February 23, Thursday

The AMI QT Devotionals from February 20-24 are provided by Jabez Yeo. Jabez, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently working in NYC and serving at TRPC-E. He hopes to become a missionary. His devotionals are based off material from Serge’s Sonship program. You can click here for more information.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Orphans through Self-righteousness

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

A huge benefit of living in New York is all the fantastic art museums. Van Gogh’s Starry Night at MoMA, Monet’s Water Lilies collection at the Met, all a stone’s throw away. My appreciation for art mostly stems from the truth that my artistic skills are non-existent, a fact which some of our church’s children love to remind me of during craft time at Sunday school. But all in all, I am thankful that I can spend hours in New York, appreciating the wonder of different paintings and have peace in my inability to replicate such beauty.

Unfortunately, as one who acts as a spiritual orphan, I do not treat God’s law in the same way. Despite the beauty and perfection of God’s law (Psalm 19:7), I can somehow look at it and believe in my ability to meet its standards. What’s worse, I find myself choosing some of God’s laws to follow, while ignoring others. At the core of my abuse is a heart that declares, “Give me a law that I can fulfill and feel self-righteous.” This self-righteousness then leads to an elevated sense of my abilities and spiritual maturity.

The saddest part about our misuse of God’s law is that it draws us farther away from God. When we misperceive our ability to keep the law and forget our spiritual brokenness, we cut ourselves off from Christ’s power, which is only made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Of all the Christians who have ever lived, the apostle Paul had the most reasons to be confident in his righteousness and his adherence to God’s law (Phil. 3:5-6). Yet God allowed a thorn in his flesh to keep him from being conceited (2 Cor. 12:7) and from boasting about himself (2 Cor. 12:5).

Thus, a proper view of God’s law should lead us to the bad news: we are spiritually bankrupt and impoverished (Matt. 5:3). But praise be to God for the Good News, that our poverty in spirit can lead us to Christ and the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:3). Let’s come to God today.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for Your infinite perfection and beauty which You have displayed through Your written Word and Your living Word, Jesus Christ. I confess that I have abused your Word by acting as if I can meet its standards. Help me to know what it means to be poor in spirit, so that I can experience more of Your grace and Your power made perfect in my weakness. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 4

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Phil. 3:7-11: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Questions to Consider

What does Paul now consider to have surpassing worth?
Where does Paul claim His righteousness now comes from?
What is some of the “garbage” that you are still clinging onto?

Notes

Knowing Jesus Christ. Paul knew that to do so involved dying to self, so that he would know Christ more intimately through experiencing His resurrection power and participating in His sufferings.
His righteousness now comes from God on the basis of faith, not his own righteousness that comes from the law.
Personal response (e.g. excessive insecurity, petty jealousy, unwillingness to forgive, being afraid to open up, etc.)

EVENING REFLECTION

Oftentimes, our spiritual blindness prevents us from accurate self-assessment. Seek the Lord and ask for spiritual discernment to areas that have not been surrendered to Him. Ask for strength and power to address these areas once they are known. He will give you all that you need.

February 22, Wednesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Orphans through Dishonesty

Romans 1:17

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Hebrews 11:6

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

A common struggle amongst graduates today is the fight to pay off their student debts. As some of us know, living with debts often limits our financial flexibility. Now, what if I were to tell you that upon graduation, not only would your student debt be paid for, you would also be credited with millions as your reward? It’s not a stretch to say that there would be significantly more freedom in your life.

While such an act of financial generosity may be a pipe dream, we as Christians have actually experienced an infinitely greater act of generosity. Because of our sins, we could only earn death in our spiritual bank accounts (Rom. 6:23). Yet through Jesus’ sacrificial death, not only was our debt removed; we have actually been credited, by faith, with the righteousness of Christ Himself. Just as the earth simply receives rain from above, we too receive the righteousness of Christ that could not be earned or gained by our own power.

A significant implication of received righteousness is that we have the freedom to be humble and honest with our struggles. Unfortunately, we daily operate as spiritual orphans who believe that our deeds contribute to our spiritual ledger. When we are self-righteous and depend on what we do to make ourselves approved by God and others, we cannot look at our own sin. In fact, we have an incentive not to. It is too beneficial to be dishonest and too threatening to be exposed. Hypocrisy is then just a step away.

