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 3:12-16 (ESV)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

When I was in high school and college, I enjoyed playing poker with my friends. Although I would not recommend it, as it can become an unhealthy addiction, I did learn some valuable life lessons during those years. In poker, when you have good cards and are statistically favored to win, but someone ends up beating you because of luck, it’s called a “bad beat.” When someone gets a bad beat and end up focusing so much on it, not being able to concentrate on what is coming up, they end up making bad decisions, because they are either overly aggressive or overly passive in the future hands that they play. I remember learning early on that it is so important to forget the bad beats and not be so distraught over it, so that the way you play your future hands are not affected by it. That’s one of the aspects that separate skilled players from unskilled players—the ability to forget about the bad beats and keep pressing forward.

Paul continues his exhortation to the Philippian believers that they need not worry that they are not perfect in their pursuit of becoming like Jesus, but that they simply need to continue forward towards the end goal—the prize that is found in Christ Jesus. Paul admits that he himself is still struggling and wrestling towards the finish line, and that he does his best not to dwell on his shortcomings but to keep his eyes fixed on the finish line.

Though it is important to reflect, debrief, and address our shortcomings and our sinful pasts, it is important that we learn to loosely hold those in tension, as we run hard towards the finish line. Maybe today you are paralyzed by your sinfulness and are unable to forgive yourself of your shortcomings. Maybe you are overly critical of yourself and have lost hope in the possibility of breakthrough. Let today’s passage be a reminder to you that you need not hold onto all of that baggage so tightly that it distracts you from running this race. Don’t let those things become a hindrance from pursuing Jesus whole-heartedly. Forget about those bad beats and keep pressing forward!

Prayer: Father, in [list the things that you have a hard time letting go], help me not to dwell on it, but rather to press forward with my eyes on the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. I know that You are still in the process of refining me. Thank You for continuing Your work in me. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 20:22-24 (ESV): And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Question to Consider

1. What was the big deal about going to Jerusalem?
2. What does the apostle Paul value the most?
3. Has God called you towards a certain direction or course? What is your response, and how have you positioned yourself to respond in obedience?

Notes

1. Paul knew that there were many in Jerusalem that wanted to harm him and even kill him, but he was still set on going, being constrained by the Holy Spirit.
2. Paul has set his mind and his heart on the ministry that the Lord has given to him. Thus, he counts everything else as meaningless in comparison to this task.
3. Reflection question.

Evening Reflection

This passage not only pertains to our past disappointments or shortcomings, but it can also apply to our past accomplishments. Even though we have accomplished things in the past, don’t let that be something that prevents you from continuing forward with focus and determination. We find that many of the leaders in the Bible actually did not finish well. For example, Solomon, though he was gifted with tremendous wisdom, ended up as one of the most disobedient kings of Israel. Tonight, remind yourself that your one focus and one end goal is to love God with all of your life and to set your eyes on that as you press forward in this life.

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 3:2-11 (ESV)

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God[b] and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law,[c]blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

If you were to think of modern day heroes of the faith, who would you think of? We typically think of the popular Christian artists, the itinerant speakers, authors, theologians, and the up-and-coming pastors. Rarely do we think of the faceless martyrs, the ones who are toiling and laboring in the hardest parts of the world to bring the gospel to places where people have not yet heard. We don’t like to make them our heroes (although we do look in awe upon them); and I think the reason is because it forces us to face the uncomfortable question: Is this someone I want to become – someone who has completely surrendered everything for the name of Jesus? I am not trying to take anything away from the popular Christian artists, speakers, and pastors, but my point is that we are a culture that is too impressed with degrees and titles that it sometimes becomes the crux of our focus in this life, even in Christian circles. We are more inclined to respect and listen to those who have more degrees and are more influential based upon their accomplishments.

