May 15, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 15, 2018, is provided by Joanna Tzen, a friend of AMI, who attended and served at Grace Covenant Church (UC) for a long time. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Waiting”

Luke 2:25 

Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

Waiting is a part of life, whether it’s as simple as waiting for the bus or waiting for God to move in a particular area of our lives. Simeon was waiting to see the Messiah in his lifetime. This passage tells us he was righteous, devout, and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit moved him to visit the temple courts where he saw Jesus. Verse 29 tells us Simeon was a patient man. He was an old man ready to go home to the Lord was waiting for his time to come. Once he saw Jesus, his purpose was fulfilled.

Have you ever waited with such purpose as Simeon did? I know when I find myself waiting, I get impatient, sometimes borderline hopeless, if I have waited for what I feel like is a long time. It’s easy for me to lose focus on what I am waiting for. 

I currently find myself in a very different kind of waiting season. My husband and I are expecting our first child in April. There is a sense of purpose and expectancy, along with a lot of trepidation, but also joy! It’s a different kind of waiting because there is a due date in sight, but there is still the uncertainty of how life will change after the waiting ends.

I’ve often thought about prayer as birthing something into the spiritual realm. It requires waiting and trusting in God. As I count down the days until my child’s birth, I’m thinking about how my own spiritual birthing experience has prepared me to depend on God in a similar way. 

Is God working in your life right now through a season of waiting? If so, how is He calling you to display the trust and focus that Simeon had in his life as he waited for the Messiah?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me first (1 Jn. 4:19) when I was completely unlovable. Forgive me for the things I have put before You and trusting in others more than I trust You. Remind me of Your faithfulness. Thank you that You never let me go. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Lam. 3:24-6: I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.”25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;26 it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.

Questions to Consider

  • What does it mean in verse 24 where Jeremiah says, “The Lord is my portion”? 
  • Why does this allow Jeremiah to wait?
  • What can be learned while waiting? Do you recall what Abraham learned about himself while waiting for the Lord to deliver on His promise 25 years after it was made (Gn. 12:4, 21:5)?

Notes

  • This refers to the territories that the tribes of Israel had. The Levites did not have a territory and the Lord was their portion. Jeremiah understands, in the same way, that the Lord is enough for him. The Lord is his security and his provision, much more so than anything that is physical.
  • Knowing that the Lord is his portion, allows Jeremiah to wait because he trusts in who the Lord is. He knows the Lord is good (v. 25) and he keeps His promises. This hope (v. 25) allows Jeremiah to wait quietly (v. 26) upon the Lord.
  • Abraham tries to fulfill God’s promise through his own human strategy: first, after waiting for 10 years he simply assumes that his servant Eliezar would be his inheritor (Gn. 15:2-3); then later he marries another woman who gives birth to Ishmael whom God rejects as the fulfillment of the promise (Gn. 21:10). What does this show about Abraham, the so-called the father of faith? No one has an unwavering great faith in God; that is to say, if we are to have great faith in Him, it will be the result of falling on our faces many times because of our lack of patience while waiting on God. As God was gracious to Abraham whenever he felt short, thereby never abrogating the promise made to him, it is through God’s infinite grace that we learn to trust Him and His goodness. 

Evening Reflection

Lord, thank You that You walk with us in every season, particularly in times of waiting. The truth is that all of our waiting pales in comparison to waiting for Jesus. Fortunately for us, Jesus is already here. In every moment of waiting, may we have much joy and peace, because we understand the Messiah has already promised and secured for us our greatest need—a relationship with the Heavenly Father that can never be broken.

May 14, Wednesday 

REPOST Today’s devotional, updated in 2018, is a revised version of what I first wrote in 1998, when my children were eight, five, and one year old

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Meaning of Raising Three Little Munchkins” 

1 John 4:20-21

If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

As all parents know, raising children is hard work. Perhaps that’s one reason some choose not to have kids. But, of course, they are missing out—although what I’m about to share probably won’t change their minds! One of the most difficult aspects of parenting, at least for me, is the persistent feeling of guilt. Children inevitably make mistakes, and as parents, we often wrestle with how to respond.

