July 4, Tuesday

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

“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

July 1, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Heavenly Help in the War

Revelation 12:7-12

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

One of the many sermon podcasts to which I listen weekly is from a pastor in Chicago. Recently he talked about the reality of angelic protection over the people of God. He told stories from his youth that led him to believe firmly in angels and their active protection in his life. One story was of a time he was being bullied at school when, seemingly out of nowhere, the bully appeared terrified and began backing up, as though he were seeing something Charlie (the pastor) couldn’t see, then ran away. I guess only Charlie and God really know what happened in that movement (and also the bully, I suppose), but he is fully persuaded that there was a heavenly being (an angel) protecting and defending him that scared off his attacker.

When I was in high school, my father was pretty sick and in the hospital for a while, and my family was really scared. He had to have a pretty risky surgery, and we weren’t sure how things were going to turn out. There was a stranger who came to see us in the hospital one day and spoke the kindest and most encouraging words to our family. He reminded us that God was with us and assured us that things would be OK. He said some other things to my parents that I didn’t hear and then left. We were so uplifted and strengthened in heart, but we were also so caught off guard that we didn’t even ask him his name. So my mom sent me running out right behind him to ask, but he was gone—I mean, this man was literally nowhere to be found. No one at the nurse’s station had seen anyone come or go for quite some time. No one knew of any guests fitting the description I gave. To this day I wonder if he was a messenger from the Lord.

Our passage today reminds us that there is a heavenly host fighting a spiritual war on our behalf. God has deployed His angels to fight and win the victory over our Accuser and Deceiver, Satan. And their victory is sure! I don’t know too much about angels and how they operate in the world today, but what I do know is that God has an army of heavenly beings on His side, and somehow together they are working all things for our good and God’s glory. Not only this, but the whole earth rejoices at their victory and our salvation from sin and freedom from the reign of the Enemy. It’s an incredible scene. Let us take courage! The Lord and His angels and even all of creation are on our side.

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to remember just how much help You’ve given me today. Not only the greatest Helper (Your Holy Spirit) and the community of believers (the Church), but also the Heavenly Hosts are for me because You, Father, are for me. Thank You for that truth. May it strengthen my heart today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 3-4

June 30, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Fight the Good Fight

Revelation 12:1-6

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

In today’s passage, God fleshes out for John the activity of Satan against the Kingdom of God. There is a ton of symbolism in these verses and there are differing opinions about how to interpret some of the signs—particularly the woman mentioned in verse 1. The dragon represents Satan and if we take, as many do, the woman to represent Israel/the people of God (giving birth to the Messiah in verse 5), we get a glimpse of Satan’s very active efforts to destroy Christ Jesus during His earthly ministry—efforts that were obviously unsuccessful. (Not even the grave could hold Jesus down! Hallelujah!) But when unable to destroy Jesus Himself, Satan turns to the next best thing, God’s people, and seeks to destroy them.

No matter how you slice it, the Bible teaches us that spiritual warfare is a very real thing and a regular part of the life of the believer. Reading Revelation reminds us that we are caught up in God’s great plan to save the world and eradicate evil from all of creation. It’s exciting and comforting as we read of God’s triumph over evil. But it behooves us to remember that this is all being accomplished through a war that’s going on in the spiritual realm—a war that we can’t always see or perceive but very much affects the lives of Christ-followers. As the old song goes, “We are soldiers in the army of the Lord!”

So what do we do? We choose to be alert (aware of the war and listening for any marching orders from our Holy Commander), take up our armor (in the Word of God and prayer), and fight (whatever the situation, by the power of the Holy Spirit). And we do so with the confidence of knowing that we have the Almighty on our side, who protects us and empowers us, and that we are fighting battles in a war that has already been won. The victory is ours! We just have to seize it!

Prayer: Almighty God, I acknowledge today that there is a war going on, and I thank You that it is one where You’ve already made way for victory for all those who trust in You. Help me to be aware of any way You’re leading me to fight and equip me with the necessary tools for battle. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 6:10-18: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and havingput on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Questions to Consider:

According to the passage, what is the purpose of taking up the “full armor of God”?
You’ll notice in v. 11 that Paul said taking up the armor allows us to “stand firm.” What does this word choice tell us about who is really fighting our battles? What, then, is our role in fighting?
What are the tools God has given us for battle? List each one and think about what it means. Which ones, if any, might you need to focus on in your life at this time?
What instructions does Paul give us in v. 18 to aid us in spiritual battle? Why does he tell us to do this?

