REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on July 17, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff member at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Is God Punishing Me?” 

Jeremiah 21:3-7 (NRSV)

Then Jeremiah said to them: 4 Thus you shall say to Zedekiah: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I am going to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them together into the center of this city. 5 I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and mighty arm, in anger, in fury, and in great wrath. 6 And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both human beings and animals; they shall die of a great pestilence. 7 Afterward, says the Lord, I will give King Zedekiah of Judah, and his servants, and the people in this city—those who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine—into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword; he shall not pity them, or spare them, or have compassion.

As has been fairly consistent throughout this book, the people of God are in trouble (to say the least). They failed to uphold their end of their covenant (promise/contract) with God. Like disobedient children to a parent or defiant subjects to a good king, the people rebelled and went their own way. As a result, instead of enjoying covenant blessings (what God promised to do for them) of protection and prosperity, they faced covenant curses (how God promised to punish them). The Babylonians were coming, and it wouldn’t be pretty. One commentator keenly noted: “The Lord promised that not only the Babylonians but He, too, would fight against the city. He would bring His strong arm against Jerusalem in anger and would strike down its inhabitants. Normally the Divine Warrior fought for His people, but now He would fight against them.” (Constable)

So, they not only faced the full brunt of the Babylonian army—and the Babylonians were ruthless—without the protection of God (covenant blessing), they were doing so with God’s own hand against them (covenant curse). Yikes!

God outlined clearly what was required for relationship with God and the people agreed. But they fell short (sometimes it seems to me like they weren’t even trying!). Yet many years later, God would come in the person of Jesus and fulfill those requirements on their behalf. In fact, He’d do so on behalf of the whole world! Jesus took upon Himself the full brunt of the curse, so that the people of God would never find themselves in a situation such as we read in today’s passage. 

There are many reasons why things go wrong in our lives—oftentimes we’re experiencing the natural outworking of the sinful choices we made or that others have made against us. And unfortunately that’s just life—Scripture tells us God is making all things new, but they aren’t new just yet (the world is still a hot mess!). But one thing we know for sure is this: as those who’ve placed ourselves in Christ, none of the calamity we face is ever God punishing us. Never! Praise be to God that, because of Jesus, God never fights against—only for us, working all things for good.     

Prayer: Almighty God, I acknowledge Your holiness and the righteousness You require, Your 

power and Your condemnation of sin. And today I thank You for Jesus, who took the full weight of condemnation for my sin so there is none left for me. There is therefore now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus! May that truth be the lens through which I interpret whatever I am facing. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 24

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Lunch Break Study

Read Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV):Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii,[k] gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Questions to Consider

• What does the lawyer ask Jesus and how does Jesus respond? 
• Oftentimes, we focus on the lawyer “testing” Jesus as where he errs in this passage. But, if we set that aside, where does the lawyer go wrong in this text as it relates to his quest for eternal life? (Look closely at these key verses: 25b & 29a)
• What would have been the natural response of the lawyer to Jesus’ story and teaching in vv. 30-37? How might this exchange have eventually led the lawyer to eternal life? 
• What are the ways you fall short of the “Great Commandment” (v. 27) in your daily life? How does the gospel both free you from the weight of the “Great Commandment” and empower you to live it out? 

Notes

• The lawyer asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. He wants to know what is required to be in right relationship with God and living abundantly eternally. // Jesus answers with a question – What does the law say? In this response, Jesus is basically saying, “What do you know?” or “You already know what’s required.” The same is often true for us. Like the people of God in our passage this morning, we often know what to do but fail to do it (because we are rebellious or because we literally can’t—the righteous requirement is too high and we are broken and sinful). 
• A little close reading reveals that the lawyer is relying on his own works and ability to inherit eternal life. He asks, “what must I do…” (when he really should have asked, “What can be done for me?”). And he was “seeking to justify himself” (when he should have been seeking justification for himself). Once we realize how wretched we are and how far short we fall of the glory of God, only then can we, to paraphrase one of my favorite preachers, leave a contract of earning and enter a relationship of receiving (God’s free gift of grace). 
• There are a ton of ways the lawyer could have responded. He was likely offended by the juxtaposition of the actions of religious leaders to those of a Samaritan, a people group Jews despised at that time. But if he stayed focused on his quest for eternal life, a natural response would have been something akin to – “That’s impossible!” If a neighbor is anyone in our path, who can effectively keep the command?! And that’s the point! // That realization was what the lawyer needed to inherit eternal life—realizing he couldn’t do it. He needed a Savior.
• Personal reflection. 

