Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 19-25 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

What is true freedom? Freedom is often associated with the absence of rules and restrictions. Our culture has defined it as being given free reign to do whatever our hearts desire. But is freedom about having no constraints at all? Are rules and boundaries in opposition to freedom? I would say no. As Tim Keller puts it, “A fish, because it absorbs oxygen from water rather than air, is only free if it is restricted and limited to water. If we put it out on the grass, its freedom to move and even live is not enhanced, but destroyed. The fish dies if we do not honor the reality of its nature.” In other words, freedom is not the total absence of limits but rather finding the right ones that allow us to flourish and thrive as people.

It seems that the false teachers had been luring away believers by promising them freedom—the freedom to let their lustful passions run wild as they pleased. They argued that the gospel had brought them freedom and it was at their discretion to use as they pleased. And in one sense, the false teachers were correct. Freedom is at the heart of the gospel. However, it is not the freedom to do whatever we want. It’s being freed from the power of sin and death and having to fulfill the law on our own. In other words, we are freed from sin to be slaves to Christ—not so that we can do whatever we want.

Oftentimes, many of us find the rules of Scripture to be stifling and burdensome. But I want to remind you that they were placed in our lives for our good. God is our Creator and knows us inside out. He understands what we need and the desires of our hearts. And the boundaries prescribed to us are not to suppress us but for us to flourish and live lives of true freedom and joy. For this reason, take delight in His word. It is for our ultimate good!

Prayer: Father, help me to delight in Your word and commands. At times my heart feels burdened by it. However, help me to feel a sense of freedom and joy in following Your commands and give me the strength to do so! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 14

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 119:97-104: Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98  Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100  I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. 101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. 102  I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 103  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104  Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Questions to Consider

1. Why does the psalmist delight in the words of God?
2. What steps can you take to cultivate this type of posture towards God’s commands?

Notes

1. He finds true understanding and wisdom in the words of God, more so than his enemies who seem to be looking elsewhere. This implies that by following God’s word, it is leading him to a life of goodness, away from evil and every false way. It has not only given him more wisdom but has tangibly affected his life in a real practical way.
2. Personal.

Evening Reflection

We live in a culture where we are constantly bombarded by the media. Our minds are constantly being filled with various messages and ideas. It has become increasingly more difficult to slow down and meditate on the word of God. Let us make sure that we create time and space in our days to quiet our worlds and meditate on God’s word. Take some time tonight to do so.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 19-25 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

2 Peter 2:4-10

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; [5] if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; [6] if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; [7] and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked [8] (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, [10] and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

One of my favorite quotes (used by almost every pastor as a sermon illustration) is from C.S. Lewis’ novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In response to the character Susan’s question about the safety of meeting the mysterious Aslan the Lion, Mr. Beaver replies, “Who said anything about being safe? Course He isn’t safe. But He’s good. He’s the king.” I like this quote because I find Mr. Beaver’s response to be an apt description of God. He’s good but He isn’t safe.

I wonder how many of us hold both descriptors in tension when it comes to our view of God. It seems that many have opted for a God who is good but also safe, maybe even domesticated—and understandably so. It’s easy to focus on His love and grace at the expense of His less popular attributes such as His wrath and judgment. But upon surveying the biblical narrative, one cannot walk away without a profound realization that God isn’t safe.

In our passage for today, we see the apostle Peter bringing these two descriptors of God into focus. As false teachers have infiltrated the church, Peter warns that those who are led astray by false teaching will indeed be judged. The apostle makes his point by giving them a brief survey of Scripture and highlighting moments in biblical history where the judgment and wrath of God were powerfully displayed. In essence, he is making the point that God does not only know how to save, but He is also the righteous judge. To put it simply, God will not overlook sin and immorality. There will surely be judgment in the last days, and for this reason, Peter exhorts the church not to deviate from the way of Christ.

How should we respond to this passage? I want to offer two ways: First, we must take our sins seriously because God deems it a serious matter. We shouldn’t grow lax or apathetic in our fight against sin. Instead, we must make every effort to pursue holiness. Second, it should create in us a sense of urgency to share the gospel with those who don’t know Christ. The final judgment is a reality that is sure to come. In the limited time that we have, we should do what we can in sharing the good news of the gospel with those whom we love. I want to encourage you to take some time today to pray for those who have not accepted Christ. It is imperative that we do so.

