August 10, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals from August 7-11 are provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who writes about his recent teaching trip to Cuba.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

2 Tim. 2:1-2 (NIV 1984)
“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”

One word aptly describes the Korean-Argentian missionary who invited me to teach at the semiary where she operates with her Latino husband: overworked. Because everyone who comes there to teach for a week is Korean pastors, she must translate all their handouts to Spanish prior to their coming as well as interpret for them while they teach. So, my time there became half vacation for her but not by much since she prepared all my meals (Korean) while tending her two active daughters (2 and 4). Apparently, she is the only one in her organizaiton of 350+ missionaries who can do what she does.

One afternoon, the missionary commented how encouraging it was for her and the students to see that I came with an apprentice for training purpose, because it showed the importance of producing those who are able to teach others and how to go about doing it. She was referring to Jonathan, a staff at Radiance Christian Church (S.F.), who was part of my cohort group for 10 weeks. A native of Bolivia, he is exploring possibilies of serving the Lord abroad, but on this trip he did more than that. He was not only a tremendous blessing to the Cuban students but to me as well since his several hours of instruction gave me a chance to breathe in what was a grueling pace, particularly from Tuesday to Thursday (15 sessions in 18 hours/all told 19 sessions in 23 hours). Jonathan also prepared the test (41 questions) and graded them (all 71).

Just going to Cuba to teach was a great privilege but training Jonathan was what made it fun. I had even more fun when Pastor Hugo whom I trained while serving in Mexico got connected to this seminary: he is going there to offer one my courses later this year.

Do you serve the Lord in any capacity? Then, invest whatever you have received from the Lord—knowledge, skill, and/or money—into all those up-and- coming who desire to serve God; that is, “Produce reliable men who are qualified to teach others.” Thus, I was happy to report to Pastor Mark, Jon’s boss, this: “Jon showed all the earmarks of having the potential to become a dynamic and passionate teacher of God’s Word.” Now, that’s a lot of fun!

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the things that have been given to me. I also thank You for all the people who have invested into my life so that I can be productive for you and in life. Motivate me to give it back, especially to young people, so that they can serve with great effectiveness.

Bible Reading for Today: John 19

Lunch Break Study

Read Rom. 15:14: I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Lk. 19:20-4: Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ 24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

Questions to Consider

Someone said, “You can’t give what you don’t possess.” With respect to teaching, what are some prerequisites to be able to produce reliable men who are qualified to teach others?
Ultimately, why is God not pleased when we don’t share with others what He has given us?
What are some common excuses to justify why we do not try to reproduce ourselves? Pray about investing yourself into the life of a person who has the need for what you have.

Notes

Two of the prerequisites are character (as indicated by “full of goodness) and knowledge. Without character, no one may want to learn from you; without knowledge, no one would feel the need to learn from you.
Not sharing with others what God has given us shows that we are lazy at best and greedy at worst. The operative word is stewardship: we must faithfully manage what is given to us so that others may benefit from the investment God has made in our lives.
The unfaithful servant in the parable had the gall to lay the blame on God Himself, presenting him as unfair and unprincipled man. Some of the excuses among us may be: “I’m not ready yet,” “It’s not the right time” (Hag. 1:2); “Someone better can do it”. The truth: we prioritize going up higher and getting more (often at the expense of others) above serving God.

Evening Reflection

Pastor Hugo probably spent more than 1,000 hours with me in the classroom over a period of 8 years; also, he often came to my house for further instruction. I sent him out to churches and schools in and outside of our city to teach my courses. He continues to impart them, including Greek which he has introduced to a college in Indiana that has a program for Hispanics. As for me, I feel a lot of joy, satisfaction, and gratitude toward the Lord.

I invite you to pray about giving yourself to someone who wants to learn from you. “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’”
(Acts 20:35 b ).

