also the tragedy happening abroad, like the recent deadly attack in Somalia that took the lives of more than 400 people), I can’t help but feel a sense of hopelessness. Will things get better? The answer is yes!

In this passage, God and His angels leave for Sodom and Gomorrah because they are looking to judge the two cities. The author characterizes God in disbelief at how these cities can be so wicked: “Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.’” From the story of Lot, we learn that God judges the two cities.

While this story is gruesome, it is a reminder for us that God is a God of justice. It may seem like wickedness is winning, but He does not leave any sin unpunished. Psalm 5:5 says, “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.”

More importantly, His wrath towards evil is all part of His process of restoring humanity back to perfection—a world without racism, hate, abuse, or extortion. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Therefore, as His church, let’s stand in hope that God is in the process of removing all wickedness and restoring justice.

Have you grown hopeless through the tragedies you hear on the news? Why do you feel hopeless? Take some time to read Revelation 21 to encourage yourself of God’s ultimate plan of restoring humanity to a new creation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are in the business of restoration and transformation. While the media is constantly reporting tragic news, help me not to fall into apathy or hopelessness. You are a God who loves justice and You will one day restore this world. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 28 & Jeremiah 1-2

November 3, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Friend in High Places”

Genesis 18:1-7

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. 2 Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. 3 He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,[a] do not pass your servant by. 4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. 5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” 6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.” 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

If someone were to ask you to name your three closest friends, would it be difficult to list off, or easy? Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts, friendships are one of the most important things in our lives. Good friends celebrate the joyful times and walk with us through the tough times. So, in order for people to become friends, they need to genuinely enjoy spending time with one another.

In this passage, Abraham receives a visit from the Lord and two angels. He humbly requests them to stay and rest before they continue their journey. This next part of the story is a little comical: Abraham requests the finest flour for the bread and slaughters the choice calf—what was supposedly a humble meal turns into an extravagant meal that most likely took hours to prepare!

While it is debatable when Abraham knew that the visitors were the Lord and His angels, his eagerness to host them cannot be overlooked. The God who called him out of Ur finally comes in a tangible way to spend time with Abraham, His friend. In fact, James 2:23 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend.”

As we read this passage, some of us covet Abraham’s experience. We long for that same tangible experience and intimacy with the Lord. However, I would like to encourage you that we have a greater friendship with the Lord than Abraham could have ever had—we have the Holy Spirit living in us! Wherever we go, the Spirit of God is there to encourage, teach, and comfort us. John 14:16 says, “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.”

Knowing that we can have such an intimate relationship with the Lord, like Abraham, are you eager to host the Spirit of God in your life? Does your life reflect that excitement? Take some time to reflect on your actions and attitude. God calls us His friends. Let’s strive to become believers who genuinely enjoy spending time with the Lord!

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 27

Lunch Break Study

Read John 15:9-17: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

Questions to consider

How do we remain in Jesus’ love? (v. 10)
In this passage, what does Jesus say is the greatest act of love? (v. 13)
What is the difference between a friend and a servant? (v. 15)

Notes

We remain in Jesus’ love by obeying His commandments. In yesterday’s devotion, we learned that we love God by actively obeying the commands He has given us.
The greatest act of love is when one person is willing to lay down his life for his friend. We learn, later, that Jesus does this for us on the cross.
A servant simply does the master’s bidding, while a friend knows his friend’s desires.

Evening Reflection

“The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord.”

Charles Stanley

November 2, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Love is spelled O-B-E-Y”

Genesis 17:23-27

On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or bought with his money, every male in his household, and circumcised them, as God told him. 24 Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised, 25 and his son Ishmael was thirteen; 26 Abraham and his son Ishmael were both circumcised on that very day. 27 And every male in Abraham’s household, including those born in his household or bought from a foreigner, was circumcised with him.

Arabian horses go through rigorous training in the deserts of the Middle East where the trainers require absolute obedience from the horses. As a final test of their obedience, the trainers deprive the horses of water for a week; afterwards, the trainers release the horses so they can run toward the water. However, as they get close to the trough, the trainers blow their whistle. The horses who have been completely trained and who have learned perfect obedience stop in their tracks; in fact, they turn around and gallop to their trainer. Then they stand in front of the trainer, desperate for a drink of water. Once the trainers blow their whistles again, the horses return to the water to drink.

In this passage, God calls Abraham to circumcise every male in his camp. As we learned in a previous devotion, circumcision was a sign of God’s faithfulness to the Abraham’s descendants. While circumcision is a painful process, we see that Abraham was not slow to respond to the Lord. The Scripture uses the phrase “On that very day” twice, to capture Abraham’s radical obedience to God. Through this act of quick obedience, Abraham displays his love for the Lord.