When we think of Paul’s circumstances, we see why he feels the need to defend his credibility. Remember, Paul is writing this from prison in Rome, and he is writing to the Philippians to warn them about the Judaizers, those who are trying to distort the gospel to include Jewish customs in the package, rather than faith in Jesus alone. Contrast Paul with the Judaizers: While Paul is in prison far away, treated as a criminal, the Judaizers are there, highly respected as spiritual authorities. But Paul makes a case here that he has the most to brag about if it came to credentials, but he became a prisoner for the very gospel that he is trying to convince the Philippians to hold fast to. Once he became sold out on knowing Christ and making Him known, Paul’s own degrees, status, and rights—because of his citizenship—became something of little concern to him. Of course he used all these things to make Christ known, but his focus shifted from confidence in his flesh, to confidence in Christ, and the finished work on the cross.

Our human tendency is to boast in our accomplishments and strengths, which would make us seem respectable to others. Even in “living the Christian life,” we make the task of loving Jesus an accomplishment that we can add to our credentials so that we can boast in our own flesh, making it into a stepping stone, rather than making it the ultimate aim in life. Have we made knowing Christ and making Him known our final aim and ultimate cause? As we end this year and start a new one, my prayer is that we discover what truly matters – that we may love Jesus with all of our heart, considering everything else as a stepping stone to loving and honoring Him.

Prayer: Father God, I repent for making You a stepping stone for my accomplishments. Help me root out the things that I place my hope and sense of accomplishment in. I want to boast in You and You alone. Forgive me for placing so much emphasis on my own status and position rather than on You. I choose to boast in You and not in my own flesh. Help me make this my ultimate cause.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV): For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Question to Consider

1. How does Paul define grace? How would you define grace?
2. What are ways that we rely on our works?
3. What should we do with the grace that has been given to us?

Notes

1. Grace is merely a gift, and not a result of what we have done to earn it.
2. It could be about the degrees we have, the type of job we have, the good works that we do, and even the people we know. Paul, in Philippians 3, lists off a number of personal accomplishments that he could boast in, but he finds all of that as contributing nothing to his salvation, because it is only by grace that he is saved.
3. We were created for good works – our good works is not a requirement for salvation, but it is not optional. It is not a contribution to our salvation, but a fruit of our salvation.

Evening Reflection

C.T. Studd penned a poem with the tagline: “Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.” Our life on this earth is short. Our impact and legacy on this earth is minimal, easily forgotten. Yet the life we live for Christ, the things we do in His name, for His kingdom, are the ones that ultimately last. Let’s not get caught up with earthly accolades, but to build our “heavenly resume,” one that lasts for eternity.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 2:14-16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

If you’re at a restaurant and your waiter is slow to fill up your glass of water, you can immediately pull out your phone and give that restaurant a bad review on Yelp.  If you’re on vacation, staying at a hotel, and you’re not satisfied with the softness of your bed, you can just go on TripAdvisor and tell everyone in the world about your bad experience.  And when you’re stuck in traffic on the highway, you can let everyone around you know about your frustrations—without even speaking a word—by just hitting that little spot in the middle of your steering wheel.

We live in a culture where the option to complain or grumble is seemingly built into every situation.  Whether it’s small things, like bad service at a restaurant or hotel or heavy traffic on our way home, or big things, like feeling unhappy about our careers or the way a family member is inconsiderate, we are so prone to grumbling—because it’s just so easy to do.

At the root of all complaining is discontentment or dissatisfaction about our circumstances, because life isn’t going the way we want or think it should go.  So when Paul tells us to do ALL things without grumbling, it’s a nearly impossible command, because it’s pretty rare for life to go exactly the way that we think it should go.  In all things, there is always a reason for us to grumble.

To combat a grumbling heart, psychology tells us to be glass-half-full kind of people; that is, think positively, have an upbeat attitude about life, or focus on all of the good things that you are thankful for in life.  But we all know that a positive mindset can only work for so long—sooner or later, even the good things of this world will disappoint us.

