Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from May 9-15 are provided by Pastor David Kwon of Journey Community Church (Raleigh). David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.) is married to Helen (“Pie”) and they have three beautiful daughters (Cara, Phoebe, and Ruth).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 24:1

And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul.

In the book of Acts, one of the major themes that we see is the boldness that the early believers had for the gospel. The Greek translation for the word “boldly” or “boldness” is “candor in the face of opposition.” Boldness isn’t being obnoxious, mean, or pushy; rather, it’s about speaking the truth of the gospel out of conviction of what Jesus has done for sinners, and out of a love for those who need it. Tim Keller puts it like this:

“When the gospel ‘comes home’-humbling and affirming you, it turns every believer into a natural evangelist…Evangelism happens because of the humility of the gospel. The gospel produces people who are not disdainful and contemptuous towards those who disagree with them. Also, it happens through the affirmation of the gospel. Because of the reality and joy of Christ’s love, we are not as concerned what others think. The gospel brings a gentle boldness.”

Paul is about to go before Felix, the Roman governor, because of his defense of the gospel. Tertullus had been hired by the Jews to present their case in Caesarea before the Roman governor, and it was apparent that he and the other Jewish rulers wanted to kill Paul. We see that Paul’s boldness had led him to defend his life and trust in the sovereignty of God.

As you think about your own life, do you have boldness for Christ? Are you willing to speak up about your faith to your friends, co-workers, family members, neighbors and others who are in your circle of influence? Is the fear of man preventing you from being a bold witness?

As we reflect and remember what Christ has done for us, ask the Lord that He would give you the boldness to proclaim Him in this dark and hostile world. Pray for opportunities to share His love to those who do not know Him.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for examples of faith in Your Word that demonstrates great boldness even in the face of opposition. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me today to be bold for the truth in my words and witness. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 31

Lunch Break Study

Luke 12:4-12

 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. 8 “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, 9 but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. 10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Questions to Consider  

1. What is Jesus telling us not to fear?
2. How does vv. 11-12 give you confidence when we acknowledge Christ to the world?
3. How can you apply these verses today?

Notes      

1. We are called not to fear man because we have a Heavenly Father who knows us (v.7) and we are valued by Him. It should give us courage to display Christ in our lives even when we may fear what man thinks of us.
2. When we acknowledge Christ before men (v.8), Jesus promises His followers that the Holy Spirit will teach us what to say. We ought not to be anxious about how we should defend ourselves, but rather trust in Him.
3. Think about how you can acknowledge Christ to those who may not know Him. Be specific in praying for people and ask God that He would give you courage to acknowledge Him even when it seems difficult.

Evening Reflection

Take some time reflecting on the passage you read today. What challenged you? How can you be bold for the gospel? Ask the Lord to search your heart and show you how to make specific applications.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 23:11

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”

“Take courage”—what great words! I feel like God says that a lot to me: “Do not worry, just trust.” But how easy it is to allow our minds to spin off into fear and anxiety, to imagine every possible terrible situation that could happen us, and to think that there is no way out of this or that present difficulty.

In today’s passage, Paul was in custody. He had just been on trial and had been led out of an angry mob, out from danger where he could have been torn to pieces by the mob. I can imagine how anxious he must have been! But God reminded him: “Take courage.” We have a God who is in control; and there is no situation out of His control. As tough as that is to believe at times, God wants us to remember that He is the One in control – always.

I do not know about you, but for me, Sundays can be an anxious day. The day starts with anxiousness about church and making sure I complete all my duties. And then after church my mind turns to the soon-to-come work week, and I worry about the work I probably need to have completed before Monday comes. Yet, there is no better day than Sunday to reflect on the sovereignty of God. He is in control, not me. Perhaps today, you can listen for the voice of God saying, “Take courage. Do not worry. Trust me. I will carry you through this week. You are mine.” Let’s begin this upcoming week reminding ourselves that we are God’s and He is in control!

