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 20:1-3a

When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia. ² He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, ³ where he stayed three months.

Who is your biggest encourager in your faith?

An uproar had just been quieted by a reasonable city clerk in Ephesus. This uproar had been caused by a crowd opposing the ministry of the gospel. Wherever Paul and his companions traveled, opposition and persecution often pursued. Yet what is amazing is that though Paul faced discouraging situations and circumstances, he pressed forward, even while encouraging the younger believers to remain faithful to the Lord.

We will consider where Paul received the constant drive to keep going later during the Lunch Break study. But for now, let us consider how encouragement helps us to remain faithful to the Lord and His ministry. Personally, some of the most meaningful encouragements have often come from testimonies of brothers and sisters in our church.  Recently, as I was listening to testimonies of spiritual growth and transformation that each person had experienced through God’s grace at our church, I was overwhelmed with encouragement of how God was at work in each person’s life— I realized how oblivious I had been to God’s work right under my nose.

At home, we placed a growth chart on the wall of our children’s bedroom. Each new season, we measure our children’s height. Most of the days, we are oblivious and unaware that our children are growing, but with each new measurement, we are always amazed at just how much they have grown in just a short time.

In the same way, I may not be always aware that spiritual growth and transformation are taking place right within our church family. But when I pause to hear a testimony, I am amazed at God’s work of growth and transformation, and that encourages me tremendously in the midst of trying and difficult challenges.

In your life, how do you receive encouragement from others as you serve in God’s Kingdom? It’s important that we be challenged, taught, and corrected, but at the same time, how are you being encouraged in your faith today? How are you encouraging others in their faith?

Prayer

Lord, in my own weakness, I confess that I need encouragement from You and from others in the body of Christ. I ask also that I may be empowered by Your Spirit to bring encouragement to others. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 18

Lunch Break Study

Read Phil 1:3-6 (NIV): I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Questions to Consider

1. Why does Paul pray with joy as he prays for the Philippian church?
2. What is the basis of Paul’s confidence that God’s work will be completed in the lives of the Philippian church members?

Notes 

1. Paul’s joy resulted in his partnership with the Philippian church in the work of the gospel. One way in which they partnered with Paul was in giving financially (2 Cor. 8:3) even out of their poverty.
2. Paul was confident that God who initiated His good work would sovereignly and faithfully complete His work in the lives of the Philippians.

Evening Reflection

As you reflect back on today’s conversations with others, were you able to bring an encouragement to someone? As you look forward to tomorrow’s schedule, is there someone that you might be able to encourage?

Editor’s Note:  Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Jabez Yeo. Jabez, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently working in NYC and serving at TRPC-E. He hopes to become a missionary.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ephesians 4:1-3

I (Paul) therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The media often portrays conservative Christians as being not too intelligent. A while back, a prominent writer for TIME magazine quipped that Christian conservatives are “poor, uneducated and easy to command.” While I hope that’s not the case today, I know for a fact that it wasn’t so in the early church when some of the best and brightest minds led the new faith.

The 2^nd century church spent much time combating Gnosticism, which proposed that Christ’s work on the cross was “purely spiritual…and that the human life and death of Jesus played no role in redemption.”[1] Irenaeus effectively refuted Gnosticism by using passages such as Romans 5. Olson writes, “Because Christ is the second Adam…; God reverses Adam’s life that resulted in corruption. For Irenaeus, Christ provided redemption by going through the entire scope of human life and…reversing the disobedience of Adam….” This was an essential point that Irenaeus emphasized, as it established redemption as a process of restoring creation rather than escaping creation, as in Gnostic heresy. Through Irenaeus, Christian theology became rooted in the truth that without Christ’s full divinity and humanity, salvation is impossible.

Because of his influence, Irenaeus was called upon to resolve all types of conflicts. One such non-essential conflict was the Quartodeciman controversy, which centered around whether Easter should be celebrated on Passover (the Quartodeciman position) or on Sunday[2]. After much debate, Victor, the bishop of Rome, was so fed up with the Quartodecimans that he excommunicated them from the church. Although Irenaeus believed that Easter should be celebrated on Sunday, he admonished Victor to preserve unity in the body of Christ. For Irenaeus, the fact that the Lord’s resurrection was being celebrated by both parties was sufficient.