August 9, Wednesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from August 7-11 are provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who writes about his recent teaching trip to Cuba.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

One Thing You Need Not Worry About in Cuba: Choosing

1 Tim. 6:6-9 (ESV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

While touring Havana, seeing even a single ad on the wall felt out of place; there really isn’t any need for advertising since products made by the Cuban government only come in one brand and size. Instead of choosing, you just line up and receive your monthly ration at the nearest bodega (warehouse). A family of four, for instance, is allotted one pound of chicken for an entire month but at a very low price. As for housing, once you build a house on land given by the government, you stay there indefinitely. When your daughter marries, her husband then moves into her room unless they have money to build a structure next to or above her parents’ house.

The life in America, of course, is vastly different. A man told a story of walking into a store to buy a pair of socks, but having to choose the right one from more than 300 varieties of socks felt challenging. Some came with elaborate illustrations such as: “Shock-Woven elastic arch brace contours to arch, providing additional support and normal articulation of the bones in the foot, while keep sock migration minimal”. Bewildered, the man asked the saleswoman, “What if I wanted to walk, jog or play racquetball, but don’t want to get a different sock for each activity?” The woman answered, “It’s really a matter of personal preference.” Meaning what? Whatever benefit you may gain by wearing the socks of your choice is psychological but certainly not performance enhancing. For investors, does it really matter what mutual fund you buy out of more than 10,000 today, up from 3,347 in 1992 and 564 in 1980? Even monkeys can choose stocks which perform better than professional brokers’ (look it up).

My stay in Cuba wasn’t long enough to personally discover what life is really like there, apart from what I was told—not easy, at least materially. But life in America has its own challenges: spoiled by all the choices we have and anxiety over inconsequential choices we make, we are often caught in the snare of discontentment and living above our means, resulting in debt and its concomitant worries. Heed, therefore, Paul’s warning: Choose a simple lifestyle in which our basic needs are adequately met; don’t chase after that which we cannot take with us after we die. Ultimately, choose to seek first the kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33).

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for allowing me to live in America, a land of plenty and limitless opportunity. I desire Your wisdom so that I do not turn your blessing into a trap of spiritual compromise and unfaithfulness. May I live simply so that I can do more of Your work. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 24:14-5: “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Mt. 7:13-4: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Questions to Consider

If Joshua were asked what is the most consequential choice in life, what would he say?
While the metaphor of the narrow gate may be intended for salvation (Lk. 13:23-4), its principle may certainly be applied to Christian living. With respect to all the choices that we have at our fingertips, what would it mean to “enter by the narrow gate” (1 Cor. 7:29-35)?
Putting your lifestyle and finances under a microscope, are they simple and healthy enough for you to serve God freely, or are they too materialistic and unstable to mute that question?

Notes

Joshua would say unequivocally that the most consequential choice in life is whether or not to serve God wholeheartedly. And it doesn’t matter whether one lives in Cuba or America. It may even be harder in America because there are so many distractions.
The apostle Paul, under the Inspiration, makes an interesting comment in 1 Cor. 7:30-1: “Those who buy something, [live] as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them.” To enter by the narrow gate means saying no to materialism and consumerism, so that we can “be devoted to the Lord”.
If the way your life is arranged isn’t conducive to serving the Lord, start making small changes. Don’t buy things you don’t need on credit. Reduce the number of vacations you take yearly. Use the money and time you save to serve the Lord: meaningful mission trips, helping the poor, buying evangelistic tracts to aid your personal evangelism, etc.

Evening Reflection

This morning we talked about the difference between having no choice and having too many. If you have read thus far, I would say you have made a wise choice. What did you have to do to get here? Did you get rid of all distraction or obligation first, such as work or study? Many have not yet gotten here because they are still at it. Ask the Lord to strengthen your desire and ability to wisely use God-given freewill so that you always choose that which is edifying and constructive to the glory of God. Remember Paul’s warning: “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Cor. 10:23).

August 8, Tuesday

The AMI QT Devotionals from August 7-11 are provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who writes about his recent teaching trip to Cuba.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

How Did That Happen in Cuba?

Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27 He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28 The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

In chapter 2 of my book on missions published in Mexico, while writing about the impressive growth of Christian faith in closed countries, I talked about Cuba without actually seeing what God was doing there. I finally had that opportunity during my recent teaching trip to Cuba for a week, taking back with me the reminder that “seeing is believing.”

