Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from May 30th – June 5th are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is about to complete her M.Div. at Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff member at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Galatians 1:18-2:1

Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they praised God because of me. Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

One of my favorite preachers often says that in all his seminary training, no one ever taught him how to exegete a white space. By that, he means that in all the verses of Scriptures chronicling the lives of our heroes, there are lots of things in the middle: moments between God’s calling and the fulfillment of His promises, between conversion and effective ministry, moments of waiting, heart ache, persecution, confusion, strife that are not written down. They happened in between the recorded moments, and exist somewhere in the white spaces between words on the page.

The timeline of Paul’s life is one of the most well chronicled in Scripture. Although Paul’s point in giving this particular timeline is to assure his readers that the gospel he preached came directly from the Lord, not any human teacher, I love passages like the one above because they remind me that Paul was a real person, walking with God over the span of an actual life time. Oftentimes, in my life, I get bogged down in the day-to-day. My journey with God is full of few moments that feel miraculous and monumental and many that feel fairly mundane and ordinary. Sometimes these in-between moments are merely lackluster, at which point my greatest battle is usually boredom or complacency. Other times they are difficult moments of waiting, heartache, uncertainty, and difficulties when I’m not sure what God is up to or where He is leading me. In those moments, the battles are fierce – doubt, bitterness, unbelief, the temptation to take back the reigns and fail to surrender. It’s in these moments that the skill of white space exegesis is most important – the ability to remember that God is faithful and to trust that He’s still at work.

Are you in an in-between moment today? Are you waiting on God to answer a prayer or come through in a specific situation? Or maybe you are facing another ordinary day of work or school. Don’t despise the seemingly small and insignificant moments (Zechariah 4:10). God is still present and He’s always up to something good.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, I choose to believe today that You are always with me and to trust that You are constantly at work for my good and for Your glory. Help me to surrender anew today as I put one foot in front of the other and follow You into all You have for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 60

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 2:6-10: Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.  

Questions to Consider:

1. According to the passage, how can we “live lives in him”?
2. Are there any popular teachings and philosophies threatening to captivate you today? How do they align with the truth of God’s Word?
3. Paul reminds his readers of the lordship and authority of Christ. Why is this important?

Notes:

1. We can “live lives in him” in three ways”: (1) by being rooted and built up in him, (2) by standing firm in our faith, and (3) by overflowing with thanksgiving. Foundational to all three of these is receiving Jesus as Lord – surrendering our lives to Him and following His leadership.
2. Paul is condemning false teachers who are propagating “additions to Christ” and leading the believers astray with teaching based on tradition and worldly practices. There are many popular teachings and philosophies in our culture today. What, if any, are based more on tradition and worldly practices than on the truth of God’s word? Some areas to consider: philosophies regarding work place ethics, finances, marriage, dating, child rearing, success and achievement, etc.
3. When we remember that Jesus is Lord, we yield to His word over every other teaching around us. It serves as the standard against which we evaluate everything else. This gives us a firm foundation that is not so easily shaken by the popular teachings and philosophies of our day.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on an in-between season in your life. What challenges did you face? How did you experience God’s faithfulness? Ask the Lord to encourage you through your past experiences with Him, and to continue to follow Him faithfully in the future.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from May 30th – June 5th are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is about to complete her M.Div. at Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff member at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Galatians 1:13-17 

 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

“When one of my friends becomes a Christian, which happens about every 10 years because I am a sheep about sharing my faith, the experience is euphoric. I see in their eyes the trueness of the story.” (Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality)

Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the most powerful testament believers can offer to the goodness of God and the trustworthiness of His Word is our own personal testimony. Presently, in the children’s ministry at my church, we are reading The Jesus Storybook Bible, a book that walks though the entire Bible (Genesis to Revelation) in narrative form. The premise of the book is that “every [Bible] story whispers his (Jesus’) name.” In other words, through the stories of the lives of ordinary people, we can see who God is and what He’s up to in the world. God is writing a story in each of our lives as well, and those stories reveal to us and to others who He is in particular and powerful ways. The truth of the gospel often comes through louder and clearer in the life of one who believes it than it does in the communication of abstract facts and figures.

