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.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:32

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”

Part of the fun of being a parent of small kids is that children can be so logical and illogical at the same time.  For example, we watch this cartoon called Paw Patrol (if you have small kids, you probably know it well), and it is undoubtedly one of the stupidest shows on TV.  The premise of the show is that a ten-year-old boy named Ryder has adopted six dogs that he has trained as special rescue pups.  Each dog has his/her own special skill set—so there is a police dog, a fire fighting dog, a water rescue dog, etc. And each dog also has a doghouse that transforms into a rescue vehicle corresponding to their jobs—so a police truck, a fire truck, a hovercraft, etc.; the dogs, of course, drive.  Paw Patrol takes place in a city called Adventure Bay, where there are apparently no competent adults, because Ryder and the Paw Patrol are constantly called on by everyone from the mayor to the local grocery store owner to save them from various mishaps.  And although several different types of animals, ranging from cats to eagles to whales, find their way on the show, for whatever reason, none of them have the ability to talk—except the six members of the Paw Patrol.

One day as they were watching this show, my four-year-old says to me, “You know what doesn’t make sense about this show?  It’s how the grownups are always asking the kids for help.”  I come back with a hailstorm of other things that bug me about this show: “Honey, what about the talking dogs?  Have you ever seen dogs drive?  Why don’t other animals talk?  Where are Ryder’s parents?”  To that, she replies, “That’s okay.”  On one hand, I appreciate my daughter’s logic in seeing it strange that a ten-year-old is the only reliable person in Adventure Bay, but I find it so cutely illogical that she doesn’t see anything else being problematic—in her world, the minor things are major, and the major things are minor.

On the completely opposite vein, as long time believers, we often treat the resurrection as the minor detail of Christianity that doesn’t always need to be addressed or given much thought.  We fixate so much on other things, like our futures, or those who need guidance, or even healings and other miracles.  All of these things are important and good, but we must remember that they all don’t amount to very much if the resurrection is not true.  (What good is being healed of sicknesses if we were to die eternally anyway?)  We must also remember that ultimately, it is the resurrection that is the major stumbling block for those who do not believe in Christ.  Yet sadly, too many believers don’t think about the resurrection enough.

Today, take some time and marvel at the resurrection.  Do not be ashamed at how utterly unbelievable it can appear to those who do not have faith.  Embrace the miraculous power, which has become the lynchpin to our faith.  And above all else, thank God that the truth of the resurrection is our great hope.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that you are alive, that You have conquered sin and death, and that because You live, we will too.  Help us never to be ashamed of the fact that we believe in the resurrection, though it sounds crazy, but help us to live in and share that power to others.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 8

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:24-27 (NIV)

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”

Seventy-five percent of the time, whenever single people from our church come over to talk or share a meal, my wife and I will ask them about boys or girls. Of course, this talk slowly evolves (or devolves) into us playing matchmakers. But sometimes our guests get a little uncomfortable and will ask why this topic interests us so. My wife will typically explain it like this: “It’s been several years since I’ve been single, but I still remember how it felt starting a relationship. You go out on fun dates and he is always trying to impress you. All the while, you are constantly wondering how into you he is. You feel this odd combination of adrenaline, insecurity, anxiety, and euphoria, all at the same time. It’s both the fun and exhausting part of dating, and in many ways, I am living vicariously through you because I miss that feeling.”

On another note, the other day my wife looks at me and says, “It’s been awhile since we went out, just you and me. I would like to go out on a date.”

The point of my sharing these seemingly unrelated events is not for you to think that I am having marriage difficulties or that my wife wishes she were single again; but rather to show that my wife still wants to be dated and pursued (hopefully, by me). When she talks to other girls about dating, she remembers fondly what it was like when I was trying to impress her and didn’t whine about spending money on her. When she tells me plainly, “Let’s go out!” it’s with the understanding that I will pick a better place than In-and-Out and won’t whine about spending money on her. All joking aside, my wife and I have been through a lot in our seven years of marriage— kids, illnesses, death of my mom, a cross-country move, many highs, and a few lows. I’d like to believe that we love each other more now than on our wedding day. And although I am an outstanding husband, truth be told, there are times when she feels underappreciated and taken for granted, and so would like to be pursued.

Our passage today is interesting because Paul insinuates that God also wants to be pursued or found by the people He created. He gave us life and breath; He created mankind and set nations in place. Why? He hopes that this would cause some to search for and eventually find Him (v. 27). Now, I want to be careful not to paint an inaccurate picture of our God. Let’s be perfectly clear—God does not need anything from us (v. 25) and certainly not our affections; He does not have insecurity issues. Yet He does want to be pursued, and He does not want to be underappreciated. Honestly, don’t we sometimes take for granted that God is close? So much so that we stop trying to “impress” Him? This morning, ask yourself: “Do I still pursue God like I once did? Or, have I put my relationship with Him on autopilot?” If it’s the latter, let’s go back to those dating years when we wouldn’t count the cost or the hours we spent with our beloved.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, renew my love and affection for You. Forgive me if I’ve taken our relationship for granted. Help me to fall in love with You all over again.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 6-7

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:21

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

Does it make me un-American to say that I hate Apple, Inc.? Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate their products. Whenever I play on an iPhone or iPad or Macbook, I generally feel this sense of, “Wow, this thing is smooth!” However, what I hate about Apple, Inc. is—how I feel six months after I buy one of their products. The last Apple product I bought was the iPad 3, and for about five months, I enjoyed it. But in the sixth month, iPad 4 (or more correctly iPad with Retina Display) came out, and then overnight, I felt like I was using a stone tablet with a hammer and chisel. Though I am not a gadget guy by any stretch, I hate that I am one of the people who have been suckered by their marketing strategy. I wish I didn’t care—but I do.