I vividly remember telling one of our kids, “If you treat others the way you treated your sibling today, you could end up in jail one day!” Now, nearly twenty years later, I don’t even recall what my child did. If it had been such a serious offense, wouldn’t I remember it? Perhaps I overreacted. Ironically, just a few days later, I reprimanded the previously offended sibling for saying something cruel to the one who had offended days earlier—though now, I can’t recall what was said either. In both cases, I disciplined them severely, only to later question whether I had been too harsh.

Then Ephesians 6:4 echoed in my mind: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children.” Had I done that?

Other times, I chose mercy instead of discipline—only to question whether I should have intervened. Proverbs 13:24 reminded me, “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.” Then, the worry crept in: Had my misplaced leniency set them on a path toward ruin?

Well, it’s 2018 now, and my children are no longer kids. How are they doing? There’s no definite answer yet, as their lives continue to unfold in their twenties. But one thing I’ve come to understand: We don’t have to be perfect parents for our children to turn out well. Their success is not entirely up to us—it is ultimately in God’s hands. Otherwise, how do we explain Jonathan, a righteous son who stood by his unprincipled father, Saul, until the end?

Looking back, I see that many of my fears stemmed from not fully trusting that God could overcome my parenting mistakes. Maybe I should have been more merciful at times—or more firm. But God knew my heart. As 1 John 3:20 says, “We can set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us because God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.” He knew that I loved them and still do.

So, parents, before worrying about whether to discipline or show mercy, love your children first. Personally, I would choose mercy first and turn to discipline only after all other options have been exhausted. Why? Because that’s exactly what our Heavenly Father has done for us—and continues to do! As James 2:13 says, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Through parenting, our understanding and appreciation of God’s love deepens. At least, that has been my experience. How about yours?

Prayer: Dear Lord, as You love us conditionally, help us to love our children unconditionally. Help us to love them for who they are, not because they can do things that makes us feel proud of our ability to parent. Father, please remove such delusion from us so that we can humbly ask You to help us to raise your children given to us for a time. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 20:30-34a, 31:1-2: Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? 31 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!” 32 “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David. 34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger . . . 31:1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell dead on Mount Gilboa.2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua.

Questions to Consider

  • Based on Jonathan’s exchange with his father Saul, how would you characterize Jonathan and Saul, respectively?
  • How did Jonathan show his love and loyalty to his father?
  • What does this say about parenting? Do parents hold all the cards in ensuring that our kids turn out perfectly? (For reference read Ezekiel 18:1-24).

Note

  • Jonathan was a selfless man who, once recognizing God’s will that David—not him— was to succeed the throne, did all he could to defend his friend at the cost of his own life. On the other hand, Saul, wanting to keep the throne in the family, did everything to oppose God’s will, including trying to kill his own son (an irony, indeed) and later David.
  • Jonathan, having left his father in righteous anger, returned to his father to fight along with him in what turned out to be their final battle. You and I know that many of us wouldn’t have done that. We have heard cases where adult children don’t call their parents forever after a big fight that happened years ago.  
  • Of course, parents are responsible to do their part in raising them in accordance to biblical ways (Eph. 6:4; Prov. 22:6), but they don’t control all the factors. Therefore, they shouldn’t get too much credit if their children turned out godly, and they shouldn’t get too much blame if their children turned out to be like Prophet Samuel’s sons, who “did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Sam. 8:3).

Evening Reflection

This is for parents and future parents. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” What’s the first thing that comes to your mind with respect what you want your child to model after? Going to church Sundays? That’s good. Not using profanity? Okay. How about apologizing to people (including your spouse and children) after making a mistake? How about being humble, loving and kind? There’s so much to pray about—pray for your child before going to sleep. Pray that you will be that humble and kind person your child wants to emulate (much like Timothy imitated the sincere faith of his mother Eunice).    

