Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for today are from P. Ulysses Wang, lead pastor of The Remnant Presbyterian Church in New York City.

Devotional Thought for Today

Colossians 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God…

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.

As I consider Paul’s calling and concomitant resolve, I cannot help but reflect upon my own life and calling.  How certain am I that I am doing what God made me to do?  It is a worthwhile question, not just for myself, but for us all.  We live in a generation of countless opportunities, yet those very same opportunities have left us dazed and confused, jumping from job to job, career to career, and country to country in the relentless pursuit of doing something “meaningful” with our lives.  Now, more than ever, we need to seek a true calling from God through prayer and fasting, in His word and in His community.  While the desire to do good is indeed good, it would do us well to discover the good that God has already prepared in advance for us to do, for that is what is truly worth doing (Eph. 2:10).

Prayer: God, help me to discover and walk in the calling that You have for me.  Help me to hear past the noise of this FOMO (fear of missing out) generation so that like King David, I can have fully served You in my generation.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 89

Lunch Break Study

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

Questions to Consider

1. Paul mentions three times in this passage words that share the root word “work.” What are the ways in which these words are related?
2. How might it be an encouragement that God has “prepared beforehand” such works for us?
3. Evaluating your own life, would you say that you’ve been walking in God’s pre-prepared works, or are you doing your own works?

Notes

1. Previously, we worked on our own, but only when we recognize that we are God’s workmanship can we begin to do the works we ought to be doing.
2. It is not up to us to accomplish anything, but rather it is the Spirit in us who accomplishes all things.
3.  Personal.

Evening Reflection  

Reflect upon your day.  Do you think that you might have participated in anything that God “prepared beforehand” for you to do?  How can you better align yourself to participate in God’s work?

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 2:20

“But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”

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.

In the same way, we hear a promise that provides the necessary hope to endure the coming suffering for the people of Israel. In chapter two, we see a series of woes pronounced on the nation of Babylon. They are condemned for their violence upon the nations and their unjust manner of life. They are denounced for their profound idolatry as they worship speechless idols who cannot do anything for them. Although, they experience much success and power at the present time, God will establish justice and seek the welfare of the righteous. It is only a matter of time because God is the sovereign one, not the mighty empires of the earth. The people of Israel were called to hold onto this hope.

As Christians, we have been given a similar promise. No matter how much suffering is given to us at the present time, we know the end of the story. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ, the world is being redeemed and remade, and we are part of that new creation. Although our present sufferings might suggest that we are destined for a miserable ending, the story of God tells us that the ending is one of joy and victory. As Christians, we are called to hold onto this future hope in the present. It is what gives us the strength and joy necessary to follow Christ no matter the cost. It is what sustains us in our time of need. Let us rejoice that God has brought us into His story!

Prayer: God, I thank You for saving me from my own story and bringing me into Yours. Help me to live in light of your story rather than my own. Especially in times of trouble, give me an eternal perspective that draws strength from the hope given to me through Your gospel!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 88

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

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.

As Habakkuk waited on the watchtower, he was perplexed by the plan of God. If God used the evil Chaldeans to pronounce judgment on Judah, what would happen to the righteous? Would they also be destroyed? God provides an answer. Those who trust in themselves and whose souls are puffed up will be destroyed. But those who are righteous and faithful to God’s standards and decrees will live. In other words, those who trust in God’s plans and not their own will prevail.

Later on, the Apostle Paul would find the very essence of the gospel in this verse. Just as the people of Judah would be saved if they trusted not in their own works but in the promise of God, the gospel calls us to trust in God’s promise of life rather than our own self-justification projects. This is precisely the reason why Martin Luther found comfort in Habakkuk 2:4: He realized that salvation had nothing to do with trusting in his own works; rather, it was all about placing his trust in the work of Christ—which is always sufficient. No matter how sinful a person is, the sacrifice of Christ is always enough. This led Luther to a sense of freedom that he had never experienced before, because he knew that nothing could separate him from the love of God. In our culture where it is so easy to feel that we’re never good enough, this is a much needed reminder for all of us. Take some time to marvel at this truth today and know that in Christ, God’s posture toward us is always one of love and grace!

Prayer: Lord, I praise You and thank You that your sacrifice on the cross has made me righteous in Your eyes, so that I could be free from guilt and condemnation.  Help me to live daily in Your grace, trusting only in the blood of Jesus.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 86-7

 

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 2:1

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

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.