Prayer: Father, I pray for those who do not know You. I ask that You would open up their hearts to the good news of Your gospel. Give me opportunities to share about You and the courage to do so. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 13

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 1:18-23: The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the essence of sin according to this passage?
2. Can a person who never had access to the Bible claim total ignorance of God’s laws?
3. How would you describe your posture toward sin?

Notes

1. Paul writes in verse 22 that the essence of sin is to exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling creation—that is, choosing to worship the creation rather than the Sin at its fundamental level is idolatry.
2. No, since by way of God’s general revelation (i.e., that which is knowable about God apart from Scripture but through creation and God’s law written on human hearts [Rom. 2:14-5]), men have access to adequate knowledge of God’s divine nature and laws.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection

As you wind down and reflect on your day, did you have a sense of urgency for those who don’t know Christ? Were you able to see and act on different opportunities to share the gospel as you went about your day? Take some time to pray for unbelievers you regularly interact with; ask God for more opportunities tomorrow to share and demonstrate the love of Christ.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 19-25 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

1 Peter 1:12-2:3

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, [14] since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. “[16] For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [17] For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” [18] we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. [19] And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, [20] knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. [21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. [3:1] But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. [3] And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

In his first letter, Peter writes to guide and encourage those under his care as they deal with persecution from outside the church. In this second letter, Peter instructs them on how to faithfully cling to the word of God as false teachers have come into the church, leading many of them astray to places of destruction. For Peter, this is an especially dire situation. He knows that the “putting off” of his body is coming soon; he cannot be there to protect and guide his sheep for much longer. So before he dies, he needs to make sure that the church does not deviate from the testimony of Scripture brought to them by his ministry.

In light of this, Peter provides two reasons as to why they should not be lured by the false teachers but trust in his testimony about Christ. First, he is an eyewitness. His teachings are not built on secondary sources, but he witnessed first-hand the majesty and glory of Christ. His testimony is not a result of “cleverly devised myths” or his creative imagination. He is only conveying what he saw with his own eyes. Second, the prophecies of Scripture are trustworthy, because they didn’t originate from the will of man but the prophets were “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” In other words, the prophetic Scriptures of the OT, which Peter employs to validate his own testimony, were not brought about by man but by divine inspiration—meaning, on a fundamental level, it is God who wrote them and God, above all, can be trusted. For these reasons, the church can rest assure that Peter’s testimony about Christ is true.

Just as it was a timely reminder for the recipients of Peter’s letter, this is also timely for us. As we spend each morning meditating on the words of Scripture, we can be confident that they are worthy of our trust. We don’t have to second guess its validity or accuracy. We can be sure that these words give us true life, wisdom, and most importantly, they lead us to a deeper and truer picture of God. Let us take some time this morning to thank God for His word!

Prayer: God, I thank You for revealing Yourself through the Scriptures. I pray that as I meditate on Your word each morning, that You will continue to reveal more of Yourself and shape me in a manner that reflects the truth of Your words. Help me to trust in Your word! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 12

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17: 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.

Questions to consider

1. What purpose does Scripture serve?
2. What role has the word of God played in your life?

Notes

1. God has given us the Scriptures for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that we can be equipped to do His work. Oftentimes, we stop at filling our minds with more biblical knowledge. However, a true understanding and reading of Scripture leads to a life of greater righteousness and an increase of good works for God’s glory.
2. Personal.

Evening Reflection

“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. . . . Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word.”

 – Charles Spurgeon  

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 19-25 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

2 Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

David Brooks, a New York Times op-ed columnist makes an interesting observation in his book, The Road to Character. He writes that Americans have become obsessed with creating an impressive resume. We want to graduate from the best colleges, earn as many rewards as possible in our respective fields, and gain enough experience to merit the respect of those we’re seeking approval from. And this isn’t all that surprising because we live in a meritocratic society. Our resumes prove our worth to those who hire us and give us the jobs we desperately want— without it, it would be impossible to fulfill many of our dreams. For this reason, we spend all of our energy and time into creating the perfect resume—even if it means that we sacrifice relationships and other important areas of our lives. In other words, resumes have become our number one priority.

However, 2 Peter 1:5-8 call us to pour our efforts into an entirely different endeavor. Yesterday we learned that God has provided all that we need for life and godliness. In light of this, the apostle Peter calls us to respond, not by working towards a better resume, but to make every effort in becoming more like Christ; to build upon the foundation of faith and add virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. This passage suggests that what is of utmost importance is not our resume but our character; not where we graduated from but how well we love.

