January 9, Monday

Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor, Ph.D.) will present a series of blogs, dealing with various issues raised in the recent election that showed a deep divide, impacting both society at large and the church. The thoughts presented are processed through the lens of the Radical-Middle (both/and), personal narratives, and pastoral concerns. Your rational feedback is welcomed.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Those Who Go Back for Reasons the World Will Never Understand

Ezra 1:2-5 (ESV)

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: . . . 3 ‘Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.’ 5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem.”

I first met Jaime Echaveste, a middle-aged man and a father of four children, in the mid-2000s when I spoke to a Hispanic congregation in Southern California. That day, I talked about how God told the Israelites, exiled in Babylonia and Persia for nearly 70 years, to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple that had been destroyed. I noted that those who returned possessed two things that they didn’t when they were first taken to Babylonia: faith and money.

First, it was because of Israel’s faithlessness, “hav[ing] turned away from [God’s] commands and laws” (Dan. 9:5), that God allowed her to “become a desolate wasteland” (Jer. 25:11). Yet, it was during the captivity that the Israelites returned to God, weeping and longing to “sing the songs of the LORD” (Ps. 137:4); their faith in God had been renewed.

Second, whereas they came to Babylonia with nothing in their pockets, they now possessed plenty of gold and silver. Unlike the Israelites enslaved in Egypt, the Jews in Babylonia were allowed to carve out a decent living; in fact, these returnees shelled out about $20 million worth of gold toward the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 2:69).

Against the backdrop of this narrative, I pointed out to my audience, made up mostly of Mexican immigrants, how they first came to the U.S. without faith and money, but now they have both: faith in Christ and more money than they ever had, just like the Jews exiled in Babylonia. At that moment, after reading Ezra 1:5—“Everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem”—I challenged my Mexican brothers and sisters, saying, “Return to your country and rebuild it with the gospel and the money the Lord gave you.” Although some shouted, “Amen,” I wasn’t entirely sure whether they really heard what was said, but Jamie certainly heard. After the service, he shared with me how the Lord told him to return to his homeland in Jalisco, Mexico, to preach the gospel. In a later newsletter, he wrote, “On Monday we said goodbye to our home of 15 years. It was painful for some of us, yet we know that God is the One who is directing our life, Amen.”

Some people will never understand why anyone would leave the comforts of an American lifestyle to serve in parts of Mexico that are exceedingly dangerous and unreceptive to the gospel. Are you one of them? Listen—don’t buy the hype that living in America is the ultimate high; it is not, but serving the Lord is. Whether you are an immigrant or not, pray about going to somewhere in this world where what little we know and possess can be stretched to bless hundreds and thousands of people who do not know Christ.

Prayer: Lord, I’m so thankful that You became a man to bear our sins so that Your death on the cross could be the perfect atonement for us. What, then, could we not do for Your sake? May the gospel and the wealth that You gave us be reinvested into the rebuilding of broken lives in this world. We pray for Jaime and his family that their labor of love may result in abundant harvests in Mexico. Please protect and provide for them, especially the children. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 9

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Jeremiah 29:10-4 (NIV): “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Questions to Consider

Why do you think Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted verses by evangelicals?
Since these once “poverty-stricken” Jewish exiles in Babylonia had amassed enough gold to contribute 20 million dollars worth of it to the rebuilding of the temple, what is one key purpose behind God’s blessing and favor in our lives?
Based on how you have been managing your wealth, does your life agree with your response to question 2?

Note

Without any consideration to the context of Jeremiah 29, this verse can easily be construed as God wanting to prosper us materially, and we simply enjoying it. No wonder we love it!
Evidently, wealth was given to these Jews so that, besides enjoying it, it could be used to rebuild the temple. 1 Timothy 6:17 says, “Put [your] hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. . .. Do good, . . . be rich in good deeds, . . .be generous and willing to share.”
Personal response

EVENING REFLECTION

You are likely a child or grandchild of immigrants. Would you say you are better off economically and even spiritually (e.g., having more knowledge about the Bible, for instance) than they? What are you doing with what has been given to you to better the spiritual and physical lives of others? Would you give it some thought and prayer; perhaps, it is the time for you to make a decision like the one made by Jaime Echaveste who continues to serve in Mexico.

January 8, Sunday

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for January 7-8 are provided by Tina Hsu. She is a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.) and currently serves in E. Asia as a preaching intern.

Pastor Ryun’s series will return on Monday.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Fasting Anyone?

Luke 5:33-35 (NASB)

And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.

Isaiah 58:6 (NASB)

“Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?”