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Evening Reflection

Freedom from condemnation doesn’t mean we never feel guilty when we do wrong. I like to think of guilt like our nervous system—if our hand is on a hot stove, our body naturally alerts us to the danger (It hurts!) and triggers a change in our course of action (Move that hand!). Otherwise, we’d lose our hand. Similarly, feelings of guilt (and the sorrow that accompanies them) are natural and good, alerting us to danger and triggering a change. But as people not condemned, we aren’t immobilized under the weight of guilt! We can turn to Jesus, thankful for the alert, receive forgiveness through the cross and empowerment through the Spirit to change course. 

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.  (2 Corinthians 7:10)

How do you respond to guilt? Do you allow it to propel you to repentance (and change your course of action) and salvation (from death that accompanies sin) and freedom from regret? Or do you respond as a person condemned—allowing it to suffocate you under the weight of your brokenness or even ignoring it because it’s just too much to sort out (and no one’s perfect, right)? Spend some time reflecting on these things with God. Ask the Lord to help you have a proper posture toward feelings of guilt. Ask God to help you respond appropriately to any guilt you are feeling today. 

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 12, 2018, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman—now a friend of AMI—who had served at Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia for a long time.   

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Underdog Champions”

Hebrews 12:1-3 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 

Super Bowl 2018 marked the history of Philadelphia for winning its very first Super Bowl championship. This memorable win had a dramatic story of its own.  The Philadelphia Eagles was the underdog team who fought their way up as the season progressed. Two games prior to the NFL championship, their star quarterback, Carson Wentz, tore his ACL and joined mounting casualties of injured key players out of the season.  At the Super Bowl, they played against the legendary five-time reigning Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots and their super undefeated quarterback, Tom Brady. The Eagles’ backup quarterback, Nick Foles, faced the pressure calmly and courageously led the team with undaunted grit toward the epic win of 44 to 33. 

The city of Philadelphia was ecstatic over the Eagles victory.  An estimated number of 700,000 fans—including people I know—traveled near and far to stand in the bitter cold, just to take part of the historical victory parade. People had a genuine personal identification with the team’s unrelenting tenacity to overcome setbacks, doubts, and obstacles. They were all so proud of their team.    

All of us can relate with feeling like an underdog, facing life’s many challenges, unexpected turns, adversities, losses, and failures. The Philadelphia Eagles showed us there is great power when people pull together as a unified team to overcome the insurmountable odds against them. 

In Hebrews 12:1-3, I envision a long parade lined up with heaven’s great hall of famers, the unsung champions of faith, along with our loved ones or mentors who have gone before us, cheering us on from heavenlies to not give in to the temptation of giving up—especially when life’s obstacles make us feel like an underdog.   They tell us to keep pressing on for Jesus with tenacity and live a life worthy of the gospel, one moment at a time, one day at a time, and to confidently trust in God’s ability and faithfulness to help us become the champions of faith that He desires us to be.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Savior, Redeemer and Lord.  Thank You that I am saved to participate and partner with You in the ongoing redemptive work of the Father. Empower me to keep standing firm in faith and in Your truth so that I may not be given to fear.  Thank You that I am already a winner in Christ. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 23

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Lunch Break Study 

Read Hebrews 11:1-7: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Questions to Consider

1. What is one common characteristic that the people listed in Hebrews 11 shared?

2. Read Hebrews 11:6. In what areas of your life do you need to apply more faith?

3.  How does faith in God change your perspective on life?

Notes

1. These were ordinary underdogs of the world, empowered by faith in God to conquer staggering circumstances.

2.  We need to daily put on the glasses of faith to have the right perception and interaction with the world around us.

3. Life does not center around me but on God.  The main purpose of my life is to know Him and glorify Him with my being and doing.

UPDATED Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Christine Li, was first posted on February 4, 2018. Christine, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, serves as a deaconess at Remnant Church in Manhattan, New York.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Change is Possible on This Resurrection Sunday!”

Genesis 42:33-38 

“Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. 34 Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’” 35 As they emptied their sacks, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack. And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me.” 37 Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”

One of the most interesting lessons I had in elementary school was about metamorphosis. Every single classroom in my grade level adopted a house of caterpillars. We would watch the caterpillars wriggle about, eat plants, and even begin to create cocoons. What was incredible was that, one day, butterflies emerged. It was hard to believe that once they had been fat caterpillars! 

