The AMI QT Devotionals from June 12-18 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church. Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary. He and Jessie were married in 2014.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR TODAY
Revelation 7:1-4
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” 4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel”
Throughout the book of Revelation, there are interludes that occur between descriptions of God’s judgment that are meant to console the persecuted Christians. Here in our passage for today, we find ourselves at the first interlude. As the opened seals reveal the wrath of God, chapter 6 ends with a piercing question that chapter 7 answers: “Who can stand before the divine judgment?” We find the answer in verse 3. The only ones who will not be harmed will be those who are sealed by God. In ancient times, seals were used by kings to designate those who belonged to them. Other religions used seals as a marker of devotion to their gods. Similarly, those who are sealed by God are those who belong to Him. Later on we find out that the seal is given to those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. In other words, those who have believed upon the gospel are the only ones who are able to withstand the judgment of God.
This is good news for all of us. It won’t be our track record, our good works, or how much time we’ve spent at church that will determine whether or not we are able to stand before God. What will allow us to stand confidently in the period of judgment is the assurance we’ve received from the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this reason, we do not have to be afraid of God’s wrath or where our eternal destiny will be. God has sealed us by the blood of the Lamb. We bear the mark that proclaims that we belong to His kingdom- protected by His grace and mercy. Nothing will be able to remove God’s seal over us. Today, let us reflect on this marvelous truth, walking confidently in our relationship with God!
Prayer: Father, thank you for your gospel and the assurance it gives me. Help me to walk securely and confidently in your love!
Bible Reading for Today: Romans 11
LUNCH BREAK STUDY
Read Ephesians 2:1-10: “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Questions to Consider
- What was the state of our being before Christ?
- On what basis are we saved?
- Do you feel secure in God’s love for you?
Notes
- We were dead in our sins and trespasses. It is important to recognize that we were not simply neutral towards God, but it says that we followed the prince of the power of the air and that we were children of wrath. In other words, we were against God and His ways. Our goal was simply to fulfill the desires of our flesh.
- We are saved by grace through faith- not by the works we do. The faith that we received is not something we work towards but a gift from God.
- Personal response
EVENING REFLECTION
Oftentimes we revert back to basing our relationship with God on our performance. We feel secure in God’s love when we are doing well, but not so much when we fall into sin. Take some time before going to sleep to reflect on your relationship with God. Are you living your life in response to God’s grace or are you working to be loved by God?
Recently, a bus full of Coptic Christians were killed for their faith as they were on their way to a monastery. At least 28 died and 25 wounded. Among the dead were two small girls who were 2 and 4. This is just one tragic example of the persecution that many Christians face throughout the world. In fact, 900,000 Christians have been martyred for their faith in the last 10 year, making it one of the most violent eras for the church. It is a sobering reminder that following Christ is not for the fainthearted—there is a cost to be paid, sometimes even with our very lives. Many of us in the West are often shielded from this reality, since the worst thing that can happen to us is a moment of embarrassment. Sometimes we think that violent persecutions are a thing of the past, but many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are paying tremendous cost for their testimony to God.
The AMI QT Devotionals from June 12-18 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church. Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary. He and Jessie were married in 2014.
The 60’s were marked by a profound social consciousness. People genuinely cared for the welfare of society and participated in movements of justice. It was the decade of the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s rights, and protests against the Vietnam War. However, there was a dramatic shift in culture in the 70’s. It was no longer focused on culture-wide issues but rather on the self. Historians have dubbed the 70’s the “ME Decade.” It was the era of personal development and self-discovery. As the “individual” began to assert itself, it gave rise to a radical personal autonomy where the “self” became king. Life began to be about self-expression, about being able to choose one’s own destiny. And this trend has continued and we all feel its effects even today. All of us desire to determine the course of our lives—we demand freedom from all authority outside of ourselves. However, this has not turned out well as people are emptier than ever before. Many have discovered that reigning over their own lives has not led to more happiness but rather a deep sense of restlessness and confusion.
During one of the most challenging times of my life, I discovered that singing worship songs could be a powerful exercise of faith. As I struggled to remain steadfast with my heart full of doubts, it was difficult to sing lyrics that proclaimed the hope of God. Everything around me just seemed like evidence that proved my doubts, making it almost impossible to sing the words on the screen with full conviction. Yet as I worshipped and praised God with words that I did not fully believe, God began to turn my heart towards His hope. I found that in the simple act of bringing my doubts before Him and singing with the small amount of conviction I possessed, He met me where I was, helping me to believe in the words before me. Singing worship songs became a new reservoir of strength and power that I could now draw from. I would not have persevered without it.
Power is a precious commodity, especially in these strange times. We live in a turbulent cultural climate where political extremism, terrorism, and ideological wars run rampant throughout the world. And as tensions rise across political and racial lines, various groups have attempted to push their agendas through a show of power—whether in the form of violence or by slandering the “other.” The more power you have, the more you’re able to undermine your enemies. Power is also used in a similar manner on a micro scale. We often use the power we’ve gained from our education, socioeconomic status, and experience in order to gain a step ahead of our competition—to build up our own resumes and get us one step closer to fulfilling the American Dream. We have images of powerful CEO’s, executives, and political figures who line their own pockets at the expense of those less fortunate. For these reasons, power is often associated with abuse. As a result, the idea of power comes with much baggage, since it often manifests itself in forms that leave at least one party broken and destroyed.
A pastor friend once shared with me that his new year’s resolution was to limit himself from using the phrase “That’s awesome!” He realized the essence of something awesome is that it brings incredible awe—and this should be reserved for God. Instead of saying “That’s awesome” at regular news, such as finding parking at Disneyland on the weekend within the first minute of arriving, buying electronics devices at big sales, or just any news that he hears from people throughout the day, he resolved to only use the word “awesome” to when he ponders about and describes God—because only God’s presence and majesty is full of awe. Everything else is just good, cool, or nice, but only God is worthy of being deemed awesome, and nothing and no one is as AWE-some as God.
“The one who overcomes” is a repeated phrase throughout Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Revelation. He speaks to each church about its spiritual condition and calls them to overcome every challenge by faith. Becoming an overcomer is God’s call for every believer. The closing of Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea helps us to see how He coaches Christians to overcome spiritual lows, whether it be apathy, complacency, pride, hopelessness, or unbelief. As the best athletes and finest scholars in the world receive the best quality training in order to have victory, the Christian is trained to overcome and to live victoriously when he or she receives training from Jesus Christ.
Did you know that God’s desire for you is to become rich? He wills for you to have abundance. The trap that prevents us from experiencing the richness and wealth that God envisions for us is our spiritual blindness to what true wealth really looks like.
One thing I enjoy doing in my church community is listening to older women of faith share about their spiritual markers in life. Their testimonies show me how God met them in a personal and intimate way when they faced trials and seasons of wilderness. I would also hear some share about their thoughts during seasons of waiting: “I know God will do so and so because He told me… He promised me…” I was always really encouraged and challenged by how close they were to God and how God spoke to them in such a personal way—like a father to a child. It made me desire all the more to draw close to God to hear His words and promises for my life. This is the same theme I see in the relationship between the Philadelphia church and God.
Has anyone ever asked you, “If rejection were not a factor, how would you outwardly express your faith?” Whatever your answer may be, you would probably set out to do it with an increased boldness and steadfastness.