Prayer

Lord, I give You control. Though I am worried about many things, help me to trust You. Your burden is light and your yoke is easy, so let me come to You and find rest for my anxious soul. Let Your peace lift me out of fear and worry so that I may rest in You this day.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 30

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 23:6-8

Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

I really enjoy fantasy – movies, books, anything. There is something about fantasy that excites my imagination. I do not think it’s surprising that C.S. Lewis used fantasy in the Chronicles of Narnia to metaphorically speak of the Christian life. Fantasy lifts our minds out of the monotony of everyday life to a place that seems joyful, exciting, and fresh.

Yet, this feeling should be the same when we think of our hope and resurrection. The new heaven and the new earth will be a place where we will have eternal joy, where we will no longer have pain, and where we will be with our King forever. I remember a friend giving me advice, saying, that as someone with a large imagination, I should turn my imagination to thinking about heaven because reflecting on our eternity with God ultimately brings hope. But this same advice applies to all us – we ought to reflect on heaven more.

Paul was on trial for proclaiming this hope in Christ. Paul was a man who constantly reflected on eternity with God – just read his letters and you can tell he longed for heaven. How about you? Have you been longing for heaven lately, or has everyday life distracted you from eternity. Shift your mind to heaven, remember eternity, and suddenly everything will seem lighter, easier. Just like a great fantasy story that lifts us out of monotony, as we reflect on our eternity with Christ, on the truth of our resurrection into the new heaven and new earth, we will find that this life will be much easier to bear.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You have written eternity in our hearts. Let us not block out the truth of eternity with everyday troubles, but help us to remember that we have a hope of a future forever with You. Help us to long for our true home with You.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 29

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 23:1-2

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.” And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

In his book Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen talks about the three movements of the spiritual life, one of which is the movement from loneliness to solitude. Nouwen says that this is a “movement from the restless senses to the restful spirit, from the outward-reaching cravings to the inward-reaching search.” Essentially, solitude becomes an attitude of being humbly sure of oneself – strengths, weaknesses, foibles, desires. And ultimately, in this posture of solitude we can be ourselves in Christ with nothing to prove.

Looking at this passage in Acts, we see Paul before the Jewish council, saying “I have lived my life before God in all good conscience….” This may seem like an arrogant statement, but in reality, Paul was just stating honestly what he knew of himself. He had no fear of what he had done; he had nothing to prove. He knew himself and he knew his calling. And because of this surety of himself in Christ, this solitude of character, he was able to endure the beatings and ridicule.

In our day, we often can be led down the slippery slope of proving oneself. Social media provides numerous outlets for us to present a handcrafted image of ourselves. But this causes us to lose sight of who we truly are, leaving us in a place of fragile loneliness. These “outward-reaching cravings,” using the words of Nouwen, become distractions from becoming our true selves in Christ. In this state, it would be quite difficult to speak of good conscience as Paul had done.

Let’s seek to make the difficult journey from loneliness to solitude. Let’s look inside ourselves, not with fear at what we may find, but with hope knowing that the grace of God changes us from the inside-out.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You are the One who tells me who I am. Let not the world compete with giving me an identity, but help me to remember that I am Yours. Let me not fear myself, but rather trust in You, the One who is changing me. Have Your way in me!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 28

Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:15-17: For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the difference between the spirit of slavery and the Spirit of adoption?
2. What does the Spirit of adoption teach us?
3. What does it mean to be an heir of God?

Notes

1. The spirit of slavery brings fear. In that fear, we are never truly sure of ourselves, constantly wondering if we are good enough. But the Spirit of adoption gives freedom. Adoption is a gift, so with this Spirit of Adoption, we simply receive and no longer need to strive to make something of ourselves.
2. The Spirit of adoption teaches us that we are children of God. And more than that, it teaches us that we can cry out to God in intimacy, in affection.
3. As heirs, firstly, this means we are treasured by God. We are treasured to such an extent that our Father would bestow His riches on us. Further, as heirs we have surety that we belong to God. We have an inheritance in heaven and this inheritance cannot be snatched away.

