July 11, Tuesday

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

“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.

July 9, Sunday

Jennifer Kim, a graduate of Boston University, spent a year in Shanghai as one-year intern from 2013-14. She is currently serving as a staff at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey), while attending Alliance Theological Seminary.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Luke 7:36-39

When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Growing up I had one dream in life, and unlike most kids, my dream never changed: I wanted to be the first female Asian Spielberg. To kick-start this dream, when I was in 6^th grade I asked my parents for a very specific camcorder—the Sony DCR-TRV22. Now this camcorder was the most state-of-the-art recorder of its day, and I took care of this thing like it was my baby! This camera was my most prized possession because at the heart of it, I believed it would bring me closer to my dream of becoming Director Jennifer Kim.

In today’s passage, we read of a woman identified only as “a woman in the city who was a sinner,” who owned a very prized possession: an alabaster jar of perfume. A single vial of this perfume was said to be the equivalent of one year‘s wages, and prostitutes at the time were actually known to wear these vials around their neck to increase their appeal. In other words, this jar of perfume was most likely the most expensive thing this woman owned; it was her livelihood and income as it was the source of her continuing lucrative business. Yet more than that, it was her very source of identity that labeled her the city sinner.

Oftentimes, the things that we hold onto as our most prized possession are the very things that cause us to sin. We can wear our titles, careers, family, relationships, and perhaps even our spiritual gifts around our neck, thinking they will increase our appeal. Yet while these things are not essentially bad, when they become the source of our identity, they become the very source of sin in our lives which only lead us to the feet of Jesus weeping like this woman. My camcorder is a silly example of my most prized possession, but it was the sole purpose of my heart that made me live in pursuit of an identity that never satisfied my heart, leading me further and further from the Lord. Our most prized possessions may be the things dearest to our heart, even becoming our source of income and our identity, but I want to encourage you today to reflect on whether God is asking you to lay your jars of perfume at the feet of Jesus, so you may live in the fullness of Christ Jesus. As this woman pours out her perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet, He says that what this woman has done will be remembered whenever the gospel is preached. Our sacrifices to the Lord are remembered forever, and God does not waste them as long as we surrender to Him. May we be people who fully surrender for the fullness of Jesus in our lives as we remember that God did not withhold anything for us.

Prayer: God, thank You for Your unending love to sacrifice everything, so I may enjoy fullness in You. May I also surrender my most prized possessions in pursuit of my identity in You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 7

July 8, Saturday

The AMI QT Devotionals from July 3-8 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, has recently completed his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco (and also soon to be married 😊).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:12

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Our church has recently wrapped up another successful summer VBS, and despite all the crying, the endless chaotic bundles of energy, unintentional food fights, and the over-tired/over-hyped volunteers, it’s one of my favorite programs at our church. Every year I walk away with another special memory of our time together which blesses me until the next summer. This year, my new moment involves a little girl from the community who had been dropped off by her grandma. Once her grandma had left, the girl cried for at least an hour, begging us to go home to her mommy. I made an attempt to cheer her up, but the moment she saw me approaching, her crying worsened! I helplessly walked away and returned about fifteen minutes later to see her in the arms of one of our volunteers, reciting the memory verse for the day. What a miracle! But the happiest moment was to see her actively participating in the Bible lessons, and later dancing and singing to the songs of worship. She left the church that day with a big smile on her face.

This little girl had walked in feeling abandoned by her grandmother and thrown into an unfamiliar setting. Yet she left the church that day with a verse memorized in her head and a melody to hum about the love that God has for her. The simple truth of knowing God’s Word and putting her faith in Him had ingrained itself in her head, at least for that day. And this is what the writer tells us regarding the key behind the endurance of these saints. The ‘secret’ condenses down to two things: keeping God’s commandments and sustaining your faith in Christ. The same simple lesson that we teach at VBS, is the same lesson that helps us endure to the end. Let us hold fast to the Scriptures knowing that even if heaven and earth pass away, His words will remain forever (Matthew 24:35). May we respond to the Scriptures in a faith that is lived out.