The Bible is full of similarly fascinating stories of redemption and transformation. These brothers of Joseph once sold their brother into slavery and covered up their treachery; now, they have committed themselves to bringing back Simeon. They could have backed out in cowardice after arriving safely home with grain and silver; however, they are resolved to take the journey back to Egypt. How God has shaped them: men who profited off one another are now willing to put their lives on the line for one another! 

If you are a believer, have you paused recently to take note of how God has changed you? Let us take time to think about who we were when we first received His grace, and consider how God has changed us along the way. Our personal transformation gives us sure evidence that God is miraculously at work in us. This fuels our hope that God will continue to mold us on our way to Heaven. 

Today, as we draw near to worship Him on this Resurrection Sunday, let’s marvel at the change He has worked in us. Let’s thank Him for giving us new hearts that want to honor Him, and thank Him in advance for how He will continue to work in us! Our past no longer dictates who we will become in the future, and in Christ, we can expect that we will not stay the same. We can rejoice that, by His power, He works miraculous things to make us more like Him. That’s the power that raised Jesus from the dead, which also dwells in us (Eph. 1:19-20), assuring us that we can be transformed in Him.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your grace in our lives, that You accept us as we are but never leave us in our current state. Give us eyes to see Your patience and miraculous work in us, and give us faith that no quality of ours is too hard for You to mold.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 22 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on January 27, 2018.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“The Life of Joseph Revisited”

Genesis 40:9-15

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” 12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

“I know I’m supposed to be here for and ministering to Marybelle, but when I pray, why do I keep feeling that God is speaking to me about my own issues?  I seem to be getting distracted.”  While we are right to feel we shouldn’t be allowing ourselves to become the center of things when we’re supposed to be serving others, at the same time, should it be surprising that when we are serving others, God does a work in and for us as well?

“Remember me and get me out of here.” (v. 14, paraphrased) 

Looking at Joseph’s success in prison, one can sometimes forget that it wasn’t easy for him to be there.  He wanted out. Though he was staying at the home of a master who still seemed to view him with favor, even after a major crisis had threatened their relationship (Gen 39:19-20; 40:3-4, 7), his room at that home was still just a dungeon, his position still that of a slave. As prison manager, Joseph had risen in position as far as he could go under the circumstances, but what he was in charge of was still just a jail.  His life was not at all going according to plan (as a young man wired as an administrator, no doubt he had had a plan).  Though up to this point, the author has mainly been highlighting Joseph’s prosperity in adversity, here he reminds us of truly how adverse Joseph’s circumstances were: far from his own real home and family, forced to work as a slave, wrongly accused and misunderstood (=unhappy home life, work life and emotional/social life).

“This is what it means . . .” (v. 12)

Yet when Joseph receives the interpretation of the dream, hope arises.  The reminder of the sorry state of his life (v. 15) appears in the context of his sharing it with someone who would soon be in a position to deliver him from it (v. 14).  Though the dream was for the cupbearer, when Joseph interprets it, it also becomes a dream for him (i.e., having bearing on his life).  When we exercise our gifts in service to others, we often think at first that we are just coming alongside to help, only to realize later that God had a reason for choosing us to be the very person to serve that other in this matter.  Our well-beings are all connected; this is the beauty of God’s design for humanity.  So whether it be in prayer, teaching, counseling, or other kind of serving, let us embrace ministering to one another today, trusting God’s love is expansive enough to cover us all, even at the same time.

Prayer:Lord God, help me to die to myself today and simply serve others, remembering that this can be the very way You release blessing in my own life, remembering that serving others is not in conflict with having my own needs met.  I take you at Your word, that the one who loses their life for You will find it. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 20-21

UPDATED  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on April 20, 2018. Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Death on Good Friday“

Mark 12:18-27 

And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first took a wife, and when he died left no offspring. 21 And the second took her, and died, leaving no offspring. And the third likewise. 22 And the seven left no offspring. Last of all the woman also died. 23 In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as wife.”24 Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

 Ernest Becker, a Jewish-American cultural-anthropologist in the 60’s and 70’s, is famous for writing The Denial of Death. Its thesis states that human civilization is essentially a complex defense mechanism in the face of its own mortality. In other words, humanity is terrified of its inevitable death and attempts to structure life in such a way as to find meaning, in spite of our inescapable mortality. Becker wrote this Pulitzer-winning book while battling colon cancer and facing his own imminent death. And the book was praised for its insight as many related to his conclusion. 

