August 31, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals from August 28-September 3 are 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. They have four beautiful daughters.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Anchored in Hope”

Hebrews 6:19-20

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm & secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf….

I was about 7 years old when our family immigrated to the US. In order to assimilate us to the new life and help us adapt quicker, my father followed all the American traditions. We celebrated all the holidays in the same ways the Americans did. For example, every Christmas Eve, he would put a present above our heads while we were sleeping so that when we’d wake up in the morning, we would believe that Santa had come. As a young child, this was an extraordinary thing to look forward to. The anticipation of what Santa would bring was so great that it was hard to even fall asleep. I’d stay up wondering if I had been naughty or nice.

This anticipation, this HOPE, was a powerful force. For this reason, we all need hope. Hope defines what we’re living for; it is full of anticipation, expectation, making the heart feel alive and thrive. However, life brings storms at times that can rob us of this hope. Difficult times and hardships do come. It can be for an hour, a day, months, or for years. So it is wise to address what is robbing our hope. During such times, there are two key things you can do to help you anchor your soul in the Lord: First, you can allow yourself to process any pain or grieving. Grief can happen at many levels. It can be as traumatic as losing a loved one or as seemingly “common” as losing trust. Mourning this loss is a vital step to healing and moving forward. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is going on inside of you so He can bring it out into the light. Nothing is considered unimportant before God.

Second, recollect and rejoice in the Lord. Jesus can be found in the process of everything, even in the darkest times and places. Hence, the Lord says, “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). Rejoicing gives us strength. There is nothing better than celebrating the Heavenly Father so that He can fortify you in His love. By doing these things, you will be reaffirmed that no matter what, Jesus will always keep you firmly anchored in His hope.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that because of Jesus, my soul is firmly anchored in Your hope. Please remind me during difficult times to keep my eyes on You and rejoice in You so that I may have the strength to overcome anything that would try to rob me of my joy and hope. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for today: Isaiah 20

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Questions to consider:

What are some things that you hope for?
Is there anything that you may need to grieve over which you may have buried deep inside?
What is one difficulty or trial in your life that you can rejoice in the Lord for today?

Notes

God created all of us so that we need to hope; in fact, it is healthy to hope. Yet hopelessness permeates our society today. Satan—the epitome of hopelessness—is a thief, and his objective is to steal from us the very blessings that are before us and lie within us.
Grieving can be over a loss of something. It can be over losing a loved one, a sense of security, youth, freedom, ability, trust, visions or dreams, etc.
Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” In other words, we always have a reason to celebrate in hope, be patient when hard times come, and we should keep praying. When we do this, God will be able to take our mourning and turn it into gladness.

Evening Reflection

This morning we began by being reminded that we can take steps to remain in the hope that Jesus has anchored us in. In light of this, how did you fare in walking in that hope today?

August 30, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

You First

Ephesians 5:21

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

About eleven years ago at which time my husband and I were pastoring a different church, we had various missionaries and ministers from around the world come through our church. Those were equipping years and I learned so much during that season. I learned not necessarily intellectual or theological things, but what “the culture of God’s Kingdom” really looks like.

One key thing I observed was the importance of honor. A lot of these people had incredible stories of amazing things they had seen God do, and as such, they brought an air of authority. Yet, one common characteristic I noticed about them was that they knew how to honor others, especially those engaged in the advancement of the gospel. They were reverent toward others; they elevated others above themselves; and they understood the importance of submitting to those whom God had placed as authority above them. This “consider[ing] others better than yourselves” (Phi. 2:3), to the point of submitting to them, was ultimately honoring God, as the apostle Paul says, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

There is beauty in a culture that is built on the heart of submission in which brothers and sisters honor one another. Hearts are enlarged for God in such an atmosphere and there is harmony. So, every time we speak generously of others rather than fault-finding, elevate others above ourselves rather than competing to win, we cultivate an atmosphere of honor. As one pastor put it, honor is a royal attribute of who we are as citizens of heaven. This means that we regard and think of others more highly than ourselves.