In 2005, I wrote: “For over 40 years, Cuba was the only country in the Western Hemisphere that had embraced atheism publicly. Many believers were imprisoned because of their faith. But Castro could not kill the church of God. In early 1994, after 35 years of persecution, the Protestants in Cuba began to experience a renaissance. In 1998, six percent of Cubans (700,000) continued to attend church, of which 57 percent were Protestant. For instance, the Methodist congregants grew from 6,000 members in 1959 to 50,000 by 1994. Despite almost no help from outside for 30+ years, it is believed that there are 4,000 churches in Cuba.”

And the first thing I experienced in Cuba, before my first class began, was worshiping in one of these churches on Monday morning (as if Sunday wasn’t enough). Now, this was no ordinary service: over 200 seminarians and local church leaders singing praise to the Lord at the top of their lungs, moving and dancing in the Spirit, and crying out to God in desperate pleas (for most Cubans are in need economically). And what went on in the classroom was no different: 71 seminarians intently studying in a crammed space, praising and crying out to God just as sincerely. Their days began at 5:30 AM to get ready for morning prayers at 6, followed by a time of Bible reading. Only then the first of daily five classes would begin, totaling six hours of classroom instructions.

So, how can we account for this impressive growth without the help of Western missionaries? According to Mark 4:14, the seed in today’s parable can also represent God’s Word; and once it is planted in the soil of human heart, its inherent power does the rest in expanding in God’s Kingdom on earth, through the sharing of God’s Word by ordinary people of faith empowered by the Spirit. That’s what happened in Cuba and can also happen in our country. Are you up for it?

Bible Reading for Today: John 17

Lunch Break Study

Read Phil. 1:15-16 (written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome): 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.

Heb. 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Questions to Consider

Briefly describe what was going with some of Paul’s colleagues in ministry while the apostle was imprisoned in Rome.
Did Paul think that God’s Word proclaimed by those with wrong motives could not bear any fruit? If the answer is no, then what does this say about God’s Word?
What does God’s Word intend to accomplish—that is, what does it do for us?

Notes

Apparently, some of Paul’s ministry colleagues, given to envy and rivalry, were glad that the apostle was imprisoned so that they could shine before men through the preaching of God’s Word. In other words, their ministry was not discharged out of good will but in pretense.
Nevertheless, the apostle Paul felt that as long as these men preached Jesus correctly, God would honor His Word despite the impurity of their motives. This underscores the inherent power of God’s Word that supersedes the flaws of imperfect vessels. Nevertheless, James 3:1 assures that God will judge these types of teachers.
Everything: God’s Word intends to challenge our values and worldview, to heal us physically, and to disclose what is really in our hearts to transform us (Rom. 12:1).

Evening Reflection

We began the day reflecting on what God had been doing in Cuba without much help from Western missionaries. We noted how this shows the inherent power of God’s Word to build His kingdom on earth with our minimal participation. Yet I hope that this doesn’t discourage you from being proactive in serving the Lord. So, what can you learn from passionate Cuban believers? Would you spend a moment to allow the Spirit to speak to you about it?

August 7, Monday

The AMI QT Devotionals from August 7-11 are provided by Pastor Ryun Chang who writes about his recent teaching trip to Cuba.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Is Today Monday or Sunday?

Hebrews 10:25 (NIV 1984)

“Let us not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Is attending Sunday worship service important to you? As a believer and a father trying to model a life of faith to his children, worshiping God corporately on Sundays has been very important. And today’s passage suggests that once you miss a Sunday, it may become a habit for some.

I don’t like to travel on Sundays, but sometimes I have no other option, as was the case with my recent trip to Cuba where I taught at a seminary near Havana. My daughter faced the same predicament as her plane to Boston was scheduled to leave an hour before mine. We did try to find a Saturday service but couldn’t; I even searched for Korean churches nearby since they are known to hold early prayer meetings but to no avail.

My daughter, however, felt that she could make it to AMI’s Symphony Church if her plane arrived on time. So, I was elated to read her text, while waiting for my connection flight to Cuba, that read: “Got to Symphony service in time for the sermon.” But I wasn’t so fortunate: my plan to visit the airport chapel was quickly quashed upon realizing that it required leaving the airport security zone; there just wasn’t enough time. Then, something happened the next day in Cuba that made up for what didn’t happen on Sunday.

