July 19, Wednesday

The AMI QT Devotionals July 17-23 are written by David Son, who serves as the college pastor at Symphony Church in Boston. David, a graduate of UC Berkeley (B.S.) and Gordon-Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Grace who teaches at a public school.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Gospel is Every Meal

Galatians 3:1-3

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

My grandmother lives in the rural countryside of Korea. Miles of rice paddies lie in each direction of her humble home. During high school, I had the opportunity to live with her for the better part of a week. I was thrilled, because on the first evening, she cooked the most amazing Korean food for me: rice, kimchi, soup, and fish. I went to bed utterly satisfied. The next morning I woke up to a breakfast table that looked strangely familiar: rice, kimchi, soup, and fish. But it wasn’t leftovers; it was the same food, cooked fresh. Slightly confused, I shrugged it off because the meal was certainly good enough to enjoy for a second time. And then lunch rolled around, and believe it or not, it was the same food. Cooked fresh. Again! Your suspicions are correct, nearly every single meal at my grandmother’s house consisted of virtually the exact same things. However, I did not complain, for two reasons: First of all, the food was absolutely delicious. But secondly, I realized that this is how my grandmother eats all the time! This woman had learned to enjoy and savor the same meal, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, day after day, for decades.

My own taste buds are wired to want new, different, exotic things. For many of us, food is exciting only as long as it keeps changing. But our spiritual food must not be like this. In our passage today, Paul rebukes the Galatian church because although they had started their faith journey in the gospel, for some reason they kept adding different things to it, straying away from the true gospel in favor of other spiritual trends. We too can often fall into this trap when we view the gospel merely as spiritual “baby food.” With this mindset, we think that as Christians mature, they outgrow their need for the gospel and graduate onto more mature things.

But Paul completely refutes this notion. In the book of Galatians, Paul is basically saying that the gospel is not merely the baby food of Christianity, but the gospel is every single meal! In other words, the gospel is necessary at every level of growth. We will never outgrow our need for the gospel, because even when we become the most mature versions of ourselves, we are still in need of the grace of God in the blood of Christ. Spend some time this morning remembering the gospel, and re-confessing our need for it.

Prayer: Jesus, we need You. Every hour we need you. As much as we needed You on the day of our salvation, we need You today. Today, help me to live in light of the Gospel. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 51:7-12: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Questions to Consider

What does the psalmist (David) seem to be asking for in this psalm?
What kind of joy is David seeking from the Lord?
Typically, we experience joy when good things are happening around us. How is this kind of joy different?

Notes

David uses many supplicatory verbs in this Psalm: purge me, wash me, create in me, cast me not away. He seems to be asking for forgiveness for his sins and renewal of his heart. The heading of this Psalm informs us that David wrote this after Nathan had rebuked him for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba.
David asks of God, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”
Typically, joy has to do with good things happening to us and around us – when we get a promotion, or good grades, or acceptance into med school, etc. On the other hand, “joy of salvation” is not based on our circumstances, but it’s a joy that is sourced in God’s faithfulness. At the time of writing this Psalm, David was not in a good situation, yet he cries out for God to restore the “joy of salvation” to him. Even in the worst situations, we have a source of joy that is not dependent upon our circumstances. We can always rejoice in the faithfulness of our God, who has saved us and will continue to save us.

Evening Reflection

There are many earthly things that make us rejoice. When was the last time you rejoiced in God’s faithfulness? This evening, regardless of how your day or week has been going, spend some time rejoicing in Him.

July 18, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Gospel Contextualization

Galatians 2:7-9

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

Last year, there was a huge debacle concerning Epi-pens. If you’re unfamiliar with the product, it’s a handheld device that is used to inject 0.3 milligrams of epinephrine into someone who is having a severe allergic reaction or going through anaphylactic shock. The reason Epi-pens were in the news was because of the outrageous jump in price. What used to be only $50 suddenly skyrocketed to $400 per Epi-pen.

Interestingly, the actual cost of one dose of epinephrine is roughly 10 cents! Why, then, were people shelling out $400 for an Epi-pen? Because they were paying for the “delivery system.” The delivery system is just as important as the substance being delivered. See, you can’t just swallow a spoon of epinephrine; it is only effective if it is injected into the body using the appropriate delivery system.