Every new year, I look forward to fasting and praying with my church for the first several days of January as a way to seek the Lord. What frightens me, though, as the new year approaches is that when the fast begins, I will have to temporarily separate myself from coffee, which I have grown to rely on too much on a daily basis. However, I can count this challenge a blessing, for it pushes me to rely on God and to consider the rich purpose of this spiritual practice.

Having criticized Jesus and His disciples for dining with “tax collectors and sinners,” the Pharisees now criticize Jesus for the lack of spiritual practices that he teaches his disciples, judging them as unholy and less righteous than the disciples of other teachers.

Jesus’ response implies that they have actually misunderstood the appropriate season for fasting. In addition, they have fasted for the sake of appearing holy, while missing the real essence of fasting.

Because Jesus’ appearance marks the arrival of God’s kingdom, Jesus is calling it a time of feasting and joy, similar to the sounds of joy and celebration at wedding feasts. But when Jesus is “taken away,” through the cross, resurrection, and ascension, then it will be appropriate to fast regularly as an expression of hope and anticipation.

Regular fasting is an expression unto God of our anticipation for the second coming of Jesus Christ, and for focusing our bodies, mind, and heart to remain faithful and to be found faithful when Christ appears. It helps us focus on eternal things and gives us a chance us shed off the temporary things we have learned to rely on or chase after.

Fasting is pleasing to God, when we attach it with daily reliance on God (Lk. 4:4: “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.”) and acts of justice and mercy (Is. 58:6). But if it is a way to claim self-righteousness or to build our outward appearance of holiness, it is an empty act and not a pleasing act unto God. (Lk. 18:11-12 “The Pharisee standing by himself prayed thus…I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I get”). However, as you begin this new year by engaging in spiritual disciplines, I pray and hope that your prayers and fasting will not be an end in itself but a means to meet with the Lord and to draw close to Him.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help me not to pray and fast for the sake of doing spiritual things, but for the sake of yielding and relying on You as the Lord of my life. I anticipate the day when I will celebrate with joy with brothers and sisters at Your glorious coming, when we see You face to face. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 8

January 7, Saturday

Pastor Ryun’s series will return on Monday.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Encountering Grace After Making all the Wrong Choices

Luke 5:27-32 (NASB)

After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.” And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him. And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered and said to them, ” It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

This short account of Levi’s calling (also known as Matthew) and life after responding to Jesus shows us that Levi had a genuine encounter with grace, leading him to true repentance and transformation. When Jesus personally approached Levi at his tax booth, Levi met someone who was ready to embrace him and to give him a chance to start new again.

Prior to this encounter, Levi made a decision that consequently led the Jews to alienate and despise him. He had become a tax collector, working on behalf of the Roman Empire. We don’t know what drove him to do this. He could’ve been driven by greed, or perhaps he had lost hope and grew impatient with God because although the Jews were living in the Promised Land, they were still a powerless vassal state under Roman rule. While some Jews continued to worship God and to patiently wait for the Messiah to restore Israel, Levi and many others decided to pursue a more gratifying life in their eyes. For this reason, the religious leaders, though having heart issues of their own, saw people like Levi as unholy and displeasing to God.

When Levi realized that the life he had chosen left him empty, he had no social avenue to return back to the Lord. If he went to the temple, synagogue, or a table to dine with the Jews, the religious leaders in particular would not receive him well. When Jesus approached him at the tax booth and said, “Follow Me,” Levi knew that the God of Israel had personally reached out His hand to him. Jesus accepted Levi and gave him an opportunity to return back to God. Being touched by grace, Levi later became an avenue for many other socially alienated tax collectors to encounter Jesus, as he opened his home to host Jesus and those who needed Jesus’ love and forgiveness.

Oftentimes, when I am doing ministry or praying for a non-believing family member or friend, I become weary and impatient if I don’t see change or growth after a span of time. But I am reminded through Levi’s transformation that only the grace of Jesus brings about a genuine change in people—a transformation that is not man-made, but Spirit-led, that reveals God’s glory.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your passion for the lost and for convicting me to have the same heart as Yours. You not only have the desire, but You also have the power and grace to draw people to Yourself. As I serve You, please help me to rely on You and to boast in Your ability and power, and not in my own. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 6-7

January 6, Friday

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

What Life is like for Undocumented Immigrants

Heb. 11:13^b-14, 16 (NIV)

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. . . 16 They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.

In February of 2016, just before my greyhound bus left for Bakersfield from Los Angeles (a 3-hour ride), I was told that my connection bus, which would have taken me to the small city where I was scheduled to preach the next day at a Hispanic church, was cancelled. I quickly called the host pastor, who was returning from a conference in Nevada, to see if he could pick me up. Fortunately, I only waited an hour before the pastor, along with his congregant (“Hugo”), arrived to collect me. Later, we dropped off Hugo at his weather-beaten, single-story house; he seemed eager to get home, mostly because his wife just had their second child.