When Paul had to make a defense of the legitimacy of the gospel he preached, he did so by telling his story – what God did in his life in revealing the Good News to him and how the Lord led him after that. The late, great Howard Hendricks (beloved professor of biblical exposition and hermeneutics at Dallas Theological Seminary) once said, “In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering.” This is often true because we don’t believe we know enough or understand enough to articulate the truth of God to someone else. While I believe every believer should devote the time and energy required to study and articulate the Scripture well, I am also persuaded that we have another tool in our arsenal – our own personal stories.

God is doing a mighty work in you! Find someone to share it with today.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the story You’re writing in my life. Thank You for the journey that we are on together. Help me to be mindful of the ways You are moving in me. Grant me an opportunity today to share my story so that someone else may come to know more about You through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 57

Lunch Break Study

For our lunch break this afternoon, let’s spend time in extended meditation on the verses below.

Read 1 Chronicles 16:8-14: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
⁹ Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
¹⁰ Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
¹¹ Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.

¹² Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
¹³ you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
¹⁴ He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth. 

What are some things God has done in your life recently for which you are thankful. Write your own psalm of praise to the Lord in response to what He has done.

Evening Reflection

Who are the people in your life who could benefit from hearing your story? Pray and ask the Lord to identify specific people. Ask for wisdom and insight on when and how you can share with them. Make plans to do so in the coming weeks. Is there anything that keeps you from sharing with others (fear, discretion, etc.)? Ask God to give you courage and openness to be used by Him in this way.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from May 30th – June 5th are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is about to complete her M.Div. at Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff member at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Galatians 1:6-12

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! ⁹ As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

A few weeks ago, I attended my seminary’s graduation and heard two speakers for the weekend – a professor of business ethics for Baccalaureate and a well-known local pastor for Commencement. They were two very different speeches from two very different perspectives, but both centered around reflections in light of the changing culture and uneasy social and political climate in America. For those who know me well, it’s no secret that I am a self-proclaimed sermon junkie. As I listen to my usual line-up these days, preachers from around the country, from various denominational, theological, socio-economic backgrounds, continue to address how the church should respond to current political and social realities. This has been a question for me personally as well – what should be my response as a Christian to the slew of partisan issues and hot-button topics abuzz in the media, on university campuses, and around dining room tables alike?

In response, one word continues to surface – the Gospel (technically that’s two words, but you get the picture). The Gospel – the Good News of God’s loyal love of creation, holy condemnation of sin, gracious sacrifice for redemption, and unstoppable plan for restoration. Fears about the future and the unknown, cultural preferences, and personal biases all come into play in seasons of uneasiness and change. And Christians aren’t exempt from allowing these things to color how we participate in the world. But we have a constant that is unshaken by the changing tides – the truth of the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus. It should bring peace in the face of our fears, love in the face of our biases, and hope for tomorrow. My pastor tells us often to preach the Gospel to ourselves daily. We must not only do this, but also allow the Spirit counseling us from within to show us how the truth of the Gospel informs our participation in a broken world, especially in times like these.

May we remember the Gospel today. And may the Spirit empower us to live lives that are a site of truth, love, hope, and peace to a world in need.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your willingness to send Your Son to a dying world to redeem it (and me). Thank you for the peace and hope that come from knowing that I am Yours and that You are making all things new. Please use me today to make that truth known to those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 57

Lunch Break Study

Ephesians 5:1-2, 15-20
¹ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Questions to Consider:

1. According to verses 1 & 2, what does it mean to walk in the way of love? What motivates and empowers us to do this?
2. What’s Paul’s main point in verse 15? How are we called to live with care?
3. What would it look like for these exhortations (to walk in the way of love and to live with care) to be practically lived out in our lives?