In a similar way, the gospel must also be accompanied by a thoughtful, appropriate, delivery system. In our passage today, we see the leaders of the early church acknowledging and affirming that ministering to the circumcised Jews and the uncircumcised Gentiles required different “delivery systems.” This is called contextualization. The gospel message has always remained the same, but the delivery method has necessarily changed across the various cultures, languages, traditions, and generations. Of course a delivery system without explicit gospel content is just like an Epi-pen without epinephrine: empty and useless. But the gospel message without proper, thoughtful contextualization can also often lead to misunderstandings.

This morning I want to invite you to consider your delivery system for the gospel. How can you effectively contextualize the gospel message for your campus/workplace/home? Ask the Holy Spirit for insight as to how you can better communicate the Good News to those around you.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me how to be a deliverer of Good News to those You’ve placed around me. Today, open my eyes to opportunities to minister to my classmates/coworkers/ friends/family. Give me wisdom and boldness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 17:22-25; 30-31: So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything… The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.

Questions to Consider

To whom is Paul preaching the gospel to?
How does Paul contextualize the gospel to these people?
How is this gospel presentation different from others we see in Scripture?

Notes

Paul is in Athens, preaching to Greek Gentiles. He mentions that they are a very religious people.
Paul uses the spirituality of the Athenians as an entry point for the gospel message. He notices that they even have an altar to “an unknown god.” Seeing their desire to worship deities, Paul begins his gospel presentation by establishing that there is but one true God, who is bigger than creation and uncontainable by temples. He concludes his message by calling the Athenians to repent and turn to the true God.
This is the same gospel message, but a very different delivery system than the ones we see presented to the Jews. First, there is no mention of the Law or circumcision. In nearly every case where the gospel is preached to the Jews, it begins with Moses and the Law. But the Mosaic Law means little to nothing to the Athenians, and so Paul has no need to mention it. Also, interestingly, Paul doesn’t mention the name Jesus yet. He merely refers to Jesus by calling Him “a man whom [God] has appointed.” Perhaps this is because Jesus (Yeshua) is a Hebrew name, and mentioning a Hebrew name might have immediately lost much of his audience. Paul knows that without Christ there is no gospel, but at the same time, he refers to Jesus without mentioning His Hebrew name in order to contextualize to the Athenians.

Evening Reflection

This evening, spend some time praying for those around you who do not yet know Jesus. While thoughtful contextualization is something we must continue to work on, at the end of the day, the Holy Spirit must soften and turn hearts towards Him. Let’s ask the Spirit to move in our city.

July 17, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Most Powerful Encouragement

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

A little while ago, I was gifted an Amazon Echo named Alexa. One of the most interesting features of this device is the “Casual Compliment Machine.” Basically when you enable this feature, you can call upon Alexa to spew all sorts of kind words to you. I haven’t tried this feature out yet, but I don’t doubt that aside from the initial hilarity, it could marginally increase my self-esteem.

There is, however, a source of encouragement that is at least a hundred times more potent than a kind word from Alexa: encouragement which comes from another person. One word of encouragement from another human being is worth at least a hundred self-initiated encouragements, wouldn’t you agree?

But there’s more. Even stronger than encouragement given to you by another, is encouragement that you overhear! The feeling you get when you happen to be within earshot of a conversation in which you are being positively affirmed is sublime. To know that other people genuinely approve of you is something that most (if not all) of us sincerely desire. So powerful are overheard encouragements that they even have the power to sculpt our view of ourselves, permanently!

But there is one final source of encouragement, one that is infinitely more potent than even those you overhear! And that is when God Himself says to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” As Christians, we do not live to be approved by people. Although approval and encouragements from others are definitely blessings, they are not what we are living for. We live to please our Lord! The incredible thing is that in Christ, God has already approved us, and He has already spoken acceptance over us! Today, open your heart to allow that powerful truth to shape the way you live.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that in Christ I am already approved by You. Let the work of my hands, feet, mouth, and mind be done in light of this truth: that I am Your child. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:1-5: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

Questions to Consider

According to this passage, what kind(s) of people are free from condemnation?
How did God accomplish what we could not do?
Having been set free from the condemnation of the law, how are we to now live?