How do we follow this command then?  The only way to save us from grumbling hearts is to focus our minds on something not of this world—by that, I mean God Himself.  On this side of heaven, nothing in this world is exactly the way it should be—all good things of this world will fade.  But when we turn the eyes of our hearts towards God in worship, we are focusing on the only “thing” that will never fade, the only one who will not disappoint, the source of true contentment.

On this Lord’s Day, let us focus our eyes on Jesus in worship.  Let us leave behind the desires and expectations of our hearts about how everything should be, and seek to be with Him who will make all things new.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to focus on You this day.  I pray that in all things, I will be satisfied by Your presence.  Bless me as I worship You this day.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 1

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Christmas is coming soon—and many of us are thinking about gifts.  Let’s say, on Christmas Day, someone very close to you gives you a wonderful gift that he/she thinks you’ll love, with beautiful wrapping paper and a pretty bow on top.  What would you do with it?  You would, of course, either gently unwrap the gift, or, tear up the wrap like an animal, open the box, and enjoy the great gift.  But now that you’ve done the work of unwrapping this gift, have you now “worked” for this gift?  Of course not! The “work” that you’ve done has only led you to enjoy this gift.

Philippians 2:12 is one of the most perplexing verses in the Bible for many Christians.  All of our lives, we’ve been told that salvation is a free gift from God, that our salvation is by faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9); it’s not at all about what we do, but it’s about what Jesus has done. But here, Paul seems to contradict himself— and the whole gospel message—by commanding us to “work out your own salvation.”  It’s as if Paul hadn’t read what he wrote in Ephesians!

Paul, of course, is not contradicting himself, and he’s not advocating a salvation based on good works.  But the work that he calls us to do is a lot like the work we do in opening our Christmas gifts.  There is effort required—but it’s still a gift.  The work you do in opening a gift is inconsequential in comparison to the gift itself.  As followers of Christ, we have been given salvation—the greatest gift imaginable— and we clearly have not earned it—it is by the grace of God.  We do not work FOR our salvation, but still we work it out.  Perhaps an easier way for us to think of it is that we make our salvation known or revealed; we unwrap this gift of salvation and make it known to us and to others.  There is no point in having a gift that is unopened.

The theological term for this work is sanctification.  We work to draw closer to God, to be set free from sin and temptation, and to be more and more like Jesus.  Though sanctification is hard work, and it takes incredible amount of effort to live holy and righteous lives, our work is not the means of our salvation—rather, it reveals our salvation. At the same time, we have been given the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Helper, through this sanctification process.  And even though it takes endurance and diligence to be sanctified, it is inconsequential to the gift that we have been given.  So let us rejoice in the gift of our salvation, and at the same time, unwrap the gift, as we work it out before the Lord!

Prayer: Jesus, I think You for this gift of salvation.  I know I have not earned it and I do not deserve it, but it is a gift of grace.  Help me, Jesus, to work out my salvation.  Give me strength to seek sanctification and to be more like You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 31-Jude

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 2:3-8

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

Whenever two people live together, they unknowingly split into two roles:  the one who doesn’t do the dishes and the one who does them but resents his/her roommate for not doing the dishes.  In my very unscientific research, whenever two or more people live together, there is an 85% chance that there will be an argument or passive-aggressive bitterness with regards to the washing of dishes.  In my life, I’ve taken on both roles:  When I’m the one who doesn’t do the dishes, I am thinking, Of course, I’ll do the dishes… eventually, but then, my roommate would end up doing them; and I would be happy as a clam since I didn’t have to do them.  When I’ve played the other role, though, every time I did the dishes—with righteous anger in my heart—I  thought about ways that my roommate could pay for his “transgressions.”