Spend a moment to memorize a verse or two that you can recite to yourself throughout the day. Here’s one from our past VBS: “If God is for us, who can ever be against us” (Romans 8:31). Note: Please make sure to read/pray them in proper context! May His word encourage and strengthen you throughout this day.

Prayer: Lord, we confess that many times we can complicate the Christian faith. Jesus, just as you depended on the Scriptures when you were tempted in the desert, may we also turn to your Word. Help us not to put our faith in other things or people, but to only put them in you. Father, allow your word to strengthen our feeble hearts and become living and active in our lives.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 5-6

July 7, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 15:1-4

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.2 And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

When we were young, my friends and I spent hours playing as superheroes, using whatever we could find around the house for weapons. Our fantasy battles were the stuff of legends, complete with sound effects from our mouths. My favorite superhero was always Batman; for me, he seemed to be the most human while still standing toe-to-toe with all the other supernaturally-powered heroes. As I look back at my decision, I wonder if it was because I thought he was the closest I could get to making this fantasy a reality. It was my own fairy tale where I would fight crime, save lives, and be the hero of a dark world. We all enjoy such fairy tales and fantasies—many of them also being the story lines for most Hollywood blockbusters. Theologian Matt Smethurst explains it as “a gnawing suspicion—a hope—present deep within us, that our world isn’t the way it’s supposed to be and isn’t the way it always will be.” In fact these desires point to an underlying reality which we inwardly sense to be somehow true—that perhaps there exists something greater than the broken and finite reality we live in today. And we all hope one day it will come to pass.

Today our passage clearly speaks of this day: a time when all things will come to an end, where the beast has been conquered and God’s wrath has been completed. That heaven is not merely another fantasy or figment of our imagination, but it is a reality for those who believe. Commentators note the parallels between this passage and that of Exodus 15, but the difference being that this passage points to the final exodus—heaven. That since the beginning of time, the story of redemption and freedom for God’s people was never meant to be yet another fairy tale, but a reality made possible through Christ. And so, may our hope be strengthened by the infinite value of the kingdom that awaits us; it is a reality that our minds cannot fully grasp, so impossible it is to overestimate its wonder and glory. May we always remind ourselves that we are simply sojourners in a broken world—that though we may struggle in this world, there will come a day in which all suffering will cease and we will spend eternity in His glory. As we finish this series in the book of Revelation, may He create and renew your hope in what is to come.

Prayer: Lord, restore my hope in Your kingdom that awaits us. We confess that many times we minimize the gospel message to a mere a fairy tale, or we take for granted the life to come after this. Lord, thank You that You have already prepared a place for us for that time. Until then, give us the strength to endure and persevere here on earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 2:9-12: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Questions to Consider

What is our responsibility as God’s people?
Why does Peter call us “sojourners and exiles”? How does this affect the way we live?
Spend some time reflecting on your life. How would you identify yourself in this world?

Notes

Our first responsibility as His people is to realize that we have been chosen by God. The words “royal priesthood” and “holy nation” can be traced back to the OT. As the job of the priest was to lead the people towards God, God calls us to lead others to Him. This is only made possible through Christ who stands as our High Priest and Mediator, reconciling us once and for all to the Father. This is the excellency that we are called to proclaim to others.
Charles Spurgeon defines the meaning of sojourner to our position and our character. First, we must know that our home awaits us. Secondly, being a sojourner means we should expect to be treated by the world as strangers who do not understand us. Just as when we visit a foreign country and they do not understand our culture or our language, as God’s people we should set ourselves apart in our character. However, this does not excuse us to keep to our own ways, but Peter calls us to live honorably to the world, that they may see the good deeds within us. But more than how we appear to others, we are also called to be strangers to the world in our hearts. In the same manner we would be cautious in a foreign land, we must be cautious and weary of the desires that this world encourages to follow after.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Sometimes being a Christian is difficult. Often we must deny ourselves many things that bring some type of enjoyment to our lives. However, we forget that for every refusal, we are saying yes to the true joy and hope that awaits us. Spend some time reminding yourself of the wonderful hope we have in eternity and may you be renewed by this truth. What are the areas in your life which you struggle to relinquish? Spend some time asking that His Spirit will empower you, for we know that those who live by the Spirit will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

July 6, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:7

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Growing up, there were two things I feared: heights, and my father calling my full Korean name in that tone. That could only mean I had messed up to the point of no return. From growing up in such a success and performance driven environment, the fear I still battle with to this day is that of failure. My fear continued to grow because success was always relative to a worldly standard— one I could never achieve because there was always something more to do, someone better than me. When I think about the word fear, I can only have a negative reaction to it. So imagine my confusion when I read passages that tell us to “fear” God. How can one fear God? How can that be good?

Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, wrestled with the biblical meaning of “fearing God” by making a distinction between two types of fear: servile fear and filial fear. He defined the first as a prisoner in a torture chamber afraid of his jailer or a slave in the hands of a malicious master; while a filial fear (from which we get the word ‘family’ in Latin) is like the fear a child has for his father. In both cases fear is the response to a source or, in these examples, a person. The first is in regard to a malicious master, and the second is to a loving father. In the second case, the child is afraid to displease his father out of love and respect, leading to a sense of reverence and awe for him. Because of this, the child wishes to please his father for the sake of respect. In fact, the word fear is always found in the context of reverence and worship as a response to God’s glory and majesty. Unlike the servile fear of failure I struggled with, we can find freedom in the fear that God commands us. It is fear based on the loving yet glorious character of God, a God who deems us worthy and pleasing through the standard that was fully met through Christ.

Luther concludes by warning us to not take advantage of this grace and slip into a casual relationship with God. To fear the Lord is to have a sense of awe and reverence to Him while at the same having a personal intimacy through Christ. May we fear Him and give Him glory. May we find freedom from the fear of man as we seek to glorify Him.

Prayer: Jesus, we thank You for making a way to the Father. We confess that many times we take advantage of the grace You showed us. Lord restore our sense of awe for You while deepening our intimacy with You. Help us to live this day seeking to give You glory in all that we do. May it not be out of a servile fear, but a filial fear knowing that you are indeed a good Father. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 17:6: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:8-12: “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

Questions to Consider

Compare these two similar accounts of God commanding Moses to give the Israelites water.
What can we glean from these two passages?
How does this apply to you? Do you find yourself comparing past experiences to what God is doing today?

Notes

The most notable difference is God’s response to Moses in the second account. It seems that even after Moses strikes the rock as he did in the first one, God accuses Moses of disbelief. In the first passage, God calls Moses to strike the rock to produce water; while in the second, God calls Moses to speak to the rock. Instead of speaking, Moses strikes the rock, this time doing so twice and repeating what he did in the past.
God doesn’t want us to trust in our past experiences. Many times we can find ourselves comparing ourselves to our past experiences and trying to chase after them in our present. We don’t realize that when we do this, we could be robbing ourselves of what God is trying to teach us today. Experience-driven Christianity can lead to a weak faith. God doesn’t want us to chase after our past, but to chase after Him. When we seek Him, new experience will come. Note: God does mention throughout the Scriptures to remember the past. But these are in context to remember who God is and His promises, and so experiences should only strengthen our faith in who He is.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

W. Tozer, a renowned American pastor in the mid-20^th century, said, “I want the presence of God Himself, or I don’t want anything at all to do with religion… I want all that God has or I don’t want any.” Spend some time reflecting on this thought. Surprisingly, we can get caught up with chasing after experiences at the cost of seeking God’s presence. Take a moment to simply be still in His presence. Perhaps even ask God that He would reveal Himself in a new and fresh way.

July 5, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:6

“Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.”

I hate shopping—and certainly, growing up with an older sister and mom who enjoyed it did not help. While they scavenged the stores, my usual choice of activity was limited to sitting on the bench outside, looking lost and helpless as I waited—what seemed like seconds to them, felt like an eternity to me. But on this day, while waiting, I saw a middle school student and his pastor looking at me from the corner. At the time, I was serving as a youth pastor and already guessed what they were up to. The boy then awkwardly and nervously came and sat next to me. A part of me thought this could be a good teaching moment and could make it difficult by refusing to listen or ask difficult questions about his faith. However, I chose to be a good Samaritan and take in everything he had to say. With his legs shaking and his voice quivering, he began his small talk, asking how my day was going and then proceeded to the “talk.”