I believe that this is a much-needed reminder for the church. In a busy world that demands our very best, it’s so easy to neglect the content of our character. As a result, many of us have enjoyed great success in our careers at the expense of our character. We’ve grown our resumes but our capacity to love and remain steadfast have dwindled or remained stagnant. This isn’t to say that striving for well-paying jobs is bad. We should all strive for excellence and be ambitious. But it should never take priority over the growth of our character. Let us take some time today and repent before God and ask Him to make you more like Him!

Prayer: Father, I confess that at times I make my life about me and what I want. I spend so much of my time thinking about my career and my ambitions. Help me to desire the things of You, that my time and energy would go into becoming more like You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 6:25-33: Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26] Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, [29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? [31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Questions to consider

1. What is Jesus commanding us to do?
2. What is the promise that Jesus gives to us in verse 33?
3. What are you always anxious about?

Notes

1. Jesus calls us to not be anxious about our lives and trust in God, to not worry about not having enough. He points to how God provides even for the sparrows and the lilies. If He cares for lesser creatures, how much more will He give us all that we need as His sons and daughters.
2. If we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, everything that we need will be added to us. In other words, if we make God’s concerns our first priority, we don’t have to worry about anything else. God will provide!
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection

Take some time tonight to reflect on your character. Where are you lacking? Do you need to learn how to love better? To be more generous and think about others? As the busyness of the day winds down, take time to pray and ask God to reveal the content of your character, and invite Him to begin the process of transformation!

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 19-25 are written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thought for Today

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises.

Sadly, many of us have minimized the gospel to a set of doctrines and theological truths that need to be accepted. In one sense, this is correct. Part of the demands that derive from the gospel require our belief in its propositional truths, such as the identity of Christ and His atoning work on the cross. However, this is only part of the picture. As the apostle Paul states in Romans 1:16, the gospel is also the power of God; it is more than a list of facts—it is also the very power that grants salvation and transformation in our lives. It is neither our self-discipline nor our willpower that changes us, but it is the power of the gospel that ultimately shapes us.

And we are reminded of the dynamic nature of the gospel in the opening statements of 2 Peter. Here, the Apostle makes an astonishing claim: God has provided by His divine power everything necessary for life and godliness; all of which is made available through our knowledge of Christ. In other words, trust and belief in the gospel affords us all that we need to be transformed into the likeness of God. He has given us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live differently, a new heart made of flesh and responsive to the commands of God, and a community that walks alongside us for the entire journey. There is nothing that we lack in our endeavor to become more like Christ!

This is an important truth to remember. We all go through seasons where true change seems impossible, and we find ourselves stuck in a vicious cycle of sin. In moments like these, it is so easy to give up and believe that victory is out of reach. However, Peter reminds us that God does not leave us ill-equipped. He gives us all that we need to live lives of freedom and true transformation. Let us take time this morning to meditate on these truths and find hope and encouragement, as we strive to reflect the character of Christ!

Prayer: Father, I come before You broken in my sins. I desire to live a life of godliness, one that is pleasing to You, but I cannot do it on my own. Help me to understand that when I depend on You alone, You provide all that I need to overcome my areas of struggle. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Ezekiel 36:26-27: And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.  And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Questions to consider

1. What are we promised in this passage?
2. What is the result of receiving of new heart and God’s Spirit?

Notes

1. God promises that those in the New Covenant are going to receive hearts that are made of flesh. They will no longer have hearts of stone. Furthermore, God will put His Spirit in them.
2. Man is finally able to walk in the statutes of God and obey His rules.

Evening Reflection

As you went about your day, did you take time to acknowledge your dependence on God? Oftentimes, we fall into sin because the busyness of life, which makes it difficult for us to sense our need for Him. Take some time tonight to ask God to make you more aware of your need for Him. The more we are aware of our need for God, the more we will learn to depend on His strength and not our own!

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 11-17 are written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.   

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 4:14-20 (ESV)

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.  18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Last week, I had the opportunity to share with the children of our church in their AWANA program that it is better to give than to receive, and that God loves a cheerful and generous giver.  I shared of an infamous story of a child at the Church of Southland, who had a very difficult time giving. Every time the offering bag was passed around, he would take the money that his parents had given him, clench it in his fist, lower his fist into the offering bag, and pull his hand back out—with the money still in his hands.  When a teacher asked him why he didn’t put it in, he exclaimed, “It’s so hard to give!” From a young age, we have found that it is harder to give than to receive. We see giving as a burden rather than a blessing.