Notes:

1. Christ showed us the way of love when He gave himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. We love when we offer ourselves to God, when we sacrifice in the service of others according to His will. We are motivated and empowered by the truth that we are dearly loved children. Our relationship with the Father and position in the family of God enables us to live a life of sacrificial love.
2. Paul exhorts believers to a life lived intentionally – with care and consideration – that is ultimately aimed at pleasing the Lord. We do this by prayerfully considering what opportunities are before us and how we can make the most of them to the glory of God, by putting forth the effort to understand God’s will through His word, by being available to the work of the Spirit in and through us, by praising God in our communication with one another, and by keeping a posture of thanksgiving.
3. Spend time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

How would you articulate the Gospel in your own words? What is your favorite passage of Scripture that speaks explicitly about the Gospel? Spend some time meditating on it this evening.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from Feb. 1-7 are provided by Cami King. Cami, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, is about to complete her M.Div. at Gordon- Conwell Theological Seminary. She is currently serving as a staff member at Journey Community Church in Raleigh.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“A job is a vocation only if someone else calls you to do it for them rather than for yourself. And so our work can be a calling only if it is reimagined as a mission of service to something beyond merely our own interests.” (Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World).
Paul spends a lot of time in the beginning of this letter legitimizing his gospel message and the authority with which He preaches it. Apparently, that authority was being questioned by those influencing his readers, and Paul wanted to set the record straight – that his message and authority are from God alone. Although none of us has quite the same mission as Paul, as we are not Apostles, we are all on mission for the Lord. Wherever we are and in all that we do, we have been led by God to that place and been given Good News to share with those around us.
In a season of summer vacations for many and summer mission trips in AMI, it’s important to remember in whose authority we go about and do all that we do. Every move we make in the world, we make as ambassadors of Christ, in the various capacities and giftings He’s given us. We are not merely sent out by AMI and in the authority of our church leaders to do whatever they have for us to do in missions. We are sent out by the Lord to make Him known and accomplish His will in the power and authority of His Spirit. Likewise, when we go on summer vacation, head off to do a summer internship, leave for business trips, go to work, study in school, or whatever the case may be, we are not only sent out in the authority of our school or our company but in the authority of God and in the name of Jesus, to be His ambassador in the world.
This is an empowering, yet sobering reality. Will we choose to see our lives as mission and our work as calling today? And will we wield the authority and power of God at work in us to accomplish His purposes in the world?
Prayer: Lord, help me to be on mission for you. As I go to [fill in the blank] today, help me to do so in your power and authority to accomplish Your purposes. Help me to be sensitive to Your Spirit within. Thank you for choosing me to be Your ambassador to the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 57

Lunch Break Study

Read Colossians 3:15-17: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Questions to Consider:

1. What does Paul command his readers to do in verses 15-16? Which of these strikes you most as an area in need of surrender and obedience to God in your life? How might you practically do that today?
2. What does it mean to “do it all in the name of the Lord”? Think about your day yesterday. What would it have meant for you to do whatever you did “in the name of the Lord”? How can you walk in this truth today?
3. Paul’s words are given in the context of an exhortation toward love and unity in the Church. Why is this important and how might this encourage you as you operate as an ambassador in the world today?

Notes:

1. Paul essentially challenges the church to have peace, thanksgiving, gratitude, and an indwelling presence and working of the word of God among them. Some of us may need more peace – to surrender our cares to the Lord and walk in the truth of His provision and sovereignty. Others of us may need to be more thankful and grateful to the Lord – with less complaining, discontentment, and bitterness. And still others of us may need to focus on the message of Christ – the Good News of God’s love for us and others that calls us to an abundant life in submission to and relationship with Him. Spend some time thinking about what practical steps you can take towards one of these ends.
2. One Christian commentator put it this way: “We should say all words and practice all deeds in harmony with the revelation of Jesus Christ, namely, under His authority and as His followers… When faced with a question about what the Christian should do, Paul taught that we should simply ask ourselves what conduct would be appropriate for one identified with Christ. ‘What would Jesus do?’” (Dr. Thomas L. Constable) Send some time in personal reflection, considering how operating in the power of God and for the sake of Christ might affect you in day-to-day life.
3. This serves as a reminder that we are on mission together. Elsewhere, scripture says that our love for one another will identify us as His (John 13:35). We are not alone as God’s ambassadors in the world, but we have a whole family partnering with us, supporting us, and challenging us.

