Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from June 27-July 3 are provided by Pastor Ulysses Wang who pastors Remnant Church in Manhattan. Ulysses, a graduate of New York University and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is married to Christine and they have two children.
Devotional Thought for Today
Colossians 1:3-5a
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.”
One constant obstacle to living the Christian life is the desires of the flesh to opt for immediate gratification. Whether having to do with sexual desire, overeating, or all types of addictions (e.g., video games, drugs, gambling, etc.), persuading others and ourselves to abandon the banner that reads “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (Isaiah 22:13; 1 Corinthians 15:32) is a formidable task indeed.
“Well then, let us not be so shortsighted and instead let us think towards the future!” This, however, is not without pitfalls of their own. Others, while shunning the “foolishness” of the fleeting pleasures of the flesh and/or ill-gotten gains, fall into the trap of investing unhealthy amounts of our time, energy and resources toward the creation of a financially, physically and even relationally secure future. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to retire to Florida one day with a clean bill of health. However, if this “future” is what we have our sights on, we will fall well short of the biblical mark.
What enables us to live the life of faith and love that Paul ascribes to the Colossians? The Colossians had become “famous” for their way of life, as Paul says that he had “heard of” the way in which they lived. The answer lies in where they had placed their hope: “in heaven.” While looking to the future is precisely what we ought to do, the problem is, we don’t look far enough. The more we place our hope in heaven and all that it entails, the more we will become empowered to live a life of faith and love, now. This is the whole point of Hebrews 11 – the ancients lived by faith because they were “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (11:10). This morning, let us examine our hearts to see whether our faith is in God alone or in something else.
Prayer: God, forgive me for placing my hope in anything in this world, whether money or people or career. Help me to see heaven as the ancients did. Open the eyes of my spirit that I may be captivated by the coming kingdom, and live as a citizen thereof. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 90
Lunch Break Study
Read Hebrews 11:1-2: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Questions to Consider
- We are not talking about having faith in faith. What then is the object of our faith?
- What can you do to live more by faith?
- In what ways do you find yourself exercising faith according to the definition of faith given in these two verses?
Notes
- We place our faith in God’s Word and His promises. Thus, we are talking about having a reasonable, not blind, faith.
- One suggestion: make a decision because it is the right thing to do according to God’s Word—even if it appears costly and unprofitable at the moment.
- Personal response.
Evening Reflection
Before going to bed, reflect on Hebrews 11:24-27: By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Perhaps, you are facing a similar decision that Moses faced: having to choose between the pleasures offered by the world and pleasing God? Seek God’s guidance; pray for the Spirit’s empowerment.
This opening statement in Paul’s letter to the Colossians is easily glossed over, but it’s loaded with significance. In the large majority of Paul’s letters, which span roughly a 15-year period, he begins them this same way. We are reminded again and again over the years that this man did not become an apostle by his own choosing, but rather, it was a mandate from heaven which he accepted and obeyed. And this was something that no one needed to know more than him, as he would endure countless beatings, stonings, and even shipwreck (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Eventually, his commitment to his calling would lead him to lay down his very life. A person less sure of his calling surely would have abandoned such a difficult and lonely road.
Viktor Frankl, a psychologist and a holocaust survivor, made an interesting observation during his imprisonment. He began to notice that those who held unto hope were more likely to survive. People who were filled with despair or hatred were more susceptible to death than those who held unto the hope of one-day reuniting with their family or seeing the Allies bring freedom. In other words, future hope gave them the fortitude and strength necessary to persevere and thrive even in the worst of conditions.
The great reformer Martin Luther was incredibly self-aware, especially when it came to his own sinfulness. For this reason, he was constantly tormented in his conscience as he wondered whether he stood in God’s favor or wrath. He would try to remedy this problem by going to the priest for confession over and over again. It got so bad that the priest would tell him to stop coming unless he committed a terrible sin. No matter what religious duties Luther fulfilled, he never felt peace in his own conscience and no solace in his own works. However, through the grace of God, he stumbled upon Habakkuk 2:4 when studying through the book of Romans, and it provided the very freedom he so desperately needed.
After a back and forth conversation between Habakkuk and God in the first chapter, the prophet says that he will go to his watchpost and wait for God’s response. Instead of speaking his own thoughts and words to the people of Judah, he chooses to go to the tower in order to keep a watchful eye for God’s answer. Here, it is easy to see that Habakkuk understood his role as a prophet well. He was not charged to speak his own thoughts but to be God’s mouthpiece. And this meant learning how to listen well with an obedient posture—not insisting on his own ways but to allow God to determine the content of his words and actions.
Recently, U2 lead singer Bono met with theologian Eugene Peterson to discuss the Psalms and their significance. Both possessed a fondness for the Psalms. They marveled at its beauty and composition. However, what captured their hearts was its brutally honest nature. The psalmists never shied away from expressing exactly what was on their hearts, whether it was great joy, paralyzing confusion, or profound sorrow. There was no attempt to wear a mask before God, only a genuine vulnerability that laid it all out. And this is one reason why we sense that the psalmists’ relationship with God was marked by a real sense of intimacy and authenticity. It was not about appearing spiritual by praying the right words but about honestly inviting God into one’s interior life.
Through the years I’ve heard countless testimonies about God’s redemptive work in a person’s life. And here’s something I’ve noticed: a common thread that runs through each story is the subtle and surprising nature of God’s hand. For many, circumstances and events that seemed destructive in nature proved to be the very instrument of transformation. A career setback teaches us how to lean on God, or news of cancer in a family member cultivates within us a faith we never had. Numerous stories attest to the fact that God oftentimes does not use conventional and obvious means to bring about goodness in our lives.
Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from June 20-26 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.
About a year ago, someone broke into my wife’s car and stole the airbag. For those of you who don’t know, airbags are incredibly expensive and necessary for safety reasons. What made things worse was that this came after a string of bad luck with my wife’s car: battery problems, new tires were needed, and the car horn stopped working. With the bills adding up and no money to replace the airbag, it was a very frustrating time for us. We didn’t know how we were going to resolve this situation. Little did we know that God put it in the hearts of some people to buy an airbag for our car—it was a total surprise! Without us knowing, God was at work to help us in our need.
There are no shortages when it comes to examples of injustice in our world. From the recent Orlando shootings to other forms of terrorism—there is a surplus of evidence that exposes our inclination toward disorder and evil. In fact, news outlets never have to worry about running out of stories to report on because humanity will always supply them. Furthermore, these examples are not only found on the world stage but also within our own personal lives, where relational strife and deceit run rampant all around us. It goes without saying that we’ve all been touched in one form or another by the sinfulness of humanity.
There’s something about people who like to talk about themselves: what they have accomplished, bragging about all of their awards and accolades—and no one likes boastful people. I would guess that even boastful people don’t like other boastful people. So I doubt very few of us would admit to be boastful, because we’re not like those loudmouth, boastful people.