Evening Reflection

Think about your identity. To what extent have you been trying to craft your own identity? Reflect on what may have shaken your identity or your sense of security in yourself. Take time to remind yourself that you belong to God— simply say, “Abba Father, I need You.”

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 22:21-22

“And he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Up to this word they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.”

When I was much younger, I used to get very upset when people would not believe me about something I knew was true. I recall a time I was playing a board game with my family, and they thought I cheated because they refused to believe I could have made this one particular move. But I did not cheat! Being young, I threw a temper tantrum and stormed to my room in righteous indignation.

In this passage in Acts, Paul is in a similar but much more severe circumstance. He explained his calling from God, but the Jews absolutely did not believe that he was really called to be a minister to the Gentiles, for this did not fit in with the “truth” about God that the Jews believed. They were so against what Paul said that they even called for his death! Paul, though, did not storm away in a temper tantrum; rather, he endured the indictments and endured the resultant flogging.

In our Christian lives, there will be many times when the world will question our faith, our convictions, our pursuits; we may be called ridiculous or senseless or deluded. How will we react? Will we storm away from the world in anger, or will we turn back with love, knowing that Christ endured an even greater hardship? Will we be patient, trusting that God is in control?

We are called to be witnesses; we are called to be image-bearers of Christ. Though this is not an easy calling, we know that we have the power of God on our side. Let’s not turn from the world in anger or fear, but rather embrace the suffering and embrace this world in love.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You have overcome the world. As You have overcome, give us the strength to overcome. Though hardship and persecution may come, may our love and patience simply grow in the face of adversity. This is only possible by Your strength, so come once again and empower us for Your ways.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 27

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 5:11-12: Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Questions to Consider

1. Is there a contradiction in being considered “blessed” while being persecuted?
2. What do you think persecution looks like in our culture?
3. What should our reaction to persecution be?

Notes

1. I don’t think many people would post #blessed while suffering. Yet this passage tells us that there is blessing in being persecuted. We are blessed because persecution is the best means of preparing us for the reality that we have a better home (see Hebrews 11).
2. This passage speaks of reviling and uttering evil against us. Those are likely the most common forms of persecution we may face in our culture, since, God-willing, we will not likely endure any physical suffering in our culture. Still, persecution is a reality in our day and we need to be prepared, or else we may be overcome or turn bitterly away from the world.
3. As crazy as it sounds, this passage tells us to “rejoice and be glad” while suffering in persecution. We rejoice because we are blessed. So how can we best endure suffering? We worship and praise our great God who has overcome the world!

Evening Reflection

Reflect back on today. Did you encounter any antagonism towards your faith or any opposition to your convictions, whether minor or major? How did you react? Take some time to thank God that He is the only One who can give us strength to overcome.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 22:8-10

“‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. ‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’”

In the movie The Princess Bride, the male protagonist Westley is in love with the female protagonist Buttercup. Whenever Buttercup asks Westley to do anything, his immediate response is: “as you wish”; this line becomes a theme throughout the story as Westley shows his devotion and love to Buttercup.

Though Paul does not say “as you wish” to Jesus in this testimony Paul is sharing, he does say something that expresses a similar attitude: Paul asks, “What shall I do, Lord?” Just like “as you wish,” this line expresses devotion and a desire to please the other. Paul was basically saying to the Lord, “Have Your way with my life.”

Ultimately, these two expressions “as you wish” and “What shall I do, Lord?” express obedience – an obedience and commitment to the one being spoken to. And obedience is ultimately a reflection of love: 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” You cannot love God but not be obedient—that’s a contradiction.