The year before, I was surprised to find out that Hugo, who speaks English well and doesn’t have many Hispanic features, was originally from Mexico. During this visit, I learned that Hugo and his wife are illegal aliens, who have lived in the States for nearly 20 years. Constantly living in fear of deportation, the only jobs Hugo can find consist of backbreaking farm work that pay just enough to fund a small mortgage and put food on the table. I also learned that many in this community are in the same predicament: always anxious, suspicious of new people, and stuck in a dead-end job. I’m not exactly a bleeding-heart liberal, but my heart went out for them all.

So, what do you, as a theological conservative who does not support illegal immigration, say to them from the pulpit? I didn’t tell them to go home, because this is, in effect, their home. There are border patrol agents whose job is to enforce immigration laws; while we pray for their safety, my call as a minister of the gospel is wholly different. Whenever I get to share God’s Word before Hispanic congregations in America, I remind them of this: “We have all have made mistakes, but God forgives us in Christ. If God has so convicted you, you can return home and share the gospel with your families and friends, steeped in syncretistic Catholicism. And whenever you feel fearful, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’” (Phi. 4:7-8).

Now, there is one scriptural teaching that Hugo needs no reminder of; in fact, he may be way ahead of us: “He made his home . . . like a stranger in a foreign country. . .. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). But, for us, because life in America is so comfortable, we live as if this is our destination. May we, like Hugo, “admit[] that [we] are aliens and strangers on earth” (v. 13). Let us then live and serve the Lord accordingly all the while “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (v. 16).

Hugo was always attentive whenever I taught. His pastor was counting on him to step up to leadership and he seemed excited about the opportunity. So, I prayed for him, calling upon the Lord to prepare Hugo for fruitful labor that would bring true hope in Christ to those who live with fear in his community.

Prayer: Lord, while we may pity those who face a bleak future, doing difficult work to make a living, perhaps it’s us who are to be pitied, since we see life in America as heaven and death as an interruption. Please heal our spiritual blindness so that we may live for God wholeheartedly. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 5

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read 1 Peter 2:11-2 (NIV): Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Questions to Consider

According to Peter, in what sense are we to be aliens and strangers in the world?
As aliens and strangers, what proactive things does Peter command us to do?
Most of us don’t think much about the plights of illegal aliens. Now, while there are some in this group, like in a larger society, who are difficult to embrace (e.g., criminals), most of them came here illegally for the same reason most of our ancestors came legally—to provide a better life for their children. As aliens in this world, what would it mean to live such good lives among them?

Notes

We are to distinguish ourselves from the ways of the world: unethical manners in which businesses are conducted, immoral ways in which pleasures are pursued, heartless treatment of those who are deemed expendable and unimportant.
While retreating from the ways of the world, we are also told to move forward to distinguish ourselves as aliens and strangers in the world, living good lives among the unbelievers and producing good deeds that would glorify God.
Let’s suppose that you hired a person as a day-laborer, whom you guessed to be an illegal alien, to work in your yard. In that context, living such good lives would mean paying him a fair wage. What do you think (James 5:1-6)?

EVENING REFLECTION

We began the morning devotional talking about the fears of illegal aliens, especially those who have lived in the States for a long time. Let’s not kid ourselves—we ourselves have plenty of fears of being found out. Perhaps you’ve heard of the impostor syndrome—it’s when people believe their achievements are fraudulent, which causes them to fear that one day, others might learn of their incompetence. What fears do you secretly harbor? I invite you to go to the Lord right now for a fast and long-lasting relief; and don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with those who are trustworthy and truly care.

January 5, Thursday

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Sanctuary Cities at the Crossroad of Compassion and Justice

Joshua 20:1-3 (ESV)

Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.”

The Yali people, pygmy cannibals in Papua, Indonesia, and several tribes living near them have had an interesting custom. Once a man fleeing from his enemies enters the place called Osuwa, he is immediately granted protection and safety—no one could touch him, much less hurt him as long as he stays there. The cities of refuge in ancient Israel served a similar purpose: God told the elders of those cities to admit anyone who kill[ed] a person accidently and unintentionally “into the city and give him a place to live with them. If the avenger . . . pursues him, they must not surrender the one accused” (Joshua 20:5).

What would, then, be the closest thing to Osuwa or cities of refuge in our country? To the advocates of undocumented immigrants, it may be “sanctuary city”—a safe harbor to illegal aliens, since special municipal provisions allow people to “avoid cooperating with federal immigrant law enforcement authorities.” So, what will you do if immigration agents are knocking on your door, upon finding out that you are harboring an illegal alien?