Notes:

So that we may be able to stand firmly against the schemes of the devil. Oftentimes our spiritual battles are won or lost long before they actually occur because our success is contingent upon our preparation. If we choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and take up our armor, we will be prepared when the battles come.
We are not fighting our own battles; God is fighting for and through us. But we do have to do our part by showing up and staying put. Regardless of where God leads us and no matter what circumstance we face, we have to stay put (in our obedience to God and continue our posture of surrender before Him) to experience the kind of victory Paul guarantees is available to us in Christ.
Our armor is as follows: the truth (girding our loins), righteousness (as a breastplate), the gospel of peace (and preparation for our feet), faith (as a shield to extinguish the arrows of the evil one), salvation (as a helmet), and the word of God (as the sword of the Spirit). Spend time reflecting on the areas in which you may need to fortify your armor.
Pray! Paul calls us to pray because in doing so, we will be alert and aware of what’s going on in the spiritual battle and able to persevere and petition on behalf of our fellow soldiers. We don’t only need prayer for ourselves but we also need to support one another in prayer.

Evening Reflection

Romans 8:37-39: “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Spend sometime praying through this passage allowing its truth to encourage your heart as you continue to fight the good fight.

June 29, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

The Glory That Is To Come

Revelation 11:15-19

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 18 And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 And the temple of God which is in heaven was opened; and the ark of His covenant appeared in His temple, and there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder and an earthquake and a great hailstorm.

Now is the perfect time to pause and really think about the glory to come when the Kingdom of God is here in its fullness. If you’ve been tracking with us through Revelation, by the time you’ve finished chapter 11, you may have let out a huge exhale after reading about the strife and painful anticipation in the chapters leading up to it. Furthermore, if you’ve been doing the Christian life long enough, you have likely experienced your own longing for what’s described in the verses above. The two words in these verses that strike me most are “has become” in verse 15. This idea that all of the things in this world, all our pain and suffering, all our faithfulness and obedience, all our ups and downs, all of it, every single part, are becoming something – something beautiful and abundant for those who fear God – really leaves me speechless.

An excerpt from C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce: “‘That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. …‘Ah, the Saved… what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery turns out, when they look back, to have been a well; and where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.’”

If you have read quickly through the passage for today, take a moment to slow it down and read them again. No matter what we are presently going through—the good and the bad—we should overflow with praise when we take time to think and begin to picture the incredible work God is doing and the unimaginably delightful end toward which we are headed as His people. May we take time today to really meditate on the promises of God and the truths we know about His coming Kingdom and allow our hearts to be filled with worship and hope.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are truly awesome and worthy to be praised. As Paul articulated so well in 1 Corinthians 2:9, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what You have prepared for those who love You. Give me a more vivid picture of Your coming Kingdom today and allow that picture to fill my heart with hope and worship. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Isaiah 65:17-25: For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing and her people for gladness. 19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; and there will no longer be heard in her
The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. 20 “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred
Will be thought accursed. 21 “They will build houses and inhabit them; they will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 “They will not build and another inhabit, they will not plant and another eat; for as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people,
And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. 23 “They will not labor in vain,
Or bear children for calamity; for they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord,
And their descendants with them. 24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.

Questions to Consider:

In the biblical text, the word “for” often points to purpose, reason (explanation), or result. According to vv. 18-19, what is God creating His people for (i.e. for what purpose, to what end, for what reason)?
What are some of the things God promises in this new creation He is making? What does this tell us about the kind of God we serve and the kind of existence He wants for His people?
Read through this passage once more. What strikes you most from the text and why? In what specific ways are you encouraged or challenged as you think upon these verses?