All of us are afraid of death, not necessarily because it is something we do not understand but because it robs us of lasting meaning. All of our hard work and accolades lose their significance when we pass away. As a result, people have been desperately searching for a way to have true meaning that can overcome the problem of death. Becker calls this “immortality projects”; it is our way of remaining alive after life has ended. 

Here, in our passage for today, Jesus is tested by the Sadducees on the doctrine of the resurrection. Interestingly, the Sadducees did not believe that God would resurrect the righteous at the end of time; that was a Pharisaic belief. They posed this question, as a trap, in order to make Jesus look bad; however, Jesus avoids their trap and disagrees with them, stating that God is not God of the dead, but of the living. In other words, He believes in the resurrection. In some ways, this is a foreshadowing of His own resurrection that would take place after His death. 

For many of us, the resurrection is a doctrine that we only think about during Easter. However, it must be something that informs our lives on a daily basis. The resurrection tells us that there is life after death; that death is not the final word but life is—all because of the victory we find in Jesus. As a result, we do not need our own “immortality projects,” because Christ has accomplished it through His death and resurrection. That’s what Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are all about. This means that our work in the present has eternal significance that cannot be robbed by death’s power. And the life we live for God will not be in vain but will be everlasting. Let us remember today that the work of God’s kingdom, whether at church or in our workplace, will not go to waste. We are part of a project that will last forever. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that death does not have the last say in my life because of the resurrection of Your Son. In light of this, help me to live for the eternal and not the temporal things of life. Help me to invest into the work of Your kingdom rather than things that will one day fade away.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 19

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Lunch Break Study 

Read John 11:17-27:Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Questions to Consider 

• How does Jesus respond to Martha’s grief and pain? 
• What do you think Jesus means when He says that He is the resurrection and the life? 
• What role does the resurrection play in your life? 

Notes 

• Jesus responds by telling her that her brother will rise. She thinks that He is talking about the doctrine of the resurrection, which says that the righteous will rise at the end of time. However, Jesus wants to divert her focus away from an abstract doctrine to the person of the resurrection, who is Jesus Himself. Eternal life and resurrection is not found in believing a doctrine but by believing in the person of Christ. 
• Resurrection can only be had through Jesus Christ. No other means can overcome death. 
• Personal response.

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Evening Reflection 

“The point of the resurrection…is that the present bodily life is not valueless just because it will die…What you do with your body in the present matters because God has a great future in store for it…What you do in the present—by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself—will last into God’s future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly, a little more bearable, until the day when we leave it behind altogether (as the hymn so mistakenly puts it…). They are part of what we may call building for God’s kingdom.” – N.T. Wright 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on June 28, 2018, is written by Phillip Chen, who has been serving as the associate pastor of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego for many years. He and several like-minded people are planting, the Lord willing, a new AMI church in Houston this summer. Please pray for them.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Scars of Remembrance”

Jeremiah 15:19 (ESV)

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.”

 “Do as I say, not as I do.” How many times do we see this happen in our own lives? I would propose to you that we do this more than we think: we are quick to point out what others need to do; we are experts when it comes to what others need to repent of, or what others need to be more disciplined in. But when we turn the magnifying lens back on our own lives, we don’t see our own weaknesses. Parents are even more likely to fall into this category, as well as leaders.  The higher up the leader becomes, the less people there are to point out their faults or their weaknesses. Yet Scriptures remind us to be careful to take care of our own hearts in regards to repentance and restoration.

The irony of this passage is that Jeremiah has been telling Judah to turn back to the Lord. He is telling them to repent so that God would restore them, and that God is merciful and will forgive them (although God tells him repeatedly to stop interceding for them). Yet we see the Lord reply to Jeremiah, urging him to repent and turn back to Him so that He can restore him. What did Jeremiah need to repent from? It seems as if he was starting to harbor bitterness towards God, that God would turn the entire nation against him even though he was only trying to be faithful to God. He was starting to think that God was out to harm him. Whatever Jeremiah was going through and thinking, God was asking him to return and repent so that God could restore him and continue to use him as a prophet. 