I went to Havana, with my teaching assistant Jon (staff at Radiance Christian Church), to teach from Monday through Friday. But the first Monday class didn’t start until after 3 PM because the week begins with a prayer service from 10 AM to 1 PM. There were over 200 people, comprised of students and local church leaders, in attendance. It was a full service with an hour-long worship, intermittent prayers, and a sermon, which I preached. During the worship, I asked Jon (who also missed Sunday), “Is today Sunday or Monday?” He assured me that it was Monday! We then broke out in joyous laughers with me saying, “Thank the Lord; we didn’t miss Sunday service after all.”

Sometimes we have no choice but to miss a Sunday, but don’t make a habit of it. If you missed it last week, write this down in your phone: Meet God at His house this Sunday.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us a living institution, Your church, where we can worship You corporately. Forgive me whenever I become lackadaisical about Sunday worship and give into temptation. Help me to truly worship You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 16

Lunch Break Study

Read John 4:24: “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth”;

Mt. 18:20: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

1 Cor. 12:12: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”

Questions to Consider

How should we worship God and what does that imply?
We can certainly worship God alone but how is that different from worshiping the Lord corporately? Think about the workings of the Body of Christ.
What is the great obstacle in your life that diminishes your weekly worship experience, including being inconsistent with attending Sunday services?

Notes

We are to worship God in spirit and truth. Worshiping God in truth would certainly include worshiping Him with right doctrine (1 Tim. 4:16, 2 Jn. 1:9). Worshiping God in spirit would include worshiping with the right heart, with prayer and praise to Him.
The corporate worship of God, that is, together physically with members of the body of Christ, can accentuate the presence of Christ among them when it is done in spirit and truth. This is not to underplay the importance of individual worshiping of God at home or other places.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Let’s conclude this day with a beautiful psalm that beautifully depicts the worshiping of God.

Slowly read Psalm 95:1-7 as you worship the Lord.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

August 6, 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

Daily Bread

Exodus 16:15b-20

“Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’” 17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed. 19 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” 20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.”

Every so often, my roommate and I will find ourselves with a plethora of snacks left in our apartment – either gifts from other people or food that we purchased for the occasion. Over time, the snacks still get stale no matter how many preservative chemicals have been added to keep them fresh. We have to throw them out before anybody else comes over and wants to eat them. While they might be barely edible and non-toxic, they’re no longer fresh and enjoyable.

I have often found myself doing something similar with God’s blessings. Instead of approaching God’s word to learn something new each day, I’ll just reflect on something I already know from the week or month prior. Instead of asking God to grow my faith, I’ll allow a significant experience from the past to become the focal point of my relationship with Him. By overemphasizing and over-relying on what God has done in the past, I fail to be open to new things from Him, and I fail to be expectant that He can do even greater things than in the past.

God’s message to the Israelites of how they must seek Him constantly was physically backed up by this demonstration through manna, the bread from heaven that would become inedible in a short span of time: There is enough for today. There will be even more tomorrow. But, we cannot live on what we gathered yesterday – yesterday’s portion is rarely suitable for today. The same concepts apply to our spiritual life. Each day we are to seek Him freshly; each day we are to expect that He, in love, will provide for us. We cannot keep going off what we have tasted from the past – if we want to grow and thrive, we will need to receive newly from Him.

After a while, even the best of our old experience with God will grow cold and stale. Let’s not live on yesterday’s grace when God has an abundance in store for us. Today, as we come before Him in the sanctuary, let’s remember that our Father is infinitely rich and has all things at His disposal. When we approach Him, we can be sure that He will send new grace, new sustenance, and new mercies.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your endless provision in our lives. Lord, we confess that, out of fear, we keep returning to the things we’ve received and sometimes stop asking for more of You. Help us stop clinging to hindsight and look forward to what You are able to do in our lives. Grow anticipation, expectation, and firm trust in Your goodness and Your love!