We live in a world where information is power. A person is deemed powerful and intelligent by the amount of information they know. In the same way, we may equate those who have great Bible knowledge as deeply loving the Lord.

However, Scripture defines loving the Lord in a different way. It is not defined by how much a person knows, but by a person’s active obedience to the Word of God. The Bible often correlates loving the Lord with obeying His commandments. In John 14:15, Jesus says to His disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Let’s become believers who quickly obey God’s commands instead of passively waiting. It is through our obedience that we love the Lord!

What are some areas of your life that you can better follow the Lord? What prevents you from actively obeying His commandments? Take some time to reflect on these questions.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for choosing me first before I chose You. As Scriptures equates love with obedience, I want to follow You whole-heartedly. If there is any area of my life that lacks obedience, please help me to change. I want to love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 26

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Questions to Consider

What is required of living the blessed life? (v.1)
What imagery does the author use to describe a person who meditates on the Word of God? (v.3)
What imagery does the author use to describe wicked men? (v.4)

Notes

Living a blessed life requires a person to avoid walking in sin as well as delighting in God’s word.
The author uses an imagery of a tree planted by a stream of water. To make this imagery more powerful, imagine a single, lush tree in the middle of a barren desert. In order to thrive, that tree must be connected to a water source. That is what it’s like to be connected to the Word of God.
Wicked men are described as chaff that are blown in the wind. In ancient times, farmers would separate chaff and seed by tossing both in the air. Because chaff is light, it is easily blown away by the wind.

Evening Reflection

“Our obedience is God’s pleasure when it proves that God is our treasure. This is good news, because it means very simply that the command to obey is the command to be happy in God. The commandments of God are only as hard to obey as the promises of God are hard to believe. The Word of God is only as hard to obey as the beauty of God is hard to cherish.”

John Piper

November 1, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Mission Impossible”

Genesis 17:17-21

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” 19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.

When I was in 5th grade, I attended a Chinese Vineyard Conference in Los Angeles that opened my eyes to the reality of God’s power. During the last session, the speaker preached on Mark 11:23: “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” I was so inspired by this message that when I went home, I faced the Santa Cruz Mountains and screamed, “Move, in Jesus name!” Unfortunately, nothing happened.

Whenever I tell this story, many people chuckle to themselves at the absurdity of a child telling mountains to move. In this passage, Abraham has a similar reaction when God promises a child for him and Sarah in their old age. Can you imagine a 100-year old and a 90-year old having a child together? It defies all logic and science! Even Abraham doubts and asks the Lord to make Ishmael his heir. Yet, God is determined to give Abraham a son, and he is to be called Isaac.

Our God specializes in the impossible and the supernatural. He operates within as well as outside of our understanding. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Because this world is dominated by science and logic, we forget that our God can operate outside of the natural. Unfortunately, even as believers, we slowly begin to lose that child-like wonder, and we stop trusting in Him.

Of course, we are not to disregard reason. As believers, we need to use sound reason to properly study God’s word and defend our faith. Yet, we need to acknowledge that our God can operate outside of our natural thoughts. Let’s continue to pursue both, so that we can become more faithful and effective Christians!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for being a God that specializes in the impossible. It brings me tremendous comfort that I can trust You in all things, no matter how small or big. Lord, please restore my child-like wonder in You again. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 25

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:14-29: When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Questions to consider

In this passage, why couldn’t the evil spirit be driven out by the disciples?
There seems to be a paradox in verse 24. What do you think the man meant by, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief”?

Notes

The disciples could not cast out the boy’s evil spirit because the people lacked belief. In this context, we learn that faith is a catalyst that allows us to witness miracles in our lives.
The paradox is a sign of humility before Jesus. Although he wants to believe, he knows that there are parts of him that do not believe. Only when the man is honest with himself, does Jesus heal his son.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s passage, what are some things that hinder you from believing in God’s power in your life? As you meditate on these obstacles, ask the Lord to help you with your unbelief!

October 31, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A Covenant to Remember”

Genesis 17:9-14

Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. 13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

In elementary school, my friend and I would make pacts with each other. We promised to be best friends forever and to write letters if one of us moved away. To seal the pact, we drew a picture of our favorite superhero and gave it to each another. Unfortunately, both of these promises were broken by the time we moved onto middle school.

