Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Pastor Ryun Chang.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY
1 John 3:18-20 (NIV 1984)
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongues but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”
When facing a temptation—like looking at porn or spreading rumors—recognizing the choice between sinning and not sinning isn’t as hard as choosing not to sin. What’s difficult is having to choose between two seemingly valid options. Consider the following example which I wrote while attending seminary in Southern California.
“Last Wednesday, I was once again fighting the traffic to get to my 8 am class. The ride to the school, located about 30 miles from my home, usually takes anywhere from 45 minutes to one and a half hours. I try to be on time out of respect for my professor and to avoid my grade being docked for tardiness. That morning, as I was cruising fast, I saw an elderly man pushing his stalled car off the road; I continued to drive. Immediately, however, my conscience began to bother me: Well, what is more important: my grade or helping that man out? So, I made a U‑turn to return to him, only to find that he was already being helped. Although I was late to my class, again, I didn’t feel as bad as other times because I felt like I had made the right decision (though a tad late).”
After citing this incidence that happened some 30 years ago, I began to feel that perhaps I had patted myself on the back for no good reason, and as a result, my readers would frown on me. But then I realized that that is my point: as believers, we should cultivate a sensitive conscience so that we don’t feel totally satisfied with the good that we’ve done, either because we could’ve done it better (e.g., stopping for the elderly man right away) or chosen another action that is better.
Facing such situation, John tells us to find rest for our condemned hearts in God who is greater than our hearts—meaning, don’t seek satisfaction or escape from guilt by justifying our actions, however good or almost good they may be, but throw yourself at God’s mercy. John says that God knows everything—meaning, He knows you tried, He knows you feel bad, and He knows you love Him. With that in mind, “let us not love with words or tongues but with actions and in truth” today.
Prayer: Dear God, I’ve failed to reflect Your light to the world so many times. At the same time, I’ve tried to justify my standing before You with good deeds, which shows how deficient my understanding of Your grace and mercy is. Thank You for being always being gracious and merciful towards me. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 9
Lunch Break Study
Read Luke 18:9-14: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Questions to Consider
- In light of 1 John 3:18-20, how would you advise the Pharisee who was quite confident of his own “Christian” performance?
- In light of 1 John 3:18-20, how would you advise the tax collector who felt so miserable over what he failed to carry out?
- What is your main struggle? Is it more like that of the Pharisee or the tax collector? Pray about what action to take in order to find peace for your troubled heart.
Notes
- An example of an advice: “Mr. Pharisee, while ‘you give a tenth of your spices . . . you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness’ (Mt. 23:23). Therefore, don’t feel too good about yourself by selectively appraising your life; instead, throw yourself at God’s mercy.”
- An example of an advice: “Mr. tax collector, you did the wise thing by throwing yourself at God’s grace and mercy since you’ve done little to please Him. Now that you have been ‘justified before God’, I urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain’ (2 Cor. 6:1). From now on, ‘produce fruit in keeping with repentance’ (Mt. 3:8)—‘not with words or tongues but with actions and in truth’.”
- Personal response.
EVENING REFLECTION
Looking back to your entire day, did you experience feeling guilty or ashamed? Was it over a sin or genuine mistake on your part, or something good that you could have done better or should have done? Before vowing to do better tomorrow, thereby feeling better about yourself by your deed, let’s find our rest in God. Throw yourself at God’s mercy and repeat what the tax collector told God: “‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner and someone who doesn’t produce as good a fruit as I should.”
On a recent flight, I watched a movie on the plane that began with a scene of a reporter asking “Miss Elliot, aren’t you scared? Given the history, given the dangers?” Elliot replied, “Of course. I’m scared that I might let the mission down in some way. . .. Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Her answer caused me to think about the conflicts and fears that I had been holding onto rather than lifting up to the LORD in prayer. This of course seems like a normal reaction by most of us who “fix our eyes . . . on what is seen, [not] on what is unseen” (1 Cor. 4:18).
Summer is a prime time for weddings. This year we’ve received six wedding invitations and have been to three already. Over six years of shepherding the young adult congregation at GCC, we have walked many dating couples through dating and premarital counseling, and have ultimately been a part of their wedding date.I always cry tears of joy and celebration at these weddings, recalling each couples’ unique struggles and journeys that have brought them to this sacred moment of making a lifelong commitment to each other as husband and wife.