Evening Reflection

“Our daily work can be a calling only if it is reconceived as God’s assignment to serve others.” (Timothy Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Plan for the World)

What are some ways God is calling you to serve others? Who are the specific people you can serve through your daily work? What are some ways you can serve them? Spend some time reflecting on these things with the Lord in prayer.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 28:28-31

“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration one can receive in the US, awarded directly by the President himself. It is for those who have shown the greatest bravery in a time of great need. An example of this is Master Sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked his life to save 12 men by boldly stepping into enemy infested territory. One survivor highlights how Benavidez was shot over 20 times, suffered a grenade explosion, and yet crawled to his men to give out water and ammunition. When I think of the words “bold” and “courage,” he is certainly someone that embodies them, and in many ways, these words also reflect the life that Apostle Paul lived for the gospel. In fact, today’s passage is an accurate mission statement of Paul’s life.

As we conclude the book of Acts, we look at the early church fathers and see that they were all very bold in their faith. Even the Pharisees were amazed that such ordinary men who had cowardly run away during the time of Jesus’ death, were now boldly preaching the gospel. The Huffington Post also identifies bold people as those who “possess a radical vision, face and overcome fear, persevere through suffering, willing to go the extra mile, trust their gut, etc.” As I read the list, I automatically made a checklist for myself, and sadly enough, I would not be considered a bold person by these standards.  Not even the 12 disciples would reach these standards. However, as believers we hold onto the promise and command that Jesus gives in the beginning of Acts: the Holy Spirit. It is not our abilities or even our characteristics, but it is the very Spirit of God inside of us that makes us bold. This Spirit emboldens us to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to teach about our Lord Jesus Christ, unwavering from the truth to even  face death itself. His Spirit (not some medal) is the highest guarantee that believers can receive which is given only by Jesus Christ himself, and we receive it based solely on the work of Jesus Christ. J.B. Polhill comments concerning the surprising conclusion of Acts, “He (the writer of Acts) ended not on Paul but on the gospel, on the message of the kingdom. The word of God in Christ – not Peter, not Paul – is the real hero of Acts.” May we live boldly for Christ, proclaiming the truth to those around us, no matter the cost.  Let us take full comfort, knowing that the gospel will advance through chains and bonds, persecution and storms, and even through unbelief and opposition – and that those who are willing to carry the gospel boldly will triumph!

Prayer: Lord, make us bold for You and may You be glorified. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who empowers us to preach Your truth faithfully and with courage to the people around us. Father, may we be unashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of our salvation for all people. Help us to overcome our fears and insecurities believing that Your Word will triumph for eternity.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 56

 

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 28:25-27

And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.

One of the greatest privileges I’ve had in my Christian journey was to share the gospel with a friend. The conversation initially started philosophically, centering on the evil of mankind. We explored some of the worst events in history along with those happening today and found no hope for mankind. I don’t know how or why, but we changed topics to the Bible—thank You, Jesus!  I conjured up as many Bible stories a churched kid could remember, starting from the Gospels, sharing the accounts of Jesus and the manner in which He loved people. He was in utter disbelief and his only response was, “Tell me more. Tell me more about this Jesus.” These were the same stories that I heard repeatedly growing up, yet his reaction amazed me—it was as if he found a new treasure. He expressed great interest in the person of Jesus, his culture, and how Jesus talked to certain people—everything. If only every member in church could listen as attentively as my friend did, the church would have revival! It was then I realized just how dull my heart had become to God’s truth.

My point is this: in Hebrews, we read that the Word of God is living and active. So when we read it, does God’s truth convict us, resulting in actual changes? It is not that we need to be on the edge of our seats as we read through the book of Numbers, but the question remains: are our hearts alive to his Word? In this passage, Apostle Paul shows us that the hearts of the Roman Jews were dull to the truth. Charles Spurgeon warns us that “if this hardening work goes on, the day comes at last to such a man that the Word of God loses all effect upon him—whether he reads it or hears it, it ceases to be an accusing voice any longer; he rather finds a song of lullaby in it, and rocked in the cradle of his sin, he sleeps on to his own eternal ruin.” Yet we have reversed this reality by placing blame on boring preaching or lack of creativity of the Word. We end up pushing preachers to become story-filled entertainers rather than spirit-filled shepherds. The truth is that the preaching has not become mundane, but our hearts have.

Reflect back to the first time you encountered God. Remember when the Word spoke to you as opposed to you merely reading words on a page. My conversation with my friend climaxed when I told him that Jesus was inviting him into a relationship. He couldn’t believe that a God so good could love someone so capable of evil. He was amazed that it wasn’t too late. In the same way, it is never too late for us to return to our first love. May the words we hear, read, and sing revive our souls once again.