In this passage, God makes a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The covenant entails that if Abraham and his descendants follow the Lord, He will flourish them as a people group: “The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you: and I will be their God” (v. 8).

Why did God heavily emphasize circumcision to Abraham in regard to the covenant? Like my friend and I, humanity is prone to break covenants with the Lord. In Scripture, there is a cycle of the Israelites disobeying the law of God and God restoring them. Therefore, to make things clear for the Israelites, God commands Abraham to circumcise males, so that it will be a constant reminder to follow the Lord.

As believers, we constantly forget our covenant with the Lord. We understand that we are saved, yet we are quick to disobey and follow our own ways. However, the Lord helps us remember our covenant with Him through His sacraments. As we take the bread and the wine, we are reminded of the covenant God established with us through the blood of Jesus. This is God’s grace to us!

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember Your faithfulness in my life. I know that I am prone to forget, yet Your grace reminds me that Your ways are always better than mine. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 24

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 4:4-7: So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

Questions to Consider

What do the stones serve as? (v. 7)
Apart from the current Israelites, who else was the memorial for? Why is this important? (v.6)

Notes

The stones serve as a reminder for the people that God stopped the flow of the Jordan.
Apart from the current Israelites, this memorial was intended for the Israelite children. It was expected for the parents to re-visit this memorial and teach their children about the faithfulness of God. As future descendants become more distant from this great miracle, they are more likely to forget. Therefore, it is the responsibility of past generations to remind them of God’s faithfulness.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing, what are some ways that you help remind yourself of the Lord’s covenant with you? If you are prone to forget, how can you better remember His faithfulness in your life?

October 30, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

It’s all in the name

Genesis 17:3-8

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

Growing up, I disliked my name Emerson because it was so different. I wished that my parents named me John, Kevin, or even Michael, like my other friends. In elementary school, I convinced my entire class to call me “Em,” because I was so embarrassed by my full name. One day after school, I asked my mom why she named me Emerson. She took out a baby name book and explained that Emerson meant courageous and strong. When I was in her womb, God told her that her son would walk in courage. After hearing her story, I slowly began to appreciate my name.

Names are an important part of our society: they help us address our friends as well as identify people. However, names carried much more meaning in the Old Testament. More than just for addressing, names determined the identity, status in society, and their relationship with God.

In this passage, Abraham’s name was changed from Abram, “Exalted Father,” to Abraham, “Father of Many Nations.” This name change was a turning point for Abraham, because it altered his destiny from a prince of Ur to a patriarch of God’s redemptive plan.

Our destinies, too, have been changed and altered through a name—the name of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:12-13 says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Because of the name of Jesus, we are set free from the bondages of sin and are able to walk in complete freedom.

There will be times where we will feel discouraged, depressed, and hopeless. However, the Scripture reminds us that when we go through these difficult seasons, all we need to do is cry out to the Lord. He shows up in different ways: through His Spirit, His word, or His Church. Let’s continue to call upon the name of the Lord.

When you go through tough seasons, is your first instinct to call upon the name of the Lord? If not, what hinders you from crying out to Him? If so, reflect on those incidences. As believers, let’s continue to call upon the name of the Lord.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that Your name has power and authority. Help us to remember this so that when we go through hard seasons we can cry out to You. Only You can deliver and save us! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 23

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 8: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them[f] with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Questions to Consider

Name three reasons why the psalmist praises the name of God? (v. 2, 3, 4-9)
What literary device points to the psalmist’s love for the name of God?

Notes

First, God humbles the proud and gives grace to the humble. Infants and children are considered weak, yet God uses them to be victorious over His enemies. Second, the psalmist is in awe of the nature that God created. The beauty of the moon starts to point to the glory of God. Third, God has given man the authority and dominion to govern over all creation.
We see that the psalmist repeats, “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Repetition promotes the purpose why this Psalm was written.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing, were there any situations when you needed to cry out to the Lord? If not, please take a moment to reflect on the past incidences where you cried out to the Lord and He saved you. Take some time to thank the Lord for His faithfulness in your life.

October 29, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals from October 23-29 are provided by Pastor Charles Choe of Tapestry Church, Los Angeles. Charles, a graduate of UC Riverside and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Grace, and they have three children: Chloe, Noah, and Camden.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Genesis 16:12-16

He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.” 13 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” 14 That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.

I pastor a church in Los Angeles, and we recently had the privilege of moving into a larger building just a couple months ago. But with a new and bigger building, we’ve come to see unexpected needs rise, including the need to install a vastly improved and expensive surveillance system to monitor the spacious structure. We are hoping to have it up and running soon, because we’ve already had a few things go missing. At those very moments, I wish I was able to see what happened or who may have taken it.