Henri Nouwen, in The Wounded Healer, tells a story of a young fugitive kept hidden by people of a small village. When the soldiers threatened to kill them for not handing him over, they turned to their minister who, upon reading the verse, “It is better that one man dies than that the whole people be lost” (Jn. 18:14), advised the people to do just that. That evening, the minister, still saddened by his decision, was visited by an angel, who said, “Don’t you know that you have handed over the Messiah?” When the minister asked, “How could I know,” the angel said, “If, instead of reading your Bible, you had visited this young man just once and looked into his eyes, you would have known.”

What a powerful story, but does this make my question any easier to respond? No, not really. As compassionate believers, being mindful of God’s command to “not mistreat [alien] . . . love him as yourself” (Lev. 19:33-4), we may help an undocumented father or mother on the run. However, as believers who see “governors” as “sent by [God] to punish those who do wrong” (1 Pet. 2:14), we may also turn over illegal aliens who have committed crimes. After all, not everyone was welcomed to the city of refuge, for its protection didn’t extend to those who committed crimes premeditatively.

To those who see the entire world in black and white, this isn’t an adequate answer; however, over disputable matters, we study Scripture, pray earnestly, and then follow our heart wherein lives the Holy Spirit. We may, therefore, find ourselves hiding or reporting illegal aliens. In either case, instead of name calling (“xenophobic”) to shame one another, we respect each other’s view, even as we may voice our disagreements. “Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light . . . the motives of men’s heart” (1 Cor. 4:5).

Prayer: Dear God, I praise and honor You this morning. Please give me wisdom and courage over disputable matters so that my decision will not result in being sanctimonious, accusing and labeling those who disagree with me. Help me to love the weak and the helpless, and also uphold the laws of the land. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 4

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Rom. 8:1 (NIV): Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Matt. 11:28-9: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Heb. 9:28, 10:28: So Christ was sacrificed once and to take away the sins of many people. . .. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Questions to Consider

“The cities of refuge,” a temporary rest for those who did wrong in the Old Testament, foreshadowed God’s permanent provision in Christ for the forgiveness of wrongdoers. Theologically, why is the rest granted in the New Testament superior to that of the Old Testament?
How was the better rest made available in Christ realized theologically?
What would you say to an undocumented worker running from the law who does not know Jesus?

Note

The rest available in Christ is far superior, because those who are in Christ are no longer condemned, and their sins are permanently forgiven by God because of the atoning death of His Son. Thus, in Christ, we can truly find rest for our weary souls.
This superior rest was made available to us, because Christ’s sacrifice took away our sins once and all, thereby making any further sacrifice for sin completely unnecessary.
An example: “As long as you don’t believe in what Christ has done for you, you’re actually running from God. You can stop running by placing your trust in Christ. Whether to return to your country is something you ought to pray about, as you are being instructed in the word, and then follow your conscience.”

EVENING REFLECTION

As you look back to this day, were you involved in any argument or intense discussion over a disputable issue? How did you handle it? What does the way you handled it reveal about yourself?

Meditate on Romans 15:1-2, 7 and pray for God’s wisdom and strength to do better tomorrow.

“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, . . . 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

January 4, Wednesday

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Open Borders or Walls?

Numbers 21:22-3 (NIV)

Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites: 22 “Let us pass through your country. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will travel along the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”23 But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. He mustered his entire army and marched out into the wilderness against Israel. When he reached Jahaz, he fought with Israel.

Having crossed different US-Mexico borders hundreds of times in several states, I’ve seen tall fences and even walls. So, President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to build a wall along the 2,000-mile US-Mexico border isn’t an entirely new idea. In contrast, some push for open-borders, while others advocate—in effect—a similar stance by opposing measures aimed to curve illegal immigration. Regrettably, Trump’s wall (a logistic nightmare) beclouds the more fundamental question of whether America, as a sovereign country, has the right to secure its borders. How should a believer think on this matter?

Last September, there was nothing out of the ordinary as I applied for a visa to enter this E. Asia country for the umpteenth time, until the replay came a day later—the $25 visa fee had jumped five times! I was upset but that’s as far as it went: to enter any country as a foreigner, you must play by their rules, not yours. You don’t have to like it and that’s your prerogative; sovereign states can place any stipulations they deem justifiable and that’s their prerogative. A sovereign state has the right to admit only those who satisfy the requirements placed on them, even if they seem unfair to the outsiders. The U.S. has that right inasmuch as Mexico who guards her southern borders with Guatemala very tightly.