Bible Reading for Today: John 15

August 5, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Pressing On in Discipline
Hebrews 12:10^b-11

“God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. “

Recently my family and I took a vacation to Europe. One of our sights was an iconic basilica in Budapest, and my brother and I decided we would go to its rooftop and see the city view. We thought it would be a fun idea to take the stairs (over 300) because it would surely give us a greater sense of satisfaction when we made our way to the top. We started the ascent through a cramped, windowless stairwell, making sure not to be too slow for the sake of the people coming behind us.

As you can imagine, there were many times where we wondered (at least I did), if we had made the right choice, because the stairs became increasingly tiring and uncomfortable. When we were at the top, however, the struggle no longer mattered. The view was spectacular! All the pain of that stone Stairmaster was pushed out of our minds.

In our fast-paced society, discipline can be such a dirty word. It is slow, boring, and often painful. When you’re stuck in the middle of it, there’s no way to get a glimpse of whether the satisfaction at the end is entirely worth it. The thought of quitting may be such a satisfying temptation as well.

However, the author of Hebrews reminds us that, out of love, God desires for us to be disciplined and refined so that we may reap a harvest in the future. God is aware that much of this process may be neither fun nor easy, but He promises that the final result – a holy life aligned with Him – will be completely worth it.

God has perfect intentions and love for us. He wants to give us character that is like His so that we may worship and enjoy Him to the fullest. Let’s not avoid the discipline that God sets in our lives. In all faith, we know that our good Father is leading us towards joy. Today let’s ask Him for conviction and obedience so that He can mold our character and make us more like Him.

Prayer: Father, I confess that I am not always excited for Your refining of my life. But please make me more like You. Give me a heart that desires to be holy as You are holy; help me hang onto the promise that the harvest You envision will be more than worth this temporary hardship. Help me to come before You, readily and joyfully accepting Your perfection of all my thoughts, desires, and habits.

Bible Reading for Today: John 13-14

August 4, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Depending On One Another
Matthew 9:1-2

“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

A couple of years ago, I sprained my ankle on a day trip, and it started swelling up on the bus ride home. I had always been proud of my ability take care of myself, but I found that now I had to suddenly depend on others. I had to call a friend to let me stay at her place because I couldn’t climb four flights of stairs to my home. I needed help getting groceries or getting a ride to church. I felt embarrassed asking for help, but what I was thankful for was others’ willingness and generosity. There were times when I was literally carried by others during my recovery.

Just like the invalid in this story, we all have experiences and situations where we find ourselves hopelessly and woefully unable to carry on. We might be sick in different ways – physically affected, emotionally burnt out, spiritually dry and distant from God, etc. In those times, the only solution is to rely on others to carry us along – by their faith in action, we are led to the source of healing.

Imagine if the invalid was so embarrassed by his friends carrying him that he refused to leave his home. He would never have come before Jesus! Similarly, because of our pride, it can feel so shameful to be needy, having to constantly depend on others and admit all the ways in which we are weak. We might feel tempted to avoid asking for help. But our communities are meant to be vehicles of healing: the intervention and careful work of the man’s friends brought him exactly where he needed to go – directly in front of God.

Let’s consider how we can make our communities places where we may support and be supported by one another in our times of need. In different seasons for our souls, we may freely give and receive from our brothers and sisters. If you need help, will you humble yourself before others to ask for support and assistance? And if you are feeling fine, would you think about the ones you love, and how you could serve them and bring them closer to God?

Prayer: Father, thank You that we are never alone on this earth, but that You have provided Your people to help us along the way. Teach me to be humble in my times of need and depend on others to come before You. And, Lord, when I am well, do not let me forget my brothers and sisters in need, and make me a blessing to them.

Bible Reading for Today: John 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:9-16: Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Questions to Consider

What are the attributes of “love in action” as described here?
Are there any differences between how to love believers and unbelievers in this passage? Let’s reflect on how we love those around us and whether they experience the love of God through us.
Is there someone in your life whom you need to show that you care about? Ask God for strength and do it today.