Notes

According to this passage, those who are “in Christ Jesus” are set free from the law of sin and death, and there is no longer condemnation.
The problem was that we could not live up to God’s righteous standard as described by the law. Therefore, having fallen short of God’s standard, everyone was under condemnation. God’s solution was to send his own Son in the flesh under the law, to fulfill on our behalf all the requirements of the law, and take upon Himself all the condemnation that ought to have been on us. Consequently, we have been set free from the condemning requirements of the law!
The passage instructs us to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Paul then elaborates on this by explaining that “those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” “Things of the flesh” could mean worldly pleasures/temptations, but it also encompasses worldly accomplishments/merits as a means of validating our worth. Those who are in Christ should not chase after these things, even if our society does. Our minds should be fixed on the Kingdom of God.

Evening Reflection

This evening, spend some time receiving God’s love for you. Whether your day was full of accomplishments, or loaded with failures, or even if you just felt numb to it all, you do not live for the approval of man, but for God. The good news is that He has already spoken approval over you. As you reflect on your day, speak God’s approval over your own heart.

July 16, Sunday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Doug Tritton of Symphony Church.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

God Remembers

Exodus 2:23-25

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Praying Jew Yesterday, as we covered the above passage in Exodus, I mentioned the American proverb “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”, meaning that the loudest cries best attract help. In the passage, the Israelites cried out loudly–in their prayers, in their groaning, in their desperation for God to return their freedom.

The reason we can be loud before God is that He is the One with the “grease” for our squeaking. What this passage tells us is that, after hearing the cries of the Israelites, God remembered His covenant with Abraham. It can be easy to read this and think, “Did God remember because He previously forgot about the covenant?” No, of course not! God does not forget. Rather, in the Hebrew mind, remembering was not about recalling something that was forgotten – it was actively responding to knowledge, which in this case, was the knowledge of the promise that God had made with the Israelites through their forefather Abraham.

When we declare that God remembers us, we are declaring that God actively responds to our cries and our groans, because He is faithful. God’s remembrance is a demonstration of His faithfulness to us; it’s why we cry and plead with God in the first place, because He is faithful to respond to us. Once, King Jehoshaphat, facing a huge enemy force, declared to the Lord: “We will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save” (2 Chron. 20:9). He did.

So, as we discussed yesterday, let’s bring our distress and desperation to Him, and let’s remind ourselves that we have a faithful God who listens, and more than that, responds to our cries.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are a God who remembers us. You do not leave us to our own ways, but rather You remember us and respond to us. Lord, hear our prayers, hear our cries, remember us and Your promises to us. Come and bring Your deliverance, for we know You are faithful! Thank You, Lord, for You are the only One who can help us.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 15

July 15, Saturday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Doug Tritton of Symphony Church.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Crying Out Loud

Exodus 2:23-25

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 God saw the people of Israel—and God knew.

Do you know the saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease?” According to Wikipedia, it’s a proverb used to “convey the idea that the most noticeable (or loudest) problems are the ones most likely to get attention.”

In this passage from Exodus, the people of Israel had a noticeable problem–despite having received the promise of God to inherit the land of Canaan, they were living in slavery in Egypt. Was God not faithful to His promise? Was He not powerful enough to take care of His people? I am certain that thoughts like these were swirling in the minds of the Israelites as they were forced to perform heavy labor, day in and day out.

Do thoughts like these ever swirl in your mind? Do you wonder at times if God is faithful or powerful enough to help you? That perhaps He has forgotten about you, or worse, abandoned you? During times of difficulty, it can be easy to think like this; and let me just assure you that such thoughts are normal. Thoughts like these do not condemn us, but what’s important is our response to such bleakness.

When we face troubles, it’s perfectly OK to be a squeaky wheel–to cry out to God, pleading for Him to listen. That was how the Israelites responded to their slavery – “[they] groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help.” Likewise, God invites our cries and groans because in our times of desperation, we demonstrate our utter dependence on Him. For indeed, we do need His help.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You are a God who listens. Let us never think that You do not want to hear us cry out for help, to groan when in trouble. Lord, You truly are our ever-present help in time of need. Though our thoughts may feel overwhelming at times, help us to know that in You we find peace, that You are the One who can calm the storm in our minds. Come and bring Your peace, Lord!