It’s hard to serve others.  When Paul tells us to “count others more significant” and to look out “to the interests of others,” we might delude ourselves into thinking that it’s easy.   Yes, it’s easy to take on a title of being a servant, and any of us can join and serve on a ministry team.  And it’s easy to serve your roommate once or twice, here and there.  But to really count others more significant than us means doing the dishes for the thousandth time instead of your roommate, and doing it with a heart of love and joy—that’s not easy at all.  Doing the dishes might seem like a small example of servanthood but just think about all of the reasons to not do them:  you’ve had a long day; you did them the last 50 times; it’s not fair to you; or you deserve a break, etc.  We can come up with so many reasons why we shouldn’t have to serve others—and they all revolve around ourselves.

And yet, Paul gives us the greatest example of servanthood.  Jesus, though He was God Himself, being a true servant to us all, humbled Himself to serve us, even to the point of dying on a cross. Though Jesus had an infinitely longer list of reasons why He shouldn’t have to serve us, but because of His love for us, He looked not just to His own interests but to our interests.  It may be a struggle to serve others and an even greater struggle to keep on serving others, but let us remember Jesus, who served us and let us die to ourselves that we might do the dishes for others.

Prayer: Jesus, forgive me for only looking out for my own interests.  I pray that as I remember your service to me, that I can in turn consider others more significant than myself.  Jesus, help me to be a servant.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 30

Lunch Break Study

Read John 3:25-30: Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Questions to Consider

1. If John the Baptist had the wrong heart, what would his response have been to what Jesus was doing? How do you think you would’ve responded?
2. How was John able to respond with humility?
3. When we get involved in ministry, we can easily fall prey to pride and envy. How can we have a heart of humility like John as we serve?

Notes

1. The crowds had been with John before, as he preached about the kingdom and baptized people in the Jordan— but now they were all going to Jesus. If John’s heart was in the wrong place, he easily could have seen Jesus as his competition.  If we were John the Baptist, many of us in ministry would have felt inferior or envious.  The crowds leaving us could have easily made us feel as if we were failing in ministry.
2. Verse 30 sums up John’s heart really well: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  John was able to respond with humility because he understood that Jesus was the Christ.  He didn’t respond with envy or out of inferiority because he understood that he was the “friend of the bridegroom,” and he could rejoice greatly because what was most important was that people hear the voice of the Bridegroom, who is Jesus.  The purpose of John’s ministry was for people to hear about the Christ, and so when the Christ came, he rejoiced.
3. We can be humble when we rightly understand who Jesus is and the importance of pointing people to Him. We can celebrate whenever we see anyone striving to live for Jesus, when our desire is to see Jesus increase.

Evening Reflection

Philippians 2: 3 says, “…in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” How were you able to live this out today?  We all most likely have failed in this, in small or big ways.  Our failures in humility and servanthood all the more highlight what an amazing Savior and Servant we have in Jesus.  Take some time to reflect on how Jesus has served you, and thank Him for His love and grace towards you.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 1:27

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

In basketball, I, as much as anyone, enjoy seeing highlights of windmill dunks, off balance three point shots with the shot clock running down, and plays where the defender jumps in from out of nowhere to block the shot.  It’s in plays like these that the talents and the athleticism of basketball players are highlighted.  To me though, the beauty of basketball really shines in teamwork.  There is something special about watching five guys on the basketball working in concert, seeing the ball being passed around, players working in unison, screening, cutting, passing; when a player has a good shot but instead passes the ball to his teammate for a great shot.

When we read what Paul says to start this verse, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,” our first inclination might be, like the basketball highlights that we see on TV, that we as individuals need to grow in our holiness or gifting.  We might think that living for the gospel is a personal project and that we as individuals need to shine for Jesus.  However, when Paul talks about living for the gospel in Philippians, his focus is on unity and teamwork.  He says that he desires to see the church “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side.”  It sounds like a great basketball team that works together in unison.

When the body of Christ works in unison there is a greater power to advance the gospel.  When we are a team, we can look after one another, helping one another through trials and setbacks, carrying each others’ burden, while helping one another to stay focused on the mission that Jesus has given us as the church.  It’s not that our individual gifting and talents don’t matter, but if the world sees us as individuals laying down our need to shine, and striving and standing firm together for the gospel, they will see the beauty of the body of Christ.  Let us seek to live lives worthy of the gospel.