Notes:

God is creating His people for rejoicing and gladness! And He himself wants to participate in it! While so many of us walk around with a negative or overly stoic view of God, here we get to see His merriment and His delight. God creates His people for joy—that’s their chief end and where He is taking them.
While the theology around this passage gets a little complicated (esp. when trying to pinpoint the exact fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophetic words), it does paint a picture for us of just how good a Father and Creator God is and what kind of existence He wants for those He calls His own. Some things to note about the new creation: death will lose its power, the people will enjoy and delight in the work of their hands/their blessings from God (e.g. their homes, the crops, etc.), their offspring will be a godsend and be righteous instead of being full of calamity, God will hear and respond to their needs before they even call, and there will be peace where not previously possible (e.g. between the wolf and the lamb).
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce has been for me the greatest human fumbling at describing the reality of Heaven and Eternity. Let’s read a little more of the brief excerpt from this text that we read this morning:

“‘That is what mortals misunderstand. They say of some temporal suffering, ‘No future bliss can make up for it,’ not knowing that Heaven, once attained, will work backwards and turn even that agony into a glory. And of some sinful pleasure they say “Let me have but this and I’ll take the consequences’: little dreaming how damnation will spread back and back into their past and contaminate the pleasure of sin. Both processes begin even before death. The good man’s past begins to change so that his forgiven sins and remembered sorrows take on the quality of Heaven: the bad man’s past already conforms to his badness and is filled only with dreariness. And that is why, at the end of all things, when the sun rises here and the twilight turns to blackness down there, the Blessed will say ‘We have never lived anywhere except Heaven,’ and the Lost, ‘We were always in Hell.’ And both will speak truly.’ …‘Ah, the Saved… what happens to them is best described as the opposite of a mirage. What seemed, when they entered it, to be the vale of misery turns out, when they look back, to have been a well; and where present experience saw only salt deserts, memory truthfully records that the pools were full of water.’”

While remembering the end encourages the faithful, it should also serve as a warning for the unfaithful. And truth be told, there is a little faithfulness and unfaithfulness in all of us. What are the areas in your life where you declare in your own way, “Let me have but this and I’ll take the consequences?” Spend some time in repentance before God offering those areas to Him, remembering that you are ultimately trading trash for treasure.

June 28, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

It’s Not Over Until God Says It’s Over

Revelation 11:7-14
When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

I’ve spent much of my time studying Revelation in preparation for these quiet times in worship and adoration of God. His power and majesty are just so evident in John’s visions (even as I struggle to fully interpret the particulars of the events). Today’s passage is no different. God’s prophets, with all the power and authority that we talked about yesterday, complete the mission God has given them. But then something unexpected (to me at least) happens—they die. God allows their lives to be taken and the wicked to rejoice over them. It’s a terrible scene. But, as is always the case with God, death isn’t the end of the story. God breathes life back into them—just to show off, it seems, since their work is already done—and brings them up to heaven with Him while the world watches.

The older I get and the longer I walk with God (and get to know those who’ve walked with Him a long time), the more I encounter seasons of unexpected disappointments. In devotion to God, we find ourselves thirsty in the wilderness. In obedience to Him, we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of a storm on the sea where death seems imminent and all seems lost. In those times I am reminded of the saints who have gone before and the end of their stories. No matter how dark the clouds and even when death itself comes knocking at our door, we know who has the last word. We will not be taken out of the game before our job is done, and we won’t stay down forever because when the time is right, God’s people will absolutely get up and rise to abundant life with Him.

I am reminded of an oft-quoted dialogue at the end of The Lord of the Rings, where Sam asks Gandalf if everything sad is going to come untrue. We can take heart, no matter what twists and turns our journey brings, because we know Who sits on the throne, the good work He is accomplishing, and the end of the story He’s writing—an end where all the sad things do indeed come untrue.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and Your power at work in me. Thank You for calling me Your child and friend and making me Your ambassador in the world. May I not squander the authority and power You’ve given me to accomplish Your purposes (even in small ways) as I go throughout my day today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 16:24-28: Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28 “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Questions to Consider:

What do Jesus’ words in verse 24 remind us about the nature of discipleship (or following Jesus)?
What promise are we given in these verses if we choose the tough road of discipleship? How does this encourage you in your walk with God today (in light of the specific things you’re facing)?
What are some ways God is calling you deeper into genuine discipleship? What, if anything, is holding you back from the kind of pursuit of Jesus that we read about in the verses above?