State sovereignty is not a new concept—just ask Moses who, as the leader of a new nation on the move (from Egypt to Canaan) in the 15^th century B.C., clearly understood that the Israelites couldn’t just barge into the sovereign state of the Amorites. Therefore, he asked King Sihon for an official permit to pass through his land, assuring the king that they would not to take any of his nation’s resources. The fact that Sihon still perceived Israel as a hostile entity makes sense geopolitically, prompting him to defend his nation’s border.

Having immigrated from S. Korea as a teenager in 1974 and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, the Lord has blessed my life in America, a nation that has enjoyed God’s favor for a long time: its educational system, freedom to worship and job market are equal to none. No wonder so many people desire to come to this land of opportunity any way they can. That, however, does not mean that anyone outside of this sovereign state has the right to cross the border illegally, without passport or visa. Some of us can dedicate ourselves to be an advocate of change so that more people can enter this nation legally; but to call U.S. an anti-immigrant and xenophobic country for not permitting open borders is to hold America to a different standard not applied to other nations.

Having said all this, as kingdom people, we have good news to proclaim to those around us: that God breaks down the “dividing wall of hostility” among men (Eph. 2:14), because the veil separating all of us from a holy God has long been torn in two by Christ (Heb. 10:19). Set your goals high: long to be a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20)—a far better place than America.

Prayer: Father, as our nation is going through many tumultuous changes, please help us, the believers, to be clear- minded and not “think” emotionally. Please help us to be smarter when it comes to thinking about our sociopolitical issues. And help us to love and respect those with whom we disagree. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 3

LUNCH BREAK STUDY

Read Deuteronomy 2:30-3: But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. 31 And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.’ 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God gave him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and all his people . . ..

James 1:13-4: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

Questions to Consider

When Sihon refuses to let the Israelites pass, God reveals to Moses His plan, which meant that Israel needed to respond militarily to Sihon’s attack. James 1:13 says that God does not tempt anyone but here, it says that God hardened the spirit of Sihon. What do you think happened first?
Geopolitically speaking, how would you describe what happened here? In other words, what is the worst way to settle any border dispute? (Those of you who are old enough remember, does Falkland Islands debacle ring a bell?).
What is one sure way to make certain that we do not reach a point where God hardens our heart (Rom. 1:24-6; 2 Thess. 2:11-2)?

Note

God does not harden our hearts first. In the case of Sihon, it was he who first decided to be inhospitable toward Moses, who merely had asked for a “pass”. Sihon immediately launched an all out war against a people who merely wanted to pass through. Only when this king wouldn’t relent from his ill-advised attack, did God harden his heart so that he would be defeated in the ensuing in war, thereby accomplishing God’s objective.
The worst way to settle any border dispute is war, of course, and there have been many wars fought over this matter, including the battle fought between England and Argentina over the Falkland Islands in the 1980s. To the advocates of open border and/or illegal immigration, building a wall appears to be the final straw—I wonder how they feel about the Great Wall of China.
Repentance! Don’t play with this thing. In the spiritual world, if you insist on being an recalcitrant sinner, then God would remove His protection over you—which means the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring enemy looking for someone to devour (1 Pet. 5:8), will get a piece of you.

EVENING REFLECTION

Whether we like it or not, Donald Trump will be our next president—and the whole world knows about his many flaws. So, why don’t we start praying that our next president will experience a profound spiritual change. If the wicked king Manasseh was not outside of God’s reach (2 Chron. 33:12-3), then, the President-elect is well within God’s range of encountering His grace. We, as Bible believing Christians, should cease from taking our cues from the media and academia that clearly have a different vision for what constitutes justice, freedom, and free speech; instead, let’s start listening to God who commands us to pray for “kings all those in authority” (1 Tim. 2:2).

January 3, Tuesday

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

Devotional Thought for Today

Introduction 2: “Seeing Gray in a World of Black & White,” or is it “Seeing Black & White in a Gray World”?

Romans 14:5-8^a, 10, 12 (ESV)

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. . ..

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. . .. 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

I first saw the image of the infamous duck/rabbit in a book touting the merits of postmodernism, a worldview that sees the world as ambiguous, as shades of gray; unsurprisingly, the book saw the picture as not a duck or rabbit but both. The other image shows a world of black and white, colors that represent an unambiguous world with absolute objective truths and values where things often cannot be true simultaneously. One or the other must be true or false.

How do you see the world? Most of us reading this blog see the world as black and white. You may protest, but if your answer to “Is Jesus the only way to salvation?” is “yes” (Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6), then you do. Nonetheless, today’s passage indicates that not all issues are that clear. These are called “disputable” matters and believers are instructed to treat two or more opposing positions as equally rational. In the church in Rome, the two disputable matters were, first, whether to eat kosher (the traditional Jews said “no” while the liberated ones said “yes”), and second, whether to observe certain Jewish holy days. Paul then reminds the believers, each having formed a position based on his or her own conviction, not to belittle or despise those with whom they disagree; ultimately, it is God who will judge them all and the views they hold.