We as Americans struggle to reflect this humble posture. An underlying sentiment beneath the promises of the American Dream is the notion that we are entitled to absolute freedom. A product of this kind of thinking is the idea that ultimate authority rests on the self—that we hold the power to determine the course of our lives. We might allow others to offer their opinions but submission to those opinions is a rarity. And this posture oftentimes bleeds into our relationship with God. Our prayer lives are full of demands but rarely do we take time to wait and listen for the direction of God. It has become more about informing God of our needs and desires rather than intently listening to what He has for us.  Take some time to listen to God and allow Him to lead your life!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to quiet my heart from all the distractions and worldliness so that I could intently listen to Your voice.  Help me to develop a deep friendship with my Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 85

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 2:1-5: My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the author of Proverbs calling the “son” to yearn for?
2. What is the ultimate reward that wisdom affords us?
3. Do you seek the wisdom of God or do you rely on yourself to determine much of your life?

Notes

1. The author wants the son to desire understanding and to genuinely treasure wisdom.
2. The ultimate reward is the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection  

As you’ve been reflecting on our passage for today, take some time to to pray and ask God to give you a heart that is sensitive to His voice.

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 1:12-17

Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof. You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? You make mankind like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad. Therefore, he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?

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.

Just as the psalmists expressed their genuine concerns, Habakkuk voices his disbelief at God’s divine plan. Instead of hiding his confusion, he boldly complains: How could God use the evil Chaldeans to enact justice? Is He then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever? It was his firm conviction that this was not a suitable plan and he let God know it. Just like the psalms, there is a brutal honesty that pervades the complaints of the prophet. The fact that he would dare complain to God speaks to the implied sense of safety he felt, and that his relationship was not merely one of slave and master but something deeper that allowed space for honesty. It was a real relationship.

Many of us struggle with being honest before God, because we are afraid of being wrong or punished. In turn, it’s become more about performing and acting as spiritual as possible in an effort to remain in His favor. Even our times of prayer have become religious obligations, where we try to pray the right words instead of expressing what’s actually on our hearts. However, what God desires from us is our hearts in its raw and unfiltered form. He desires honesty and vulnerability. He desires to hear about your complaints, frustrations, and joys. Of course, we do this with reverence and a healthy sense of fear, but it is only when we reveal our true selves that we allow Him to transform us from the inside out. Spend some time today praying and sharing with God. He desires to hear from His children!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 84

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 13

A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Questions to Consider

1. Why is the psalmist frustrated?
2. What is the psalmist’s mood in the beginning of the psalm and how does it change at the end?
3. What would it look like for you to be more honest before God?

Notes

1. The psalmist is frustrated because his enemies are triumphing over him, and God seems to be silent. He wants God to help him but seems like God is slow to act.
2. He is frustrated and bitter in the beginning, but he ends with a statement of praise and trust in God.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection  

“He sees the inside of all; and what men are there, that they are to him. He sees not as we see, but ponders the hidden man of the heart. No humble, broken, contrite soul, shall lose one sigh or groan after him, and communion with him; no pant of love or desire is hid from him….” –John Owen.

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 1:6-11

“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

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.

Habakkuk understood this truth well. In response to the prophet’s pleas, God answers and informs him of His divine plan: He is raising up the Chaldeans to be His instrument of judgment upon the people of Israel. For Habakkuk, this must have been a shocking turn of events. For one, the Chaldeans, also known as the Babylonians, were more sinful, unjust, and evil than the Israelites. They were known for their propensity for violence and imperialistic greed. In other words, God was going to use a nation more unrighteous than Israel to deliver justice. To the human mind, this made no sense. However, as we will see, this was all part of God’s plan to bring about His goodness into the world.

At times, it is hard to comprehend difficult seasons of our lives. Questions and doubts often occupy our minds when life seems to make no sense. Why do certain things happen? How could anything good come out of this? However, in Habakkuk we learn that God’s help and favor doesn’t always come in the form of promotions or a clean bill of health. At times, His good and sovereign hand comes cloaked in difficult situations and circumstances that defy our logic. If life has been difficult and confusing, consider for a moment this amazing truth and find comfort in that no matter what life brings, God is always working for our good!

Prayer: God, I ask that You help me to have eyes of faith that see beyond my life’s circumstances. Help me to trust in Your goodness no matter how hard life gets, knowing that You are for me and not against me!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 83

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:28-30: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the promise of God here in this text?
2. Who is this promise given to?
3. How does this passage help you to trust God in difficult and confusing seasons of your life?