Prayer:

Lord, we repent and confess that our hearts have become dull. We confess that Your truth has in many ways lost its power and conviction over our lives. Please soften our hearts so that Your truth may speak life to our deadened hearts and point us toward the cross. Father, we thank You that Your grace always brings us back to You.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 54-55

 

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 28:19-21

But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation.20 For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 21 And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. 

A while ago, I had the privilege of meeting a member of one of most notorious gangs in the US. At the age of 12, he walked the streets with his first assignment to shoot a rival member in order to prove his loyalty. His reason for joining was that it gave him a sense of purpose, belongingness, and value. He spent the next five years wasting his life, resulting in unforgettable memories that he now trembles at when recalling such experiences. By the end of those years, he was caught and said that at the time, it was the greatest disappointment for him and his gang, yet later, he realized it was the greatest appointment by a Savior who was calling him. What was ironic for him was that he began to learn what hope really meant behind bars in a dark, hopeless prison cell.

He learned that hope bound by circumstances only turned into disappointment, and a hope lost in fantasy was no more than a wish. How often have we abused the phrase “I hope for” when in reality we meant “I wish for.” Such false hope is vulnerable to change, and the endless pursuit of it leads to something far worse, which is no hope at all. But as Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” The hope that Dr. King talks about is the very hope of Jesus Christ—a hope that never disappoints since the beginning of time, so that those who have it may find eternal life.

This is the very hope that Apostle Paul speaks about in this passage. It is more than simply a mission or a task, but the hope of Israel was the very person of Jesus Christ. Paul committed his life and sufferings for the sake of sharing this truth. We live in a world where hope has lost its weight to the deception of false wishes and securities. When a man loses hope, his world collapses, but when a world loses hope, the people collapse. Today, the ex-gang member walks the same hopeless streets, sharing the life of Jesus Christ so that those who hear it may put their hope in Him.

Prayer: Lord, would You restore hope in my life and in our world today? Thank You for Your promises of everlasting hope that never leads to disappointment. May we take such promises and share the news of this hope with the people around us so that this world may come to know You.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 53

Lunch Break Study

Read Hebrews 10:23-25: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Questions to Consider

1. What keeps our hope from wavering? What are the areas in your life that you put hope in that is not of Christ?
2. What does the writer mean when he says “to stir one another in love”?
3. What is the writer’s purpose of verse 25 in this context?

Notes

1. The promises of God keep us from faltering because He is faithful. The phrase “hold fast” implies that there will be pressures of the world to cause you to deter you from His hope. Grab hold of His promises and continually confess them over your life. The writer also implies in the following passages that the people around us keep us from wavering in our journey with Christ.
2. Here, the writer transitions from focusing on our vertical relationship with Christ to our horizontal relationship with one another. We are accountable to one another and have a responsibility to each other. The word “stir” in the original text includes “rousing to activity” or even “provoking,” but it should be done in love. Accountability can sometimes be in the form of pushing one another and challenging one another.
3. It appears that some believers neglected to gather together for worship. So the writer emphasizes and concludes this passage with the importance of the believer’s unity with one another. We are to continually point each other to the hope of Christ’s return.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on your relationship with Christ. Do you find your hope in Him alone? Secondly, what does your relationship with others look like? Are you accountable to others and do you challenge one another to love and serve Him more? Third, spend some time asking God to give you the courage and conviction to share the good news of hope to someone who doesn’t know.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 27:30-32

And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go

Cut loose the lifeboat. Imagine us being the men on the boat. We barely survived a storm and as we’re finally approaching land, the “godly man” says to stay on the boat. The crazier part is to see my fellow soldiers listening to Paul and cutting our only lifeboat and letting it go. At this point, I would’ve jumped off the boat and swam after the lifeboat. What got into the minds of these soldiers to do something so radical? Some might call it crazy, but I would call it faith.

Faith is one of those words we hear being thrown around in our Christian circles all the time. It’s a difficult word to grasp, and even harder word to live by. The book of Hebrews defined it as believing in the unseen and being certain of what we hope for (Hebrews 11:1). The words “believe” and “certain” leave no room for doubt. Yet, the world we live in today seems to define faith as “almost believing” –as long as it stays in the realm of what we think is possible. Anything beyond our possibilities would be doubtful. And because of this doubt, many of us like to have faith as long as there is some type of safety net attached to it.