Prayer: Jesus, I pray that I will live a life worthy of the gospel by being a part of the body.  Help me to see that advancing the gospel isn’t just about me, but it’s about us as a church, standing firm and striving together for your gospel.  May the world see the beauty of your gospel through the church.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 29

Lunch Break Study

Read John 17:20: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

Questions to Consider

1. How does Jesus pray for those who believe in him?
2. What is the purpose of unity according to this passage?
3. How can we seek to bring greater unity to the church?

Notes

1. Jesus prays that everyone who believes in him will be one.
2. The purpose of the oneness of the church is stated twice in this passage. Verse 21, “so that they world may believe that you have sent me,” and verse 23, “so that the world may know you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”  Jesus is not praying for unity for the sake of unity, but he prays for unity for the sake of the advancement of the gospel.
3. The source of unity is not in own ability to find common ground, but it is Jesus Christ in us, our hope of glory. If we are followers of Christ, then it means Christ is in us.  And if Christ is in us, Jesus tells us that we are perfectly one as Jesus brings us together.  We of course still need intentionally to have unity, but we intentionally seek unity that is already there in Christ.

Evening Reflection

How are you a part of the teamwork of your church?  Or how can you be contributing to the unity of your church in a greater measure?  Take some time now to pray and ask God to help people see the beauty of the gospel through your local body of Christ.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 1:21-26

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

If someone came to you today and said, “You can have either a brand new BMW or a brand new Mercedes Benz for free, as my gift to you.  You just have to pick one.”  You, in theory, would have a dilemma on your hands, trying to decide between the two cars; but either way, it’s a win-win situation, right?  No matter what you choose, you get a free luxury car.  It’s not often that we encounter a win-win situation.  Most of the time, life can feel more like an endless stream of lose-lose situations:  If we choose this particular career path, we make less money, but if we choose this other career path, we have less time with others.  If we live in this city, we’re too far from home, but if we live in this other city, we have fewer opportunities.  It can sometimes feel like no matter what we choose in life, we’re missing out on something.

When we look at what Paul says here in Philippians though, there is no fear of missing out at all.  It seems that each and every day of his life was a win-win situation—if he dies, he gets be with Jesus, but if he lives, he can keep on laboring to help others grow in their faith.  To Paul, this was a dilemma, but either way—if he were to live or to die—it was a win-win situation.

It can be hard to see life as a winning situation and/or death as a winning situation.  We might think that if we live, we have hard lives and difficult situations before us.  But if we die, we miss out on life itself.  So why was Paul able to feel like this about life and death?  Simply, Paul understood his identity and purpose.  He was able to look at his life and know that he had a purpose to live and labor for the sake of Jesus.  And at the same time, he was able to look at death and call it “gain,” because he knew that as a child of God, regardless of what he was able to accomplish, his life was in the hands of Jesus.  Either way, his life was about Jesus.  And so when we struggle to see the wins in life or death, we need to make our lives about Jesus, to know our identity and purpose in Him.  When it’s about Jesus, it’s always a win-win!

Prayer: Jesus, help me to make my life about You.  I pray that instead of being wrapped up in the things of this world, my life will be wrapped up in You alone.  Help me to understand my identity and purpose in You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 28

Lunch Break Study

Read John 14:1-4: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

Questions to Consider

1. According to Jesus, how do we find hope in the midst of trials?
2. What does it mean that Jesus has prepared a place for us?
3. How is your heart troubled right now? How can you find hope in Christ today?

Notes

1. Jesus tells us to believe or trust in Him when we find ourselves in difficult times. We can trust in Jesus, because He tells us that there are many rooms in His Father’s house, where He has prepared a place for us; and He Himself will take us to that place.
2. It means that we have a room in heaven waiting for us. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can have an eternal life with Him and the Father in heaven.
3. Personal reflection question.