Notes:

Discipleship is costly. We offer our whole lives (Romans 12:1-2) to the Lord and that offering is often painful and difficult (because of the nature of our fallen hearts and this fallen world). Discipleship in this verse has four components: we come after Jesus (surrender), deny ourselves (saying no to what we want), take up our cross (willingly participate in the work God has for us to do—even the costly kind), and follow Him (take our direction and cues for Christ through His word and Spirit). There is nothing easy about it!
We are promised that if we choose to lose our lives (literally and figuratively) for the sake of Christ (or in pursuit of Him), we will be granted life—a true and abundant life. And we know from other passages that we taste that life even now, while we’re still on this side of heaven (Mark 10:29-30). Spend time considering what specific ways that promise encourages you today.
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

In 1904 William Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy Estate, graduated from a Chicago high school a millionaire. His parents gave him a trip around the world. Traveling through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe gave Borden a burden for the world’s hurting people. Writing home, he said, “I’m going to give my life to prepare for the mission field.” When he made this decision, he wrote in the back of his Bible two words: No Reserves. Turning down high paying job offers after graduation from Yale University, he entered two more words in his Bible: No Retreats. Completing studies at Princeton Seminary, Borden sailed for China to work with Muslims, stopping first at Egypt for some preparation. While there he was stricken with cerebral meningitis and died within a month. A waste, you say! Not in God’s plan. In his Bible underneath the words No Reserves and No Retreats, he had written the words No Regrets. (Dec 31, 1988 Daily Bread)

I first read this story as I prepared for a short-term missions trip and have returned to it often as a reminder that there is nothing wasted in God’s economy. Are you living with no reserves, retreats, and regrets? If no, why not? What are the areas in your life that you are keeping reserves? When are the moments when you tend to retreat? Spend some time offering those areas to God so that when it’s all said and done you too can say you have no regrets!

June 27, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Equipped for the Task

Revelation 11:3-6
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. 6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

I took an exegesis class on Revelation in seminary because I wanted to understand the things that are to come—it was a great class! Yet, I left it with more questions than answers. But one thing I did learn, and of which I am reminded every time I read Revelation, is just how unstoppable are the plans of God. When God gives His authority to His servants and equips them with His power, they are literally unstoppable to accomplish what it is He has for them to do. There is debate among Bible scholars about exactly who these two witnesses are: some say they are prophets from long ago brought back to life (e.g. Moses, Elijah, or Enoch), or others say they are people unknown to us now who will be living at the time of the vision’s fulfillment. Regardless of where you stand in your interpretation, it is clear from these verses that with God’s authority and power, they are unstoppable to accomplish His purposes.

Two topics about which I am asked most often are spiritual gifts and calling: How do I know what my gifts are? How do I know how to engage them? How do I discern my calling? While the redundancy of the question isn’t super thrilling, I am always extremely encouraged to see the young people around me hungry to know how they can best serve God. While I take time to offer what I’ve learned from Scripture and from my years of walking with Jesus about spiritual gifts and calling, I always try to make sure to remind them that our most powerful spiritual gift is the Holy Spirit, and our most clear calling is to be children of God and to make disciples. With that kind of authority and power at work within us, we are absolutely unstoppable (regardless of how we specifically feel led to advance the Kingdom of God) in accomplishing God’s good purposes in the world.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 1:4-8: Gathering them [the disciples] together, He [Jesus] commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Questions to Consider

How can we receive Jesus’ admonition to His disciples in these verses in light of God’s further revelation in the New Testament books (especially the book of Revelation)?
Instead of focusing on when God would accomplish His ultimate end, the disciples are encouraged by Jesus to focus on their part in God’s plan. What does He call them to do (i.e. what is their part in God’s plan)? How will they be equipped for the task?
What does it mean for you to be Jesus’ witness today through the power of the Holy Spirit?