As Christians, may we not only learn from Irenaeus’ writings but also from his eagerness to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Let’s pray for wisdom to engage in essential conflicts and to preserve unity otherwise.

Prayer: Lord, as I often engage in arguments and conflicts for the sake of doing so, give me the wisdom to fight over what is crucial and the discernment to look over non-essential issues. Help me to mediate the conflicts around me with Your peace and love. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

[1] Olson, Roger. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition & Reform.

[2] https://www.gci.org/church/holidays/passover

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 17

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Cor. 1:10-12: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Questions to Consider

1. What appears to be the problem described in the above passage? What would be its modern equivalent?
2. What is so sad and tragic about this problem?
3. What realization is necessary in order to keep the believers with a strong conviction from beating each other up?

Notes

1. The Christians who favored or followed different Bible teachers became divisive probably because they insisted that their teacher was more biblical and spiritual than others. This would be equivalent to Calvinists and Arminians arguing over who is more faithful to the Scripture.
2. The believers, while arguing over matters relating to the Bible and God, end up losing their Christian testimony before the world. It shows that the Christians are no different than the feuding politicians and contentious businessmen.
3. They have to realize that Christ cannot be divided, that no human teacher can be placed above Him. Sometimes, the best policy is to agree to disagree, and leave it at that. As long as we agree on the essentials of our faith, we have reason to maintain the Christian unity in Christ.

Evening Reflection

As you wrap up this day, think about those situations that are slowly dividing your family and/or church: Are you part of the problem or solution? Please spend some time in prayer to ask God what to do. If you are the one causing the division, repent and ask for forgiveness; if not, then, ask God for boldness to address the divisive individual. Remember what Christ said: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— ²³ I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (Jn. 17:22-3).

Editor’s Note:  Today’s AMI QT Devotional is written by Pastor Andrew Kim at Tapestry Church.  Andrew, a graduate of Eternity Bible College, is currently attending Fuller Theological Seminary.  He and Jessie were married in 2014.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ephesians 1:3 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

A renowned scholar Walter Brueggemann suggests that so much of our societal ills that continue to plague our culture are caused by embracing a mentality of scarcity. In other words, we always feel as though we never have enough. As a result, our lives are characterized by constant dissatisfaction and frustration, which inevitably leads to a perpetual need to buy the next best thing or to find a more fulfilling relationship in an effort to feel full and satisfied. However, the sad fact is that no matter how many promotions we receive or how much money we make, it still feels like it’s not enough. It is no surprise that so many people in our culture constantly struggle with a profound sense of emptiness.

As Christians, we are not immune to this. Countless believers wrestle with the same issues as they compare their lives to those around them. At the root of this problem is that we so easily forget the amazing truth of Scripture. In Ephesians 1:3, the Apostle Paul reminds us that at the point of conversion, we have received every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. In other words, all that we could ever want is ours in Christ Jesus and have now become people of abundance rather than scarcity. This is true of us no matter what our circumstances might indicate, because the blessings of heaven have been eternally secured by the work of Christ in the gospel! In those moments of emptiness, I want to encourage you to look to the word of God and remind yourself that you have more than enough— in Christ you have received more than you deserve and have been filled to the brim by the grace of God!

Prayer: Father, forgive me once again for my greed and lack of dependence on You.  Remind me constantly that Christ is all sufficient in my life.  Thanks for having given me all that I possess, including health and relationships.  Motivate me to share what I have with those in need. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 16

Lunch Break Study

Read Ecclesiastes 6:10: Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless

Luke 18:9: To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else . . .

1 Tim. 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. . . .

1 Tim. 6:17: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Questions to Consider

1. According to King Solomon and Apostle Paul, respectively, what should we look out for when we seek to be financially secure?
2. What are some factors that might make us feel as though we do not have enough money even though we have plenty in the bank?
3. What should we do instead with respect to wealth? How are you managing your wealth?