I mean, did I look that helpless and miserable? It was funny and a little offensive to think that this kid was trying to share the gospel with me—a youth pastor. He was so nervous that he accidentally started with “You’re going to hell.” After his cute attempt, I calmed his nerves and let him know that I was already a believer. Instantly, he gave a huge sigh of relief and smiled, telling me that much of his fear was that I wouldn’t accept his words. In that moment I felt the Lord convicting me and teaching me through this kid. First, He was asking me when was the last time I shared the gospel with someone (at least this kid tried). More importantly, He was revealing how my lack of sharing stems from the fear of being rejected and the hearer not believing. But in today’s passage, it reminds us of this: Whether literal or not, “the great task of spreading the gospel in the world will be finished by God Himself through his angels.” Yet how often do we elevate ourselves, thinking that Christ will not return unless every nation hears the gospel through our own evangelistic effort—or even to think that the conversion of the soul is up to us.

It is for this reason, Christ commands us to be a witness (Matthew 28)—which is the act of giving one’s testimony from you experiencing the event. Christ calls us to experience Him and simply testify the gospel work in your life to those around us. Although we do play a role in His work, we are not the main agents. May this truth release the pressure of sharing the gospel, and that we may trust in the full power of the gospel and let His Spirit move the heart. There are no barriers and people groups He cannot reach. May we—like this kid (hopefully with better words)—not be ashamed to share the gospel to those who are helpless and lost until Christ returns.

Prayer: Lord, I pray that You would give us a heart for the lost. May our experiences with You overflow into a testimony for others to see who You are. We confess that salvation will only come from you; may we just be good witnesses of Your truth. “O God, grant us to know you in such a way that the fire of our wonder becomes an unquenchable flame of witness to the world” (John Piper). Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 2

Lunch Break Study

Read James 2:17-26: So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Questions to Consider

What is the relationship between faith and works?
What is the difference between the two examples of people living by faith in the lives of Abraham and Rahab?
What can we learn from Rahab?

Notes

R.C. Sproul tells us that while both are distinct, they are both inseparable. Borrowing from the belief of the Reformed, “We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” This means that while it is our belief in Christ’s redemption that saves us, such a belief demands a response in our actions—that if we truly believe and have faith in Christ, it will inevitably lead to works of obedience.
Abraham had the high honor of being known as the father of faith and a friend of God. Not much is known about Rahab, other than the fact she was a sinful woman and a harlot. More importantly Abraham was a Jew and Rahab was a Gentile. To think Gentiles could receive salvation was blasphemous. However, James writes that both exercised a saving faith, regardless of their background.
As it was credited to Abraham, Rahab was credited with this “saving faith.” How? When the two spies approached Rahab and delivered what God had said about the city, she believed. She heard the Word and knew that her city was indeed condemned. She not only responded in her mind and emotions, she responded with her will; in other words, her belief led her to action. Spend some time applying this truth to your life.

Evening Reflection

In an interview with Pastors Timothy Keller and John Piper, a story is mentioned about a woman who had been struggling with this idea of faith and works. She explained that it was “scary” because “if you’re saved by works, there’s a limit to what God can ask of you. You’re like a taxpayer, you’ve paid your dues, and he can ask certain things of you, but not anything. But, if I’m really saved by grace, because of what Jesus has done, there’s no limit to what he can ask of me, and my obedience would have to be unconditional.” And here is the crux of their discussion: We are saved by faith alone, therefore our response is gratitude that manifests in wanting to do things for the One who saved us. (Taken from Church Leaders, “John Piper and Tim Keller Discuss: We Are Saved by Faith Alone, but What About Sanctification?” by Megan Briggs)

Spend some time reflecting on this truth. Think about your faith and belief in Him. Does it lead to some type of outward transformation? How is the goodness of the gospel revealed in your life? Remember, it’s not about a “we have to,” “but a get to” as we serve Him simply out of heart of overflowing thanksgiving and love.

