February 15, Wednesday

The AMI QT devotionals for February 13-19 are provided by Christine Li. Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City. She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

What Gift Will You Give Your First Love?

1 Corinthians 3:12-13

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day. A lot of people might have celebrated this with a significant other, giving gifts to each other, or doing something nice together. Everybody has different preferences, but there are some things that likely would have been unacceptable: re-gifted presents, or reheated leftovers. Why? Because we expect an expression of love to be generous and sacrificial, expressing the worth the gift-giver places on the receiver.

Some of us think about doing God’s work as an obligation, but let’s think of it instead as a demonstration of devotion and love to Him. Why does Paul say that the day of fire will reveal the quality of the work based on its material? Because straw, hay, and wood burn up easily. They cost very little time and energy to find; you could go to any park and lawn and collect these things.

But materials such as gold, silver, and precious stones require something more—even their raw forms require additional time and energy to prepare before you use them. They are much more durable, and they require a greater personal cost to obtain. When you bring them for His use, you are showing how much you prioritize and value Him.

Let’s think about what our presents to God are as well. Do we give Him the cheap, convenient, and leftover things of our lives? Or are we giving Him the first-fruits, the best of what we can do? Just as in any relationship, there is considerable grace even when you fail to properly value Him well. But, as we can, and helping one another, let’s strive to give the One who loves us most, the things that show He is worth our best.

Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us! We yearn to love You more and more, but we confess that we do not always honor You rightly with the best we can offer. Teach us how to rearrange our time, our schedules, and our giving so that we can properly convey how valuable and worthy You are. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 3

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read James 1:16-18:Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Questions to Consider

James writes that we should know rightly where good and perfect gifts come from. Why is this so?
Take some time to reflect on this description of God: “Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” What does this tell us about God, and why would James include it talking about gifts?
The word says that we are a type of first-fruit from God. What does that also say about our identity and our purpose? Take some time to reflect on what it means for us to be a first-fruit from God.

Notes

God alone is the provider of good and perfect things. But it also means that His plans and ways are higher than ours, as we cannot always fathom what is truly ”good and perfect” for our lives.
This description of God calls to mind how He is not only glorious and other-worldly, but His character is also steadfast and dependable. We might fear gifts coming from a capricious being, but when we know that the loving Father does not change, we can eagerly and gladly accept what He has for us.
It says here that the identity of a born-again Christian is the firstfruits among all His creation. The firstfruits are the most valuable and precious; they are the best one has to offer. God has placed us in this world with so much worth and value; we are His gifts to be sources of blessing to one another.

EVENING REFLECTION

Today’s theme was about gifts and gift-giving. Are you giving God the best you have to offer? Do you also believe that God is gifting you unto this world to be used? Let’s take some time to see whether we can shape our lives in light of one of these ideas.

February 14, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Whose Side Are You On?
1 Corinthians 3:5-8

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

Among my group of friends in middle school, we had some real battle lines drawn for two pop stars we admired. Not only would we endlessly proclaim how talented and wonderful our guy was, but we would try to take down the enemy, giving ourselves reasons to talk the rival singer down. We made our allegiance so intense that it felt sacrilegious to think anything positive about the other singer. To this day, when I find myself bobbing my head to a throwback song by him, I still feel a little strange.

Isn’t it a human tendency to rally around specific groups of individuals? We have our favorite artists, writers, entertainers, shows – and when we find that someone has an opposite preference, we are inclined to definitely prove our choice to be better. But within the Christian context, I have to admit that I am still guilty of the same tendencies. Under this guise of a holy pursuit, I still try to elevate my choice of preferred speaker, worship artist, writer, etc. over others’. More often than not, our desire to justify our choices only breeds disunity and dampens our ability to encourage others in spiritual growth.

Paul and Apollos were effective workers, and both men had the same vision to build the kingdom of God. However, their ministries, attracting different people, were divided because their “followers” could not reconcile their preferences. The same teaching is for us today. Whenever we settle our eyes on the “face” or the “leader” of a group, we take our eyes off the One who created and sustains it. All the people we know and hear of are indeed instruments for His kingdom, but they are the wrong ones to rally around.