Sometimes we forget that God sees and knows everything. He is not blind or unknowing; but if He was, I wonder how we would conduct ourselves. Would it make a difference in the way we talk or behave, especially those moments when no one is looking? Often when we don’t give too much thought to God, it’s because we fail to treat Him as God. So when Hagar has been mistreated and abused, she recognizes that God does see all (Genesis 16:13).

Do you know that God sees you? It is one thing to know that He loves you and hears your prayers, but it is quite another to know that His eyes are upon you—He is watching you. But don’t compare His eyes to a surveillance camera, as though He is spying on you to chastise you when you fail. No, the concept of God seeing us is a loving concept. He watches us because He is concerned about us and loves to see us, similar to a parent who loves to watch his children sleep and play. It gives God joy to see us go through life and learn about Him and interact with other people. And He also keeps His eyes on us to shield us from harm.

God watches you. Why? Because God loves you. This is what Hagar knew about her God. So she is able to return to Abram and Sarai, and she is received back into the home where Abram does better to take responsibility for his actions. It’s knowing that God was with her that gave her the confidence to come back to the father of her child.

Today, be certain that God has not abandoned you. He watches over you. He can even look into your heart and know things that you don’t even understand about yourself. Allow God to search your heart and let Him refine you from the inside out. Trust that you are not alone—He is with you when you are awake, and He is with you when you are asleep. Take comfort and lift up your eyes and meet the eyes of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer: God, help me to know that You are with me. You have not forsaken me. Even when I feel utterly alone and abandoned, You have not left me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 22

October 28, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Genesis 16:5-11

Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.” 6 “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her. 7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. 9 Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” 11 The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.

In one of his books, author Gary Smalley says, “If a couple has been married for more than five years, any persistent disharmony in their marriage is usually attributable to the husband’s lack of understanding and applying genuine love.” He adds, “After five years of marriage if a husband has failed to understand or seek help for the major causes of disharmony, either he doesn’t understand what genuine love is, or has chosen to ignore God’s command to shepherd his family wisely.” In other words, initially, the wife can be responding and acting out of the way she was raised, but after some period of time, she is responding to how her husband treats her.

Abram and Sarai have been married a long time by now. After Hagar conceives, Sarai says, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me” (Genesis 16:5). She is essentially saying, “Why did you listen to me? Why didn’t you stop me?” In some respects, she is right. Abram should have known better. He is the leader in the home. He is the one who is hearing from God and following him. He knew deep down that God intended to bear a child through Sarai, not Hagar. But he didn’t stop his wife from making a horrible mistake.

This is strangely reminiscent of Adam and Eve: Eve may have eaten of the forbidden fruit first, but Adam was not helplessly standing by, unable to lead Eve. Likewise, Sarai did tempt Abram to this sin, but it was Abram who failed to lead his wife. Both are at fault, of course, but Abram’s failure to lead his wife prove to be disastrous, one in which humanity would have a difficult time recovering from, even now.

When sin comes knocking on our doors, we are capable of not opening that door. The Holy Spirit who lives in us gives us power to overcome sin. We are told by the apostle Paul, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

And when we give into sin—whether it be lust, anger, or greed—we must not blame the tempter or the situation. Rather, we must own up to the sins we commit. We must stop blaming our bosses, our parents, our colleagues, our spouses, our kids, our roommates, and everyone else for the sins that we commit. Let us own up to our failures and turn them into acts of repentance. The Good News of Jesus Christ is that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is the path of freedom the Lord intends for us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for your Son’s blood. By His blood, and not by my deeds or misdeeds, I am made righteous this day! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 20-21

October 27, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Genesis 16:3-4

So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.

In a Saturday Night Live commercial spoof, a woman discusses taking Chantix to end her smoking addiction. While the benefits of the drug may have helped her to quit smoking, the unintended side effects— which is listed between nausea and her desire to kill her own husband— is rather comical. The spoof seems to be saying, “The goal to quit smoking is met, but at what price?”

Sin is not that different from these drug commercials you see on television. The thirty second commercial spends five seconds telling you what benefit this new wonder drug will have for you, and then the next twenty-five seconds explaining all the adverse side effects—including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, heart attack, and even bugs nesting in your ears. The only difference between these commercials and sin is that sin never tells you what the negative side effects are until after you’ve committed the sin. Then it says, “Oh yeah, here’s the fine print I forgot to tell you about. You got what you wanted, but your life is now going to be miserable. Enjoy!”