So how do we live as children instead of spiritual orphans? Just as we began: by faith. By faith, we receive what only God can give us: His forgiveness, His authority and His righteousness. Faith is the channel, the electrical cord, by which the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit flows into our daily lives. God’s children understand that He still saves sinners by faith, as that is just as much a part of their daily experience as it was when they first followed Christ. As God’s children, let’s come to Him in faith today.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You did not only wipe my slate clean but that You gave me the righteousness of Your Son that I never deserved. I confess that I still act as an orphan, depending on my efforts to save myself. I confess that I still act as if my deeds can earn your approval, despite the fact that it has already been given. Please bring me back to You and increase my faith in the all-sufficient sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Your Name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 3

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 1 John 1:9: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Questions to Consider

What causes us to claim that we have not sinned? What happens as a result?
What happens when we confess our sins?
What do you need to confess to God and to others today?

Notes

There can be many things that cause us to cover up our sins (our pride, fears, self-righteousness, etc.). What is clear when we do so is that we make God out be a liar and display our lack of faith in Him.We deceive ourselves when we act as if we can make up for our mistakes.
God displays His faithfulness through His forgiveness and cleanses us, allowing us to experience Him in a greater and more powerful way.
Personal response: a clear conviction of sin over what you said and/or did, a grain of humility, etc.

EVENING REFLECTION

Reflect on today’s events, both big and small. What emotions were associated with those events and did they bring you closer to or farther from God and others? If there’s anything you need to confess, share it with the Lord and a close friend. As God’s child, experience His healing and cleansing power today.

February 21, Tuesday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Orphans Through Our Tongues

Galatians 4:6-7

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Oftentimes, the greatest dangers appear to be innocent on the surface level. For example, suppose we were swimming in the ocean and saw a tiny black speck moving back and forth. From a distance, we may assume it to be harmless, perhaps a piece of driftwood. But if we were swimming right next to it, we would see that the black speck is really a fin, and what lies beneath is a gigantic killer shark.

As Christians, our tongues are those tiny fins that reveal the dangerous beliefs in our hearts. Suppose, for example, all of us were to avoid the following for a week: gossiping, complaining, criticizing, blame-shifting, defending ourselves, boasting and deceiving others. I think it’s safe to say that all of us wouldn’t get through a day without doing one of those things. Yet Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 12:34-35, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

By daily engaging in such things, we show ourselves to be spiritual orphans and reveal whom we are truly committed to: ourselves. The misuse of our tongues displays our lack of trust in God and that we are His children. For example, when we blame-shift or make excuses, we show our unbelief that God is in control and protecting us. When we complain, we reveal our belief that God is not running the world correctly. When we boast in ourselves, we declare our belief that we accomplish through our strength alone. When we defend ourselves or cannot sincerely apologize, we show our lack of trust that Christ’s righteousness is ours, and our belief that we need a good record of performance before others.

The full implications of this may be too much to bear. Thankfully, because of God’s mercy, He gives us the power to be like Him. Let’s pray that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to Him (Psalm 19:14).

Prayer: Father, forgive me for using my mouth to say hurtful things to and about others. Even worse, forgive me for irreverent and untrue things I have said about You in moments of anger and frustration. Help me to rein in my tongue under the Spirit’s guidance so that it is used to glorify your Son. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 2

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Genesis 3:9-13: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Questions to Consider

What misuse of the tongue do we see immediately after the first sin?
What do these things ultimately reveal?
Which tendency to misuse the tongue is most common in your life?

Notes

Blame-shifting (e.g. it was the woman, it was the serpent) and defending oneself. There could also be some hint of criticism and deception (not the full truth was told).
Adam and Eve were seeking their own righteousness instead of admitting their guilt. Sin brings enmity and disunity through the false belief that we are the most important beings in the universe.
Personal response (e.g. gossiping, being too critical of people, lying, etc.)

EVENING REFLECTION

While our tongues can bring incredible harm, they can also bring life (Prov. 18:21). Is there someone in your life that you can speak a word of encouragement or affirmation to? Ask God to bring that person to mind and talk to him/her after your prayer. You won’t regret doing so.

February 20, Monday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Orphans or Children of God?