In your own life, are you feeling a lack of love for God? Or perhaps dryness in your faith? Check your obedience, your willingness to say “as you wish” to God when He speaks to You. Oftentimes our love runs dry when we say “as I wish” instead of “as You wish” to God. Perhaps there is no day better than today to say to God “as you wish.”

Prayer

What shall I do, Lord? Today, help me to hear Your voice and follow You as You lead me. Give me the strength to say “as you wish” and to be obedient to all Your ways. Forgive me for my disobedience and have Your way in me.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 26

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 John 5:2-3: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Questions to Consider

1. According to this passage, what does it mean to love God?
2. Why does John mention that God’s commands should not be burdensome?
3. What areas of disobedience do you need to bring to God today?

Notes

1. According to John in this passage, loving God means obeying His commands. Though loving God is not only about obeying His commands, but we can easily tell if we do not love God if we are not obeying Him.
2. Love gives no room for bitterness. But when we allow God’s commands to become burdensome, bitterness sets in. Eventually, though we may be “obedient” to the letter of the law, our hearts will drift from God. This is what legalism is: when we obey commands without love.
3. Has God been calling you to do something that you have pushed off, or something you have said to God, “Not now”? Perhaps write these things down and ask God for the strength to say “yes” to Him today.

Evening Reflection

Reflect back on your obedience today. Were you saying “as you wish” or “as I wish”? Repent of the ways you have been disobedient and ask God for strength to always say “yes” to Him.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for March 2-8 are provided by Doug Tritton.  Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime.  Doug is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 22:3-5

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.”

I did not grow up as a Christian but became one during my college years. But when I first became a Christian, I was quite ashamed of myself and my past; I was reluctant to share with anyone about who I had been, because I was afraid I would be considered a phony or not fit in to the church community. Though I felt forgiven, there was a sense in which I was not yet set free from my past. It was quite some time later when I came to have a more holistic understanding of my identity in Christ.

Here in Acts, Paul was addressing the Jews and he brought up his past. Though his past was marred by sin – he persecuted Christians and had a role in the execution of Stephen – he was not ashamed to use it to make his point. He was not ashamed to show the power of the grace of God in His life. That’s what a personal testimony is all about – testifying to the power of grace in your life.

Perhaps there is shame in your life which you are afraid to confront and you feel uncomfortable sharing with others. Maybe not now, but perhaps at some point God will bring up your past experiences—whether good or bad—for the purposes of His kingdom. Our God, the great Redeemer, can redeem our broken pasts for His Kingdom work. Remember Paul, who having a broken past said that he’d “boast in all the more gladly about [his] weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on [him]” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Our life in Christ does not involve sweeping our past, our sin, our shame under the rug. Rather, our life in Christ is about letting the grace of God come into every area of our life—even the darkest and dirtiest corners—so that the grace of God may bring redemption.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that when You came to die on the cross, You did not die so that our sins may be hidden; You died so that our sins may be fully redeemed. Help us to embrace Your grace in every area of our lives so that shame may have no place in us. Help us to see that Your power is made perfect in weakness and that in our weakness, Your power is more fully known. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 25

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Questions to Consider

1. How is Christ’s power made perfect in weakness?
2. Why did Paul boast about His weaknesses?
3. Do you think you could delight in your weaknesses?

Notes

1. If were perfect people, there would be no need for grace, no need for Christ’s power. But since we are broken and sinful, we need the power of Christ to bring freedom. And only when we embrace our brokenness and confess our utter need for Christ can the power of grace come into our lives. This is why Christ’s power is made perfect in weakness; because in embracing our weakness, we give room for God to have His way in our lives.
2. In boasting about his weaknesses, Paul was giving room for the power of Christ in His life. If he rather boasted about his strengths, he would be trusting in his own abilities and there would be no power of God in his life.
3. Think honestly about this. We cannot easily delight in our weaknesses because we want to be self-reliant, to prove ourselves. But remember, Christ is the One we need to trust and not ourselves.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time reflecting on your past. Is there any shame in your life that you’ve been afraid to bring to God?  Use this time to let the power of God rest over your weaknesses.