What about social issues? While the scriptural positions on matters such as abortion (Ps. 139:13-4) and homosexuality (Rom. 1:26-7; 1 Cor. 6:9; 1 Tim. 1:10) may seem quite clear, the recent election highlighted several social issues that are not clearly delineated in Scripture. Two election issues that riled up many Americans were President-elect Donald Trump’s stances on “illegal immigration” and the inflow of Muslim refugees. Certainly, dismissing Trump’s generalization that “illegal immigrants are killing thousands of people” is easy, but is it xenophobic to oppose illegal immigration itself? It is good that we understand Muslim Americans who feel threatened by Trump’s proposal to create a Muslim registry, but is it Islamophobic to desire better security measures to discourage some Muslims in the US from becoming violently radicalized and keeping the radicalized ones from entering America?

How should Christians think concerning these matters? Should we care? Yes, of course, for there are over 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the US, half of whom come from Mexico; there are over 2.6 million Muslims in the States (2010) whose population is expected to more than double by 2030.

While illegal immigration and keeping radicalized Muslim refugees from entering the US may be a law and order matter to politicians, we must also bring our hearts into such issues—that is to say that understanding intellectual as well as emotional matters in such controversies are both important. Having lived in Mexico for a decade and preached in several Hispanic churches in America, I have friends in Mexico who were deported, losing everything in the process; I’ve shared meals with illegal immigrants in the States who live in constant fear; I even stayed an entire week with a lonesome family in Mexico without a household father because he had long left home in search of a job in America. As for Muslims, I have travelled to several Islamic countries multiple times, which has led me to sometimes disagree with those who say Muslims are particularly more violent. All I saw were regular people busy making a living, presumably to put food on the table for their kids.

As we explore these and other matters as part of January devotionals, I hope you give some serious thought and prayer to such things and perhaps even begin a dialogue with unauthorized immigrants and Muslims in your neighborhood. The world is changing; thus, it’s imperative that we respond biblically and compassionately—armed with God’s eternal truth, led by the Spirit, and undergirded by the love of Christ.

Prayer: Father, as our nation is going through many tumultuous changes, please help us, the believers, to be clear minded and not “think” only emotionally. Please help us to be wise and cogent when it comes to thinking about social issues. And help us to love and respect those with whom we disagree. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 2

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:33 (ESV):“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.”

Mt. 10:34: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

Heb. 11:6a: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists.”

Ps. 14:1a: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”

1 Cor. 13:9-10: “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.” (I agree with John MacArthur who sees “the perfect” as heaven.)

Questions to Consider

Which pair of the above passages is a matter of both/and, that is, statements which appear to be contradictory but are to be accepted as equally true?
Which pair of the above passages is a matter of either/or, that is, if one is true, then its opposite is necessarily false?
Based on 1 Cor. 13:9-10, should we believe that our own view is always right while those of others are not?

Notes

Both John 16:33 that says in Jesus we may have peace (since his atoning death appeased God’s wrath aimed at sinners—Rom. 5:1), and Matthew 10:34 that says Jesus came to gives us a sword (i.e., “God opposes the proud”—James 4:6), are to be accepted as equally valid.
While Hebrews 11:6 that says “God exists” is to be accepted, its opposite, “There is no God,” is to be rejected as invalid. Note that the more essential an issue, the Scriptures pronounce that a matter of either/or.
We must realize that while living on earth, our knowledge is limited by human finiteness and sinfulness. We know some things but not everything, and what we think we know is not always accurate or complete. Stay humble.

Evening Reflection

Before turning in the night, ask God for a compassionate heart toward those who live in fear (and not just illegal immigrants or Muslims). If you are that person, remember that “perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:18) and God’s love for you is perfect.

Ask God for wisdom to really grapple with these disputable social issues. Make a request to the Lord for a right attitude that does not unfairly judge those with whom you disagree over disputable matters. Remember what the apostle Paul says under the Spirit’s inspiration: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God” (Rom. 15:7).

January 2, Monday

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the respective views of AMI pastors.

Devotional Thought for Today

Introduction (1): Whose Politics? Which Morality?

Proverbs 18:2

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

When it comes to the beliefs of our fellow human beings and even those who “claim to live in Christ” (1 Jn. 2:6), we can be greatly perplexed at the diversity of opinion—how is it that people, many of whom are educated and of goodwill, can believe so vastly different things about the nature of reality?