Notes

1. Solomon warns that no amount of money will lead to the feeling of having enough—he ought to know since he was the richest man in Israel. Paul warns that loving money will lead to all kinds of conflicts that lead to much headache.
2. Two factors: first, humans always compare, and as a result, they inevitably find someone who has more money than they which leads to dissatisfaction; second, since we realize that wealth is not certain, we try to amass as much as possible for rainy days.
3. We are told not to put our trust in wealth, which means two things: first, engage in activities other than making money (like helping people); two, be generous with your money.

Evening Reflection

Reflect on Paul’s philosophy on possessions: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Tim. 6:7).  Now reflect on Agur’s thought on wealth: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God” (Prov. 30:8b-9).

In light of that, what is your philosophy on wealth?  Do you need to making any adjustments?

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-24 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 19:21-22

After all this had happened, Paul decided^[d] to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” ²² He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

For the last couple Christmas vacations, my younger brother and I have passed away our time by buying ourselves at least one new video game to play together. This past year, we bought our game with very little time left, so we used a walk-through manual to help us. The manual gave us all the tactics to solve different puzzles and to prepare against different enemies. After playing the game for a couple of days, I felt oddly dissatisfied with the experience. We were beating the game, but having all the answers completely detracted from the joy of actually playing and experiencing it.

Isn’t it common that we also endlessly seek clarity for our steps in life? We think: “What degree should I get?” “What city should I move to?” “What ministry should I be a part of?” Sometimes, we think that it will be easier if God just lays out the steps in front of us. We might, after all, feel more in-control or assured if we just have the directions.

Good thing God knows our hearts and that, if we had all the answers, we would completely miss out on the entire process of exploring this world with Him. Even the Apostle Paul didn’t always know where He was going; even as a seasoned itinerant preacher, he still relied on the Spirit to give him direction – the phrase used here in Greek is “determined in the Spirit.” Paul could never have anticipated what would come with each day – jail, riots, beatings, or the occasional good reception. But from all accounts, he was always led by God’s Spirit and testified in joy of God’s goodness.

One analogy to help us remember this type of lifestyle is that our journey of following God is not one with the map showing all the twists and turns; rather, the journey is like following the GPS, step by step. God has a good journey planned for us. Is it the one you want to travel on? Let us give up our desire to control our paths or know all the answers. Instead, let’s continue to seek His presence and His leading at every juncture.

Prayer: Father, You know that I don’t always enjoy the unseen and unknown. It is sometimes hard to trust that You know where You are leading me and that the path is good. Help me give up on needing to have all the answers in front of me and enjoy the journey You have before me. Remind me that my good Father is working everything out for me today!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 15

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 19:17-19

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is a collection of funny short stories I used read as a child. The main character, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, spends all of her time with the children of the neighborhood and cleverly instills various good habits in them. One such situation is called “The Radish Cure,” where one of the girls refuses to take baths. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle instructs the parents to let their daughter stop taking baths as she wishes. The daughter begins to get dirt and grime caked on her, and one night her parents secretly plant radish seeds on her. The next morning, the girl is horrified to find little sprouts on her body and immediately begs her parents to let her take a bath.

Repentance, in many ways, is like the discipline of taking a daily shower, because it involves us going to God to purify and cleanse us. But just as children try to avoid baths by insisting that they are not so dirty, we might try to avoid this daily practice. Because we don’t always immediately feel the consequences of our sins, we fail to see how essential repentance is. If we keep on insisting that we don’t have to repent, it is possible that we will become so mired and trapped in our ways that only a very dangerous or scary situation will awaken our senses.

Here at Ephesus, a terrifying encounter with evil spirits struck the fear of the Lord into the people’s hearts; what resulted was a massive outpouring of confession and repentance from sorcery. This was a great testimony, as it incited a large wave of repentance. But, we don’t have to wait for a traumatizing event to come clean before the Lord! He is at hand, so we can constantly approach Him to receive His grace.