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 13-14

July 14, Friday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Pastor Phillip Chen of Church of Southland.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Luke 4:1-2 (ESV)

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

After He was baptized, three of the four Gospel writers point out that Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, was led into the wilderness for forty days. As I was reading the passage this time around, it dawned on me that according to conventional human wisdom, the moment right after the baptism would have been most ideal for public ministry. Think about it: when Jesus was baptized by John, the heavens opened up and the visible presence of the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. This was no secluded matter, as many had come to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. How could you not believe someone if you saw the very presence of the Holy Spirit fall upon Him, not to mention hearing an audible voice saying, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased”? If I were Jesus’ PR manager, I would have told Him to start His ministry now.

But for some reason, the Holy Spirit leads Him into the wilderness, where He is utterly alone (aside from the devil who is tempting Him). Why does the Spirit lead Him away from the public eye at the most opportune time to minister? When we read what happens next, we realize the importance of the wilderness experience in this passage. Jesus must overcome the private battles before He conquers the public sphere. Jesus was a man just like us and was tempted constantly, but in the following passage (Luke 4:3-13), Jesus overcomes His private battles.

In Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he points out that private victories must always precede public victories. We want the world to know our public victories before we conquer our temptations privately. We want the recognition before we have harnessed our character; we desire fruitfulness before we have even put in all of the work. Today, let’s be reminded not to short-change the wilderness stage of our lives. Let’s work hard to win our private battles so that we can win our public ones. I have come to learn from our senior pastor that this period of waiting and development is a season of grace which the Lord gives us, so that we are ready for the greater assignments He has for us later on. Being hidden is not a curse, but a blessing. Let’s focus on the private matters of our lives (our devotion to God, our habits, our work ethics, and many more) so that we can be fruitful Kingdom-minded workers for the Lord!

Prayer: Lord, help us in our private battles so that we may be people who overcome the temptations of life. Thank You for the ways that You hide us and shield us. We ask that You continue to work in our lives so that we may be effective Kingdom servants! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:22-24 (ESV):

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Question to Consider

What does Paul say about work ethic?
What is our inheritance that Paul talks about?
What are some ways we need to commit your work to the Lord?

Notes

Paul is talking to those that are bondservants, but this applies to us as well. Whatever we do, we are to do with all of our heart, believing that even if our work has absolutely nothing to do with the church, we must still view it as belonging to God. The way we go about our work is an indication of our heart’s tenderness towards the Lord.
Paul talks about the reward for which we are striving. I believe this is not salvation, but rather a reward given to those who are faithful and diligent in the ways they serve the Lord. We may glorify those in vocational ministry and see their future rewards as great, but if we are faithful and diligent in how we conduct our lives for Him, we will certainly be rewarded greatly as well!
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Tonight, as you reflect on your day, commit your work to the Lord. Pray for the next day, that it will be filled with joy and purpose as you go about your lives in a way that is honoring to God. Pray that God would make you a man/woman of substance and that at the proper time He will lift you up (1 Peter 5:6).

July 13, Thursday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Pastor Jason Sato of OTR, Cincinnati.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Welcomed by God

Mark 2:1-4 (ESV)

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. [2] And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. [3] And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. [4] And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Many of us are familiar with the story of the paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof. The faith of his friends seems central to the miracle and, of course, it is important. Yet what often goes less appreciated is the incredible hospitality of Jesus.

Prior to our passage, Jesus is constantly surrounded by people, whether in the city or even in desolate places. He returns home to Capernaum for some much needed rest (v. 1), but then the world discovers His hideout and fills every corner of His private space. And when the four friends of the paralytic make a large hole in Jesus’ roof, He notices first their incredible faith.

At times, we are tempted to believe that we are a nuisance to God—He is busy and we are unimportant, even apart from our sin and rebelliousness. But Jesus opens His home, gladly gives us His time. He is attentive to our needs and delights in opportunities to minister to us.

Of course, there are other times when we are too busy for Him. Yet in these times, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. To anyone who opens the door, He offers to share a fellowship meal with them.

This morning, the offer of God still stands. Jesus is available for those who seek Him. And He is knocking and calling for those of us who are not. Child of God, He is waiting for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love You. I love Your presence. I love that You are my God and I am Your child. Give me grace to bring all that is on my heart and mind to You. Free my heart to seek and find You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 11:9-13 (ESV): And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. [11] What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; [12] or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Question to Consider

Why does the Father command us to ask, seek, and knock?
What will the Father certainly give us when we ask for it?
Why does the Father give this gift?