Notes

Love is sincere, devoted, humble, energized, and generous. It is emphathetic, even going so far as to directly experience and share the joys and griefs of others.
As far as the passage goes, there is no specific instruction on different types of love – believers are called to live peacably, mercifully, and kindly with all neighbors.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

When was the last time you asked for help, and when was the last time you offered to help carry someone to God? Let’s think about how we are creating a community of interdependence, and through our different seasons of struggle, bring each other to the feet of God.

August 3, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Masterpieces on Display”
Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

In college, three friends and I completed our Senior Design project together. As a team, we spent a lot of effort brainstorming, building, and creating the final product–even using our own money to buy parts and finish it. We were quite proud of our final product. Naturally, that’s what we presented officially to our teachers and classmates: the final product. We never pulled out the simplistic proof-of-concept, the machine parts that burned out, or other rough drafts we had scrapped.

The things we are most proud of, the objects that show our talent, gifts, and skills are the ones we put on display. Isn’t it amazing that God’s word says that we are similar? We are not rough drafts or beings that He would rather hide. We are His handiwork—creations that He has meticulously shaped and created. And God has allowed us to roam around the earth to display His skill and artistry.

Perhaps today you and I don’t consider ourselves masterpieces. But the truth is that God, through Jesus Christ, has given each of us the great honor of displaying Him. This should lift up our heads to know that He has dreamed up and given each of us glorious new life, identity, and purpose. We are not forgotten by God, but rather we are His valuable, thoughtful creations.

We are bearing His image today! So, let’s reflect on what it means for us to individually bear His image. It is not meant to inflate our egos—instead, He has our work cut out for us. We each are meant to show the world a different facet of His character and goodness. Today, let’s take time to think about what it means for us to display who our God is and orient our lives around that purpose.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love for us. How astounding that You have given each person specific purpose. Would You gently show us how You want to use us and help us not to waste our opportunities to display who You are. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Philippians 2:12-18: Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Questions to Consider

What are the attributes of a believer who has had salvation work out in his/her life?
What are the results of having this salvation life transforming our lives?
Why is “fear and trembling” important to mention when it comes to working out our salvation? Are we doing the same in our sanctification process with God?

Notes

Attributes of our salvation changing us include a cheerful, uncomplaining spirit (v. 15), a purity that is set-apart from the world (v. 15), and a steadfast faith (v. 16).
Not only is God displayed as we present a different character than that of the world; other believers, like Paul, will also give praise and glory to God from seeing our faith bearing fruit in character and witness.
The word says that ”it is God who works in you to will and to act,” meaning that any kind of transformation comes directly from God, not our own attempt at behavior modification. Therefore, our ability to transform ourselves is wholly dependent on the God who shapes us! Let’s take dependence on Him as our role in this transformation.

Evening Reflection

Was there an opportunity for you today to display God? Let’s reflect on a particular conversation or an acquaintance that He might be giving us opportunity to represent our Savior, and pray for more chances tomorrow.

August 2, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Theory vs. Execution”

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

For more than ten years, I have followed food bloggers intently. Whenever I tell people, they become acutely interested and ask, “Are you a good cook?” Unfortunately, I must say no. I have acquired a lot of knowledge through these blogs, their videos, and eating, but I’ve spent very little time actually practicing any of those things. I can throw fancy words around like “julienne” and “batonnet,” but I am totally unable to follow through in reality. What a waste it is to know so much and be so terrible in execution. Because it’s never translated from my head to my hands, all this knowledge is essentially useless.

In one of his closing passages, Paul exhorts the church of Philippi to intently fill their minds with godly things. However, he follows by saying that they must also practice what they have seen and heard. It is not enough to merely know the right things and to spend time pondering them. These truths and ideals have to be lived out with their lives.

There is no shortage these days of commentaries and insights about the Bible and spiritual life. But when we read them, have we only built an encyclopedia of interesting facts about God, or have these truths taken hold of our lives?

Since you and I are reading this devotional this morning, it’s likely that we try to habitually fill our minds with thoughts of God. But let’s not just settle for good thoughts! We want the truths to transform us. Let’s focus on one or two things we have learned recently that we can put into practice today. Slowly then, as we make our thoughts about God cohere with our activities, we will find that He draws near as we reflect Him in our lifestyle.