Yet these men were willing to obey the words of Paul, believing that they came from God. They even went as far as to actively remove any room for a backup plan, leaving their very lives in the hands of God. In essence, they removed all possibilities to invite God to do the impossible. Rex Rouis puts it like this: “Only a heart filled with faith can face the impossible and still know that God can change it.” What are the areas in your life that is holding you back from living a life of faith? What are the excuses you keep putting up from taking that next step of faith?

Prayer: Father, I want to have greater faith in You. Help me to surrender the areas in my life that I refuse to let go. Help me to let go of my doubts and fears, so that I may cling to You in faith. I trust in Your mercy and grace to carry me through.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 52

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:6-10: So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Questions to Consider

1. How can Paul have confidence in all circumstances?
2. What does Paul mean for us to walk by faith and not by sight?
3. What motivated Paul to live such a life?

Notes

1. Paul writes this as he faced many trials and sufferings, many of them being physical to the brink of death. Regardless of the threat, Paul endured through such afflictions because he knew these momentary afflictions would produce an eternal weight of glory. Paul’s hope and faith came from the knowledge that the life he lived in the body was merely temporary, but the home that he belonged to was eternal.
2. The word “walk” means to live, and so Paul urges us to not live for a glory that is seen with our physical eyes, for they are all temporary. The glories of the world can take the forms of wealth, career, success, etc. Rather, Paul calls us to live for a glory that is unseen which will be realized in eternity – the glories of heaven promised to us as believers. This is not to say that career and success are bad, but we should live in a way that would bring glory to the Father.
3. First, he points out that he lives his life so that it may ultimately please God. Paul also claims that all Christians will stand before Christ and be judged according to their life on earth. Warren Wiersbe identifies Paul’s actions being motivated out of a healthy fear: “Knowing that his works would someday be revealed and tested, Paul wanted to live the kind of life that pleased and honored Christ.”

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on your day today. Were you living by faith or by sight? What are some ways you can become more kingdom-minded? Pray that God would increase your faith and that He would help your areas of unbelief.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 27:24-26

“…and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Whenever I complained about school, my parents always told me the most extravagant stories: “When I was young I had to climb mountains, walk 5 miles each way, and hunt for my lunch just to go to school.” It was the go-to motivational speech in the Kim household, with the same message: “You have it good, so no complaints.” By no means do I undermine my parent’s past, because I fully acknowledge that I am blessed today because of their sufferings. Maybe some of us do not share the same story, but we can all agree that the life we live today is possible because someone in the past has paved the way. Even Isaac Newton acknowledges that all the things he had accomplished were made feasible by “standing upon the shoulders of giants.”

In today’s passage, we know that the men refused to listen to Paul’s warning and needed to face up to the consequences. We cannot confirm if the men were believers or not, yet we do know that God graciously saved their lives because of Paul’s prayer and faithfulness to the Lord. Perhaps this is the heart of God: He desires to show grace and mercy to the unbelieving so that they may be saved, and He does so through the prayers and faith of the righteous. In this case, it was through one man’s faith that a ship was saved. But even greater than Paul’s faith, we look to Jesus, who intercedes for all transgressors (Isaiah 53:12). As believers, we do not merely stand on the shoulders of men, as Newton pointed out, but we stand upon the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice and work, all who believe in Him will be saved, for He Himself became the way to our salvation. My hope and prayer is that after reading this devotional, you will spend some time interceding for your loved ones, friends, community, and nation so that God would bring salvation to all.

Prayer: Father, thank You for listening to our prayers. Lord, we want to lift up the people in our lives, both close and far from us, that You may bring salvation to them. We also lift up our communities and our nation, asking that You would turn us back to You. Restore our hope in the power of prayer.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 51

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth

Questions to Consider

1. Who are the people that Paul calls us to intercede for?
2. Why should we intercede for them?
3. How are we to intercede for them?