At first, things seem to work out just fine for Abram and Sarai. It looked as though everything was going according to plan. Hagar conceived their long-awaited child, and now Sarai and Abram had the baby they were so desperate for. But, as with all sin, there were unexpected, negative consequences. Sarai was not any happier than when she was without a child; having exactly what she thought she wanted did nothing for her—it only brought her even more discontent.

And we see this in the way Sarai despises Hagar. Perhaps Sarai is reminded of the feeling of being “cursed” (not to be able to herself bear a child), or maybe Abram had surprised her with affections for Hagar—as it would not be unimaginable for a father and mother of the same child to share. Whatever may have been the case, things became increasingly difficult in Abram’s household. This didn’t feel like a blessing at all, but more like a curse, as envy, anger and mistreatment was the new norm for Sarai and Abram.

This is what sin does to us. It promises so much, but it never tells us about the problems that is sure to follow. Sin will never make us happy. It will only lead to heartache and disappointment. The momentary pleasure is fleeting, but the assurance of God’s presence is satisfying for all times. Let us strive to be holy and without sin. When we fail, let us trust God to forgive us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer: God, help me to take sin seriously. Help me to hate it and not believe in the promises it makes to me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 15 (skipped on Monday, resume with Acts 20-21 on Saturday)

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 40:28-31: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Questions to Consider

When waiting on the Lord, we may grow weary and be tempted to go our own way. Why does Isaiah insist we remain?
Compared to an older person, youth is seen as a symbol of strength and virility. When we feel weak and unable, what is a clear way of being replenished?
What mistakes and sins have you committed because you are not waiting on the Lord?

Notes

The Lord, by the strength of His character, will keep us from growing weary and exhausted. We can trust Him for sustaining strength.
We are replenished in strength by waiting on the Lord.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

We began the day thinking about the deceptive nature of sin: it seems and feels so promising at first, but before we know it we find ourselves in “hell” on earth. There are stages to the progression of sin. James put it like this: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (1:14-15). Before going to sleep tonight, examine yourself whether you are caught in the web of deception of sin. If so, consider what stage you are in based on James’ word; but, regardless of where you are at, know that the best measure is to turn away from it: consider repenting.

October 26, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Genesis 16:2:

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”

Sometimes we can be become obsessive over something: Maybe it’s something that happened at work, or it’s something someone said that kind of irked you—you keep replaying the scene in your mind over and over again. You’re thinking about the perfect comeback you wish you had, or what you need to do next. Why do we sometimes let things bother us long after they happen, and why is it so difficult to stop the cycle of stressing, obsessing, and stressing and obsessing? Why is it so easy to fall into this negative cycle?

Psychologists call this “rumination,” and it happens to be a source of stress for many people. It starts out innocently enough—you’re attempting to make sense and move on from a frustrating situation—but rumination can catch you in a circular, self-perpetuating loop of frustration and stress. When you’re dealing with chronic conflicts in your relationships, you may experience stress from too much rumination.

This is essentially what Abram and Sarai are doing. They have been promised by God that they would father many children and become a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3). Unfortunately, he and his wife were getting old with no signs of this promise coming to pass. Instead of trusting in God and His promise, they grew impatient and begin to ruminate on what they can do about it. Out of these negative thoughts came a horrible consequence. The decision to rectify this obsessive feeling would cause much pain and hurt in their family, and really, for the story of humanity. Of course, God does eventually and miraculously fulfill His promise, and they have a child. But not before the damage is done.

Have you become so obsessed with a thought or an idea that you forget to actually trust God for it? Instead of relying on God, are your thoughts and time so consumed with chasing this promise that you forget everything else around you, even God? Consider what you are struggling with today, whether it be negative thoughts that you are bringing into reality. Surrender them to the Lord and ask God to make His promises anew today.

Prayer: God, help me to trust You. Keep me from making decisions out of my impatience. Let me give You all my anxieties, trusting that in Your perfect time, You will fulfill Your promises. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Acts 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:18-24: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Questions to Consider

What is all of creation waiting for (verse 19)?
What is all of creation groaning for?
In light of where we are ultimately destined for, how can you practice hope today?

Notes

Creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
To be set free from decay and to be redeemed in glory.
Personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

We win at the end. How do you know that? “I’ve read the last page of the Bible. It’s all going to turn out all right” (Billy Graham); so, live like a victor, in Christ. Pray that tomorrow will be an incredible day in the Lord in experiencing His resurrection power (Eph. 1:19).