There is, however, another component to honoring. We are to also abide respectfully of the institutions/authorities that have been placed above us. Our citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20) does not equate to defying what is required of us as citizens here on earth. We respect the authorities and laws that “have been established by God” (Rom. 13:1) for the common good as well as for the sake of Christ; thus, we pray for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-2) rather than criticizing them. This, then, allows us to be model citizens (i.e., a city on a hill—Mt. 5:14), and as God’s people whose lifestyle bestows respect and honor, we are kept blameless and pure in a society that needs the light of Jesus to guide its path. Something to think about in our deeply divided nation.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for such a great privilege as Your daughter and a royal citizen of Your kingdom. Thank You that every time I honor another and respect the authorities You have placed above me, it advances Your purpose and sustains the culture by which we are called to live. I pray let Your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for today: Isaiah 19

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

Questions to consider

How is God speaking to you personally about honor today?
What is one thing you can do to honor another person in your life who has been difficult for you to like, much less honor?
What are some things you could be praying over the President and leaders in our government?

Notes:

If you have trouble honoring others, what may be lying deep down in your heart that is blocking your ability to do so? You may have been hurt by someone in authority, abused while growing up, etc. Ask the Lord to show you any blocks, vows, or determinations (e.g., “I will never . . .”) that you may have made that keeps your heart from honoring.
Sometimes the first step to honoring someone with whom you have had difficulty is forgiving that person. Speak out prayers of forgiveness; let go the grudge you have been holding against that individual in Jesus’ name. This will begin to release you from the attitude of resentment and bitterness (a.k.a., ungodly soul ties) that always cripples the desire and ability to honor those whom we dislike for whatever reasons.
Read over 1 Timothy 2:1-2 and Romans 13:1.

Evening Reflection

In light of what we meditated on this morning, how did you fare in terms of honoring others and your authorities today? Remember Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

August 29, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

A Proper Diet

Hebrews 5:14

“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Having raised four daughters, I noticed that something happens to a child at the age of six months: give or take a few months, but around this age their nutritional needs change. Up until then, a baby is sufficed to live on a mother’s milk; but around six months, they need additional nutrients that can only come through solid foods. This is a natural process of maturing that enables the child to grow healthy and strong. The proper steps of introducing solids help their digestive system to adjust, mature, and come into full function. Without this introduction, the child will eventually be malnourished and develop inadequately. It is surreal how much of the natural realm parallels truths in the spiritual realm.

In Hebrews 5:14, we are reminded that “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” In order for us to properly mature spiritually, we must intentionally live out and apply the Word of God in our attitudes, ways of thinking, speech, and behavioral choices in relationships. And we must do this not occasionally with moodiness, or haphazardly, but we are to do it constantly whereby we deny our flesh and submit ourselves to the Spirit-breathed principles that change us. Only then, are we able to properly mature and our spirits trained to celebrate all that is good and despise any form of evil, which often come through living out of the flesh. As we all do this, how rich and full of love the church would be! How rightfully we would mimic Jesus to a skeptical world!

I’m often surprised at how often we, the body of Christ, actually live in its own willfulness, caught up in negative emotions, strife, judgment, religiosity, spite, unforgiveness and ultimately, clouded from distinguishing good from evil at hand. This should not be. Rather, as we humble ourselves and actively apply God’s Word to all situations in our lives, we will find that we are properly discerning and maturing, capable of chasing away evil. We then transform even the darkest places with the goodness of God’s likeness and His radiant LOVE.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I want to look, taste, and smell like You. I want to be this way, submitting myself to You in every way possible. Please help me to resort not to my own willfulness filled only with Bible knowledge, but please help me to actively apply Your Word to my life that I might mature and grow up in things of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for today: Isaiah 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 4:12: For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Questions to Consider

How has maturity been manifesting in your life lately?
Have you been investing time in God’s Word so that you are allowing yourself to encounter God through it?
What is one unhealthy fruit in your life that can be addressed by obeying a principle in God’s Word?

Notes

God is on a gracious journey with us. The best thing we can do to mature and grow in the Lord is to submit to the work that He is doing.
Spiritual discipline is important to growth and maturity. Greater the investment, greater the reaping even in spiritual matters. It’s wise to have a plan or routine set to spend time in reading the Bible and encountering Him in His truths.
Read John 15:2 and consider why God prunes and how He brings about greater fruits in our lives.

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on applying God’s Word to our lives for proper maturity and growth. How did you fare today in the light of that truth? Remember, there is no condemnation for us. Every day is a new day with new mercies to walk with the Lord.

August 28, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Remember Who You Are”

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

I remember when I was growing up, teachers would take roll call before each class. Being that my last name (at that time) began with a Y followed by a u, I was always last—if not second to last—to be called. But this was not only the case in school, but in any situations where names were called by alphabetical order. However, to my delight, this changed when I got married and my last name was changed to begin with L. I had moved up to the middle of the alphabet and was relieved not to have to wait until last all the time. My marriage, the union of myself with my husband, not only sanctioned me this small convenience, but I inherited the rights to his family line, his bank account, his secrets, and in essence—all of him.