Notes

Obviously, God has given us more insight into future things through the book of Revelation than what the disciples had when they asked Jesus the question recorded in these verses. However, we are still left with many questions of our own and much to interpret, even with John’s vision recorded in Revelation and the apostles’ words recorded in the rest of the New Testament. While we should feel free to ask of the Lord concerning the things to come and to interpret His divine revelation concerning such things given in Scripture (responsibly, of course, and with sound exegesis), we have to also recognize the limitations of what we can know and be content with those limitations.
Jesus calls them to be His witnesses locally and abroad. They will be equipped for the task through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the power of God at work in them (through the Holy Spirit).
Spend some time in personal reflection. Whether it is in ways that we normatively call “supernatural” or in ways that we evaluate as “ordinary,” God’s Spirit is at work in each of us to witness to the world who Jesus is and what God is up to (the gospel message of God’s salvation and coming Kingdom). That is a fact! We just have to be willing vessels for the Spirit to work through us. We can do this by the way we live our lives (according to God’s truth and not the world’s), the words we say to others (words of God’s love—in sharing the Gospel or simply speaking truth in love), and the many other ways we step out in faith to be used by God. All of it, even the seemingly mundane, is supernatural if we are conduits for the Spirit of God to use in pointing others to Jesus (for their salvation and redemption).

Evening Reflection

Preachers and Bible expositors in many forms love to point out that the most often repeated command in the Bible is, “Do not fear.” And with good reason, God reminds us not to be afraid a whole lot throughout Scripture! More so than a lack of gifting or awareness of calling, fear is what often hinders God’s work through His people. Fear of man (fear of others – judgment, rejection, etc. – or fear of ourselves – failure, inadequacy, etc.) often prevents us from entering into the work God is already doing around us. Our authority is sure as children of God, and our power is unmatched as temples of the Holy Spirit. So, many times, the only thing stopping us is us.

What are the ways God is calling you to join in the work He is doing in the communities around you and in lives of the people around you? How might He be challenging you to move from your local spheres of influence to be His witness abroad? Spend some time in prayer concerning these things – petitioning and listening to God. Ask God for His heart and His courage to be His witness.

June 26, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

God’s Protection of His Possession

Revelation 11:1-2
Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

A couple weeks ago my pastor told a story about his youngest daughter and her new tricycle. She’s only one year old and not very tall or coordinated, so, yes, she can’t actually ride it. But she loves her trike and has, for some reason, become very territorial about it. So much so that she won’t allow anyone to touch it or go near it, even if it’s to help her by pushing her around so she can have the experience of riding it (seeing as she is not tall enough to reach the petals yet). After hearing him talk about this, I decided to test it out one day in their back yard. I tried pushing her when she was on the tricycle (pitifully immobilized) – she made it clear that she did NOT like that one bit. I tried just standing near her while she was on the tricycle – to which she responded with a death glare that screamed, “You better back it up, sister!” It was all quite amusing to me. I was most impressed by how aware she was of the tricycle at all times – even when she was off playing with something else, whenever I got near that tricycle, she somehow knew and bobbled back over, whining and snatching it away. That tricycle is her prized possession; she loves it and is meticulous about it!

While not quite like a territorial toddler, God is obviously meticulous about his precious possessions, namely His people. In today’s short passage, John is told to measure the Temple of God. Whether this refers to a literal Temple and those who worship God at the time of the vision’s fulfillment, or more symbolically represents the Church, the people of God and the place of their worship are measured in John’s vision as a symbol of God’s protection over, approval of, and attentiveness to them. They are His and He knows them, sees them, favors them, and will not allow one inch of them to fall from His view, even in times of hardship. That’s the kind of God we serve and the kind of care and attentiveness He gives to those He calls His own. So, no matter what happens today, rejoice over knowing that we are highly valued by the mighty God of the universe.

Prayer: Almighty God, in all Your power and majesty, You are still mindful of me and all Your people throughout the generations. Not because we deserve it, but because You have chosen to call us Your own. Help me to remember that this is who You are as I go throughout my day today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Zephaniah 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 12:4-6: “I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Questions to Consider

What does it mean to fear the Lord?
Verse 7 may seem to contradict verse 5 as Jesus first commands his listeners to fear God and then tells them not to fear. How do Jesus’ words encourage us to approach the Lord?
What are some things you fear in your life right now? (e.g. people, circumstances, an uncertain future, deferred dreams, etc.) How do Jesus’ words encourage you?