Let’s re-fix our eyes on God once again. The variety of people who glorify God should be celebrated, not scorned. Our God is worthy to be praised with such variation of talent, temperament, and style. When we admire or look at leaders, let’s look past them to see God moving and growing. And when we serve, let us strive to make sure that others’ eyes are turned away from us and onto Him.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for forgetting who gets all the glory and honor. Remind me that the focus is You, not the person who is trying to build Your kingdom. In me, Lord, let my life be a means of clarifying who You are to others, not a means of obscuring You. May others ultimately not remember me but be pointed towards You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 2

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Luke 10:17-20: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

Questions to Consider

Jesus gave the seventy-two their mission and had told them of the power they would have already. When they return marveling, why does He reiterate again what their power is?
Why does Jesus tell them that they should re-orient their excitement here? Let’s take some time to reflect on what, of our spiritual lives, we marvel over.

Notes

Jesus is also suggesting here that they should not be so surprised. The authority that He has given them is full of power.
Jesus is suggesting here that, while seeing great and mighty works of God is interesting, what should be most fascinating for these disciples is their reconciliation to God. The work that Jesus will do to reconcile men to God is worth the greatest celebration of all. It is the most marvelous thing we will encounter.

EVENING REFLECTION

Isn’t it so easy to settle our eyes and ears on the men and women we see rather than God Himself? Let’s take some time to practice looking for God rather than men and women. As we practice this habit, we will be able to truly affirm what God is doing in all of His servants.

February 13, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Growing Up in Christ
1 Corinthians 3:1-3: Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ²I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

delete The house I grew up in is still the same one that my parents live in. When my younger brother and I are home, sometimes we will look at the wall that has all of our height charted. We will marvel at how little we used to be, but my brother also likes to point out, in particular, where he first caught up to me in height – and where he began to overtake everyone in the family in stature. I will never know, but reminding others of his exceptional growth seems to be very satisfying for him.

Paul says that our spiritual selves also have markers from which we can track our development. In early stages as Christians, most of our concerns are all personal, and our thoughts are mostly occupied with ourselves – when we are unleashed onto others, there is disunity and distrust. As we “grow up” in the faith, those scenarios should decrease.

Today, let’s take some time to assess how we are growing. Have we let ourselves stagnate in spiritual growth, still being mired in personal concerns? Or are we growing and showing genuine love and patience for one another?

Usually, when we measure our spiritual growth, we use a lot of numbers: How many things am I getting involved in? How many chapters of the Bible can I read a day? How much money am I giving to the church now? While these are a good start, I want to share what Dallas Willard writes about measuring spiritual growth: “We measure things like attendance and giving, but we should be looking at more fundamental things like anger, contempt, honesty, and the degree to which people are under the thumb of their lusts. Those things can be counted, but not as easily as offerings.”

As we strive for true spiritual growth, let’s ask God for the right measures of success. May He give us grace to see where we are immature in our behavior and a true desire to grow. We do not want to stay spiritual infants and children long-term; we want to grow into a mature family of Christ so that we might bless one another.

Prayer: Father, we want to truly grow in You. You do not count our growth by the number of years we followed You but by the depth to which You have refined us. Show us where we must grow up, Lord, and give us Your grace so that we might be a blessing to one another. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 1

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Ephesians 4:11-16: So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Questions to Consider

How does Paul define Christian maturity here?
What are aspects of Christian infancy that Paul warns against here?
What are the practices that we can use to build one another up in love? Let’s take time to reflect on whether we are helping one another in this way.

Notes

Christian maturity is the ”whole measure of the fullness of Christ” –it is when our lives begin to reflect the character of Jesus Christ. The passage suggests that this comes as we experience unity in faith and grow in our knowledge of Christ Himself.
Christian infancy is uncertain about the truths of the gospel and easily swayed; since Christian maturity is marked by Christ’s character, we know that ungodly behavior will be an indicator of immature faith, too. We can begin to grow when we are rooted in God’s truth and character, not chasing after teachings here and there, but by learning to discern between truths and deceit.
Paul mentions that some are gifted to teach (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers). We can build the body up by speaking God’s truth lovingly to one another. As we also discover and exercise the spiritual gifts that God has given us, we will properly bolster and support one another.