In a greater sense, there is a spiritual union with Jesus that we believers have inherited. This union with Jesus where He took upon Himself all of our sins once for all, entitled us to become God’s righteousness. Yes, His righteousness—“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). This means that when God relates with us, He doesn’t see our faults, shortcomings, or sins anymore. Rather, He sees His own righteousness, which has been accredited to us through Jesus’ death on the cross. This is excellent news because this means that when God looks at us, He always sees hope, potential, and in essence, His Son Jesus.

In the light of this truth, we should feel free in many regards: free to take our eyes off of ourselves from introspection and fix them upon Jesus so that we can invest our energy to serving others; free to receive the amazing grace of what God has done and live in the joy of this inconceivable gift; free to see ourselves not as sinners but saints of God and engage life from this perspective that God has established. So, today, let’s live in accordance to our wonderful spiritual heritage, freely given to us by God through Christ!

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the incredible work on the cross that has brought me such freedom to enjoy my relationship with You. Please help me to take my eyes off of myself and onto You in order that I might embrace the truth of who I am in You, Your righteousness, and be a blessing to others as such. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for today: Isaiah 17

Lunch Break Study

Read: Romans 6:10-11: The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Questions to consider

In what ways are you hard on yourself?
What are some things that God says about you as His righteousness?
How does this truth of who you are in God’s eyes empower you in your daily choices?

Notes

God holds nothing against us and simply enjoys us in the satisfaction of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Perhaps you need to meditate on the depth of the love God has for you. Meditate on Ephesians 3: 12-19. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you any areas that you might need to forgive yourself or ways you may be measuring your worth in vanity.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how God sees you. Write down whatever He says and seek out verses that confirm that.
If you see yourself as a sinner, you will tend to focus on your wrongdoings and can feel helpless. You may fall into condemnation. But if you see yourself as a saint of God, redeemed and set free from sin, regardless of yourself, you will be empowered to make daily choices centered with Jesus and in His love (because you know what God has done and who He says you are).

Evening Reflection

The day started with you meditating on the truth that you have become God’s righteousness through Jesus. How did you fare today in living from that mindset?

August 27, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals for July 31-August 6 are provided by Christine Li. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, currently lives and works in New York City. She serves at Remnant Church in Manhattan.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Equipped for Battle”

Ephesians 6:13-17

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

A coworker and I were recently chatting about his summer, which was mostly spent following his son’s traveling lacrosse team. I asked him how he liked having his son play at a high level; he said that he was proud of his son, but he was always annoyed at how expensive the sport’s gear was. Helmets, pads, gloves, shoes, the stick, etc. – all of these things added up quickly! However, being protected was a non-negotiable part of the experience. And it would also be impossible for the parents to buy some gear and not others: if the son went in with shoulder pads but no helmet, he could be seriously injured!

We know that maintaining our Christian faith is often compared to war – the stakes and intensity of it is even greater than that of high school sports. But, so often, we begin our days completely unaware that we are going into battle and need to prepare. Paul’s exhortation here reminds us that there are many parts to the armor that we have to wear, and we also have to arm ourselves daily with it. If any part of our armor is weak or missing, then we must ask for it to be strengthened and become aware that we are vulnerable.

So, let’s take Paul’s armor as a guideline for how to equip ourselves to maintain our faith each day. For example, we can daily refresh ourselves with the truths of God’s character and goodness that we can trust in. We can also be assured that God has given us righteousness and fight accusations of shame and guilt that would derail us. Let’s be sure to not just take a defensive stance but also be ready to engage: Are we equipped with the Word of God, ready to wield it in offense against the enemy?

Today, as we come to God at church to worship, let’s ask Him to reveal to us where we need His strengthening. We can have faith that His power is already proved on this earth; we know that in the battles we face that we will be victorious in His power. Let’s not allow ourselves to go one more day without being strengthened by God.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You do not leave us defenseless and unprepared for this life of battle. Would You draw our minds to know where we are weak, and where we can be strengthened by Your truths and Your presence? Help us with this armor so that we can stand firm in this life and also continue to work on behalf of Your kingdom. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 16

August 26, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Firsthand, not Secondhand”

1 John 1:1-3

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Last winter, I visited my family in Taiwan and finally met my first “nephew” (the son of my cousin). For the last five years, I had heard my cousins, aunts, and grandmother raving about him – he was clever, he was mischievous, he was extremely cute, etc. I had seen plenty of photos and heard many stories of his antics. One could say that I thought I knew what to expect upon meeting him. To my delight, he was all I had imagined and more. In the few short weeks, I got to know him better and was completely charmed by the end of my stay. It was one thing to have heard secondhand about him; it was quite different to see him in action, play with him, and build my own relationship with him.