Notes

1. Everything that happens in our lives work together for our good. The good that is promised in this text is not that life will be easy, but rather that all things will contribute to the process of conforming into the image of the Son. In other words, no matter what happens, nothing can deter us from becoming more like Jesus.
2. This promise is given to those who love God; it is given to believers.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection  

“Suffering is unbearable if you aren’t certain that God is for you and with you.” –Tim Keller

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 1:5-6

Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days

that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans….

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.

Habakkuk found himself in a frustrating situation of his own. He had been praying for God to act and bring justice to the land of Judah. He could no longer bear to see God’s people living in such blatant sin. However, it seemed to Habakkuk that God was idly standing by, not lifting a finger to deal with the issue. Yet Habakkuk could not have been more wrong. God responds and proclaims that He has been “doing a work” in their days to deal with the problem of injustice in Judah: He was raising up the Chaldeans to be an instrument of judgment for His people. Although this is a shocking turn of events (Chaldeans, also known as the Babylonians, were more evil than Israel), it proved that God was not standing idly by but actively working to bring about His justice.

In light of this, it is important for us to remember that God is always at work around us. Many of us question God’s nearness in times of difficulty and trouble, and this is only natural. Doubts are not wrong but part of our growing process. However, we must look to Scripture and stories like these to remind ourselves that silence does not mean inactivity on the part of God. He is always working, whether we recognize it or not, for our ultimate good. If you are going through a difficult season in your life and God seems nowhere to be found, be encouraged, for He is “doing a work” in your days to bring you goodness!

Prayer: God, help me to trust you in times of trouble and difficulty and to see that You are always faithful and near.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 82

Lunch Break Study

Read John 16:5-7: “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why are the disciples filled with sorrow?
2. After Jesus goes to the Father, who is coming to be with the disciples?
3. How does knowing that the Helper (Holy Spirit) is present with us comfort you in times of hardship?

Notes

1. The disciples are filled with sorrow because Jesus, their leader, will be leaving them.
2. The Helper (the Holy Spirit) will be sent after Jesus ascends to the Father.
3. Personal.

Evening Reflection  

As you’ve been reflecting today, in what ways do you see God working around you? Take some time today to pray and ask God to give you eyes to see the work He’s doing around you.

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.

Devotional Thought for Today

Habakkuk 1:1-4

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw. “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you, “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted.  

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.

Similarly, the prophet Habakkuk witnessed an epidemic of corruption in his own time. Serving as God’s mouthpiece during the reign of King Josiah, the prophet could not help but to see that God’s law no longer had governing power over the people of Israel. He says that the “law is paralyzed” and that “destruction and violence are before me.” Although King Josiah implemented a massive reform to remove pagan idols and unlawful practices, it was not enough to restrain the sinful tendencies of Judah—they remained mired in sin.

What stands out in our passage for today is not that Habakkuk recognized the iniquity around him but his genuine hatred for injustice and sin. You can sense his disgust in his opening words, when he cries out in frustration to God for idly standing by while “justice never goes forth.” You can almost hear his desperation when he prays, “How long shall I cry for help?” What’s important to recognize here is that Habakkuk is not only feeling bad about the injustice around him but he’s also fighting for change in prayer; he doesn’t merely get angered for a moment and return to the normalcy of his life but continues to faithfully plead with God until divine action is taken. You see, far too many of us are satisfied with our hollow responses. We post a few Facebook statuses, say a quick prayer, and return to our lives as if nothing happened. It seems that we have lost the ability to genuinely mourn for the brokenness of the world as we give lip service to justice but rarely move to do anything about it. However, as God’s people, we have been called to respond to injustice; not with momentary emotions but with sustained prayer, informed action, and righteous anger that seeks the welfare of this world. Consider today the injustice you see around you. How has God called you to respond?

Prayer: God, help my heart to break for the things that break Yours and to learn how to hate injustice and be moved into action. Use me to bring Your shalom and goodness into the world around me!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 81

Lunch Break Study

 Reading Matthew 23:37-39: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

 Questions to consider

1. Why is Jesus grieved?
2. What does Jesus desire for Jerusalem?
3. When was the last time you grieved over something outside of yourself?