Galatians 4:4-5

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

If any group of sports fans understood the misery of losing, it was fans of the Chicago Cubs. Leading up to the 2016 season, the Cubs had not won the World Series—baseball’s ultimate prize—in 108 years. Furthermore, the Cubs would fall short in the most agonizing ways whenever they made the playoffs, leading some to believe that the team was cursed. Thankfully, on November 2^nd2016, the Cubs finally won the World Series—and Chicago exploded with joy. At the victory parade, there were over five million fans celebrating, the 7^th largest gathering in human history.

For the Cubs fans, they knew what the appropriate reaction was to their long-awaited victory: joy, freedom from anxiety, gratitude, etc. While we may not all be Cubs fans, as Christians, we have received the ultimate victory through Jesus: victory over death, sin and Satan. We were condemned by the law and its burden was too great for us to carry; but through Jesus, who was born under the law (Gal. 4:4), we have been redeemed under the law and by faith and are now adopted as sons and daughters (Gal. 4:5).

If such an amazing victory is ours, where is our joy and freedom? More often than not, such lack reveals the fact that we live as spiritual orphans instead of God’s children. Instead of walking in faith and living according to God’s promises, we live on a succeed/fail basis, using our accomplishments to compare ourselves to others, which leads to either pride or depression. Instead of remembering that there is no striving in love, we labor under a sense of unlimited obligation, believing that everything depends on us. Instead of finding satisfaction in God alone, we look for satisfaction in our idols, “drinking from other cisterns” instead of the living water (Jeremiah 2:13).

For the next two weeks, we will be going through how our orphan-like tendencies can creep into our everyday lives. But thankfully, we will also be going through how we can experience the new life promised to us as God’s children. Let’s pray that God would reveal more of Himself.

Prayer: Father, thank You that I can call You exactly that: Father. I am not alone but I have You as my Father, Friend and Lover. Yet, I confess that I live as if You do not exist. I confess that I do not live in freedom or joy but in self-righteousness and fear. I confess that my life does not reflect the promises You have given me. Bring me back to You again. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 1

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Romans 8:14-5: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. ¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Questions to Consider

How do these verses describe those who are living under fear?
We are no longer slaves to fear but children of God. How then should we live?
What fears do you need to surrender to God today?

Notes

Those who live in fear are described as slaves. They are not free to live in power and joy but are chained to their own anxieties.
As children of God, we should be led by the Spirit who reminds us of our adoption to sonship. As children, we can continually cry out to our Father for His help in the midst of our helplessness.
Personal response (e.g., fear of failure, fear of being abandoned, fear of death, etc.)

EVENING REFLECTION

What other truths of being a child of God did He reveal to you today? If He hasn’t, take some time and ask Him to speak to You. Once He does, thank Him and ask Him for faith to live that truth out.

February 19, Sunday

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

Pauls and Timothys
1 Corinthians 4:16-17

Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

Once, at a family gathering, my brother and I were telling a story, when suddenly our relatives burst out laughing. Since we hadn’t been saying anything particularly funny, they had to explain why they laughed: “Just now, both you talked just like your dad—you gestured wildly with your hands!” He wasn’t present, but unbeknownst to us, we channeled his mannerisms so strongly that, at least for the moment, we were carbon copies of him to our relatives.

Here, Paul takes advantage of a similar relationship; he plans to send Timothy, his disciple, to continue his work in the Corinthian church and to be a model for the church. Timothy was not only a student of Paul’s teaching; he was a student of Paul’s way of life. And because Paul invested so much into Timothy’s life, he was confident that Timothy would be a faithful representative, fully trained in all the things Paul wanted to impart.

As family in Christ, we too can have this type of influence on one another, and we should be actively partaking in this aspect of God’s work. We are meant to be Pauls for each other, intentionally meeting up with others and discipling them through our actions and lifestyle. We also are meant to be Timothys, learning from others and shaping our lives in alignment with those good examples.

The road to both discipleship relationships requires two things – first, we should ask God to govern over our lives so there is something good for others to take away. Second, we should ask Him for the means to actively engage with others so that we can be propelled towards Christ.

When we go to church today, let’s be on the lookout, not just for general fellowship, but brothers and sisters who we can grow with and actively shape us. I believe that God is very much in favor of us making disciples of one another, and He will surely appoint brothers and sisters around us to help us. As we continue to learn things from one another, He will use us to become Pauls and Timothys for each another.