May 13, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on March 26, 2018, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Enter in!”

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.

I imagine that it was a bright, sunny, and glorious day. One of those picture perfect days when Jesus was mounted upon a donkey, riding into Jerusalem with a massive crowd exalting Him.  Yet it would be this very week that He would be betrayed by the same people and face an agonizing crucifixion. The King of Kings entered into His fate and purpose for which He came into the world with great meekness and mercy. His entering into the world also was of the same manner: born to ordinary citizens in a place unfamiliar to the glamorous and powerful. Yet as Jesus enters into Jerusalem, the crowd rejoices greatly, with an unrestrainable acknowledgment of His majesty. It was as Prophet Zechariah spoke: “… Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” 

Zechariah enables us to see the humble image of how Jesus would choose to enter into His fate and bring salvation to all men. The donkey was an intentional choice whose symbolism speaks to us here. During that time period, whereas horses signified wars and rulership, donkeys represented peace. Jesus’ such entry was symbolizing the peace that He had come to restore unto mankind. He had not come in the terms as men would imagine, conquering and dividing; rather, He came to restore. Furthermore, His entry on a donkey symbolized how He had come not to be served as other kings, but to serve—even the least forgotten of people. 

His humble acceptance of His fate would offer freedom from oppression for all of humanity. The oppression from sin, unhealthy emotions, addictions, and ultimately, all spiritual oppression would no longer have power. So during this Passion Week, let us meditate upon the willingness of our Savior, who, without reproach, entered into His purpose to bring salvation and freedom to us. As we think upon this truth, we will realize how we too are able to enter into our daily purpose with meekness and without reserve to serve people as Jesus did. We do not need to enter in on horses, but on a mere donkey—as Jesus did—extending the world a power that is expressed through humility and loving service.

Prayer: Dear Father, I thank You that Jesus eagerly embraced His purpose here on earth, in order that I would be restored to be able to understand mine. Thank You that I can face every day with great joy, to serve the ones around me with the same meekness and merciful  heart that Jesus had. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit today to be able to walk this out. Thank you!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 48

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 10:32-45: Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again. Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.”  But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.”  And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Questions to consider:

1. Why is meekness an attribute needed to serve God’s purpose?

2. What is one habit that you can develop that will help you to embrace God’s purpose for you daily?

3. Are you serving the ones whom God has placed in your life? If not, what is one thing you can do in order to serve as Jesus came to serve?

Notes

1. In Matthew 5:5, Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” Meekness is not passivity, as one would think; rather, it is where a person is able to bring themselves under control in order to serve another—in our case, to serve God’s purposes. It is a strength, not a weakness, that allows God’s purpose to be established on the earth.

2. Habits take time to develop and should be revisited daily in order not to neglect or forget the goal. Some say habits take 28-40 days for it to become a lifestyle.

3. We are all called to serve another. Every person that God has placed in our lives are meant to be loved by us in one way or another, to one measure or another. Consider whether you may be seeking more to receive than to give. Consider how you can switch that to be the giver and not the one seeking to receive. In Luke 6:38, it says that when we give, it will be given unto us. True satisfaction is in the giving.

Evening Reflection

In light of our reflection this morning on entering into everyday with the meekness of heart to serve God’s purpose and to serve those around you, how did you fare today in walking out this devotional?

May 12, Monday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 11, 2018, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Patience and Punishment”

Jeremiah 11:1-8

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— 4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. 5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.”  I answered, “Amen, Lord.”  6 The Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. 7 From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’”

Several years ago, I watched a recording of a parenting seminar given at the Church of Southland by John Rosemond.  One of Rosemond’s big things was that parents need to be firm—meaning, give directions only once, and punish severely and overwhelmingly when they aren’t obeyed.  Rosemond, humorously, compares kids to degenerate gamblers—they’re willing to play “slots” with their obedience/punishment, even if they only win on rare occasions.  So in practice, you tell your child once to clean up his toys, then you walk away; upon your return, if the toys aren’t cleaned up, you punish the child huge (example given was three weeks of going to bed right after supper, so you’d have to be willing to cancel all events that occur after dinner time—no sports games, music lessons, parties, etc.).  The idea being that once a child has tasted such a torturous punishment, he will think twice about disobeying again. 