Evening Reflection

Paul says, “For me to live is Christ.”  Is that how you would define your life?  If you’re like me, there are probably at least a few other things competing to fill in that space. Take some time to reflect on those other things that seek to define you, and spend time repenting and putting your whole life in the hands of Jesus.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 1:12-13

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 

In the movie Shawshank Redemption, the narrator describes the main character, Andy Dufresne, like this: “He strolled, like a man in a park without a care or a worry in the world, like he had on an invisible coat that would shield him from this place.”  Andy was convicted of a crime that he did not commit and sentenced to life in prison.  He was a victim of injustice, and yet, while stuck in prison, he walked around without a care or worry—it was as if he were a free man.

Perhaps, that’s one of the best ways we could describe Apostle Paul.  He had every reason to feel like a victim to his circumstances.  When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, he was imprisoned for doing what he was supposed to be doing—serving the Lord and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Though he hadn’t done anything wrong nor committed any crime, he was being unjustly punished.  And yet through all of it, as a man in chains, instead of feeling like a victim of his circumstances, Paul seemed to be like a free man.  In this passage, Paul was certain that everything that has happened to him—all of the injustices—had a purpose to advance the gospel.  Paul was in prison for Jesus, and because of that, he was free.

In our culture, it’s becoming easier and easier for us to have a victim mentality.  When life doesn’t go our way, when we experience criticism, rejection, loss, or bad traffic, we can tend to feel like, “Woe is me!”  As followers of Christ, we, more than any others in this world, should be able to walk without a care or worry in the world.  When we face the trials, struggles, and injustices, we shouldn’t see ourselves as victims of our circumstances.  Instead, we should strive for this heart that Paul had:  He understood that in all of his difficult situations, Jesus was with him, and that Jesus could use those circumstances for the advancement of the gospel.  No matter what trials or injustices we face, and no matter what direction life leads us, we can live like we are free, because Christ has set us free—and our lives are in His hands.

Prayer: Jesus, I entrust my life into Your hands.  Help me to understand that You reign over my life and that even in difficult times, You are there with me.  Set me free, Lord, and may You be glorified in my life.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 27

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Questions to Consider

1. How was the faith of Peter’s audience tested?
2. What is the result of genuine faith in Christ?
3. Peter encourages his readers to rejoice through their trials. How can we have this same heart of rejoicing as we face trials in our own lives?

Notes

1. The genuineness of their faith was tested through various trials. Considering the time period when Peter addressed his audience, by “various trials,” Peter was likely referring to the persecution that they were facing as Christians.  Peter compares this testing of their faith to the purification of gold, because gold is purified by exposing it to fire as a way to burn off any impurities.  Likewise, the faith of Peter’s audience was purified as they persevered through various trials.  As they faced the “fire,” they were compelled to put their faith and trust in Jesus.
2. The result is that praise and glory and honor are given to the name of Jesus. Christ is honored and glorified as our faith in Him is purified.  The more we trust in Jesus, the greater the glory He receives.
3. We can rejoice for the salvation of our souls, as we trust and love Jesus during our trials.v

Evening Reflection

Think about your day today.  Were you a “victim” to your circumstances?  Or did you experience freedom as a child of God?  Take a moment and pray so that in all circumstances, your heart can be free, and rejoice that Jesus has set you free.

Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from December 5-11 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves as the Fenway site pastor of Symphony Church in Boston.  Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Jenny, who recently gave birth to their first baby Tyler.

Devotional Thought for Today

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

Some of you may recall a wonderfully cheesy Christian song from the 1980s from Michael W. Smith called “Friends.” The first lines of the chorus are, “And friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them.”  While this song is cheesy, Smith, at least, hints at something that’s incredibly important for us to remember with regards to our spiritual friendships: For our friendships or partnerships in the gospel to last, the Lord must be the Lord of them.