Let’s go to Him now and ask Him to gently wash us clean again. As we humbly acknowledge that we are constantly sinning against Him and need forgiveness, we might find that repentance is a habit that can become more and more natural to us.

Prayer: Father, I am a sinner! I have so many disobedient thoughts and habits that go against Your holiness. Thank You for sending Your son, Jesus, so that I can be made righteous in Your sight and enjoy Your love forever. Remind me of Your grace all over again, and let me turn from my own ways to Your life-bringing habits.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 13-14

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 19:4-6

Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

My dad has always stuck out to me as being exceptionally steadfast and solid in his faith, so I asked him how he came to know Christ in grad school. He said that he had grown up going to church only to please his mother, and he had no intention of keeping that up in America. Despite that resolution, he found himself going back to church each Sunday and even attending Bible studies. One day, realizing that he was spending a lot of time in these Christian activities, he decided that he should just continue to follow Jesus Christ. I was dumbfounded. That was it? Given my experience of his faithfulness and love for God, I was surprised that there was no dramatic moment or revelation that set it all in motion.

Similarly, I find this account to be so incredible. All throughout Acts, we have seen miraculous signs and wonders and impassioned speeches. Paul, too, being a learned man, has debated with thinkers and non-believers in public forums. But here, there was no extra debate, no extra proving from the Scriptures, no miraculous deeds to wow them with. All Paul had to do was tell them that John the Baptist pointed to Jesus, and suddenly the church gained twelve new believers.

I have spent a lot of time over the years trying to learn fresh ways to present the gospel to unbelieving friends or studying counter-arguments to win them over with. Maybe you have as well, and it is great that we have made the effort to prepare in these ways. But let’s remember that is it the simple truth of God’s love that wins people over. Instead of relying on clever presentation or preparation, let’s put more trust in God’s Spirit to work in our words, no matter how simple the message might sound.

Today, let’s spend some time reflecting on the simple, foundational truths from the Bible. We might find that even a truth as simple as “God loves you” can stir up a fire in our hearts all over again!

Prayer: Father, thank You for making Your love so easy to convey and so easy to accept. I admit that pride motivates me to find a way to impressively convey Your message. Help me to trust in Your Spirit instead of my own means so that I can attribute all of the glory and credit to You when someone believes in You!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 12

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:32-37: But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” 36 He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Questions to Consider

1. Note the disciples’ reactions to Jesus in both verse 32 and verse 34. What does this say about their relationship with Jesus? Does it reflect our relationship with Jesus?
2. Why does Jesus respond to them in this way in verse 35? Is His response significant?
3. Why does Jesus encourage the disciples to welcome children in the middle of his teaching? What can we learn from welcoming children?

Notes

1. In v.32, Jesus is speaking plainly about His coming death and resurrection, but the disciples are too confused to ask Him to better understand it. In v.33, they are striving internally to know their evaluations, but they are ashamed to come before Him openly. In both instances, the disciples withdrew from Jesus. They were afraid to learn from Him and preferred to dispute amongst themselves (not dissimilar to ourselves)!
2. Despite the disciples’ reluctance to face Jesus with their questions, He proactively sits them down to teach them the very thing they were disputing about. He knows their doubts and their warring nature; yet He does not rebuke them but gently teaches them what they need to know.
3. The disciples are concerned with whether or not they can understand Jesus’ messages. A child cannot fully understand a message but can understand being loved and cared for. What qualifies someone to be welcomed into the fold of God is not scholarship but the ability to perceive, accept, and enjoy His love.

Evening Reflection

Jesus loves you, God is good. Sometimes when we hear these simple messages too frequently, they lose impact. Let’s refresh our hearts by dwelling in just one simple concept you know from the Bible and thinking about whether our lives are really built on these foundations. Let’s pray that as we meditate on these truths, God will remind us how impactful these simple sentences actually are.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 18:24-26  

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

So little is written about Apollos, but it seems that he had great impact on the early church. His arrival was clearly very notable; and after he was joined up with Priscilla and Aquila, he went on to play a similar role as Paul, strengthening believers and defending the faith publicly. He clearly was so compelling and effective that people were tempted to break off into an Apollos camp in the Corinthian church.