EVENING REFLECTION

Is spiritual growth currently a priority for you? If so, how are you measuring your growth? Let’s take time to reflect on how we want to grow and ask Him for the help to get us there.

February 12, Sunday

The AMI QT devotionals from Feb. 6-12 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 THOUGHT FOR TODAY

I Can Only Imagine!

1 Corinthians 2:8-9

None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”

Read the following statements and decide if they make sense:

A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room.

At first it is better to run than to walk.

You may have to try several times.

It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn.

Even young children can enjoy it.

Birds seldom get too close.

If there are no snags it can be very peaceful.

But if it breaks loose, you won’t get another chance.

Without any context to frame the sentences above, they don’t mean much. Now re-read them with this one-word interpretive key: kite.

A seashore is a better place than the street because you need lots of room. At first it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill, but it is easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. If there are no snags it can be very peaceful. But if it breaks loose, you won’t get another chance.

The context helps the paragraph to make sense. In the same way, when it comes to the Bible (or theology, or Christianity, or the gospel), once you have the context or the framework, all of the details start to fall into place.

Without the proper context, most things don’t make much sense or seem significant. We can manufacture our own sense of meaning and significance (as some of us did with the first set of statements above), but true understanding requires appropriate context.

In a similar way, our lives require context if we are to extrapolate significance and meaning from them. Without proper context, we are just stringing together a series of seemingly random events and unrelated experiences from season to season. While we can manufacture our own metric that gives our life a sense of purpose and meaning, a genuine (and fulfilling) understanding of anything requires appropriate context. And the appropriate context for life is God.

Apart from God, our minds fail us in our efforts to make sense of life. He is the Contextualizer. And as much as we know (from the revelation in Scripture, the witness of the Saints, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit), we have not yet seen or even imagined all of God’s good plans for our lives or for His redemptive work in the world.

May we take comfort in this truth, especially during difficult and confusing times, knowing that one day we will see God face to face and He will be the final word to make sense of it all. This will be a day of great rejoicing for those who’ve put their trust in Him.

Prayer: Almighty God, thank You for the good plans You have for me and for the world. When things get tough and when life seems confusing, help me to remember that I have only begun to taste and see the height and depth of all that Your love is accomplishing on my behalf. May I take comfort in merely beginning to imagine what You have in store and may I trust You completely to fulfill Your promises beyond my wildest dreams. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Obadiah

February 11, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The Humble Circumstance of Our Calling

1 Corinthians 1:2

Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.

A pastor recounted the following story:

In 1994, two Christian missionaries answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics in a large orphanage.

It was nearing Christmas and they decided to tell [the children] the story of Christmas. It would be the first time [they] had heard the story of the birth of Christ. When the story was finished, they gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger.

… It was all going smoothly until one of the missionaries sat down at a table to help a 6-year-old boy name Misha. When the missionary looked at the little boy’s manger, she [saw]not one, but two babies in the manger. She called for the translator to ask Misha why there were two babies in the manger.

Misha began to repeat the story very seriously. He related the happenings accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.

… He said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did.

“But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’ And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So I got into the manger and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him – for always.”

The longer I live as a Christian, the easier it is for me to forget the circumstances around which I was called by our precious Savior out of darkness and into the marvelous light. I love stories like the one above that in fresh way offer a renewed appreciation for the “circumstances of our calling.” Like a little orphaned child with nothing to give to Jesus, we were invited into close intimacy with the living God and given a home with Him in His family. Spend some time to remember when you first heard the gospel and the first time you made it your own.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your calling in my life – that above all things, You call me Your child. Help me to remember the humble and needy state in which You found me. May this renew my love and affections toward You and melt away the pride, self-righteousness, and even apathy that passing years can bring in the human heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 21 & Jude

February 10, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

1 Corinthians 1:26-31: Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

You may have heard this familiar story about Muhammad Ali…

In Muhammad Ali’s heyday as the heavy weight champion in boxing, he had taken his seat on a 747 which was starting to taxi down the runway for take off. The flight attendant walked by and noticed Ali did not have on his seatbelt, and said, “Please fasten your seatbelt, sir.” He looked up proudly and snapped, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” Without hesitation she stared at him and said, “Superman don’t need no plane.”