We may not be in as dire of a situation as Jeremiah, but the Lord reminds us to turn to Him and seek His restoration, because we are all in need of it! Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a spiritual leader, a mentor, or anyone who speaks into other’s lives, we are all responsible for keeping our hearts tender so that we may continually repent and seek restoration. Leaders, let’s not get caught up with simply telling others what to do and forget to turn to the Lord yourself! We’ve seen too many leaders fall because they were not careful in taking care of their own hearts. God wants to use His people, and He wants to use you as a leader—provided that you turn to Him in repentance on a regular basis. 

Prayer: Father God, help my heart stay tender and pure before You. I desire to be used by You. As I examine my own heart, I pray that You would highlight things in my life that I need to repent of – that I would be restored and to continually be used by You in a powerful way. In Jesus’ Name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 18

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Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (ESV): Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[b] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Question to Consider

1. How should we live this life, according to this passage?

2. What is Paul afraid of in verse 27?

3. Especially as it is the middle of summer, what are some spiritual disciplines that you have become lax about? What are things you need to be mindful of as you run this race?

Notes

1. Corinth was home of the Isthmian games, which was a festival of athletic and musical competitions. The Corinthians would have seen firsthand the intensity of the training and the tenacity needed by these athletes. So Paul is comparing how the believer’s life should be like those of these athletes. If these athletes train so hard for a perishable medal, how much harder should we train for imperishable rewards?  

2. One commentary says that the preaching refers to the “office of the herald”—meaning, that he would be the one telling the guidelines of the games, displaying the rewards, and encouraging the participants. As the herald, he must remember that he is part of this as well and should be careful lest after it all, he is disqualified from the reward that he is talking about. 

3. Personal response.

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Evening Reflection

Tonight, spend some time in reflection on ways that you need to “return to Him,” and believe in your heart that He restores those who turn to Him. May His loving kindness draw you into a place of intimacy and may you experience His grace and mercy in the process. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on February 21, 2018, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David is a graduate of Drexel University (B.S.) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Comfort in Suffering”

Genesis 47:13

Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.

 All Christians experience suffering—whether it be in the past, present, or in the future.  But just because we experience suffering as we await the redemption of our bodies, it doesn’t mean that our suffering is random or without purpose. And neither does it mean that Scripture doesn’t tell us how to think about our suffering now.  Tim Keller, in Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, puts it like this:

“No matter what precautions we take, no matter how well we have put together a good life, no matter how hard we have worked to be healthy, wealthy, comfortable with friends and family, and successful with our career — something will inevitably ruin it.  While other worldviews lead us to sit in the midst of life’s joys, foreseeing the coming sorrows, Christianity empowers its people to sit in the midst of this world’s sorrows, tasting the coming joy.” 

For two years, the famine has been severe in Egypt and Canaan (45:5). All private reserves of wheat have been exhausted, and all the money of Egypt and Canaan had been spent in buying government grain from Joseph. And the famine lingered on and on. In desperation the Egyptians approached Joseph, reminding him of their plight.  It was a time of hardship and suffering for these nations.

Are you experiencing hardships?  If so, how are you handing it?  We can have hope in our suffering because we know that Christ redeems our suffering for His good.  We can have hope because we know suffering prepares Christians for more glory. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

If you are going through a season of hardship, be encouraged that it is not in vain.  God has a purpose for it in your life.  Pray that you will remain steadfast and hopeful.  

Prayer:  Lord, give me the strength to go through hardships with an eternal perspective.  May my faith and joy grow during these seasons of my life.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 17

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Lunch Break Study 

Read James 1:2-4: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Questions to Consider 

• Why does James say we can experience joy in the midst of trials?
• What do trials produce?
• How do you see God working in the hardships you face?

Notes

• We are to consider what we are going through as a matter of joy, not because the thing itself is something that is pleasurable, but because tribulation works patience within us. Our suffering is not an exercise in futility. God has a purpose, and that purpose is always good. We can count all things joy because God is working in all situations, even the most painful, for our sanctification and ultimate glorification.
• The word translated as “testing” occurs rarely in the Bible, appearing only three other times. In this case, “testing” deals with purification through trial.  God wants our faith to grow, and often He will use trials to do that.  
• Personal application.

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Evening Reflection

Spend time in personal prayer.   Ask the Lord to speak to you on the things you read and meditated on today.  