Notes

The Father commands us to ask, seek, and knock because He will (and wants to!) answer our prayers.
The Father will give His Holy Spirit to those who ask.
The Father loves to give good gifts to His children, so He wants to give the gift of His presence to us through the Holy Spirit.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. What worries and concerns did you remember? What joys and blessings did you experience? Share these things with the Father.

July 12, Wednesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from July 11-12 are provided by Emerson Lin. Emerson, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, serves as a staff at Kairos Christian Church, while studying at Talbot School of Theology. He is married to Annie.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Honor One Another

1 Corinthians 11:27-34

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world. 33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

In my freshman year of college, I played pick-up basketball with my suitemates. One particular game I ran toward the basket for a layup and jammed my thumb, swelling it fiercely. For days after, I couldn’t use chopsticks, open jars or even grab a tooth brush. I didn’t realize that such a small part of my body could be so valuable!

In this same passage, Paul is indignant with the Corinthian Church for abusing the Lord’s supper. He warns them to examine their hearts before taking the bread and wine, lest they bring judgement on themselves.

At first glance, this seems to be an issue of people simply being somewhat inconsiderate of one another. However, the issue at hand was that wealthy Christians were neglecting their poorer brethren. In that day, at common meals, the upper classes traditionally expected to receive food in greater quantity and quality than the lower classes. In this manner, the wealthy were dishonoring the poor and creating division within the church.

Honor among Christians is an extremely important idea in the Kingdom of God, and it is a key ingredient in creating unity within the church. It elevates the value of people even though the world may portray them as worthless.

Most of our churches will inevitably gather together people of different socioeconomic, relationship, and academic statuses. However, as believers, our goal is not necessarily to force all to be the same, but rather to view everyone as of equal value in the body of Christ—no matter their wealth, their family life, or their education. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:23 that to those who may seem ‘lesser’, the church should give a ‘special honor.’

Do you struggle with elevating certain individuals over others in light of their status in the world? What are some practical ways to actively uplift those who seem less honorable in the eyes of the world? Take this moment to examine your heart.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your church. Thank you for the diversity you have bestowed upon the body of Christ. However, I do struggle with favoring certain individuals over others for their worldly status. Help me to see your people with Your heart.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 10

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Questions to Consider

What is the significance of Paul repeating the word “one?” (v.4)
What are the five spiritual roles Christ has assigned? Which gift do you believe you have or desire? (v.11)
What is the purpose of achieving unity in the body of Christ (v. 13)

Notes

Paul repeats the word “one” to emphasize the importance of unity. As believers we are under one baptism, one spirit, and one God.
The five spiritual roles are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
The purpose of achieving unity in the body of Christ is so that we may be mature believers, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s lesson on honor, when was the last time you verbally honored someone whom the world might typically shun? In today’s morning devotion, you were encouraged to think of ways to honor people in your church. This Sunday, try applying one of those ways.

July 11, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Fighting Spiritual Amnesia”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In 2014, Psychology Today came out with an article titled “7 Ways Facebook is bad for our mental health,” arguing that the website can make people feel like their lives aren’t as exciting as everyone else’s or even leading us to envy our friends’ successes_.[1] While all of these are true, one thing I believe Facebook does well is that it helps us to remember things. Many of us, if not all, rely on Facebook to remember our friends’ birthdays and it helps us remember our past by saving old photos. When used wisely, it can be a very useful tool.

In this passage, Paul is correcting the Corinthian church because they have abused the Lord’s table. Some believers eat without waiting for other members to arrive, preventing late members from partaking in the meal. In addition, others get drunk from the wine at the table. To combat this, Paul then recounts the narrative of the Last Supper.

Many of us have read or heard this passage hundreds of times when our pastors prepare the sacraments. Clearly, the Scriptures tell us that the sacraments help us to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus. However, what stuck out to me was the word “whenever” in verses 25 and 26. Why is this word so important?

The word holds importance not because Jesus expects us to perform His rituals on a constant basis, but He knows that we are prone to forgetting His faithfulness. When we do, we may end up like the Israelites—desiring idols and wickedness. Of course, the grace of Jesus always welcomes us back! Pastor Sam Storms of Bridgeway Church says, “Spiritual amnesia leads to apathy, which can invariably lead to apostasy”; while remembrance is not the only method of preserving our faith, it is an important one. Scripture is filled with accounts of God calling His people, both Israelites and Christians, to fight spiritual amnesia by remembering His faithfulness in our lives.