God has made each of us great in different ways. But our greatness gets in our own way when we forget its source – not ourselves, but a gracious God who in loving creativity made us and endowed us with our gifts and talents. Most of us are as guilty as Ali (although certainly without as good a reason) of thinking as ourselves Super[wo]man and boasting in our abilities (even if not in such forthcoming terms). What’s worse, our society rewards this kind of warped, inflated sense of self – so much so that we resent words like weakness and lowliness.

But Paul reminds us today that it is our very condition of weakness, the ways in which we’re regarded as nothing in the world, which affords us opportunity to be used powerfully by God. Why? So that no one will be mistaken – we are not superhuman, we just serve a Super God!

What are the things about you that you take most pride in? Is it your intellect, beauty, talents (e.g. musical, artistic, etc.), wealth/resources, family, or accomplishments? Truth be told, we had no control over what gifts we were born with, whether it be our personality type, the opportunities we were afforded, our family of origin, our country of origin, who would be in our social circle. As much as we may work hard to make much of what we have, all we have (our very breath) is from the Lord. And all the ways we are “super” are not a declaration of our own glory, but of the glory of the God who made us.

Prayer: Almighty God, forgive me for my tendency to forget that all I am and all I have is from You. Thank You for the ways You’ve made me. Thank You for all my gifts and talents. Thank You for the resources and opportunities in my life. Help me to faithfully engage each of these things today not for my own glory or to make a name for myself, but for Yours. May I boast only in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 20

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 2 Corinthians 4: 7-12: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.

Questions to Consider

What is Paul communicating through the image of treasure in clay jars (or “earthen vessels”)?
How might vv. 8-9 encourage those striving to live a faithful Christian life while faced with their own weaknesses?
According to the passage, what makes it all worth it for those afflicted? How does this encourage you?

Notes

The image is striking – why would anyone put something that is truly valuable in a cheap container? Why would anyone put beautiful jewels in something made of dirt? Why would anyone put something precious in an easily-broken jar? So that the jewels might shine and their beauty be unmistakably distinct from the humble container holding them. This is what God has done by placing His Holy Spirit, His gospel message, and His coming Kingdom in us.
First, it reminds us that affliction, being perplexed, persecution, being struck down, and the like are all normal part of the Christian journey. When we come face to face with our weaknesses and limitations – be it a result of our own sinfulness or of persecutions from those around us – we can take comfort in knowing we’re right on course with those who’ve gone before us. It also assures us that no circumstances or weakness or limitation can utterly ruin us – it may stretch us, test us, challenge us, wound us – but it cannot destroy us. In fact, God is using all these things to “manifest in our body” the life of Jesus. That’s good news!
As previously stated, God uses the tough stuff to birth in us the life of Jesus. The very things that should destroy us are being used by our heavenly Father to shape and mold us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

EVENING REFLECTION

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:19).

This morning we spent time thinking about ourselves in which we take most pride. What are some of your greatest weaknesses? (It can be a personality trait, past experience, present season of suffering, persistent sin struggle, personal or professional limitation, etc.). Spend some time reflecting on these things with the Lord, believing that He is forming Christ-likeness in you. Offer your areas of weaknesses to God as areas where His grace can prove sufficient and where His power can be revealed in your life.

February 9, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Don’t Pity the “Fool!”

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Two preachers share embarrassing moments:

Hannah: I was preaching about Law vs. Grace and used Deuteronomy 23:12-14 as an example for crazy laws. One of the students generously volunteered before service to read the passage out loud…when it came time to read, he misunderstood what verse I said to begin with and just started at verse 1. I lost all attention for the rest of service.

Deuteronomy 23:1 definitely shouldn’t be read out loud in a youth group.

(“No one whose testicles are crushed or whose male organ is cut off shall enter the assembly of the LORD” Deuteronomy 23:1.)