Editor’s Note:  Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Doug Triton (Symphony Church).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 22:1-3

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.”

In thinking about public speaking, I came up with a framework of three levels: The first level is to know your content; a presentation needs content or else there really isn’t anything to present. The second level is to know your audience and tailoring your message to them; a message could have great content but if it’s not relatable, it will fall flat. The third and final level is to enter into the lives of the audience; great speakers are not great just because they have great content or have great personalities, but they can actually enter into our reality and speak as if they know us—there is something powerful when people speak as if they are one of us.

In this passage, Paul addresses a group of Jews concerning his calling to the Gentiles. However, he first explains who he is, but more than just explaining with content, he meets them where they are, in the language they speak—Aramaic. And what happened when the Jews heard Paul speaking in Aramaic? The passage tells us that “they became very quiet.” He got their attention.

When we can speak someone’s language, know their culture and their ways, we can speak into their lives more effectively and be heard, rather than seeming like some distant outsider. This gets people’s attention and opens the door to real impact and influence. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a public speaking setting; this can be in everyday conversations as well. And, really, isn’t that what God did for us in Jesus? He is Immanuel—God with us! And more than just being with us, He became like one of us—taking on our flesh and blood—and lived like us and among us.

There is something powerful about meeting someone where they are. You become more relatable, more real, just like what Jesus did for us: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Heb. 4:15).  As Christians, we are called to be in the world as God’s ambassadors. However, if we speak down to people or speak only “Christianese” or do not relate in any way, how can we make an impact? However, if we “take on the flesh” of those whom we are trying to reach and understand, we can become powerful influencers for Jesus.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You took on our flesh so that we could be set free. Thank You for taking our burdens and our sins so that we no longer need to bear it. Help us to be ambassadors of You to this broken world, to not take ourselves out of the world but rather be used by You to be salt and light. Use us where we are for Your Kingdom’s sake.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 24

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21: From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the ministry of reconciliation?
2. What does it mean to be an “ambassador for Christ”?
3. How can you be an ambassador in your own life and context?

Notes

1. The ministry of reconciliation is pointing to the truth that “in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself.” Ministers of reconciliation are not the ones who do the reconciliation, but rather they point to the truth that reconciliation with God is possible and available through Christ.
2. Being an ambassador for Christ means we allow God to make “his appeal through us.” I like the use of the word “allow”; this is a passive word, meaning we simply allow ourselves to be used by God to reconcile others to Himself. We are not the reconcilers—only God is. Also, the use of the word “ambassador” is key to understanding our role. Ambassadors represent their country to a foreign nation; likewise, our home is with God, but we live in the world as His image, pointing others to Him.
3. Think about your workplace, where you go to school, the people you interact with, or any other context you are currently in: how can you “take on their flesh” so that you can relate effectively with them, all the while pointing back to your true home in God?

Evening Reflection

Tonight, thank God for being the true Reconciler. Also, invite His Spirit to give you the strength to be His ambassador, so that through us others may be reconciled to Him. Perhaps you can pray for one or two people whom you are currently trying to reach for Jesus.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from April 27-May 1 are provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.  Peter, a graduate of U.C. Riverside and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Talbot.  He and his wife Jessica have three very active children: Nathan, Abigail, and Jason. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 20:22-24

 And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

In today’s passage, we see that Paul is “compelled” by the Spirit of God. For most of us, this is when our hearts pause to say, “Uh oh…what if one day the Holy Spirit forces me to do something that I really don’t want to do?”

One reason that often challenges people from wanting to grow spiritually is this kind of thinking:  “I don’t want God to send me to India for the rest of my life.” There’s an assumption that if you mature spiritually, then God will take away everything you currently have and enjoy, and then, send you out to a needy mission field with nothing but a backpack full of evangelism tracts.