Though we might think that this will change as we get older, it’s not something that we simply grow out of. When I was in high school, I treated tithes and offerings as a tax. I found a loophole in this “tax system” though, which helped me justify to myself why I didn’t need to give. Since the money that was given to me was from my parents, and they had already tithed for it, whatever I received was a “post-tithe contribution” that did not need to be tithed again—how twisted my mindset was on giving!  Yet it would not surprise me if there are many others who think exactly like me, where giving becomes something that we try to get out of, rather than something that we embrace and desire more opportunities to give.

In this passage, Paul is thanking the Philippians for their generosity. They had been faithfully giving very generously to Paul and his work for the gospel, when he was establishing different church plants. Paul does not emphasize the amount that they give, only their attitude and partnership in their giving. Here, he shares his true intentions in receiving support from this church – that they would receive the fruit that increases to their credit. Their giving not only blesses Paul in the earthly sense, but they are being credited with eternal rewards in the heavenly sense. Paul had just gone through a discourse of being content in any situation; he has been in abundance and in lack, and so he really has no need of their giving. Even if they were not able to give much, he had committed himself to working as a tentmaker so that he would be able to support himself in his gospel endeavors. Nevertheless, Paul rejoices when he thinks about the Philippian believers because their attitude towards giving reflects their growing in maturity as believers. They are learning to invest in the right things, and that makes Paul happy as their spiritual father.

As we mature as believers, I hope that we are maturing in our capacity and our attitude in giving. Do we see giving as an opportunity to invest in something great and lasting, or do we see it as a mandatory item on our check-list of being a Christian? For some, giving resources might not be difficult, but giving time in serving those who are in need might be what is most difficult. It can be difficult to give, especially when we feel as we have nothing left to give, but just as Paul says, “God will supply every need of yours according to the riches in Christ Jesus.” Faithful giving begets faithful giving.

Prayer: Father, I confess that it is hard to give at times. Help me to see giving as an opportunity rather than a burden. I pray that Your Holy Spirit would work in my heart so that I might mature in this manner. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 8-9

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 11-17 are written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.   

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 4:10-13 (ESV)

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

I’m sure many of us remember seeing videos of mobs of people fighting for Black Friday items the day after Thanksgiving. These days, Black Friday even infringes upon Thanksgiving Day, which shows the trajectory of our society. We look at these videos and we shake our heads: How could they act like this, especially after a day of celebrating gratitude and contentment in all that they have? But to be honest, are we any different? I may not be in those crowds, but my discontentment, frustration, and anger manifests in different ways. When we look at our own lives, don’t we all have moments where we are frustrated with where we are, not content with the circumstances in our lives? The truth is, when our contentment is based off of our circumstances, our level of our contentment fluctuates dramatically. We find that contentment becomes a temporary phenomenon that quickly dissolves. So how then can we find true contentment that remains steady in our lives?

Looking at this passage, again we must understand that Paul is writing this while in prison, in very difficult circumstances. There are people who have been persecuting him, and his friends have abandoned him. He is not treated all that well, and yet he says rejoice and be content. How does he do that? He prefaces the secret to being content by saying he knows what it means to be in need and what it is to have plenty—he has experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He has seen both ends of the spectrum. He has been in a position where he is the elite of the elites, but also been in a position where he is fleeing for his life by many people who want to kill him. In 2 Corinthians 11, he shares of how he had been beaten and stoned and shipwrecked, how he fled from Gentiles and from Jews, how he labored and toiled and went without sleep, how he was hungry, thirsty, cold and naked. Yet in all this, he is content. Why? Because he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He knows his identity in Christ and is content in any circumstance because he knows that Jesus has already given and will continue to give him the strength to hold on and press forward.

The advent of social media has contributed to the increasing feelings of jealously that we all feel. Whether it’s the videos of beautiful vacation spots, photos of seemingly perfect relationships, or even the snapshots of all the delicious food that we see in our friend’s post, I think we can all safely say that we have felt jealousy stir in our hearts because of this. Jealousy is dangerous, because it can lead to comparing ourselves with others, making us feel insecure; then insecurity breeds discontentment. While we can certainly limit our social media intake or make conscious efforts not to be jealous of others, the best antidote is to be secure in our identity in Christ and to find our contentment in Him, declaring that He is all we need in this lifetime. It’s not a complex secret, but is certainly something that is difficult to truly believe and hold onto. Today, as culture tells you to find contentment in your circumstances, in your relationships, or in your possessions, choose instead to place your contentment solely in Him.