One mark of Christ’s disciples was that they knew Him personally. The first disciples had the privilege of physically seeing and touching Jesus. He was not a story or legend – He was flesh and blood, and His life was opened up to them. They didn’t need other people’s observations or stories; they had known Him directly and personally.

For believers in this millennium, it is impossible for us to see Jesus in the flesh. But have we looked to have a personal relationship with Him? Or have we been content to just listen to what others are experiencing about Him? It is possible to read and know many wonderful things about Jesus, but it is quite another to go forth and seek Him out for yourself and see if He does indeed live up to your ideas of who He is.

Today’s, let’s not settle for just hearsay about who God is and be satisfied with secondhand knowledge from what others have studied, experienced, and sought in their lives. Let’s know His character for ourselves by going through His word and approaching Him in prayer. Have you heard testimony of God’s goodness and presence from others before? Let’s ask Him to make that our first-hand, concrete experience as well, for Him to give us a testimony that is trustworthy and personal.

Prayer: Father, we want to encounter You. We are not interested in having heard about You and secondhand information about who You are. We want to discover You fully for ourselves. Give us hearts that are hungry to know You personally, and show us that when we seek You, that we will indeed find You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 14-15

August 25, Friday

The AMI QT Devotionals for August 24-25 are written by Jonathan Moon, who serves as a staff at Radiance Christian Church (S.F). Jonathan is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is married to Stephanie and they have a toddler named Elijah.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

A Portrait of Dedicated Missionaries

1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 1:29

Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God; for this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

As my wife and I pray about going to the mission field, we’re trying to figure out what it means to be a missionary and what missionary work looks like. Being in Cuba and staying in Pastor Gustavo and Angela’s home (with their two young daughters) gave me a glimpse of what that looks like.

First, what stands out about them is their love for God and the Cubans. This was readily visible in the way they talked about their ministry and how they desire to glorify God in all things with thankfulness; as they shared, they constantly had smiles on their faces, even though life in Cuba isn’t easy for foreigners. To give you an idea, these are a few examples: they were using a dial-up connection since Wi-Fi is not allowed inside; supply of certain foods is inconsistent (milk, for instance, may not be available for months); then there is a constant security concern due to government monitoring.

But none of this seems to affect this missionary couple who is obviously overworked: Gustavo, who heads the seminary, oversees all the operations, including leading worship and prayer meetings, and disciples and cares for 71 seminary students. Angela wakes up early to prepare breakfast and lunch, takes care of the girls, and she is constantly translating materials from Korean to Spanish for the next teacher who will come the following week, as well as interpret for the current teacher!

So often, we grumble when we have to serve the church. We feel that after having served once or twice a week, we have done our “duty” and no one should dare to ask us to do more. We have a hard time letting go of our free time or saying no to fun events in order to serve the church or attend a church event. But what if we realize that NONE of that is more important than God? What if we realize that our friends can wait, our free time is not that precious, work is work, and God will take care of us? What if we live our lives wholly and completely devoted to Him, where we give Him everything and not just the small moments that we spare for Him? What impact would that make? What would we be able to do for the Kingdom? I guess we won’t know it until we actually dare to live it.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ who left the glory of heaven to dwell among men to save them. I also thank You for people like Pastor Gustavo and Angela for their dedication, sacrifice, passion, and obedience to God. Help me to let go of my sense of entitlement to live more fully for You.
Amen.

Bible Reading for Isaiah 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 3:4-11: If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Questions to Consider

Would you say that the apostle Paul had a lot to give up in order to “take up his cross and follow” Christ (Lk. 9:23)? What were some of his credentials (cf. Gal. 1:13-14)?
In what sense does Gustavo and Angela capture Philippians 3:8 in which Paul talks about counting everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus?
What is the ultimate goal of giving up that which was beneficial to me before: to produce more fruits for Christ or to know Him better.

Notes

Paul had many things going for him: he was a leading Pharisee, an immaculate keeper of the law, And a true Jew who was also very well-educated (Acts 22:3).
There is something to be said about Pastor Gustavo and Angela’s dedication, sacrifice, passion, and obedience to God. They have embodied Philippians 3:8 and have counted all as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, for whose sake they have lost all things.
The ultimate goal is to know Christ better by a way of identifying with His great suffering through our small suffering for His sake.