Prayer: Father, thank You that You made Yourself known to us individually and that You have set good examples around us. Help me to be teachable and to learn from others; help me to wisely and patiently propel others around me, too. Teach us how to fulfill Your Great Commission by making disciples of all the nations. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 8

February 18, Saturday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Expectations v. Reality

1 Corinthians 4:10-13

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹²We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment. ¹⁴I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.

In the movie 500 Days of Summer, there is a scene juxtaposing the main character’s expectations with his reality. He is invited by his ex-girlfriend to a party hosted at her house; he arrives thinking that they will reconcile, but as the scene plays out, he finds out that it is actually a party to celebrate her engagement to another man. It is a very pitiable scene; I think many of us can relate to that disappointment of rosy expectations meeting a harsh reality.

What do we expect when we become followers of Christ? Is it just a better coping mechanism for the stresses of the world? Have we been told that trusting Christ means all of our financial inconveniences and poor health will be resolved? The apostle Paul is here to put to rest any misunderstanding the Corinthians, you, and I might have about Christian life.

Paul contrasts what the Corinthians have been striving for – wisdom, strength, honor – with what he and his disciples constantly experience. He tells them about the hardships, being very honest about the details of his persecution and poverty, not to create a guilty feeling within them, but for them to see plainly that they have held the wrong expectations for faith life. Following Christ is not a lottery win for personal gain; it is an invitation to discover humility and zeal for God’s kingdom.

The apostles and leaders of the early church faced resistance and hardship from the very beginning. What would keep them going? They had no guarantee of material richness, but what they received was an investment into eternity and a transformed character from God that has the power to endure, forgive, and to be humble in spirit.

Today, let’s reflect on whether we have wrong expectations for our lives, and ask God to replace them with spiritual reality. Few of us might be ready to embrace a life of hardship like Paul’s, but we can ask Him to gently turn our eyes towards eternity. As His kingdom becomes more and more of our priority, then we will not forgo the opportunity to fully spend our lives for Him. He will help us to live this life, whatever it holds, faithfully and bravely.

Prayer: Father, thank You for plainly showing me the real promises of faith. I do not want to follow You for things of this world but for treasures that will last all eternity. Lord, give me honesty to confess which things I am afraid of letting go. Please fine-tune my heart to understand that the riches of eternity will always outweigh any temporary pleasure that I want for this earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 6-7

February 17, Friday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Stewardship in Our Daily Lives

1 Corinthians 4:1-2: Now it requires that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Once, I had a friend who was going on a trip, who needed to borrow a point-and-shoot camera. I agreed, since I wasn’t in need of mine. I thought I was so cool to be so generous, but I am embarrassed to admit that I ended up extremely anxious and on-edge for the duration of her trip. I was so relieved when it was returned to me, though I really should have been more trusting and known that my friend, who was extremely careful by nature, would have taken care of it on my behalf.

This is stewardship – taking care of what does not belong to you until it is returned to the original owner. And stewardship should be the theme of our lives on earth. We believe that God has gifted us with everything in our lives. But these resources, objects, and people are not for our own taking – they are our responsibility to guard and treasure for the day that He returns.

What is there that He has entrusted to us? Stewardship not only covers traditional resources we think of (time, money, etc.), but also other gifts: relationships, intellect, opportunity, etc. Do we see the people around us as gifts to be treasured and taken care of on behalf of God? When God gives us understanding, are we using that knowledge to benefit others or to just elevate ourselves? When He gives us opportunity, do we take it so that we can further His name, or are we using it to build our own kingdoms?

At the end of our lives, we will be giving an account to God of how faithful we have been with what He entrusted to us. So, how are we doing with stewardship? If the Master came back to visit today, would we have good reports for Him? Or would we have to make some changes so that we could, in good conscience, let Him know that we are being responsible?

To be clear – fear should not be our motivation to steward well; instead, stewardship is best an expression of love and affection for God. He has been so generous to give us so much each day, so let’s ask to be in-sync with Him. We want it to be our joy to take care of His work and His resources while we are on this earth.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your many gifts in our lives. Teach us how to steward Your gifts and Your people wisely, Lord. Let us not use them for our own selfish gain, but give us hearts that will rightly protect and grow the things and people You’ve entrusted us with. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 5

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Matthew 25:14-25: For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’”

Questions to Consider

It is interesting that the master gives such different amounts to the servants. Do you think the master entrusted his property to the servants fairly?
What do the responses from the account settling reveal about the first two servants?
What motivates the third servant to hide his talent in the ground? Since we are cautioned away from his example, let’s reflect on which things we must steward better so we do not make the same mistake.