As a young parent, I walked away from that seminar thinking, This is amazing!  I’m going to do this!  However, after several years and more kids, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that my kids are gonna be wild and never listen to me.  It’s not that I don’t agree with Rosemond’s methods— I still think it’s brilliant—but  I just realized I’m too much of a softee to make it work.  You see, when my kids cry and beg me for another chance, I just melt and give in.  I don’t see the disobedience in them; I only see those three-year-olds who don’t know any better.  So, perhaps to my detriment, I give them chance after chance, hoping that next time they will learn.  

Yet in my weakness, I take comfort in the thought that perhaps God is more like me than tough guy and probably awesome father John Rosemond.  By the time Jeremiah walked the streets of Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE, this “covenant,” referenced in today’s passage, had been established for several hundreds of years with Moses.  And unfortunately, most of the Old Testament painfully details how time and again, God’s people broke covenant by worshipping other gods and committing evil act after evil act.  So while God’s words and eventual punishment may seem harsh, ask yourself this: How many times did God actually relent?  When you realize it is probably in the hundreds, you begin to see God as patient, not punishing. While we’re at it, let’s make this a little more personal:  How many times a month, week, day do you mess up?  If you’re like me, the answer is, “a lot”; but chances are more often than not, you are recipients of God’s gracious patience—not his punishment.  

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for your grace and patience in my life.  Thank You that You loved us so much that You sent Jesus for us.  Help me to overcome the thought that You are out to pounce on my mistakes, but to see how patient and kind You are. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 47

Lunch Break Study

Read Galatians 6:7-10: Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Questions to Consider

  • Given that those who are believers get mercy when we deserve wrath, how can we explain Paul’s statement that we reap what we sow?  
  • Why is endurance so important in the Christian life?  Are you growing weary of doing good?
  • Why do you suppose Paul emphasizes doing good to those in the “household of faith”?  What implications does that have for you personally?

Notes

  • A couple of possibilities:  First, our salvation should be viewed as a process, where we are being transformed more and more into the image of Christ; therefore, we continually do “good” to become more like Him.  Second, he could be talking about reaping heavenly rewards, in addition to salvation.  In the radical middle theology, it’s likely both. 
  • Christian life is often compared to a marathon, where completing is a worthy goal.  In that sense, finishing our life well and following Christ all the way to the end is something we should not take as granted—we need endurance.
  • Jesus says that the world will know that we are His disciples by the way we love one another (John 13:35).  Perhaps we need to take special care of fellow church members and other believers.   

Evening Reflection

Today’s themes were God’s patience and endurance; in many ways, two sides of the same coin.  Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to give in to?  Perhaps it could be a strained relationship, a situation in life, or perhaps a character issue?  Are you willing to endure patiently?  Can you trust that God has a plan and is good through your difficulties?  

May 11, Sunday

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Doug Tritton, was first posted on February 11, 2018. A graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), Doug is the Lead Pastor of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Speak a Word”

Genesis 44:18

 Then Judah went up to him and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not your anger burn against your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself.

Perhaps one of the most amazing realities of being a Christian is the ability to speak directly to God. At any point, any place, we have access to the Father – to speak with Him, to hear Him speak to us, to enjoy His presence. How amazing this is!

Even in this world, we do not have access to speak to people of fame or authority. As a big Eagles fan, I have been following the Instagram accounts of various players, because—in a way—it makes me feel closer to them. I want to thank them for bringing the trophy back to Philly, I want to congratulate them for playing a great game, and I want to hear their thoughts—yet, sadly, I cannot. Similarly, when I was working at my old company, I remember one time being in the CEO suite due to a random occurrence. I felt like I was in a place of power, and I wanted to speak to the CEO and hear his thoughts about the company—but, sadly, I could not. No way would he speak to a lowly employee like me. 