Notes

1. The word “all” in this context implies a general and universal meaning; thus, we are to pray for all people. In doing so, Paul calls out men who are in places of authority. Because local authorities were persecuting Christians, there could’ve been a natural unwillingness to pray for them. Yet God calls us to pray even for those who hurt us.
2. Perhaps, Paul appeals to Timothy to strategically pray for such leaders because of their influence over men. This would affect the ability for the gospel to be spread in such communities. Furthermore, Paul asserts that praying for all men is both good and acceptable in the sight of our God. In fact, Paul claims that God desires for all men to be saved and not simply for some special group of people. By seeking the blessing of the leaders around us, we will also be blessed. (Jer. 29:7)
3. Hebrews 5:6 shows that Jesus interceded with loud cries and tears. The following is a great quote by Evelyn Underhill: “Real intercession is not merely a petition but a piece of work, involving costly self surrender to God for the work he wants done on other souls…Each time you take a human soul with you into your prayer, you accept from God a piece of spiritual work with all its implications and with all its cost — a cost which may mean for you spiritual exhaustion and darkness, and may even include vicarious suffering, the Cross.”

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on the image of Jesus interceding for you. Now, ask the Lord to give you the same heart of intercession. Who or what comes to mind? Perhaps your manager, coworker, or the guy down the street? Spend some time praying for them. Let us also intercede for our communities and our nation, especially our leaders.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 23-29 are written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 27:21-22

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

Car accidents scare me—especially ones that involve rain. My friend describes it as the most helpless moment in his life: He turned the wheel left and right, but the car refused to listen. After hitting a dry patch, the car flipped and rolled on a busy highway. Here’s the kicker: he came out with a small scratch on his head, while the car was completely totaled. In fact, the people that were behind him were a doctor and nurse –they stood watching in shock.  Praise the Lord!

This helpless scene is what I imagine when I read this passage. Paul was right—they shouldn’t have gone. The storm reached its peak and any sense of direction or control was lost. They threw over cargo and supplies, along with it their hopes of surviving. Oftentimes, life takes us down a path of flipping and rolling, creating only chaos and uncertainty. Trials and temptations strip us of our hopes and values, as we give up the very things we hold on to so dearly. However, as fire refines gold by removing its impurities, trials refine our character by removing our false securities – that we might find our hope and faith in Him alone.

The men find themselves at the mercy of Paul’s words, but we look to someone greater: Jesus rises to promise us life and to never leave nor forsake us. Timothy Keller put it like this: “Suffering can refine us rather than destroy us because God himself walks with us in the fire.” Though we are crushed, persecuted, and in times, tossed by the waves, we will not be destroyed for He is with us. Just as Paul assures the men that not a single hair will be lost, Jesus commands us to not be afraid. May we remember this, for it is He who is doing a work in us, and that work is indeed good!

Prayer: Father, thank You that You promise to be with me, both through green pastures and the valleys of shadow and death. I confess that I am prone to wander, especially during difficult times. During times of trials, may You give me the strength to endure, and may You refine me so that I may become more like You.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 50

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:2-4: 2 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:

1. How should we respond to trials and temptations in our lives?
2. Why should we endure such testing?
3. How do you naturally respond to trials in your life?

Notes:

1. In the original text, the phrase “pure joy” translates to “all joy.” James writes in a time of religious persecution, and many times those who followed Christ found themselves being unfairly treated. Trials come in the form of situations out of our control to ultimately test our faith. Some scholars even argue that James is referring to an eschatological joy in the return of Jesus. Regardless, we are to take joy in suffering, for it is both temporary and a work that He is doing in us.
2. While perseverance is a fruit of being tested, it cannot be the end goal. Warren Wiersbe writes that God’s purpose in trials is to perfect our character and develop our maturity in Christ. James does not say “if” but “when” we go through trials to show that as believers, we cannot escape suffering. However, it is evident through the lives of others in the Scriptures that suffering is for a divine purpose that He only knows. In many cases trials are the prerequisite for God’s will being furthered in our lives.
3. Many of us turn to other vices or people of this world to escape, but God invites us to face our trials by His strength.

Evening Reflection

In John 15, Jesus says that we are His branches, and that He prunes us so that we may bear fruit. What are the areas in your life that He is pruning? Spend some time asking God to give you a teachable heart to make you more like Him. May He give you the strength to endure through trials and temptations so that you may be more complete in Him.