There are a lot of worthy lessons to draw from this passage – the importance of proper teaching in our churches, or staying teachable no matter how educated we might be. But what sticks out to me is that learning and teaching is a job that is not just reserved for the primary preacher here.

We know that Priscilla and Aquila were also tentmakers like Paul and were trustworthy and capable enough to become partners with him. They were not the ones who regularly spoke up in the synagogue. However, they had also such thorough understanding of the Scriptures that they could not only keep up with well-educated Apollos but also know how to correct and guide him. Instead of just waiting around for someone of more authority like Paul to come with correction, they themselves guided Apollos.

I think we often let ourselves off the hook when it comes to thoroughly learning the Word and teaching others, making the excuse that it is a job reserved for the pastors. It is undeniable that God has called some to study His Word vocationally, and they hold great responsibility among us to educate the congregation. But He has also given His Word and His Spirit freely to each one of us! Let us take hold of the opportunities to all become humble, diligent students and teachers of the Word. Let’s read it and eat it, and as we are digesting, help someone else on how to study and understand it too.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for not filling my life with Your Word more and more. Give me wisdom and understanding to read Your Word correctly, and give me the opportunity to bless others with what You give me. Help us increase the opportunity for Your Word to shape and transform our lives.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 12

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:19-25: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Questions to Consider

1. What does James say having the Word planted in our lives do for us?
2. What is the consequence of just listening to the Word and not doing what it says?
3. How does this passage help us understand the importance of studying the Word? What is the ultimate purpose we want to achieve in studying and teaching the Word?

Notes

1. In verse 21, he writes if we humbly accept “the word planted in you,” it can save; also, verse 25 says that God’s Word is the “perfect law that gives freedom.” Knowing Scripture is not just an exercise for our minds, but it is the means by which we take hold of the salvation life Christ has given us.
2. Knowing the Word but not doing what it says shows that the Word does not have a place to transform our lives. Since having the Word give us freedom and saves us, the consequence of not taking it seriously is that we will find ourselves still mastered under the thumb of our old, evil self.
3. James writes that our study of the Word is worthless if we only look at the Word but never do what it says. The value that comes from looking at the Word is the type of fruit that comes from taking it seriously. So, we want to be good students of the Word and good teachers of the Word, but our priority must be having the Word applied to our lives.

Evening Reflection

How do you feel about studying God’s Word and teaching it to others? One of the biggest obstacles is that the task might seem a little boring. Martin Luther once said, “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me…“ Let’s reflect on our experience of God’s Word and ask Him to show us how it is alive and active in our lives. As we take steps to study it more, we will find that the idea of studying and teaching God’s Word becomes exciting.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 18: 9-11 ⁹ 

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

Fear is an exceptionally powerful motivator in our lives. There might be smaller worries that create momentary fear, such as accidentally dropping a smartphone down a chute, which makes me cringe every time I enter an elevator. Or there are some fears that are so powerful that they cause us to entirely change our lifestyle – for example, one of my friends from college gave up eating certain foods altogether because of one particularly bad experience with food poisoning.

Fears are, in some way, wired into us to protect us. So it would have been very natural, therefore, for the apostle Paul, to tone down his ministry out of fear. Just when He began devoting Himself full-time to work in Corinth, he faced physical abuse and resistance to the gospel from the Jewish people, his primary audience. It is interesting that God proactively meets Paul in a dream here; God already knows and can address directly all of Paul’s fears – that he could be attacked, or that his ministry could fail. It seems that after this dream encounter, Paul was able to continue his ministry comfortably.

We may not be doing the same kind of work as Paul or encountering the same type of opposition, but we also face similar fears: of failure, of ridicule, of having nothing, of disappointment. These fears have the potential to derail us from living faithfully or keep us from sharing our faith with others. The only antidote to fear in our lives is fresh assurance of God’s love and provision. Only then will we be able to press onwards.