For Judah, there was fear when he came to Joseph, due to Joseph’s power and authority. He felt like he did not belong in Joseph’s presence, so Judah pleaded for the chance to speak to him. But our God—the Creator of the universe, the Creator of life, the One who spoke to create everything out of nothing—has made Himself available to us. Through Jesus, we can pray to Him, without fear, without hesitation. May we never take this for granted! Oh, how easy it is for prayer to become old news, a mundane chore we do. Today, let’s remember what prayer is: talking to our God in Heaven. Let’s come to Him without hesitation, knowing that He is available to us.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for listening to my prayers. There is no reason You should listen, but You do because You love me as Your child. May I yearn to always speak to You, without any reservation. Thank You for this wonderful gift of prayer. May I never take it for granted, but rather, help me to pray without ceasing. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 46

May 10, Saturday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on February 24, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The God Who Transforms”

Genesis 48:8-12

When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

I enjoy watching “transformational reality shows”—they are reality shows where there is a great amount of change from the beginning to the end: for example, shows like The Biggest Loser, Fixer Upper, and Undercover Boss.  Whether it be a body being transformed by getting in shape, an old house getting restored, or changes made in a company—positive change gives us encouragement and gives us hope that change is possible.

One of the truths about Christian life is that God can change anyone.  No matter how bad we think we are, or the ingrained patterns of sin we fight on a daily basis, our God is a God who transforms.   And He doesn’t just change the outward behavior but gives us a deep heart transformation that makes us new and different people.  In the life of Jacob, we see that he started out as a liar, he was also proud, self-seeking, and careless.  Whether deceiving his father (Gen. 27), using his own wits to appease Esau (32:1–21), worrying more about his reputation than his daughter’s safety (ch. 34), or ignoring the fraternal hatred incited by his favoring of Joseph (ch. 37), Jacob was not an example of piety at the beginning of his life.  Yet at the end of his life, we see Jacob blessing the son’s of Joseph in a gesture of faith and love.  We see a changed man because of the love and grace of God!

I love what C.S. Lewis says about transformation in his book Mere Christianity:

Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is he up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building a palace.

There is hope for change!  As we continue to obey and seek Him, He wants to change us from the inside out.  That is good news for us!

Prayer:  Lord, thank You that change is possible because of the power of the gospel.  Help me to be surrendered to the areas in my life that needs changing and becoming more like You.  Amen!  

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 44-45

May 9, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional Spiritual, first posted on August 30, 2018, is provided by Hee Jung Lee. Hee Jung, a graduate of Biblical Theological Seminary, serves at Catalyst Agape Church (New Jersey) along with her husband Pastor Sam Lee. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Remembering the Mighty Power of God”

Luke 23: 22-25

“Then he said to them the third time, “Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.” But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.”

It was exactly three times that Pontius Pilate made known to the people that Jesus was an innocent man. “I have found no reason for death in Him,” (v.22) he shouted. “But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.” (v.23). It was a somber and grim day when an innocent man was condemned to die by the very people for whom Jesus spent years loving and ministering.

How could this be? How could the same crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with exuberant joys now be urging for his crucifixion? It is confounding. Why would anyone with even a slightly sound mind demand the release of a murderer (“notorious prisoner”—Matt 27:16) over a peaceful man whose crime they could not account? 

The explanation is God. They would have had no power over Him unless it was given from above (John 19:11). Isaiah 53:10 say, “Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.”  It was only by the designation of our incredibly good God that such an unexplainable turn of events could occur without reason. This is the sovereignty of God. What appeared to be a confusing moment in history was the process through which God was establishing salvation. All of mankind would benefit from what will come out of this one confusing moment in history. To see God in everyday life, through all of the challenges and trials, it is important for us not to lose sight of God’s sovereign power that is always at work for us.  