Prayer: Father, help me find my contentment in You, rather than my current circumstances or situation. In high and low, in every season, help me declare confidently that You are enough for me. I don’t want to be tossed back and forth by my different situations, but rather, help me stand firm – knowing that You will give me the strength to rejoice in You. Amen.

[Reflect on a current situation that might be difficult right now and choose to find joy in God rather than the outcome of the situation.]

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 7

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 11-17 are written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.   

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV): ²⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned^[e] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

What do you fill your mind with? When I was in high school, there was a season where my friends and I would play Tetris all the time. Any free time I had would be occupied with this game. Even when I closed my eyes, I could see Tetris blocks descending into place—I just could not get my mind off of it. When I had surgery a few years ago and was bedridden, I binge-watched a television show called Friday Night Lights. Even when I wasn’t watching it, my mind would drift into reimagining scenes and wondering what else would happen in the show—this show was all I could think about. The power of the mind is both exciting and frightening. On the one hand, when we set our minds on things that are honoring to the Lord, it can lead to much good; but on the other hand, when we set our minds on things that are not honoring to the Lord, it can be led to catastrophic sin.

In a world that is increasing in content that is not pure, not lovely nor honorable, not true, are we taking this passage seriously regarding what we allow into our mind? Paul writes this in an imperative mood—meaning, it is a command, not merely a suggestion. When Paul reminds us how important it is to fill our minds with things that are honorable and things that are worthy of praise, I see how it is an equal argument for guarding our minds against things that are dishonorable and impure. In order for this to happen, it requires aggressive action! When we choose to think about things that are good, we are also actively choosing to weed out things that are not good.

Paul continues with another imperative: He says, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things….” The translation for “practice these things” is from the Greek verb prasso, which has a connotation of doing repeatedly, as a habitual act. There is value in repetition and discipline. Even the act of filtering what we allow into our minds is a discipline that we need to establish through practice and repetition. Although some translations would have this next statement, “and the God of peace will be with you,” as a separate unit of thought, I tend to think that it follows this same stream. When we set our minds on things characterized by Paul’s list, then the God who is the source of true peace will be with us; in other words, we will be filled with peace if we set our minds on these things. May the God of peace be with us as we learn to filter the things we allow into our minds.

Prayer

Father God, I commit my thoughts and my mind to You. Help me discern what I should and should not allow in my mind. May my thoughts be honoring and pleasing to You. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 6

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:1-10 (ESV): If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your^[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:^[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self^[d] with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 

Question to Consider

1. What is the reason that we are to set our minds on things that are above and not on things that are on the earth?
2. What is the outcome of setting our minds on things that are above?
3. What are some things that are on this list that you need to put to death?

Notes

1. Since we are a new creation in Christ, our primary identity has shifted from belonging to the god of this age and the things of this age, to the eternal God and eternal things.
2. Paul seems to indicate that setting your mind on things that are above is congruent with putting to death what is earthly in you. The more we set our minds on things that are above, the more capable we are of putting to death what is earthly in us.
3. Reflection question.

Evening Reflection

These days it seems harder and harder to filter the content that we allow into our minds. Whether they are TV shows that have crude jokes, games that promote violence, or even horror movies that may have deeply spiritual implications, there are so many things that flood our mind and our thoughts. Let’s be careful and commit our minds to the Lord in this new year. Perhaps you need to fast from the media and unplug to detox. Whatever you decide to do, commit it unto the Lord by setting your mind on things that are worthy of our attention.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 11-17 are written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.   

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Paul was writing this letter while he was under house arrest in Rome. His friends were far away, some had betrayed him; his enemies were rejoicing that he was in prison. There were probably rumors being spread about him. He was probably frustrated at the fact that he couldn’t spread the gospel as he had planned. On top of that, we have been reading about how some people were infiltrating the church, trying to deceive the new believers (not just in Philippi, but in all of his church plants). As a spiritual father, it must have been disheartening to know that he couldn’t visit his church plants to encourage and equip them further.

Nevertheless, in the midst of all of this, Paul commands the believers to rejoice as they go through struggles. In the midst of their trials and persecutions, they are commanded not to be anxious, but to rejoice. Paul is able to say this with absolute authority, because he has done so himself; otherwise, he wouldn’t have told them to follow in his example. Paul may be in a difficult situation, but he is able to present his requests to God and rejoice in whatever situation he is in.