What are some spiritual markers in your life that help you remember the Lord’s faithfulness? How often do you think about them? When we forget about the Lord’s faithfulness, we must use such spiritual markers to remind us of Him. Take some time to reflect on what the Lord has done in your life. As you think, thank God for each moment which you recall.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for Your constant reminder to remember Your faithfulness. You know that we are prone to forget your word, but You have given us spiritual markers and sacraments to remember Your faithfulness. Thank You for your amazing grace!

[1] Kenrick, Douglas T. “7 Ways Facebook Is Bad for Your Mental Health.” Psychology Today. April 11, 2014. Accessed July 09, 2017. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sex-murder-and-the-meaning-life/201404/7-ways-facebook-is-bad-your-mental-health.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 77:7-12: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: he years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Questions to Consider

What emotion is the Psalmist going through? (v.7-9)
How does the Psalmist fight this emotion? (v. 10-12)
Why do you think the Psalmist uses the future tense in verse 10-12?

Notes

The psalmist’s prayers are filled with sorrow and depression. He feels that God has completely abandoned him.
The important phrase to notice is in verse 10: “Then I thought.” The psalmist realizes that remembering the Lord is the key to getting himself out of apathy.
The psalmist uses the future tense to show that he is still in sorrow and depression. The future tense thus shows us that he is plotting out a strategy in his mind of how to conquer his distress.

Evening Reflection

In light of today’s sharing on remembrance, were there any events today that you can record as a spiritual marker? If not, take some time to revisit the spiritual markers you jotted down this morning.

July 10, Monday

Today’s AMI Devotional is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who serves at OTR.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Unexplainable Joy”

Acts 16:22-25 (ESV)

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. [23] And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. [24] Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

[25] About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…

After being attacked, arrested, beaten with rods, thrown in jail, and put into the stocks, Paul and Silas have little idea what will happen to them next. Yet what are they doing at midnight? Singing.

When I was a kid, I used to sing a lot. I would sing so much that my brother would tell me to stop, because I was apparently no good at it. As I got older, I stopped singing. My heart grew hardened and I became more and more cynical. When I became a Christian, one surprising change was that I wanted to sing again. We are all different, but one way I can know how I’m doing spiritually is how often these songs of praise spontaneously rise up in my heart.
While Paul and Silas are singing, the other prisoners are listening. If I was in prison and two guys were singing at midnight, I would probably tell them to stop. But the other prisoners are quietly listening. They recognize they are in the presence of something holy. They are in awe at this incredible joy that suffering cannot destroy.

My joy is often so fleeting. One word, one person, one unexpected circumstance can ruin my day. But Paul and Silas have a joy that suffering and even the threat of death cannot touch.
At midnight, they are praying because the Roman government is not in control. The jailer is not in control. The devil is not in control. The Risen Son of God is in control and His good and sovereign purpose will be accomplished in their lives.

At midnight, they are singing, because the world can kill the body, but it cannot separate them from the love of God, nor can it cancel out the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, the Risen Lord desires to put a song in your heart. In this life, our bodies will get older, but our hearts do not have to grow old. They do not have to become cynical or hardened for our God remains wondrous, His power remains unstoppable, His promises remain true.

Prayer: Father, I desire the joy of the Lord. Put a song in my heart that no one can extinguish. Open my eyes to see Your Greatness so that my fears and my pride may bow before my King. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 8

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:5-11: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [9] Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Question to Consider

Many scholars believe that this passage in Philippians was a hymn in the early church. How do verses 6-8 present a God that is unlike any other?
How do verses 9-10 present a God that is unlike any other?
The Philippian church was persecuted and struggling. How could this hymn encourage the church in this time?

Notes

Only Jesus takes the form of a servant, becoming a man. Only Jesus humbles Himself in obedience to the point of a humiliating death. No other God demonstrates such sacrificial love.
Only Jesus has been given the name that is above all names. The nations and peoples will bow before and confess the Lord Jesus.
In the midst of their struggles, Jesus is their empathetic High Priest who will give them grace. His love for them is proven and His authority is complete so the Philippians can know that God can and will work all things for their good.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on your day. What problems or circumstances arose that threatened to steal your joy? List at least three promises of God that remain true despite the challenges you faced today. Take a moment to sing “God is so good” or another song of praise to the Lord.