As for us, we need not complain in our moments of discomfort and lack of understanding. Instead, when we recognize the mighty hand of God that prevails over all things, we shall choose to worship and offer up thanksgiving. As we do this, we will be anchored in peace no matter how difficult it may be at times to see the goodness of God. As we wait on Him in this way, we will see that the Lord will certainly bring us out of any grim days with an experience of His goodness and promise to work all things for the great good of those who love Him! (Rom 8:28)

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how great thou art! I worship You this day and lift up praises to You because You are Lord overall. Forgive me for times that I make You small in my thinking and lose sight of Your intention to work all things out for my good. Help me Lord to hold onto the truths of who You are and find strength to wait upon You in all things. Thank you! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 43

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 103:1-5: “Bless the Lord, O my soul;and all that is within me, bless His holy name!Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Questions to consider

1. What is one thing in your life right now that may seem “grim”?

2. What are some ways that you can process this “grimness” in light of God’s truth for you? Search some verses in God’s Word that give you perspective from the mind of Christ in you. Hold onto His promise.

3. Take a writing pad and write a song or psalm unto the Lord that gives Him praise for who He is and all that He is doing in your life (despite how hard it has been).

Notes

1. We often process life from a moment to moment perspective, thereby becoming overwhelmed and hopeless. However, God is confidently working out goodness in our lives. He has a perspective of a wider scope. His perspective is eternal, not momentary. Hence it says in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” So we have every reason to hold onto hope during our dark and difficult days. God will certainly bring us out from them!

2. Nahum 1:7; Ps 34:8; Ps. 31:19; 1 Timothy 4:4; Exodus 34:6; Jeremiah 29:11

3. Thanksgiving and praise lift off the dark cloud that can loom over our minds and empower us to strength and peace.

Evening Reflection

In light of our reflection this morning on the sovereign goodness of God at work in our lives, how were you able to process difficulties today in the light of this truth?

May 8, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted September 6, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“An Inside Look at How God’s Word Came to Us”

Jeremiah 36:1-8 

In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord that he had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, “I am banned from going to the house of the Lord, 6 so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the Lord’s house you shall read the words of the Lord from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the Lord, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the Lord has pronounced against this people.” 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did all that Jeremiah the prophet ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house. 

Many people wonder how the Bible came to be, and how we received what we now consider to be the Holy Scriptures.  This chapter of Jeremiah gives us an inside view of how the revelations of God spoken to man became the written word of God that was later canonized and passed down from one generation to another.  In fact, this is the only chapter in the entire Old Testament that reveals how the oral message of the prophets took on its written form.  As such, this passage represents one of the keys to understanding why it was so important that God’s word be written down.    

The context for God’s command for Jeremiah to write down His message was the on-going conflict between the prophet and the kings of Israel.  It has been said that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and it was no different with the royal line of David.  In response to the wickedness of these kings, God raised up prophets who would confront these abuses of power with the truth.  Often, these corrections were not well received, and the messengers bore the brunt of the kings’ displeasure.   In this case, Jeremiah was banned from entering the temple and censored from speaking.   Given these restrictions, the only way to deliver the message of God was to write it down on a scroll and sneak it into the king’s presence.  

More than being just a personal memo from a disgruntled citizen, these written messages took on an authority of their own, or more specifically, they took on the authority of God Himself.  In a sense, by being separated away from the personality of the messenger, these words became far weightier than an oral presentation by the prophet.  After all, it’s possible to persecute, imprison, and kill a human messenger, but you cannot intimidate words on a scroll.  Humans can be forced to recant what they have said, but truth written down will never lie.   Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword, and Scriptures are living proof of that.  Though you can silence the voice of man, the word of the Lord will endure forever!  

Prayer: Lord, make us a people of one Book.  Help us to rediscover the truth of Your Word in a world that has forsaken all these truths for lies.  Help us to be committed to reading, studying, and living out Your Word.  Though every man be a liar, we know that You will always remain true.   Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Ezekiel 42

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

Questions to Consider

  • Describe Timothy’s relationship to the Holy Scriptures.  
  • What is the purpose of Scripture?
  • Why is faithfulness to the Scriptures important, especially today?  