The book of Philippians is oozing with joy and affection from Paul towards the church in Philippi.  His heart of love towards these friends of his is undeniable when we read his letter, especially in these verses as he is so thankful for them when he remembers and prays for them with joy.  Paul has such affection for them because of their friendship, but it’s so much more than a relationship based on similar backgrounds or interests.  There was a strong friendship between them because the Lord was the Lord of them.  Paul’s love for them was grounded in the fact that God was working in them.

It is crucial for us in the body of Christ to seek out and maintain spiritual friendships that will last for an eternity.  Especially as we live in in a culture where the idea of friendship has been cheapened by the social media, it’s easy for us to settle for relationships based on similar age, interests, or opinions.  Too often we’re missing out on the richness of joy that God has for us in true spiritual and eternal partnerships that are established and rooted in the work of God in our lives.  As we are all a part of the body of Christ, let us seek to grow or maintain friendships where we can rejoice, as we see God at work in one another.

Prayer: Jesus, I thank You for all of the ways You’ve blessed me through the spiritual friendships in my life.  I pray against shallowness and superficiality in my relationships, but that in all of them I will see Your faithful hand at work.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 26

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 2:1-12: And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Questions to Consider

1. What were the obstacles to this paralytic man being healed?
2. According to Mark, why does Jesus heal this man?
3. How would you describe the friends of this paralytic man?

Notes

1. There was such a large crowd in this house that people could not get through the door. There were also the scribes who did not approve of Jesus saying that this man’s sins were forgiven.
2. Mark tells us in verse 5 that Jesus forgives this man’s sins and heals him “when Jesus saw their” It’s important to note that Mark says “their” faith, not “his faith.”  It was on the basis of the collective faith of the paralytic man’s four friends that Jesus heals and forgives.
3. Among a number of good words to describe them, I would choose loving, persistent and faithful. You have to assume that these four friends really cared for their paralytic friend.  They wouldn’t have gone through the embarrassment of damaging the roof of another man’s house for the sake of a stranger, but they persisted through the obstacles with great faith to bring their friend to Jesus.  What amazing friends!

Evening Reflection

Think about the relationships and friendships you have now. Take some time to thank and praise God for the friendships that have pointed or been pointing you towards Jesus.  Also, think about some of these relationships that could go deeper.  Pray that those relationships in particular can go deeper and that God will continue to bless you through the body of Christ.

Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals for December 3-4 are provided by Joanna Tzen.  Joanna graduated from U. Penn and currently works in Philadelphia.  She married Paul in 2014 and they attend Grace Covenant Church.

Devotional Thought for Today

Phil 3:20  

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Something else that has been making me long for my heavenly home is all of the recent election rhetoric. Political and government news is somewhat interesting for me, but I usually keep my opinions to myself. This is probably due to my confrontational-avoidant nature, but that’s for another day’s devotional.

I work on a very liberal campus and I was struck by the somber nature of the day after the election. I understand the disappointment and fear many felt that day, and continue to, but at the same time, it has never been more apparent to me that who and what the world hopes in truly is not eternal. I am an advocate of us as Christians being good stewards while we are here, meaning we vote and stay informed of and engaged in the world around us, but it became very clear to me that those at my workplace placed all of their hope in a person or political party or a government.

That day, I thought about how I am ultimately a citizen of heaven, and no earthly authority can change that truth. My trust and hope is in the One who laid the foundations of earth and overcame death. He is unshakeable and immovable. Not only do we hope in Jesus while we are here, but we have hope that there is a renewal coming for all things, when there is a new heaven and new earth.

My prayer is that even in divisive times, Christians of all persuasions can identify that we hope in the same God; and even in this time, this will allow us to point others to the One who will never fail us.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and show me if I have placed my hope in the things that will pass, either in my own dreams or things of this world. If so, please forgive me, Lord, and help me to place my hope in You once again. Remind me of how faithful You have been in the past and how You keep your promises in the present and future. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 25