Today’s AMI Devotional is written by Pastor Joshua Kim who serves at the Church of Southland.
In an effort to live a healthier lifestyle, Christina and I recently subscribed to Blue Apron—a meal delivery service that provides all the ingredients you need to make several meals throughout the week, all shipped in this refrigerated box. The only issue is figuring out a way to preserve your ingredients, the trickiest ingredient in my recent order being basil. You can’t just stick basil in the fridge. What I learned online is that you have to put the stem of the basil leaves in a cup of water, cover the top with a plastic bag to sustain it. But even with this type of complex storage method, we noticed that some of the leaves started to brown before we could use it.
Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Pastor Shan Gian (Fenway Site Pastor, Symphony Church).
I’m typically not one to enjoy touristy sites, but a few years ago I had the privilege of going with a group of people to the Great Wall of China. It was a beautiful sight; we not only got to see the wall up close and personal, but we got to walk on the surface itself and climb up to the highest point.
The AMI QT Devotionals for August 14-16 are provided by Joanna Tzen, who graduated from U. Penn and currently works in Philadelphia. Her husband Paul and Joanna attend and serve at Grace Covenant Church.
You might have already heard of Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.” While the so-called law doesn’t exactly come from the Bible, it appears that Murphy wasn’t completely off base when we examine the life of Joseph. As if being sold into slavery by his own brothers wasn’t bad enough, Joseph was thrown into jail on false charges as a result of his faithfulness to God at Potiphar’s house. There, after meeting two prisoners who had served as Pharaoh’s chief baker and cupbearer, Joseph was able to interpret their dreams. He hoped he would be remembered by the cupbearer whose dream of freedom he had interpreted correctly, but “the chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (Gn. 40:23). Joseph waited two more years before being remembered and then summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Always spiritually alert no matter what the circumstances, Joseph attributes his gifting to God. And this is where Joseph’s life parts company with Murphy’s Law: after interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, he is lauded for his wisdom and appointed second in command of Egypt.
In continuing the story of Joseph, we see that after his brothers sell him into slavery, Potiphar’s household purchases him from the slavers. It must have been a moment of great despair for Joseph. Nevertheless, before the Lord began to bestow favor and success upon him in Potiphar’s home, there is little doubt that Joseph himself sought the Lord in his despair. Which came first? David, when facing a similar situation of hopelessness, said, “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all fears” (Ps. 34:4). David didn’t solve his problems with his own strength; neither did Joseph, whose help came from the Lord (Ps. 121:2). Subsequently, his faith became evident to Potiphar who saw that Joseph was not like other slaves; that is to say, Joseph’s faith was expressed not only through his words but also by his work ethic and character-driven conduct. So impressed was Potiphar that he “left in Joseph’s care everything he had” (Gn. 39:6).
Many of us are familiar with the story of Joseph. We know he was his father’s favorite son, was sold into slavery by his brothers, but rose to be a man of power in Egypt. Joseph receives dreams from the Lord in this passage that he would be lifted above his family, clearly showing that he is favored and gifted by the Lord. He shares this with his family without much tact or wisdom, and it’s plain that his character leaves something to be desired.
Today’s AMI Devotional is written by Mei Lan Thallman. Mei Lan is originally from Taiwan and a graduate of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary (M.A.) in Kentucky. She is the wife of Pastor Kirt, who serves at Grace Covenant Church (Philadelphia). They have two children, Nate (13) and Naomi (11).
At the beginning of this summer, I felt wearied and fatigued, like a car that has been on a long distance nonstop travel. My physical and emotional tanks were running on empty, warning lights flashing on all core components of my personhood. After sending the kids to their grandparents’ farm for a week, I told my husband that I desperately needed an extended personal time with Jesus.
The AMI QT Devotionals for today and tomorrow are provided Jasmin Izumikawa. Jasmin, a member of the Church of Southland, is currently a high school teacher.
The coldest and darkest night I experienced was on a mountain in Peru. My sister and I had nearly completed our three-day trek on foot and we stopped to rest for the evening. Each night, our team of hungry and weary travelers met in the communal tent and we listened for our trail leader to update us on the weather and such. We huddled together around a small lamp as he would encourage us, “Claro, claro, we will arrive in time to see the view at sunrise. It is very beautiful. Yes, there will be small train ride.”