July 4, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

“Finding your Brand . . . in Him”

Revelation 14:9-11

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

We live in a world driven by branding. In fact, business experts show us that NIKE has taken the lead in the sports industry because of their branding strategy—spending over $1 billion a year in advertising alone. From the mundane, such as what we wear, to the more significant, such as where we work, it’s all about the name. It’s amazing how a small piece of accessory with the word NIKE on it can be priced 10x higher than a non-name brand, even though it is pretty much the same thing! Even more importantly, it’s so easy for us to tie our identity to the name of the school we graduate from or the company we work for. In fact, experts emphasize the importance of “finding your brand” and “selling/marketing yourself ” as the way to success. Now, striving for such things is not bad in and of itself; however, when we allow these things to claim our identity, we become subject to the very products of this world.

In this passage, whether literal or not, the writer makes it clear that in the end we will all be accountable to a name. That name can either have your name on it or something else in the world; but only those who are marked by His Name will be able to partake in the celebration before the throne of Heaven. Commentator Mounce writes, “When judgment comes there will be no room for ambiguity; people will have by their mark declared their master.” There is no room for negotiation in this matter. May we never find our identity in names of this world, but remember that we are forever branded and marked by Jesus Christ. For only in this name do we find true salvation and redemption for eternity. This is good news because this is the one name that cannot be earned, but can only be given by His grace. While this world continues to be enslaved to the needs of this world, we are freed by the Name above all names, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

With that we have been given the responsibility of carrying that Name in a manner that is worthy. Charles Spurgeon challenges the church to “not come and take His name and then dishonor His Character.” In other words, taking upon the name of Jesus comes with the responsibility of following in His character. As we start this morning, ask yourself this: What do I want to be known for? What would the people around me say about me and my branding?

Prayer: Lord, may we find our identity in the one name above all names—the name of Jesus. We confess that many times we associate ourselves more with this world and lose ourselves to the needs of this world. Father, may our lives reflect Your character so that others may see we are of You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joshua 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Deuteronomy 8:1-5: “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.

Questions to Consider

Why does God humble us?
Why is humility good for us?
What are the areas in your heart that you cannot let go and trust Him in?

Notes

Humility is not something that we can artificially produce, but it comes from the Lord. To be humble is to obey the Lord. Many times we allow external circumstances to harden our hearts that deter us from His will. God will use circumstances to humble our hearts so that we will not forget it is God who leads us and provides for us.
Humility teaches us to remember to not trust in our own abilities or even what the world offers (the daily bread); rather, we are to remember that it is God who provides for us, even our daily needs. God humbles us out of discipline (verse 5), and we know that in Hebrews 12:6 that God disciplines the ones He love. Humility stems from His love for us.
Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Humility can be difficult and can be so easily confused with a false humility. Remember, humility is not necessarily about the external appearance but the internal attitude of your heart. It is the full surrender and acknowledgement of our own weaknesses while having a full understanding of His sufficiency. May we trust in His provision, believing that He truly has the best in mind for us. Spend some time reflecting on the areas in your life where God is teaching you about humility.

July 3, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 14:1-3

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.

I recently met a new believer who stayed for the praise portion of both of our services back to back. Her reasoning was quite simple: she said there was something tangible about God during the praise, and that seeing others worshipping together drew her into the room. For some this is still true, but for others the praise portion of the service can be sometimes a buffer time to find parking, as long as you’re in time for the message. But it’s true that worship can sometimes become mundane and even a little repetitive.

In fact, this was the situation that worship artist Matt Redman and his church found themselves in. So the pastor of the church did the unthinkable: he literally stripped all the sound equipment and instruments until only the voices remained. Can you imagine that? If you’re a little self-conscious about your voice, this sounds like a nightmare. But out of this bold move, Matt Redman wrote the famous song “Heart of Worship” that would recapture the purpose of worship for their church.

The reality is that our feelings may come and go, the style of worship may change, but worship will not. In fact, when we worship we are partaking in an eternal act, and what we do here on earth is merely a glimpse of what is to come. It is one of the few things we know we will continue to do for eternity. Our passage describes of a worship so unfamiliar to our earthly ways –and yet so glorious! We will all join in and sing a new song—a song of our redemption and final return to Jesus; a song that is no longer about how much we need Him or about our sufferings, but a complete redirection of our attitudes and hearts solely focused on the Lamb.