Have you ever been in a difficult situation that made it seemingly impossible to rejoice? We can often gloss over this passage and think of it as a cliché Christian statement: Trust in Him because He has great plans for you; don’t worry about anything, you are in His hands. Many times, we use this as an encouragement for others, but when it comes to our own lives, we have a hard time practicing it. Anxiety and fear are paralyzing feelings. It is so easy to get swept away in all the things that could possibly overcome us with feelings of anxiety. However, today, as you go about your day, make a conscious effort to rejoice in the Lord. Whenever you face a difficult circumstance, let your request be made known to God and make every effort to remain in the peace that He gives to you in abundance.

Prayer: Father, even when it is difficult, I want to learn how to rejoice. I confess that it is much easier to grumble and complain when I am faced with hard situations, but I pray that You would change my heart to be one that rejoices always. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 96:1-6 (ESV): Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Question to Consider

1. What is the psalmist encouraging us to do?
2. What is the implication of singing a new song?
3. Why should we praise Him and rejoice in His presence?

Notes

1. He encourages us to sing to the Lord, bless His name, give thanks, and praise Him.
2. The implication is that there is always something new to give Him praise for—there is something new to rejoice in. Our faith cannot grow weary and tired, but God is constantly doing new things in our lives that warrant new songs of praise and rejoicing.
3. The psalmist simply declares that the Lord is great and worthy to be praised. There is no other god that is deserving of praise but the Lord who made the heavens!

Evening Reflection

As you went about your day, did you find time to pause and reflect. Often, we are unable to rejoice because we have not paused to reflect on the goodness of God in our lives. There are thousands of reasons that we should be able to come up with of why we ought to rejoice in the Lord. If you haven’t done so yet, take a moment to reflect on your day. From the simplest of things to the most complex situation, rejoice in the Lord and cast your cares into His hand!

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 11-17 are written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.   

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 3:17-21 (ESV):  

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

A motivational speaker by the name of Jim Rohn once said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Whether you agree with that statement or not, I think it’s safe to say that we are highly influenced by those whom we are around the most. A silly example of this is the way my laughter has evolved throughout the years.  I’ve had friends with very unique laughs, and for some reason, my laugh would begin to look or sound slightly like theirs, the more I hung out with them. I’m sure there are many more ways that we pick up on things and imitate those we are around a lot, especially those we trust and respect.

Paul is making a plea to the Philippian believers to imitate him in his faith journey. He seems to make this plea often, for he also exhorts the Corinthian believers to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). This plea is a serious one when we consider what Paul says: that there are those who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, seeking to influence these new believers, and they are not to associate with them.

Paul is not against having unbelieving friends. In fact, I think he would encourage us to have more unbelieving friends than we currently have. Rather, he speaks wisdom regarding those whom we surround ourselves with, particularly those who counsel and mentor us. During our impressionable years (particularly our late teens and twenties), we ought to make sure that we are surrounded by people who will remind us of our ultimate end—as citizens of heaven.

But don’t we need to be relevant? Often, our desire is to be relevant to this culture so that we can change this culture for the Lord. There is validity in that, but I believe there are wise and unwise ways in approaching this matter. Imagine if you saw a friend sinking in a quicksand. Would your first inclination be to jump in with your friend to be relevant to them? No, you would first find solid ground and then look for ways to rescue them from the quicksand. Likewise, we cannot jump into the quicksand of worldly culture under the premise of relevancy. Rather, we place our feet squarely on Christ the solid rock before reaching out in relevancy to those who are sinking. Our lifestyles, values and belief system must be different from those of this present culture, if we are to represent Christ accurately to this world.

Prayer: Father, help me to find people who would influence me to be more godly rather than worldly.  Help me to be someone who would influence others in a way that leads to life rather than death. I want to be salt and light of this world—help me stand firmly in You so that I can do so! Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 12:26 (NLT): The godly give good advice to their friends, the wicked lead them astray.

Read Proverbs 13:20 (NLT): Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Question to Consider

1. What is the writer of these proverbs trying to communicate?
2. Are there ungodly relationships in your life that influence you negatively?

Notes

1. Who we surround ourselves with is very important – they can either cause us to walk on the right path or get us into trouble. We will certainly be influenced by those we surround ourselves with.
2. Reflection question.

Evening Reflection

There is a tension between being relevant and living a life that is set apart. If our lives are not different from those who set their minds on earthly things, how are we to influence them to set their minds on heavenly things? Perhaps we need to take an inventory of our relationships once again and intentionally seek out people who we see having godly wisdom.