Notes

  • It’s clear that Timothy has a rich history with the word of God.  He was acquainted with it from an early age, familiar with its teaching from childhood, and it was taught to him accurately.   Paul now exhorts Timothy to continue in what he has learned and come to firmly believe.  
  • Verse 16 and 17 are great reminders of the purpose of the Scriptures.  Too many times, we reduce the word of God to bite-sized slogans of inspiration, but they are so much more than that.  It is the basis for reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.  As we diligently study and apply the word to our lives, it creates spiritual growth, and provides the tools that are necessary to live out the Christian faith.  Without them, we have no hope of growing into spiritual maturity and being equipped to face the challenges of life.  
  • In our post-modern and post-Christian world, truth has become more and more arbitrary.  We want to hear what we want to hear and driven by our emotions.  This is the type of spiritual climate that leads to people listening to only what they want to hear as opposed to what they need to hear.  Paul warns against surrounding ourselves with pastors and teachers who cater only to people’s desires, knowing that our emotions can be a poor measure of what is true.  

Evening Reflection

Have you spent time in God’s word lately?  Although it is helpful to read books about the Scriptures, it is far more important for your spiritual health to go right to the primary source yourself.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead you to a particular book of the Bible to read, study, and even memorize.  Commit yourself to continue in what you have learned and come to believe.   

May 7, Wednesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on October 17, 2018. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Is Your 5-Year Plan Look Like?”

Jeremiah 46:8 

“Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. He said, ‘I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.”

Recently, I was part of a staff meeting where we were looking ahead and spent some time dreaming and envisioning where our church might be in five years. And from this meeting, we came up with some measurable goals that we want to reach by a certain timeframe. However, at the end of the discussion, our lead pastor made an interesting point: Although it’s great to have several goals we want to check off by a certain time, we cannot presume upon the Lord as if we are entitled to these things—as if accomplishing everything in our plans is the true measure of success. More than planning, it is important to constantly be sensitive to the voice of God in order to remain aligned to His will, even if they are contrary to our 5-year plans. True success for our church is to follow the leading of God, not the plans of man. 

In our passage today, we see the grandiose plans of the Egyptians who proclaimed that they would conquer and cover the earth. They were powerful and made plans that they believed they could accomplish. I mean, who would have stopped this mighty empire? However, we know that the main point of this chapter is to vividly illustrate their destruction and the foiling of their big plans. No matter how much they tried to change the course of history with their might, it is always the plans of God that prevail. 

For our generation, 5-year plans have become very popular. We love to plan our lives, set goals that need to be accomplished, and do everything we can to make sure it all unfolds just like we had imagined. And then we proceed to bring these plans to God and ask Him to bless them—even becoming bitter or resentful towards Him if our lives do not go the way we had wanted. In some ways, we always want God to adjust His plans to fit ours. But I wonder if we have it all backwards. I wonder how different our lives would look if we are always ready to adjust our plans to God’s—if we remain in a posture of listening rather than presuming that these things are owed to us. Don’t get me wrong—planning is important—but let us always be attentive to the voice of God and be ready to adjust. God’s plans will always prevail and that is a good thing, because His plans are always better than ours! 

Prayer: God, today I seek Your direction and leading. As I plan my life and think about the future, help me to always be attentive to Your leading and give me the ability to discern what is of You and what is not. And most of all, help me to trust in You more than myself! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 41

Lunch Break Study 

Read Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Questions to Consider

  • What does this passage imply about our own understanding about life? 
  • What do you think it means to “acknowledge Him in all your ways”? 
  • What areas of your life have you leaned upon with your own understanding? 

Notes

  • It implies that our own understanding is not to be fully trusted. Although we often think we can see all aspects of our life’s situation, we have many blind spots that distort reality—leading to bad decisions that feel right at the moment. When it comes to planning our lives, our ultimate trtust cannot be placed in our own understanding. 
  • It means that, first, you have sought the Lord and received some blessings from him (e.g., wisdom that leads to making a better decision, an open door, etc.); and then afterwards, you give credit where credit is due by publicly acknowledging and thanking God for His favors. It also means a life submitted to God. 
  • Personal response.