Notes

Fear has three main aspects: awe, reverence, terror. While some people like to only apply one or two of those aspects of the word fear to God, all are likely in view. When we see ourselves next to God, a natural feeling is terror (we are aware of how utterly vulnerable, small, impure, etc. we are in comparison to Him). This is why people often were terrified during encounters with God or heavenly beings. We should also feel reverence (or respect) for God because He is God and we are not. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is worthy of our respect. Lastly, we should feel awe towards God. He is utterly lovely and beautiful. Not only this, but the things He does (especially the things He does for us) are awe-inspiring. “Who am I that You are mindful of me…” Psalm 8:4 is the psalmist’s expression of His awe at the ways of God in his own life. To fear the Lord is to recognize who He is and who we are in relationship to Him. When we have a proper view of God, we can’t help but surrender and follow Him in worship and adoration!
While we tend to fear men – who are only able to harm us in the short-term (and only as far as they are allowed by the Lord), Jesus tells us to instead fear God who is eternally powerful over all people. But just as we gasp at the terror of the thought of fearing God, He reminds us that God loves us and numbers our hairs (He meticulously cares for us). We are precious to Him. The only one to fear has oriented Himself to us in such a way that we are His precious possession! “What shall we say then? If God is for us, who can be against us!?” (Romans 8:31)
Spend some time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Charles Spurgeon writes, “Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow he will deliver thee, and somewhere he will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be of good courage, and rest quietly in the Lord. God can make the sun rise in the west if he pleases, and make the source of distress the channel of delight.”

Spend some time talking to God about any concerns you have today remembering that you are His possession and He calls you His own. Surrender any fears to the only One to be feared, knowing that He is attentive and meticulous in His care for you.

June 25, Sunday

The AMI QT Devotionals from June 19-25 are provided by Pastor Joshua Kim of Church of Southland. Joshua, a graduate of Emory University and Columbia Theological Seminary (M.Div.), serves as the pastor of Access group (singles). He is married to Christina.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY

Revelation 10:8-11

Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” ⁹So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” ¹⁰I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. ¹¹And they *said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

I love listening to Podcasts. If you ask the staff here at Southland, they’ll tell you that I’m often sharing with them about the different things that I learned through a recent episode of this Podcast and that. In fact, I have often referred to things that I have learned on Podcasts in some of the quiet times I have written for this blog. But one thing that has always been in the back of my mind is really thinking about the kind of information that I am absorbing. It is probably no surprise to you that many of the Podcast programs that are available today present things in a very humanistic kind of way that lacks the fear of God. Unless you are careful, you can easily find yourself agreeing with certain agendas that stand in opposition to the truth of God.

In today’s passage, we see something that has happened to other prophets before. Jeremiah and Ezekiel also had similar experiences where they are commanded by God to eat the words of God. Both recount that the words were sweet like honey in their mouths; John’s experience was a little different. The word of God tastes sweet in his mouth but becomes bitter in his stomach.

This experience of John points our attention to the irrefutable difference between the wisdom of God and the ways of the world. The word of God is delightful and sweet to those who are under the grace of Jesus Christ, but those same word is a message of condemnation and judgment to those who are resistant to Christ (2 Cor. 2:15-6).

And the command comes to John in the midst of the bitterness in his stomach: You must prophesy again. I believe that this command is for us as well. To try to harmonize the ways of the world and the ways of God is an impossible task—the two stand in utter opposition to one another. And there comes a time in the life of a Christian when he must declare the “whole will of God” (Acts 20:27), even if it is bitter to those that are recipients of that condemnation. The good news of Jesus Christ is not a popular message.

There is something that is very important here to note: John is experiencing the bitterness in his stomach, deep inside himself. And this detail shows the kind of compassion we are to have when declaring the word of God. Perhaps this is similar to the turning from within that Jesus experienced when He saw the crowds without a shepherd.

Brothers and sisters, may we be the church that will always stand firm on the truth of God, knowing that the ways of this world stand in opposition to this truth. But may we also be the church that delivers this truth with compassion and love, being moved by the bitterness in our stomachs, out of a desire that they will turn from their wicked ways and come to know the One true God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your truth that is indeed, honey on our lips. We also recognize that this sweet truth to us, who have been given the free gift of grace, is bitter to those who have not accepted You. Lord, may we not be removed from this bitterness of the stomach, this pain that we know You experience for the lost. May we be moved by Your love to faithfully proclaim Your truth not matter how unpopular it maybe, but with utmost compassion and care. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Obadiah 1