What kinds of reservations keep you from following God fully and being a witness? If you know them, don’t be ashamed to bring them forward in prayer. God already knows our doubts and concerns, is addressing them, and will gently answer them with His perfect love that drives out all fear.

Prayer: Father, I need You! I can be so faithless and fearful. Meet me with Your perfect love and strike out the fear from my heart. Help me trust that when I admit my weaknesses, Your strength will be more evident in my life. Show me that You are stronger, better, and truer than all the fears.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 9:20-29: So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”

Questions to Consider

1. At the sight of Jesus, the evil spirit throws the boy into a convulsion. Why then does Jesus take the time to delay healing and ask for a full account of the boy’s trouble?
2. Let us think about the honest prayer from the father: “I believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” How can this encourage us when we face similar crises of faith?

Notes

1. Jesus rests on the situation so that the father may testify fully and also reveal the condition of his faith. The long years of sickness and near-death experiences have resigned the father to hopelessness; he dares not hope for healing.
2. The father’s prayer of confession mirrors our own gap between our knowledge of God and our true experience with that knowledge. Despite our lack of faith, however, God is constantly, graciously moving in more powerful ways than we ask or seek. No matter what hopeless situation we think we are facing, let us approach Him and ask for faith to believe that He can overcome the struggles we have.

Evening Reflection

Fear and unbelief keep us from fully living out the rich and free lives that God intends for us. Did you catch yourself motivated by fear rather than faith today? Let’s pray over the circumstances or people that make us fearful and unable to take God at His word. We may not immediately be able to overcome the fear tomorrow, but God will slowly give you the strength to overcome.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 18:5

 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.

I love the movie Finding Nemo. Like every good children’s movie, it not only has beautiful visuals, memorable songs, and witty lines – the story has multiple layers that both children and adults can enjoy. You can take the story at face value about a sea adventure, or you could also find some life analogies, like the joy that comes from friendships pursuing a common goal. Marlin befriends so many creatures along the way. Some of these friendships last for a short moment; others, like his with Dory, are long-term commitments through thick and thin.

Silas and Timothy are known as great missionary partners to Paul; they really went through thick and thin times with him. Here, they came bringing either monetary support or some form of relief so that Paul could focus on the ministry he cared about. Throughout the New Testament, Paul trusted these brothers to help him, whether the task was to strengthen the churches on Paul’s heart or to physically journey with him. It is evident that they were not simply “co-workers” – they were family; they never abandoned each other after hardship but continued to weather the ups and downs of their ministry together.

Good friendships in the Lord provide sharpening and discernment; they also can be the primary source of encouragement and refreshing we need to get through difficult times. For all the endeavors that you have put your mind to, do you also have Silas and Timothy going along with you? Just as importantly, are you striving to be this kind of support towards others?

If you already have these friendships, praise God!  I encourage you to take the time today to keep “[spurring] one another onto love and good deeds.” Let us also remember that beyond Timothy and Silas, Paul also had friends for various seasons during each journey and in each city he visited – maybe these were shorter partnerships, but they were no less valuable. So let’s pray that God will grow and bring forth godly friendships in every season of our lives.

Prayer: Father, thank You for not leaving me all alone. Thank You for providing brothers and sisters as means of grace for my life. Keep raising up brothers and sisters in my church who will spur me on to love You more deeply. Lord, help me not just to find Silas’s and Timothy’s in my life, but make me someone who will encourage and strengthen others as well.

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 10

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 4:1-6: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Questions to Consider

1. What does Paul consider to be the nature of a life that is “worthy of the calling [we] have received”?
2. The first directive Paul gives covers the believers’ nature. What is the second thing Paul urges them to do?
3. This passage contains a lot of one’s. How does the one-ness of our faith help us with the previously mentioned directions from Paul?

