Editor’s Note: Today’s AMI Quiet Time is provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Church in San Diego.
Devotional Thought for Today
John 20:30-31
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
I recently read a statement in a book that said, “The God who created you is better than the god you created.” I thought it was catchy. Definitely true!
There are many topics that float around in our minds all day long; I’m certain that “God” is one of those topics. But have you ever wondered how well-informed you are about who God really is? Do you ever wonder if any of our thoughts, opinions, and even conclusions about God is consistent to the Bible?
One common misconception has been mentioned by preachers in jest: “Please turn to Hezekiah 6:5 – God helps those who help themselves.” Of course, we know that there is no “Book of Hezekiah” in the Bible; nor does the Bible paint a picture of a God who only helps those who make efforts to help themselves. Perhaps, such thoughts and other views like it have found their way into our private theological systems. While they do not serve us in our faith, they can certainly impede our spiritual growth.
The apostle John writes that he took the time to carefully author his gospel (inspired by the Holy Spirit) so that the readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah and gain life in His name. John, along with the many disciples, had found life in recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God, the Savior of the World. They discovered that everything he did and taught changed and transformed their perception of the reality: individuals were healed, families were restored, new communities lived according a new set of values, and the gospel continued to extend to the nations.
It is a remarkable statement to believe that faith in a man who walked the earth 2000 years ago would be the only source of true life for all people. But the testimonies of Jesus, as it has been faithfully preached and taught, continues to give life to people today.
If you haven’t already done so, consider downloading an app on your phone that allows you to read God’s word throughout the year. Here’s my favorite:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bible-in-one-year/id504133402?mt=8
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.multipie.bibleinoneyear&hl=en_GB
And may the words captured in our Bible guide you toward faith in Jesus that leads you to attain life that only He can impart: a meaningful life in the present and eternal life thereafter.
Today’s food for thought shares a few random questions for reflections based on the final passage of the gospel of John.
During the course of our marriage, my wife would randomly ask me, “Do you love me?” To that question, there were a vast array of replies from me. Anything from, “Of course I do” or “Why do you ask?” to “Maybe” to “Not today.” (Of course, the latter two were playful responses.) It seemed that a nice firm, “I love you” was the best answer to that question, reassuring my wife that I am all in when it comes to our marriage.
Some years ago, a group of men from church dedicated an entire Saturday fishing for…fish. More than 20 men put on their lucky shirt, lucky hat, lucky whatever, and rented out a good-sized boat with all of the proper equipment, along with a professional crew cast off from the shores of Newport Beach. Given that the entirety of the catch would belong to the church family, we anticipated a delicious seafood dinner that evening upon our return. After spending hours and hours deep sea fishing, we returned with a handful of mackerels (fish you can catch on a pier any time). That was a sad day for the men.
Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
If you google, “What is San Diego known for?” to no one’s surprise, the search results point you towards beaches, nice weather, breweries, Mexican food, the world famous SD Zoo, and much more. You have all the makings for a nice weekend to relax and to unwind from all of the rigors of life. It’s no wonder that San Diego hosts more than 30 million visitors each year and is a top US travel destination. In my years of ministry in San Diego, I’ve come to understand that many have come seeking “comfort” that they believe can be found in our city. (Would you believe that even the drivers in SD drive at a nice comfortable pace? You hardly hear any honking in this city.)
The Gospel of John, chapter 19 describes one of the darkest event in history: The Lord Jesus Christ was cruelly punished and put to death in the most gruesome way. Understandably, the disciples who followed Jesus for three years were gripped with fear as their own aspirations and dreams of God’s rule came to an abrupt and most shocking end. Their Messiah was now lying lifeless inside a tomb. Without their teacher, miracle-worker, and leader, the disciples were gripped with the fear that at any moment, those who arrested Jesus would also come looking for them. (I wonder just how effective the locked doors of ancient homes would have been in keeping out unwanted guests.)
I knew college was supposed to be challenging, but one trouble I did not anticipate was that I would go broke one semester. It was my own foolishness– I had relinquished a work-study job, but I kept spending money. I knew this was a bad idea, yet I hoped I could scrape by and never tell my parents. Finally, one day when I had less than $20 left for weeks of school, I reached a crisis.
Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for October 8-9 are provided by Christine Li. Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City. She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan. 
08Have you ever noticed a difference in behavior between first-time guests and frequent visitors to your home? In my own experience, I’ve seen a marked difference in my own behavior over the years of visiting an older sister. I went from politely asking to sit on her sofa the first time to, years later, sprawling over her living room, helping myself to what’s in her pantry, and occasionally even showing up late at night to stay over. By making her home my own many times, I clearly demonstrate how secure and assured I’ve become of our close relationship (and also, that she is very patient with me).
In Korea, the stork does not bring babies to their parents—that’s the job of trash cans. For those of you who are scratching your heads, for whatever reason, Korean parents will jokingly tell their kids that they were found in trash cans, under bridges, or several other ridiculous places. It’s like when older siblings torment younger siblings by telling them they were adopted—except the parents do this. Even though I’ve lived in America all my life, I realize I still harass my kids in this manner. So yes, I’ve told them they were found in trash cans. And once in a while, when my youngest son Jon cries for mommy, I will ask him, “Do you really think she is your mommy?” And my wife looks at me like I’m a three-headed monster every time I do this.