Another reason is this: According to the Barna Group (a Christian polling group), they found that the number one challenge to helping people grow spiritually is that most people equate spiritual maturity with trying hard to follow the rules in the Bible (https://www.barna.org/barna-update/faith-spirituality/264-many-churchgoers-and-faith-leaders-struggle-to-define-spiritual-maturity#.VyO6UvkrLIU). It’s no wonder that many people are not motivated to grow spiritually. Who wants to become a self-righteous rule-follower?

If you hold to either of these ideas—first of all, YES, you are right! Yes, Jesus does invite us to go to all nations preaching the gospel. And yes, following Jesus does involve obedience to His commands. But if that’s what’s really keeping you from diving deeper in your faith, perhaps you may have a short-sighted view of God’s commands and God’s mission to the world.

Certainly a wise and loving God isn’t merely interested in creating a community of rigid rule-followers, or is He? Or that His mission is only accomplished by “compelling” stubborn people to go to places they don’t really want to travel to?

Today, I want to introduce you to a video put forth by the Bible Project. (I suggest that you subscribe to their youtube channel, if you haven’t already.) Hope this video will help in breaking down some assumptions and but will highlight God’s love for His children.  Just in case you aren’t able to view it, let me give you the short version:  nothing worthwhile doing in life is ever easy, including following God’s call.  What the Lord guarantees, however, is that the life we live in and through Him is far more meaningful than anything else we might have done.  Paul, as he
was facing his last days, declared, ^“ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BGO9Mmd_cU&list=PLH0Szn1yYNec-HZjVHooeb4BSDSeHhEoh&index=6

For reflection:

After watching the video, how does that shape your view of Scripture, especially the Law and the Prophets? How do you see Jesus as One who came to fulfill the law?

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 23

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from April 27-May 1 are provided by Pastor Peter Yoon of Kairos Christian Church in San Diego.  Peter, a graduate of U.C. Riverside and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree at Talbot.  He and his wife Jessica have three very active children: Nathan, Abigail, and Jason. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 20:25-35

“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

A month ago, an international student from Korea visited our church on a Friday evening. Our International Students Ministry was gathering for a casual, potluck dinner in order to introduce their ministry of studying God’s word with any international students who showed interest. Most of the international students in attendance were from China; and more or less, they were just looking to make some new friends while studying abroad.

Now, in my conversation with the student from Korea, I discovered that she had attended church while living in Korea. However, after some time of having been more involved in the church, she arrived at the conclusion that Christianity was basically a “man-made religion, out for people’s money.” So, once she made that claim to me, I just had to ask why she decided to join us for dinner.

Well, it turned out that she was invited by one of the Chinese international student—it was presented to her that it was a dinner party at a friends’ place (which was actually true). But the “place” just happened to be at a “church.” I’m sure she must have been surprised when the car parked in front of a church building. (She had even brought a bottle of apple cider for the host.) To her credit, she was cordial and friendly. While she was honest about her views, she was also willing to be a good sport for the evening, being fully engaged in the dinner and the introductions.

As the evening concluded, there were smiles on her face. And she commented that while she wouldn’t return for the follow-up gatherings, she genuinely had a nice time meeting some of the church members over dinner. Our church members knew to respect her views and not to be preachy, all the while offering our friendship.

Yet, I was saddened that she had arrived at wrong conclusions about God’s church. I think of the world when I think about the body of Christ. I don’t expect today’s readers to be naïve and assume that everything in all churches is honky dory. But wow, when I see the kind of person that Paul was, I’m inspired! As I meet pastors who live sacrificially and with integrity for the gospel, I grow in my confidence. And if that’s not enough, how about the fact that Jesus paid for the church with His own blood? And what organization can make that claim?

Prayer

Lord, reveal to us in a fresh manner the works that You are doing in Your church today. God, if I’ve been cynical about Your church, I ask that You renew my heart and passion for Your Son. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 21-22