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional is provided by a writer who wants to remain anonymous. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What I Learned from Training for a Half-Marathon”

Jeremiah 14:7-8

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:2 “Judah mourns,and her gates languish;her people lament on the ground,and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.3 Her nobles send their servants for water;they come to the cisterns;they find no water;they return with their vessels empty;they are ashamed and confoundedand cover their heads.7 “Though our iniquities testify against us,act, O LORD, for your name’s sake;for our backslidings are many;we have sinned against you.8 O you hope of Israel,its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land,like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?

Last November, I ran a half-marathon for the first (and probably last) time in my life. For training, I ran at least three times a week for about two months; so by the time the race came around, I felt confident enough—even excited. I’m an idealist at heart, so although my practice runs were never fun, I thought the actual race would be exhilarating. After running the 13.2 miles, I can safely say that long-distance runs are physically strenuous every time you do them. 

In our passage today, the prophet Jeremiah summarizes how the Israelites began to mourn and lament to God, as they felt the effects of a drought on their livelihood—less food, less water, less agency, etc. Prior to the famine, they had been living comfortably, offering worship to both God and false idols and remaining unphased by Jeremiah’s warnings. The drought brought forth a new response from the Israelites—one of soberness, brokenness, and desperation. But this isn’t a new story for Israel. As we know well by now, the Israelites fall away, endure hardship and are led to repentance, time and time again. Despite the pattern, our passage reads, “Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people lament on the ground…” This reminds me that no matter the suffering, no matter the form it comes in, it hurts every time. Likewise, being led to repentance is a raw and meaningful experience every time. The process of realizing that you messed up yet again, and need God to save you again, strips you of all your pride and brings you to your knees. At the same time, it brings you to the most true and safe place, knowing that God has already forgiven you in Jesus and loves you the same.

Today, let’s remember how our track record is far from perfect, but God has been faithful to us. Let us be gracious to ourselves and others in their time of vulnerability and need, extending the same kind of love and acceptance that we have also received.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being with us through the good and the bad. As we receive Your grace time and time again, transform us to be gracious and accepting as You are. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 16

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 2:1-5: Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume onthe riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Questions to Consider

• According to this passage, how is one led to repentance?
• Where do God’s judgment fall and why do you think that is so?
• In what areas of your life can you replace harshness with more kindness, forbearance, and patience?

Notes

• We are led to repentance after experiencing the riches of God’s kindness, forbearance, and patience. In real life, this means we go against God, but we find His patience and forgiveness, instead of His wrath, time and time again.
• God’s judgment falls on those who pass judgment on others while they themselves practice wrongdoings. This describes someone who is unaware or dismissive of their own wrongdoings. 
• Personal reflection.

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Evening Reflection

Today, we probably interacted with many different people, whether it was at work, school, or home. Are there any relationships or topics where God may be calling us to be less harsh and more open-minded and patient?

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on February 12, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning  

“Family Matters”

Genesis 45:1-3

Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

The following is possibly a true story found on the Internet: “We convinced my youngest sister that she was adopted; it was fairly easy because she was a platinum blonde and the rest of us are all brunettes… She got us back by being happy that she wasn’t actually related to us.” 

Whether or not it’s true, this short anecdote is humorous to most of us because we all relate to dysfunction in family. To varying degrees, we all struggle with being a brother or sister, or being a son or daughter in our families.  And sometimes we might wish we weren’t actually related to our parents or siblings.  Why is this? Because there is no person or group of people who will annoy, bother, frustrate or even hurt us in quite the same way as our own families.  

If anyone could tell a story about being hurt by his family, it would be Joseph. His own brothers tried to kill him, but instead sold him into slavery—setting off a chain of events where he ended up in prison. And so when we read about the mind games that Joseph played with his brothers (Genesis 42-44), we can understand that he was acting out of the deep hurt inflicted on him at the hand of his brothers.  And we see how deep the pain went as he wept so loud that everyone could hear.  However, in spite of all of the hurt and pain, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, begining the process of reconciliation and healing with his family.

For many people, it is a major struggle to love their families and to find healing and forgiveness from past hurts.  And what’s great about the Bible is that it doesn’t act as if this isn’t the reality for many people, but instead, it shows us the messiness.  There is so much dysfunction and pain in most of the families that we read about in the Scriptures. But the Bible doesn’t just show messiness, it also gives hope for healing and reconciliation.  Whether it’s relationships with our parents, siblings, spouses, friends, fellow believers, etc., God calls us to be agents of reconciliation and to take those first steps, like Joseph, towards the path of healing and forgiveness and love. Let us continue on that path and ask God for His love for those who have hurt us—especially those in our own families.