Notes

1. Jesus is grieved at the unrepentant heart of the people of Israel who have failed to live the way that God has called them. Although God by His grace sent prophets and others to right their way, Israel responded in sin. Injustice, sin, and stubbornness run rampant in the people of God.
2. Jesus desires that they would be brought under His care; He desires to see repentance and to recognize Him for who He really is.
3. Personal

Evening Reflection  

We spend so much of our time thinking about our own personal concerns. Our prayer lives are oftentimes only about us. In light of Habakkuk, take some time to think about others. What are some of the injustices you see around the world? What are some injustices and signs of brokenness you see in the community around you? How do you think God has called you to personally respond to some of these? Take some time to pray for some of these things.

 

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from June 13-19 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves at 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 Thoughts for Today

Galatians 6:14-15

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.

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.

Perhaps it is this picture of boasting in our minds which takes away from the extremity of what Paul says in this passage.  When Paul talks about “boasting,” he’s not talking so much about bragging, but taking pride in what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  It is not taking pride in our education, careers or titles.  It certainly is not taking glory in the praises and approval of man, though we often try to   find our worth in our social status, relationships, or our net worth.  Now, even as believers, we often boast even in our knowledge of the Scriptures, how often we fast, pray, give and serve.  We can recognize this type of boasting when it makes us feel superior, accomplished, or put on a pedestal.  It is anything that we can look at or we want others to look and see glory.  Paul would have none of that.

Paul says he desires to not boast, find glory, pride, or worth in anything else in this world, except that of the cross of Jesus Christ.  Paul is declaring that the only thing in his life that he wants to find worth in is of a picture of Jesus beaten and bloodied, hanging and dying to a cheap piece of wood.  Nothing else in this world gives him any meaning, purpose, or worth, except that of Jesus being shamefully executed on a tree.  In Philippians 3:8, Paul says, “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.”

Even as followers of Christ, we still tend to stray and boast in ourselves or our own accomplishments. If we are not careful, we can grow complacent and comfortable in this area.  The exhortation for us in Galatians is that we live with extremity, and let the world and our boasting be crucified to us—not just for the sake of suffering but for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ and finding our glory and worth in Him.  On this Lord’s Day, let us boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:  Lord, thank you for considering us worthy to die on the cross.  Forgive me for wanting man’s approval and boasting about myself.  Help me to boast in nothing else but what you have done on the cross.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 80

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from June 13-19 are provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves at 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 Thoughts for Today

Galatians 6:9-10

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

As you can see from the introduction earlier, my wife and I have an incredibly cute, newborn baby named Tyler, who is almost three months old.  It has been an amazing and wonderful three months taking care of this little boy, but I’ll let you all in on a little secret… My wife and I are really tired.  Again, it’s been a great and rewarding experience raising him, but with all the work it takes to take care of a baby, we grow weary.  To confess even more, there are times where I would rather sleep, relax and watch TV, than wake up at 3am every day and change Tyler’s diaper and feed him.  Even though I love my son, it’s not easy to keep on doing good.

I share this illustration, because sometimes we have this picture of the Christian life and ministry and being a part of kingdom work as being awesome, rewarding, and fulfilling, without recognizing that it can also be difficult, laborious and wearying. I find that some people think that serving God out of the overflow of our hearts means that doing good to everyone comes easy.  Paul clearly knew otherwise when he wrote this passage.  He exhorts the Galatians to not grow weary and to not give up for no other reason than that we can easily grow weary and we will want to give up!

In our service to God and to the body of Christ, we need perseverance and endurance because we will grow weary.  Like the seed that falls on rocky ground in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, it’s easy to spring up quickly because it can be so fun and exciting to serve the Lord at the start, but when the excitement wears off and weariness sets in, we can find ourselves like those plants that withered because of the sun, and we stop doing the work of the Lord.

Then how do we endure?  Paul encouraged the Galatians to press on and endure, because there is a harvest to come and that should be our motivation as well.  If we persevere and keep on doing good, we will have the privilege to see people coming to know the Lord.  Beyond the harvest though, to endure, we must remember to do this good work together and strive to bless and encourage one another to endure.  If we grit our teeth and press on as individuals, we will all grow weary and give up, but we can press on when we strive to serve and bless one another in the household of God.

If today you’re feeling weary of doing good, remember that there is a harvest to come and find encouragement from the body of Christ.  If you’re not feeling weary, praise God and find a way to encourage your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who might be feeling weary.  Let us strive to endure to do good together.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 78-9