Notes

It is interesting to note that God has given each person a different amount to be responsible for. However, the text says that the master distributed according to the servants’ abilities. He already knew their capacity. There is not a distinction at the moment of the worth of the servant; each one has a specific task he is appointed for.
The first two were diligent in carrying out how to steward the money, and both were honest with the master about their earnings. Also, neither concealed any of their earnings for personal gain, showing that they fully trusted their master would take good care of them.
The third servant’s decision to not work with the talent showed that he had little affecton for the master. As a result, he had no motivation to do something good with the investment since he had no personal care for the master.

EVENING REFLECTION

As you went through the day, were you able to identify things or people that God has called you to faithfully steward? Let’s ask Him for the integrity and strength to be faithful to the task tomorrow as well.

February 16, Thursday

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

An Antidote for the Daily Grind

1 Corinthians 3:16

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

How much money are you willing to spend on an article of clothing? I know people who will spend only $10, to others who are willing to spend hundreds at a time. How about $4.8 million? That’s how much one of Marilyn Monroe’s dresses auctioned off for last fall. When asked whether the price was justified, the representative of the buying company answered that they did believe the dress to be so valuable – it was the “most iconic piece of pop culture.” At the end of the day, it is only a dress, but its brief encounter with splendor and fame made it so much more valuable and special.

There is an idea here from Paul: God, the most wonderful and beautiful entity the world has ever known, has chosen to make His dwelling place among us. He does not just choose to be among the people with exciting jobs, celebrity friends, and nice vacations. Instead, God, who dwells in Heaven, willingly sends His Spirit to all believers – yes, us! Us with our common, normal, sometimes-boring habits.

To be honest, the more days I work, the more often I have found myself falling into the trap of the “daily grind” mentality, ending my evenings wondering, Lord, was that really Your best plan for me today? There are days that seem to lack something meaningful. Perhaps, it would do me (and all of us) well to reflect seriously on the truth that God’s Spirit is being carried by me all the day long. Indeed, God spends the entire day with me, from reading Excel spreadsheets, to eating lunch at the desk, to riding the bus home.

Do you also have trouble getting through the long stretch? Let’s not settle for passing excitement that comes from the next episode of a show, the upcoming weekend, or fun plans that would liven up our days. We have the privilege of hosting the Lord of hosts—all the day long! Every moment and action could be filled with the potential of something exciting simply because He is now on the scene. So let’s ask to become more sensitive to His presence and that we will find His glory all around us. He is always listening and always with us, so even today we may discover something new in our routines.

Prayer: Father, remind me once again that this life with You is an excellent and exciting one. Don’t let me limit what I can experience of You in my daily living. Won’t you give me freshness and newness in my daily life so I can honor You fully and be aware of what You are doing? Give me eyes to truly see how You are working all around me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Song of Songs 4

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Romans 8:6-11: The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Questions to Consider

Paul writes about the difference between those of the flesh and those of the Spirit. What are the marks of believers?
What are the “powers” that we gain through the Spirit of God?
This passage puts very little emphasis on what we are able to do; everything is governed and done by the Spirit. What does that say about our role in our spiritual life?

Notes

The Sunday School answer would be that a believer has the Spirit of Christ. Paul says that those of the Spirit live in harmony with God, but those of the flesh are at odds with God, unable to please Him.
The benefits we receive in being a believer are the ability to be fully reconciled to God and to live eternally with Him. Paul says that the Spirit that raised the dead to life dwells within us – that is an immense amount of power residing within us that we have access to!
Everything is stated as a result of being ”governed by the Spirit” or because the Spirit is ”in you.” It emphasizes that we bring nothing to the table of our salvation and our sanctification; all of this is done and accomplished by the work of God in our lives. Because He is able and He makes His dwelling among us, this should fill us with confidence that He will carry out His transformative work in our lives!

EVENING REFLECTION

How was your day? Did it help to become a little more aware of God’s presence around you? Or, maybe, if you were unaware, take some time to think about where He was throughout the day. Let’s ask Him to give us more sensitivity tomorrow and every other day to see what He is doing all around us.

February 15, Wednesday

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.