Evening Reflection

Though we are not all called to be missionaries overseas, we are all called to be missionaries where we are. Before we go to bed tonight, let’s ask ourselves these questions: What am I doing to expand God’s Kingdom where I am? Am I serving as little as I can or want, or is God’s work my main priority? Am I ready to count it all as loss for Christ? Spend some time in a reflective prayer.

August 24, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Finding Joy in an Unlikely Place

Acts 2:42, 46-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. . .. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.

Last month, I went to Cuba with great excitement to see what God was doing and be trained under Dr. Ryun who went there to teach at a seminary. Cuba was what I had imagined: the cars were old, the infrastructure was outdated and in poor condition, technology was lacking, and the signs of poverty were very evident.

However, after a week of spending our days worshiping, fellowshipping, and teaching, I was amazed and encouraged by what God was doing in the lives of the 71 seminarians. It felt like I was living out the experiences of the early church of Acts: “Devot[ing] themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” Every day, these students, many pastors and church leaders, would get up at 5:30 a.m. to pray and worship together. The fervor of their prayers and the joy in their singing was clear, as their voices roared throughout the seminary. A short devotional followed this, and then they broke bread together. After breakfast, they got ready for a grueling day of five sessions of lectures on different courses. What was encouraging was seeing that each session started with a prolonged time of worship and praise, and that they went through whole the day with an eagerness to learn.

And everything—singing, dancing, learning—was done with so much joy. In a country where things are lacking, the heat and humidity are suffocating, and poverty is rampant, you would expect complaining, dissatisfaction, and unhappiness, but not in the believers that we met. On the contrary, their hearts were filled with joy, and they relied on God for their daily spiritual and physical sustenance, trusting that God will take care of them as He takes care of the lilies of the field (Matt. 6:25-34).

How about us, whose privileged life is unfathomable to Cubans? Are you filled with joy? Is knowing God sufficient for us, or do we seek the things of this world to satisfy our needs and provide us with a false sense of security? Let us worship God and sing to Him even though life may seem hard, or those around us are more successful than us.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for grumbling and complaining about life, despite all that You have done for me. Remind me how much joy and fun worship can be; show me what it really means to have joy in the Lord. Thank You once again for Your Son Jesus who willingly took my place to give me life eternal.
Amen.

Bible Reading for Isaiah 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 1:12-19: I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance . . ..

Questions to Consider

What made Paul’s circumstance a difficult situation to have joy?
Despite his trying circumstances, what gave Paul joy?
What present circumstance facing you is robbing you of joy? Identify its cause and process it through God’s abundant measure of grace, mercy, and love towards you.

Notes

First, he was under a house arrest in Rome (no freedom) that would last for two years (Acts 28:30); second, some of Paul’s colleagues were actually glad that he was in prison because it gave them opportunities to preach the gospel with the wrong motive of shining before men.
First, Paul saw this house arrest as a blessed opportunity to share Jesus with his captors. It’s as if Paul was saying, “I’m not chained to them…They are chained to me!” (David Alas). The second reason for his joy was his eventual deliverance from the present predicament.
Personal response

Evening Reflection

Joy is inward disposition while happiness is circumstantial (like your favorite team winning the championship). As you review your day, how was your joy in the Lord? Ask the Lord for greater joy to permeate your life as you strive to live for Him tomorrow.

August 23, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Rain Clouds

Acts 13:48-52 (ESV)

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

At the end of the youth camp in Vietnam, we took all of the children (the same ones from yesterday’s zombie apocalypse and more) to a large water park in a neighboring city of Ho Chi Minh City. The kids had been looking forward to it all week. As we rolled into the parking lot of the park that morning, we could see their cute faces brimming over with excitement.

And thankfully enough, the children got along well and were having a blast with their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The day ran swimmingly, all until about 1PM, when we noticed that the sky had turned an ominous shade of gray and felt the grumbling of a rain cloud from a distance. Rain was coming. Before we knew it, it began to downpour over the park. I turned to the local staff to watch for a cue, expecting them to signal for everyone to head indoors. Instead, I witnessed the leaders embrace the warm rainfall and head towards the biggest water slide in the park with the children. I followed their example and as I zipped down the slide, I realized that the rainfall was not harsh and cold, but surprisingly gentle, warm, and even enjoyable. At first, I thought the rain would be a setback and the cause of an early end to our perfect day. However, to our delight, it did not stop us from continuing in a memorable day of fellowship.