Evening Reflection 

In the busyness of our lives, it’s difficult to sit before God in a listening posture. Take advantage of the quiet night and ask God to show you His plans. Submit before Him different parts of your life and ask Him what it might mean to be aligned to His will in those areas. 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Prov. 19:21).

May 6, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 26, 2018, is written by Phillip Chen, who has been serving as the associate pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego for many years. He and several like-minded people are planting, the Lord willing, a new AMI church in Houston this summer. Please pray for them.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Is God Always Patient?”

Jeremiah 15:6 (ESV)

“You have rejected me, declares the Lord; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.”

The birth of my daughter was an incredibly joyous season, and yet it was also an incredibly tiring season. A new semester of seminary had just begun, and through the midst of classes I had to learn how to be a dad. I have to admit that it was not easy for me to wake up late at night to hear my daughter crying and try to put her back to sleep. She has a pretty loud cry too, so listening to non-stop screaming even as I was holding her was torturous for me. When I reflected upon it later on, I realized how much it weighed on me because it was something that I couldn’t fix right away. She was a real human being and not some robot or machine in which I could find an error and correct it. My patience over the course of weeks and months wore thin. Her cries wore me out. I thought I was a patient man, willing to forgive her for keeping me up at night, but I realized I am definitely not as patient as I thought. 

I wonder if this is how God felt towards Judah. Granted, my daughter’s cries are very trivial compared to the offenses that Judah has committed towards God. But is it possible that God’s patience was worn out by His people? When we read passages like this–where God has grown weary of relenting–it seems a bit bizarre to us. Isn’t God supposed to have unlimited patience? Isn’t He supposed to always forgive and always relent from His anger and wrath? I’d like to propose that God is not obligated to any of our expectations. Yes, He is patient beyond our understanding; yes, He is merciful and relents from wrath way beyond our comprehension. However, God can set His own limits where He says, “Enough is enough.” He is not obligated by any means to justify Himself to us.  

An important thing to note is that when we look at this passage in its entirety, rather than feeling sorry for Judah, we should actually feel sorry for God. If you look at the history of Israel (or even the history of mankind), you can’t help but feel sorry for God. You’ll see how again and again God shows His mercy and extravagant kindness towards people, yet they take it and turn their backs towards Him. You’ll see how God has relented from judgment time after time, yet Judah doesn’t even recognize how much God has done so in the midst of their repeated offenses towards Him. Our God is indeed a patient God. 

Judgment is finally coming to Judah, and it eventually does. May this serve as a reminder for us, that God’s patience with the wickedness in this world will one day run out. Judah is not the only nation to be judged, as we will all stand before God to give an account. May that bring a sense of urgency in how we conduct our lives as children of God. 

Prayer: Father God, thank You for your patience towards us. We realize that we are not so different from Judah, and even now, we are prone to rebellion. Lead us so that we may live a life of holiness and godliness. Lead us so that we can move forward towards You, rather than away from You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 40

Lunch Break Study

Read Revelation 9:18-21 (ESV): By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths. 19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents with heads, and by means of them they wound. 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, 21 nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Question to Consider

1. What is the context – what is happening in this vision?

2. How come the people did not repent of their works?

Notes

1. Read Revelation 8:6–10. Judgment (on a worldwide scale) is happening that calls into account all of humanity.

2. I would propose that people are so steeped in their sins – their worldview is so distorted, their hearts so hardened that they wouldn’t turn to God even when given the chance to do so. Our will is a powerful thing, and when our mind is set on a course of rebellion, our will can become so hardened that it can hardly respond to God. 

Evening Reflection

In 2 Peter 3:9 – Peter reminds the readers that the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise in His return – but rather that He is patient towards us. Let’s remember God’s incredible patience towards us today – not as a reason to rebel, but as a reason to partner with Him in His redemptive plan around this world.