Metaphorical or not, I personally do hope that the praise in heaven will be like the “roar of many waters” and the “sound of thunders” where we all praise His magnificent name. Oh, how glorious that will be! May we never lose the wonder and awe in our worship. May we never simply become consumers of worship, but always find ourselves as active participants responding to His majesty and glory. Consider it a good practice for what’s to come!

Prayer: Lord may we never lose our wonder and awe in worship. May we begin this day with an understanding of Your glory and respond in worship. May our worship services be immersed in Your splendor and majesty. Bring us back to the heart of worship. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 12:1-2: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Questions to Consider

How would you define worship?
What is Paul saying about worship in this passage?
What would this mean for your life?

Notes

Personal response
Worship is not simply a one-time event we do on a given Sunday. In this passage, Paul uses a different word for worship—latreuo (used over 90 times in the Bible, usually meaning “to serve”) compared to its more common counterpart proskuneo—meaning “to bow down” in the sense of reverence and respect. Paul is reminding the Romans that worship is not just an outward one-time experience or limited to a localized event, but as John Piper says, “an inward, spiritual experience that has no bounds and pervades all of life” in which we become a living sacrifice.
Our entire lives and all that we do must be worship unto Him both outwardly and inwardly. As Paul says, it requires a complete renewal of our intellect in response to the grace that God shows us. Because of this, worship does not stop when the team stops playing on Sundays, but it is both our Sunday worship and the rest of our days.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thinking about the concept of worship. What comes to mind? Instead of praying your to- do list and your requests, spend some time simply adoring and giving Him praise. Then, reflect on areas in your life that can be offered as worship unto Him. May your worship always be a response out of His infinite glory and love.

July 2, Sunday

The AMI QT devotionals from June 26-July 2 are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, recently completed her M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Battle is Fierce, But The Victory Is Sure!

Revelation 13:11-18

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. 15 And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed.16 And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six.

A saying I heard often in my church culture growing up was, “Sometimes you just have to go through!”—meaning, there are times when you have to walk through a tough situation because there is no way around it. You have to go to through the wilderness to get to the Promised Land. It isn’t fun, but it’s a necessary part of the journey. But whenever this saying was offered, there was always an understanding behind it that God is still in control and is working things for good and for His ultimate end.

In today’s passage, we see a scary scene. John gives us a look into the Beast’s (Satan) efforts to thwart the work of the Lord and pursue his own ends (in opposition to the Kingdom of God). It isn’t fun, but it is part of what will come, even as God is working things out for His good purposes. One thing John is told (and that we are told by extension) is that wisdom will be required for God’s people to discern what’s going on in the midst of the Enemy’s schemes (v. 18). That’s an important reminder for us today!

There have been many times throughout the history of God’s work in this world where God’s people had to walk through a dark and confusing time in order to get to the good ends God had in store. All looks lost in the middle, but the end always brings a joy and glory far beyond what could have been imagined. The most notable of these moments, of course, is the cross. Friday night seemed like all was lost (the Enemy himself was even rejoicing), but we know the end of the story. It was just something we had to go through in the war to walk into the victory.

S.M. Lockridge’s Easter sermon is famous for his portrayal of this truth as he recounts the darkness of Friday (the crucifixion) with the hope of Sunday (the resurrection) in view. May this brief excerpt remind us that even when the Enemy is raging war, we know that our victory is sure!

It’s Friday –

He’s hanging on the cross feeling forsaken by his Father.

Left alone and dying.

Can nobody save him?

Ohhhh!

It’s Friday but Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday –

Hope is lost.

Death has won.

Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a laughing’

It’s Friday –

Jesus is buried.

A soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled in its place.

But it’s Friday. It is only Friday.

[AND WE KNOW] Sunday is a comin’!

Prayer: Almighty God, no matter how fierce the battle, help me to remember my victory in You. Help me to stand firm in every battle that comes my way today. Give me wisdom to discern beyond my own understanding. To the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 5