This incredulousness was certainly evident during the recent presidential election. Many of even the same families and faiths came to adopt two radically different positions concerning visions of the moral and political good during the election, very roughly categorized as liberal and conservative.

For liberals, they saw a hard-working, honorable, and capable candidate in Hilary Clinton who was ready to pave the way for women to break the glass ceiling of a patriarchal rooftop and continue Obama’s struggle for a more just society. Trump was the incarnation of Satan: unethical, unqualified, and, most importantly, a bigoted normalizer of the triune unpardonable sin of our time in the threefold manner of racism, sexism, and homophobia. “How could anyone, much less a follower of Jesus, vote for a man who talks about minorities with such disrespect? How can we vote for a man who knows so little and lies so much?” they asked out loud. Support for Clinton was support for justice over injustice, plain and simple.

For many conservatives, they perceived Clinton to be the epitome of corruption who would force Christians to accede to the unjust mandates of social justice activists in the arenas of abortion, homosexuality, and religion: they wondered, “How can Christians support someone who so blatantly defies God in her advocacy for same-sex marriage and abortion? How can we back someone who so dangerously threatens our religious liberty? How can we vote for a person so corrupt and full of deceit?” Many conservatives saw hope in Trump for a revitalized economic future. Others voted for him as a buffer to what they perceived to be a greater evil, namely the felt threat of liberalism to the ideals of morality, freedom, and true religion. Supporting Trump was akin to U.S. support of Stalin during World War II against the Axis powers—not ideal, but necessary to defeat the bigger threat.

This is truly an American age of polarization, of radically different conceptions of the good. One person’s idea of marriage equality is what another would call the degradation of public morality. One man’s religious freedom is another’s religious bigotry. One woman’s reproductive rights are another’s genocide of children.

The problem of fundamental disagreement is a profound one, and I can only offer some cursory thoughts as to finding a way through. Christians must carefully evaluate their own philosophy and competing philosophies, always measuring them against “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). Christians must earnestly seek wisdom to discern the various visions of ethics, politics, and justice (James 1:5, 3:17-8). And, perhaps most importantly, Christians must be willing to respectfully listen to others and truly attempt to understand where others come from, even while humbly disagreeing (Lk. 9:54-5)—if the Golden Rule applies to the political realm as well, then I think it would demand nothing less.

So, join with me this month as we examine several election-related issues that, if handled without the “Radical-Middle” (both/and) and adequate knowledge and compassion, threaten to compromise our prophetic (i.e., theocentric, nonpartisan) witness to the unbelieving world.

Prayer: Father, this morning, I’m amazed at Your grace once again, for I’m truly blessed. As Christ exhorted us to love You with our minds as well, motivate and strengthen me to study the issues according to your truth, and then embody that truth in how I live by the power of the Spirit. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Kings 1

Lunch Break Study

James 1:19: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Read Lev. 10:16-20 (ESV): Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, 17 ‘Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.’ 19 And Aaron said to Moses, ‘Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and yet such things as these have happened to me!* If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the Lord have approved?’ 20 And when Moses heard that, he approved.

*Aaron’s two sons died earlier that day for disobeying God’s explicit command (Lev. 10:1-2).

Questions to Consider

Why was Moses so quick to get angry with his brother Aaron?
What calmed Moses down, that is, becoming “satisfied” (NIV) with Aaron’s reason for not complying with what he was told to do?
Application: The quickest way to end any dialogue these days is to label your “opponents,” who are merely articulating their views, with some belittling and insulting terms. Do you think everyone who disagrees with your position deserves such treatment? Ultimately, what does that say about us, in terms of who we are and how much we really know about things?

Notes

Moses knew that Aaron failed to comply with what he was told to do, but Moses didn’t consider why it could’ve happened that way; in other words, he didn’t truly listen but was quick to speak and become angry.
After hearing Aaron out, Moses understood that Aaron was mourning for his two sons who had died earlier that day as God’s judgment against them; in other words, Aaron was in no mood to eat.
I understand why people of the world would behave a certain way, but when followers of Christ do the same, it means that they have been influenced more by the media and academia than God’s Word. It suggests that what they know lacks both depth and breadth because quickly labeling someone (“hater,” “bleeding-heart liberal”)—which torpedoes any rational conversation—suggests that they have run out of cogent things to say.

Evening Reflection

Paul told Timothy, Pastor of the church in Ephesus: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (1 Tim. 2:1-2). This wasn’t an easy thing to do, since Paul was referring to the Roman Emperor Nero—a madman who murdered his own mother Agrippina to secure his power. The President-elect Trump certainly has done foolish things, but matricide isn’t one of them. If the early Christians could pray for Nero, we should also pray for Trump (as well as Mike Pence). Would you pray that they would become humble people who would take God’s Word seriously and govern our country with His wisdom and compassion?