Prayer: Jesus, I give you all of my past hurt and pain, and I ask for Your healing touch in my heart.  Give me Your love for my family and for whoever has hurt me.  Help me to forgive as You have forgiven me.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 15

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Lunch Bible Study 

Read 1 John 4:19-21: We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Questions to Consider

• Why is there a disconnect between saying “I love God” while hating one’s brother?
• How does the love of Jesus change how we treat others?
• Who in your life have you found hard to love?  How can you overcome your lack of love for them?

Notes

• John tells us that someone who talks and lives like this is a liar, because if you hate your brother, it means that you do not understand the love of God to begin with.
• If we have experienced the love of Jesus, it should move us to love others—even those whom we find hard to love.  The love of God shown to us through Jesus Christ is so amazingly gracious and undeserved, that it should provoke within us the desire and the strength to love those we would normally find unlovable.  This is why John says, “We love because he first loved us.”
• Personal reflection question.  

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Evening Reflection

Overcoming past hurts is not a quick or easy process.  But the road to healing and reconciliation begins with small steps of surrender to God and beginning to forgive those who have hurt us.  If there is hurt or unforgiveness that you’re holding onto, reach out to a brother or sister in Christ to ask for prayer and help. Also, regardless of where your heart is, take some time reflecting on the grace and mercy shown to you through Jesus. 

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on January 21, 2018.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“TAMAR | ANYTHING BUT A PROSTITUTE” 

Genesis 38:24-30

After three months Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, and as a result she has become pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 25 While they were bringing her out, she sent word to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” Then she said, “Identify the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.” 26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her again. 27 When it was time for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb. 28 While she was giving birth, one child put out his hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But then he drew back his hand, and his brother came out before him. She said, “How you have broken out of the womb!” So he was named Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out—the one who had the scarlet thread on his hand—and he was named Zerah.

I can’t tell you how many times over the years that I’ve heard Tamar characterized as a prostitute. Tamar was not a prostitute. She, through levirate marriage laws was legally entitled to a son from the family into which she was married—first from her husband, then his brothers, and finally her father-in-law. Although it seems icky to us today, this was their custom. Judah was ultimately responsible for Tamar because he brought her into his family and under his covering (remember they lived in a patriarchal society). And he failed (big fat F!) to care for her. He sent her back to her own people to live as a widow (i.e. as a woman who has no one to care for her). 

Furthermore, the text doesn’t suggest that Tamar prostituted regularly. If anything it suggests the opposite (v. 21). Instead, Tamar was forced to devise a plan (vv. 12-26) and reduced to disguising herself as a prostitute to have even the slightest chance of bearing a son—a chance to which she was legally entitled. Tamar thus broke no laws. She didn’t sleep around; she slept with Judah. She wasn’t promiscuous; she was strategic. And at the end of the day, Judah honored her by calling her righteous and God honored her with two sons—a common theme in the Old Testament (God honored women by giving what brought the most honor in their culture—children). 

Tamar, the discarded Canaanite woman who was brought into this mess of a dysfunctional family and under the covering of a rebellious member of the people of God (Judah wasn’t even following the laws of God in the first place!), risked it all and, in so doing, single-handedly preserved the family line through which the Messiah would ultimately come (see Matthew 1:3). 

I would be remiss if I didn’t draw our attention to the themes so freely discussed in this text –namely human trafficking and exploitation and its devastating effects on the vulnerable. If God includes these topics in God’s Holy Text, shouldn’t we be mindful of them as God’s Holy People? God is a God who covenantally loves the broken, people conditioned by and bound up in sinful systems and corrupt cultures, people like you and me. The people of God were (and are) not such because their way of life was perfect or even as God desired. They were God’s because God chose them. That’s it. And God worked within, around, and even against their broken systems for the good of the righteous and for the glory of His name. God hasn’t changed. So may we, God’s people, be His hands and feet in doing likewise in our world today. 

Prayer: Gracious God, You have revealed Yourself to us in Your Word, and for that, I am thankful. The Bible is just not only a collection of stories from long ago, but it is also a picture of how You do life with broken people. Help me to learn from the success and failure of those who’ve gone before me. Make me part of the redemptive work You are doing in the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 14