Robert: My most embarrassing preaching story was my 1st experience with a ‘lavalier’ mic! The choir sang and I got up to preach, but I was still getting over the stomach flu!

I felt some moving so I called the choir back to sing and ran out as they sang, “Let the Lord have His Way.” I barely made out of the auditorium. Suddenly, my wife ran into the men’s restroom and said, “Your mic is still on!”

Needless to say when I came back to the pulpit, we just dismissed!

Many moments in a life lived serving the Lord can leave us feeling silly, embarrassed, or even foolish. But unlike the funny stories above, for those who’ve positioned themselves long enough before God in a posture of surrender and obedience, the trajectory of life with Christ can manifest a more sobering foolishness. Promotions foregone in an effort to build a healthy family, shortcuts not taken in an effort to live with integrity, money given away in an effort to invest in the mission of God, relationships over working late, missions trip over summer internships, forgiveness over revenge, hope over despair – all these things look rather foolish to the world around us. But the humble life to which Jesus calls each of us is one He Himself lived perfectly and is one that will bear a profound witness to the goodness of the gospel if we are willing to walk it out.

Prayer: Lord, help me to walk humbly before You today in obedience and surrender. May the decisions I make be guided by the conviction of Your Holy Spirit and the truth of Your Word. Make me willing to be foolish in the eyes of the world for the sake of walking faithfully in the power of Your salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 19

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Romans 1:18-23: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Questions to Consider:

According to the passage, what are some ways God has made Himself known to us?
One Bible translation titles this passage, “Unbelief and Its Consequences.” What are the consequences of unbelief?
How have you experienced the truth of vv.21-22 in your life (perhaps in your thinking before you became a Christian, or more recently in some of your not-yet-sanctified thoughts)?

Notes:

God has made himself known through His invisible attributes, power, and nature displayed in the world He has made. If we are careful to take note of the created world around us, we will be hard pressed to miss God’s self-revelation.
Unbelief (suppressing the truth) results in foolishness that leads us to ungodliness and unrighteousness, which are both subjects to the wrath of God. When we turn away from God and shut our eyes to His self-revelation, refusing to acknowledge Him (honor Him/give Him thanks), we find ourselves thinking, believing, and doing all sorts of things utterly void of genuine wisdom.
Spend time in personal reflection.

EVENING REFLECTION

In her song “Fool For You,” Nichole Nordeman reflects on the times in life when “faith and common sense do not align,” and she found it difficult to live a life that seemed foolish to those around her (and to her own doubting heart). She concludes her musings by calling to mind the life of Jesus who, “unaware of popularity and unconcerned with dignity,” came and made Himself a fool for all of us through His incarnation and crucifixion.

^“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).

Spend sometime reflecting on the life of Jesus in light of our passage from this morning. How does this encourage you to make choices and live a life may seem foolish to those around you? (Feel free to listen to Nichole’s song during your time of reflection! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEpoBGJ9LlA)

February 8, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Conflict Resolution

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other.17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

Here is how you can turn a disagreement into a feud:

Be sure to develop and maintain a healthy fear of conflict, letting your own feelings build up so you are in an explosive frame of mind.
If you must state your concerns, be as vague and general as possible. Then the other person cannot do anything practical to change the situation.
Assume you know all the facts and you are totally right. The use of a clinching Bible verse is helpful. Speak prophetically for truth and justice; do most of the talking.
With a touch of defiance, announce your willingness to talk with anyone who wishes to discuss the problem with you. But do not take steps to initiate such conversation.
Latch tenaciously onto whatever evidence you can find that shows the other person is merely jealous of you.
Judge the motivation of the other party on any previous experience that showed failure or unkindness. Keep track of any angry words.
If the discussion should, alas, become serious, view the issue as a win/lose struggle. Avoid possible solutions and go for total victory and unconditional surrender. Don’t get too many options on the table.
Pass the buck! If you are about to get cornered into a solution, indicate you are without power to settle; you need your partner, spouse, bank, whatever.