In our passage today, Paul and Barnabus also face an unwelcome rain cloud. We read that the two had been running a fruitful ministry, through which many Gentiles (the very people they had journeyed to reach) were coming to faith. But, when the Jewish leaders caught wind of this, they ended Paul and Barnabus’ “successful” ministry and drove the two out of Pisidia. Instead of seeing this as a setback to their ministry, the two became filled with the Holy Spirit and continued onto Iconium and Lystra to preach the gospel. The persecution Paul and Barnabus faced was no gentle rain and a “setback,” at the least. However, we see that the filling of the Holy Spirit produced supernatural joy and perseverance in the midst of trial and suffering. Many times, when we feel hard-pressed, we are tempted to quit early. This morning, let’s recognize the unforeseen rain clouds in our lives and ask for the filling of the Holy Spirit to press on.

Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 11

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Questions to Consider

The writer is probably not prescribing blind happiness, which would be ignorance. What type of joy is he talking about?
When I think about the “will of God,” I usually spend my time pondering what my next step in life is. However, what is the will of God for all believers in this passage?

Notes

The joy of the Lord comes from our intimate relationship with Him and the promises of God that He will never forsake us (Deut. 31:8). It takes active faith and trust to be joyful in suffering.
To choose to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. If read quickly, this can seem overly simplistic and impossible. However, for a believer who is on the journey of faith, this is a beautiful calling that will bring glory to God.

Evening Reflection

As you think about your day, did you experience God’s presence and promise over seemingly setbacks in life? Let’s ask the Lord to continue to build our faith in Him.

August 22, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“The Joy of the Lord”

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This summer, I was part of a short-term mission’s team to Vietnam with AMI and served under Pastor Phi and his wife, Mai, for about two weeks. It was an incredible experience in which I witnessed God moving powerfully during times of worship and speak supernaturally through the prophetic prayers of those who were then strangers.

I’m not sure whether I will always remember what types of breakthrough came during these powerful moments, but I will never forget Mai’s relentless and life-giving smile. During the last day of our youth camp, I was tasked with waking up the children who were napping in the auditorium during our lunch break. For a lack of a better illustration, the next scene felt like a zombie apocalypse of little children. In a matter of three seconds, the hundreds of children who were sleeping ever-so- peacefully on the auditorium floor, all jumped to their feet and began running around and screaming in excitement. I remember standing there with my mouth agape, looking at my team members who held very similar expressions on their faces, wondering if and how we were going to get through the day. However, when I looked up, I saw Mai walking onto the stage with a microphone in hand, a hop in her step, and a smile as big as the children’s. In that moment, I felt the presence of God. I realized that it was not ministry experience, physical stamina, or even grit, which would get us through the day; it was going to be the joy of the Lord.

In today’s passage, Nehemiah addresses the Israelites who were mourning and repenting in response to the Word of God. He tells them to stop grieving and, instead, to worship and share their abundance with those in need. The fuel behind their worship and service was revealed to be the joy of the Lord.

I’m sure Mai was physically tired, probably more than we were; but, the same joy that fueled Nehemiah was empowering her love for these children, many who had traveled long distances to attend the camp. Even in the midst of tiredness and unexpected circumstances, she received excitement and energy from the heart of God, which became her strength. So today, don’t get easily upset over small annoyances; instead, be joyful in the Lord and serve others.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I often forget to ask for the joy of the Lord to be my strength. Thank You for the reminder that the true source of strength, stamina, grit, and positivity is not found in myself but in my relationship with You. Please fill me with a greater measure of joy today.
Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 4:11-3: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Questions to consider

What are some seasons in Paul’s life in which he might’ve felt he was “abounding”? What are some seasons he was “brought low”?
What is Paul’s secret of facing both types of seasons?
Where are you finding your strength to get through the rest of your day?

Notes

Paul experienced great joy and satisfaction when the churches he planted bore great fruit (1 Thess. 2). At the same time, Paul was no stranger to being “brought low,” as he was heavily persecuted throughout his lifetime.
Paul’s secret was to focus not on himself, but in the Lord. He was not the creator nor the giver but the recipient of contentment and strength from the Lord.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

When we think of joy, we are prone to focus solely on our own joy and contentment. However, we learned today that our joy in the Lord could be encouraging and contagious to others. Where is one area of your life where you can be less of a bystander and more of an agent of joy and hope?