January 1, 2017 Sunday

Upcoming series for January 2017 (weekdays): Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor) will present a series of blogs, dealing with various issues raised in the recent election that showed a deep divide, impacting both society at large and the church (especially many AMI churches that minister to university students and young professionals in the city). The thoughts presented are processed through the standpoint of the Radical-Middle (both/and), personal narratives, and pastoral concerns. I welcome your “rational” feedback.

Today’s devotional is written by Pastor Joshua Kim of Church of Southland.

Devotional Thought for Today

Jude 1:24-25

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

new-year According to an article in Forbes, over 40% of Americans make some kind of New Year’s resolution. I’m not sure if you’re in the 40%, but here is a daunting statistics: only 8% of people actually achieve their resolutions. This means that out of the estimated 322 million people in the US, only about 10 million people make and achieve their New Year’s resolutions. So what drives us to continue this, despite the low rate of success.

Whether it be losing weight, saving money, or taking that step of faith, we often end the year looking through the list of things that we wish we could have accomplished or done differently, wondering where all the time has gone. For some, this past year was filled with exciting changes and victories, while for others, it has been a year full of trials, stagnation, or even heartbreak. Wherever you may be (maybe it’s been a hectic mixture of both) as we begin this new year, be encouraged by the truth Jude speaks to our hearts in this proclamation of praise.Though our success rate of achieving our resolutions may only be 8%, we serve a God who is able—His success rate is 100%; He does not fail. Even for Jude’s time, to a church pervaded by false teachers and persecution, it is a word of promise and confidence. He is able to keep you from stumbling. The implication here is that if you continue to abide in faith and trust in Him, He will keep you from falling and present you blameless before His presence.

As you embark on this first day of a new year, the reality is that by the end of the year you probably will not have gone to the gym as often or bought less stuff from Amazon as you resolved to do. But there is one thing you can be assured of in this moment: He is faithful. Through the feelings of excitement, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, etc. I pray that what shines above them all is a sense of joy. A joy that comes from knowing that God is with you. He has been with you. He has kept you to this point. And if you walk in faith this year, despite the failures and successes you face, it will be His faithfulness that keeps you, now and forever.

To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for this new year—another year You have allowed me to experience Your great love. Although I long to be with You and wait expectantly for Your return, I believe that You have a purpose for this next year. I believe that whatever I may face this upcoming year, You will be faithful. Help me to trust You every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 22

December 31, Saturday

Devotional Thought for Today

Jude 1:17-23

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

As we come to the last day of 2016, we look back to a year of which people’s opinions are very much divided. With the passing of many prominent figures who have shaped and challenged our culture, an election that pulled back the mask of a divided country, a refugee crisis that seems to have no end in sight, let alone all the personal battles, the list goes on of the various challenges that we have faced throughout this year. And one of the most interesting things that have developed throughout this year is how the church has responded (or has not responded) to a world that is spiraling out of control.

“In the last time,” writes Jude, speaking as if he is writing to us today, he says that this is to be expected. And he goes on to clearly distinguish between those who are of Christ and those who are not, in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Ungodly

Godly

• scoffers

• ungodly passions

• divisive

• worldly-minded

• devoid of the Spirit

• beloved

• holy faith

• pray in the Spirit

• in the love of God

• looking forward to Christ’s return

The concern is that the church is losing its distinction from the world: just looking at how divided the response of the church to the various events of this year shows how our perspective is more like the world than it should be. The truth is that those in Christ are called to be people who are not just dissimilar to the world, but categorically different in their thinking, their actions, and their demeanor. Jude reminds the church that because of Christ, we are set apart from the world.

The call that follows to those who are beloved, who are building up their holy faith, who are praying in the Spirit and are in the love of God, and who are looking forward to Christ’s return—is to show mercy. This mercy is radically different from the kind of mercy this world shows. It is a mercy displayed to all, even those opposed to church. It is mercy that condemns sin but shows mercy to the sinner. It is a kind of mercy that is not of this world.

As you end this year and look forward to a new year, may you be reminded of the call of Christ for us to “shine like stars in the world,” “in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation” (Phil. 2:14-16). May you not shy away from distinguishing yourself from others, not for the sake of standing out, but in obedience to the Lord. Even to the last moments of this year, may you actively show mercy onto others. And in the same manner, begin this new year.

Prayer: Father, thank You for this past year. It was not the easiest of years, but through it, I saw how faithful and never-changing You truly are. Even to the last moments of this year, and as I begin a new year, I want to walk in a manner worthy of Your calling, because I know Your calling is an invitation to life and life abundant. Thank You for this gift. Thank you for Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 19