(Ron Kraybill, Tell it to the Church, Lynn Buzzard, David C. Cook, 1982, p. 23)

Disagreements are inevitable in community. Anyone who grew up with siblings knows that time and proximity are the only two ingredients required to eventually stir up conflict between two individuals who differ in anyway. Having conflicts is unavoidable – we can’t do much about that. But handling conflicts – now that’s another story.

Paul speaks to us about the importance of handling conflicts well whenever they arise in the community of faith. We have to be careful to handle conflicts appropriately and swiftly so that there are no divisions among us. Why? Because we are family! God’s family – we are united as One in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to be a peacemaker in my faith community. I specifically want to surrender these specific areas of conflict that I am facing today – [name them]. Give me a heart of humility in my dealings with others and remind me of the precious bond Your children share through the blood of Jesus. In His name I ask these things. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 18

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read James 4:1-10: What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Questions to Consider

What does James say causes conflicts in our relationships with one another? Looking at conflicts you’re currently experiencing or conflicts you’ve experienced in the past, how do you see the truth of vv. 1-2 play out?
What is James’ solution to our problem with conflicts?
What are some ways God is calling you to draw near to Him? What are some ways God is calling you to humble yourself? How could this affect situations of conflict in your life?

Notes

James says that conflict is caused by our own pleasures (or desires) waging war within us. We find ourselves in conflict with others because we have conflict within ourselves. We have felt needs or desires that aren’t being met. As a result, we try to meet them in other people (who often fall short), and then blame them our predicament – usually subconsciously. Every conflict can be boiled down to an unmet (whether perceived or real) need or desire (be it legitimate or illegitimate).
The Sunday School answer rings true here – JESUS. The Lord is the source of all that we need and when we feel like our needs (and desires) aren’t being met, it’s best for us to go the source – to the one who provides all things for us. And when we go to Him, we must do so with an open heart, giving Him room to examine our motivations and reform our desires.
Spend time in personal reflection.

EVENING REFLECTION

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Jesus’ words above suggest that there is more riding on our relationships with one another than merely our own happiness. The fate of those outside the community of faith is bound up in our relationships. It is by our love for one another – and our willingness to lovingly address the inevitable conflicts that arise – that the world will come to know we belong to Jesus and will begin to see just what His love is all about.

What are some ways you’ve seen how poorly handled conflict deter others away from the Church and the Good News we proclaim? Spend some time praying for your Church community. Ask that God would help you all to demonstrate his love especially in situations of conflict.

February 7, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Practicing God’s Presence through Thanksgiving

1 Corinthians 1:4-9: I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Practice of the Presence of God is a collection of the writings and philosophies of Brother Lawrence (a 17^th century monk) that teaches Christ-followers how to be constantly aware of God’s presence. I recently revisited this volume, hungering for a greater sense of the presence of God in my own life. David Santistevan, a Christian blogger, summarizes what he learned from the book as follows, “Practicing the presence of God is about turning all of your life experience into a prayer. Nothing you face in life is exempt from surrender to Jesus. Every victory, every trial, every annoyance, every disagreement. Turn it around. Bring it into the presence of God.”

One of the practical ways to do this is to actively and intentionally praise the Lord throughout the day. Santistevan integrated the practice of praise into his day by intentionally adding to every complaint (stated or unstated) one word of thanksgiving. Why? Because on this side of heaven, in our fallen world, there is always going to be something to complain about (something is always going wrong). But – as a familiar placard in my parents’ home often reminds me – in Christ, “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.” When we spend our time complaining we find ourselves turning inward – to our unmet needs, unmet desires, unfair treatment, etc. But when we begin to thank God (and to do so sincerely – not half-heartedly saying thank you for things we’re not really thankful for) we turn our hearts to the Lord and find ourselves more aware of Him and just what He’s up to in His redemptive work in the brokenness around us.

Paul reminds us that, as members of Christian community, one thing for which we can almost always thank God is one another. Read the passage above again – Paul is pretty specific about why He’s thankful for his friends. What about you? What relationships in your life fill you with thanksgiving? Friends supporting you through tough times, sharing inside jokes, and building memories are precious treasures and gifts from God for which we can always give thanks.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the gift of friendship and partnership in the Gospel. I am particularly thankful for [name your friends] today for these reasons [be specific]. Help me to see you at work in all the brokenness around me and help me to be more aware of You throughout my day today – to the glory of Your name and furtherance of Your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 17

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Psalm 100:1-5: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Questions to Consider

What are some reasons the psalmist give for praising and thanking God? How does he encourage us to do this?
What are some specific things you’re thankful to God for today? Spend sometime articulating your thanks to Him.