Notes

1. The nature of our lives should be humble, gentle, patient, and full of forbearance. The nature we have as believers is not an arbitrary collection of traits; it should increasingly reflect the character of Jesus Christ.
2. Secondly, Paul instructs the brethren to “make every effort” to preserve unity. Unity is not a passive byproduct of our sanctified natures – it requires an active commitment and effort. Unity is intimately linked with our character and our ability to show Christ to one another.
3. We are able to aspire to gain God’s character and have unity in our body because He models both for us. His character of holiness and love cannot be separated from Himself, and His distinct natures of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are also completely unified. Because He has given us His nature, these instructions from Paul are achievable in our lives!

Evening Reflection

Engaging with the church community is a crucial part of our spiritual growth. Did you allow room in your life today to be strengthened by someone, or did you take the opportunity to go encourage someone? Let’s reflect on how we can make the community a part of our lives. Think about the brothers and sisters God has brought around you and ask Him for the grace and help to grow those relationships.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for April 17-23 are provided by Christine Li.  Christine graduated from University of Pennsylvania and currently lives and works in New York City.  She attends Remnant Church in Manhattan.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 18:2-3 

After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

In 2014, Whatsapp, one of the most widely used global messaging apps, sold for $19 billion dollars to Facebook. What many people found more noteworthy than the price was the irony, since both of the founders had been rejected after interviewing at tech companies, including Facebook, years prior. One said optimistically at the time, “Looking forward to life’s next adventure.” Both men had decided to step off the path of finding an existing tech job and find something new to do. Eventually, they teamed up to build a platform that became much, much larger than they would have foreseen.

Priscilla and Aquila are known as great partners in the ministry with Paul. But their divine appointment occurred in Corinth, where they settled after being driven out of Rome. What a long, complicated journey to finally end up in Corinth, but it would have seemed well worth the trouble once they met Paul and began co-laboring with him in missionary work. Being forced to leave their home would have been a disappointing and confusing experience, but the path actually led to a new life with fruitful ministry in Asia. Only in hindsight, it becomes clear that this was God’s plan.

When doors are shut in our lives, our instincts often rush to question God: Why would He suddenly pull the plug on something going just fine? What could be the point of creating a very large obstacle in our way of life? But through Priscilla and Aquila’s story, we can see that what we consider to be “difficulties” or “detours” are part of God’s good plans for us. The present situation might seem very mysterious and confusing, but we can trust that all things happen out of His love for us.

Since it is a Monday, some of us are dreading what the week holds. Let’s search our hearts to ask if we are truly willing to trust the wisdom of God’s plans, especially if He closes doors or allows adversity into our lives. May Priscilla and Aquila’s faithfulness help us joyfully and expectantly submit to what He brings.

Prayer: Father, I remember that You are loving and wise beyond my understanding. Help me to trust You in every twist and turn. More than needing to know what lies ahead, I need the comfort of Your presence and assurance that the path in front of me is filled with Your goodness. Lord, give me faith to trust You in every step!

Bible Reading for Today: Psalm 9

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:2-8

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a]whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Questions to Consider

1. What does James say is the purpose of our sufferings and trouble?
2. Why should we believe and not doubt when we ask God for gifts of wisdom?
3. In the path of following God, what does unbelief show? Why is the consequence so harsh? Do you find that you exhibit more belief or unbelief when you approach God?

Notes

1. James says that the purpose of trials is to increase perseverance in our lives, and perseverance is an essential quality of spiritual maturity. Perseverance demonstrates trust in God even when all circumstances suggest otherwise.
2. When we ask God for gifts of wisdom, we must trust that only He can provide that to us. To believe and not doubt demonstrates that we believe God is truly the only source of wisdom and that He is truly a generous giver.
3. A “double-minded” man does not fully trust in God’s character or His provision – that is, the doubtful man is unsure if God will provide and if He is truly the only provider. To believe that God will not provide or that He is not the only source we can go to will cause us to live in insecurity, for we will not have a solid foundation that we can build our lives upon.

Evening Reflection

Today we have reflected on trusting God when He shuts doors or even through trial. Are there specific situations where God is nudging you to rethink your attitude and to trust Him more fully? Let’s pray over those and ask God to give us wisdom and the grace to walk even more in step with Him tomorrow.