Prayer: Father, thank You for teaching us so much about You. We repent of having settled for just collecting information about You when we could have truly encountered You instead and been transformed through applying what we know. Let Your Word transform us so that we can truly live up to what we know. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: John 10

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:19-27 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Questions to Consider

James draws a distinction between true faith and religiosity. What should we expect true faith to look like?
What does it mean that God’s word could be a “perfect law that gives freedom,” when James has written so many stipulations and rules about holy living?
What is our role in making sure we have true faith? Let’s reflect on whether we are intently doing this.

Notes

True faith results in a transformation of our inner being – not merely rule-keeping but an above-and-beyond character. True faith results in an extraordinary patience, an extraordinary generosity, and a great desire to set ourselves apart from the world.
James writes that the word can save us; it is planted in us, but its growth and fruition is not up to us. The perfect law gives us freedom because now we are under Christ alone. Instead of a burdensome Law with many rules and regulations, we have been given a perfect righetousness that is impossible for us to acquire on our own. Therefore we are free to take part in God’s righteousness, knowing that He has already made a way for us.
James suggests that we must first humbly accept the word. Not only should we be intently familiar with what it says; we must also stay humble to be obedient to it and what it asks of us.

Evening Reflection

Let’s spend time in response to the passage–training our minds to think about what commendable, godly things we saw or learned. Then, let’s ask God for wisdom and obedience to carry out some of these in our lives tomorrow.

August 1, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Displaying Your Scars”
John 20:24-29

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

I had a co-worker who had some very expensive travel luggage. I was marveling not only at how expensive it was but also how beaten up he had allowed it to get—it was scuffed over, with bumper stickers messily taped around. He assured me that that the whole mess was deliberate—you had to show off that you’d done quite a bit of traveling. His luggage, therefore, publicly bore the battle scars of wear and tear.

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus, who had already miraculously risen from the dead, chose not to make His physical body perfect? Instead, God kept these wounds on display. For Thomas, He readily showed His scars so that he would put his faith in God.

How often do we display the scratch marks on our lives to tell a story? If we know our testimony of sharing the work God has done in our lives, what keeps us from sharing it with others? Sometimes, it may be that we are ashamed of what our stories may sound like to others, or we might be uncomfortable with what details will be revealed. Let’s remind ourselves of the better focal point—all our details demonstrate that Jesus has redeemed and restored us all.

Our Lord and Savior publicly bears the marks of His love for us, and He can give us strength to display the testimony of His love in our lives. Today, let’s remind ourselves of the good story that God has written in our lives, and let’s look for an opportunity to share it with someone. We never know the outcome when we share, but we can be sure that God’s love is revealed when we display the depths of which He has healed us.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your healing in our lives! Make our lives full of witnessing Your goodness through every trial and hardship. Help us not to be ashamed or uncertain of the great power You have displayed in our circumstances. Teach us how to live our lives without fear of judgment so that we may freely share the testimony You have given us.

Bible Reading for Today: John 9

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 32:23-32: After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Questions to Consider

In what kind of position do we find Jacob before he encounters God?
Contrast God’s comment in v. 28 with Jacob’s recounting in v. 30. What does the difference tell us about Jacob’s understanding of God?
What aspects of Jacob’s wrestling with God can we apply to our lives?

Notes

Jacob is completely alone. He has separated himself from his family and also from his possessions. By the same token, there is also nothing preoccupying his attention.
God pronounces Jacob victorious, but Jacob remembers the struggle as an act of mercy, for he did not die. While it is incredible that Jacob could have ’won’ the struggle, he has proper reverence and fear of God to know that it was a very bold and audacious encounter.
Firstly, Jacob was unrelenting. He clung onto God tenaciously and relentlessly. Secondly, Jacob came away from encountering God with an enlargened sense of His mercy and power – this should be our byproduct when we spend meaningful time with God. Lastly, Jacob and his descendants commemorate the limp tendon, keeping it as a reminder of his transformative encounter with God.

Evening Reflection

Was there an opportunity for you today to display God or tell someone about how He has changed your life? Let’s reflect on a conversation that He might be giving us opportunity to shine our light to, and let’s pray for more chances tomorrow.