Notes

We praise God and give Him thanks because of who He is (He is God and He is good), because He made us, because has called us His own people and cares for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep, and because He is steadfast in His love and faithfulness to us. We do this by making a joyful noise and singing, by coming into His presence (spending time before Him), by knowing who He is (intentionally remembering and allowing ourselves to forget) and verbally declaring the thanksgiving in our hearts.
Spend sometime in personal reflection.

EVENING REFLECTION

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. (Psalm 136:26)
There are countless verses in Scripture that remind us to praise the Lord. Find one of your own and spend a few moments meditating on it this evening (allow the significance of every word to hit your heart). Then write it down and stick somewhere you’ll see it everyday (e.g. your bathroom mirror or car visor) to help you cultivate a heart of thanksgiving. Our God is great and worthy of praise!

February 6, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Living With Purpose

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I never skip an opportunity to draw attention to the salutations in Paul’s letters. They are some of my favorite parts in all his writings, because they are usually so loaded with theological significance and remind us of the importance of identity. Our identity is the source and foundation for all we say and do. And as believers, remembering who we are in Christ is imperative to not only living as Kingdom People but also to doing Kingdom work. In today’s passage, Paul reminds us that we are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, knitted together as one family, and given a calling (as saints, and more specifically for Paul, as an apostle)! Being called God’s own people gives us a glorious identity and purpose.

My small group is going through Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life together, where we are exploring the question, “What on earth am I here for?” During the first week’s readings (there is a short chapter to read each day) I was reminded just how easy it is for me to go through any given day without giving much thought to who I really am and what I’m here to do. Identity and purpose go hand and hand and both require intentionality. Living into my true identity as a child of God and living out my God-given purpose won’t happen incidentally or accidentally (or as Pastor Rick would say – The only way to live with purpose is on purpose).

How often do you think about who you are and what you’re here to do? I was challenged recently to start each day with intentionality by reminding myself every morning of who I am and what I’m on earth to do. You should try it! As we do this over and over, we learn to lean into all that it means to be a child of God and are empowered to make the most of every opportunity to do Kingdom work in the community around us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling me Your own through the finished work of Jesus. Thank you for giving me a purpose and allowing me to participate in bringing forth Your Kingdom. Help me today to walk more fully in my identity as Your child and to live out more intentionally Your purposes for my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Judges 16

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 1 Peter 1:13-21: Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Questions to Consider

In what ways does Peter remind us of the importance of being intentional with how we live each day?
On what foundation is Peter encouraging us to carry out his instructions in this passage(vv. 17-18)? Why is this important to keep in mind?
What might it look like for you personally to put this passage into practice in your life? What is one practical step you can take today toward that end?

Notes

Peter encourages us to prepare (our minds for actions), to be sober-minded, and to set our hope fully on the grace of Christ. All these things are actions that require intentionality. They won’t just happen on their own.
Peter reminds us that we are God’s own children and that we were ransomed by the precious and imperishable blood of Jesus Christ. This identity has to be at the foundation of all we do. If we forget it, we will quickly lose sight of our purpose and lack the power to complete our mission.
Spend some time in personal reflection.

EVENING REFLECTION

“I’ve always wanted to be somebody, but I see now I should have been more specific.”

(Lily Tomlin in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, by Jane Wagner)

If we’re not careful to remember our God-given identity and purpose, we’ll end up becoming someone entirely different and doing things that in the end leave us feeling unfulfilled.

Have you ever lost sight of your identity in Christ? Have you ever lost sight of the mission of God in your life? What was the result?

Spend some time articulating in your own words your identity and purpose as you understand them from Scripture. (e.g. I am [fill in the blank] and I am here to [fill in the blank].) Write it down somewhere and return to it often so you can be sure to live each day with purpose.