When it comes new and trendy, we all have our soft spots, don’t we? For some of you, it is clothes; you have to be in the latest fashion. For some of you it is tech; you upgrade your phone quarterly, you have every piece of wearable technology, and you will be the first in line to get digital implants when they become available. Others of you are foodies; you have to try the newest restaurants. Now, I do not want to sound like one of those old people pining for the “good old days,” but let’s be real here—not all that is new or trendy is good. You want proof? Dig up some photos during the mid to late 90’s; women, who were not farmers, wore overalls! You may laugh, but I know that if overalls came back in style today, more than just a few of our readers would be wearing them tomorrow.

All joking aside, trends are not just confined to tech or fashion. As we read in today’s passage, there were intellectual trends. People in Athens spent all their time discussing new ideas. The church is not immune to new trends either (think music styles, service styles, preaching styles, etc.).   While I don’t want to disparage these methods or new ideas, I don’t want us to forget that some things are tried and true. I know of only one way to grow in Christ, and that is the old fashioned way of spending time with and obeying Him; and I know of only one way to grow a ministry—sacrifice.

Are you trying to innovate your way to godliness? It took former generations their lifetime to develop character: Are you trying to bypass it for something quicker or more “impactful”? Do you think your church will grow if it adopts a better business strategy? Are you trying to find something new for the community because meeting together is too impractical for today’s world? Don’t sit around discussing new ideas when the old ways are the best ways.

Prayer: Lord, help me to wade through all the new ideas out there. Let me see the new things that You are doing and understand all that You have done in the past. Do not let me run after new ideas or new trends that lead to nowhere. When it comes to spirituality and character, let me never try to skip patience, endurance, and diligence. In all things, give me wisdom and discernment.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 5:

To the choirmaster: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
   consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
   my King and my God,
   for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
   in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
   evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
   you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
   the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
   will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
   in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
   because of my enemies;
   make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
   their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
   they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
   let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
   for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
   let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
   that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
   you cover him with favor as with a shield.

Questions to Consider

1. What is the general idea of this Psalm? What was David requesting?
2. Why do you suppose justice is such a big theme in the Psalms?
3. Are there people who are recipients of injustice whom you should pray for and possibly help?

Notes

1. David’s prayer in Psalm 5 can be summarized in vv. 10 and 11: In v. 10, he asks that the wicked would have to “bear their guilt”; and in v. 11, he asks that the Lord would exult the righteous.
2. Many Psalms, such as Psalm 5, remind us that God has not closed His eyes to the deeds of the wicked or the righteous. Of course, while the gospel reminds us that we are saved by the blood of Christ only, we must not forget that the Lord does promise to give each what his deeds deserve (Rom. 2:6). This should be an encouragement, knowing that all the wrongs will be made right and that our good work will be rewarded.
3. Personal application question.

Evening Reflection

Romans 12:2 says that we should renew our minds and not conform to the patterns of this world. When was the last time you thought about things like politics, justice, policy, liberalism, or our culture. Do you truly have a biblical worldview? When it comes to the basic disciplines of growing in Christ—such as word, prayer, fellowship, service, evangelism—how are you doing? In your constant search for efficiency, have you swiped over these things?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:16-17

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

Just about every Friday morning after our prayer meeting, our pastoral intern and I go out and grab breakfast, typically at Burger King. More than half of the time, this guy will do something kind that humbles and embarrasses me. For example, he will buy an extra breakfast sandwich for a homeless person that we just passed by on the street, or he will notice a person digging too deeply into his pocket to find the money for a cup of coffee and purchases it for him. Every week it would be something different, but every week it is him showing how big his heart is, and me—feeling like a dork. The reason I never buy anyone a sandwich is not that I don’t care or I am too cheap, but rather, I simply do not notice (and this may be worse). Over the years, I’ve learned to walk with my head down in the city (for fear of stepping on dog poop), or when I’m at a restaurant, I get too excited about food and have tunnel vision, or I’m thinking about something else. Emotionally, I can be an aloof monster, I know— I’m not trying to make excuses on the matter.

I wonder if I were in ancient Athens, I would have felt the same level of “distress” (NIV) that Paul felt when he saw all of those idols. Would I have even noticed? When we were younger in the faith, growing in Christ was pretty easy. As a youngster, I used to swear like a sailor, but when I met Christ, I quit that pattern of speech. Then I began to read the Bible and pray more frequently, and I grew. Now that I’ve been a believer for over 20 years, I’ve noticed that while growth does come with prayer and Bible reading, rapid growth comes when I have a heart that beats on God’s rhythm. Do I love the things He loves? Do I hate the things He hates? Do the things that distress Him even cause me to bat an eyelash? More in line with today’s passage, does my heart break for people who do not know Christ or for those who are trapped in idolatry?

I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way. America is a unique country— if you go to a coffee shop, you will run into literally a dozen people of different religion or no religion whatsoever. There is so much diversity in faiths (or lack of faith), we can easily get desensitized to how lost people are. This morning, pray for your heart. Pray that you will be distressed by the things that distress the Lord.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for ___ (fill in the blank) who doesn’t know You. I pray that You will put some urgency in my heart to share with him or her. Help me also to see every person as one who is made in Your image. Give me a heart that is distressed by the things that distress You.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 4:

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
   You have given me relief when I was in distress.
   Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
   How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
   the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 Be angry, and do not sin;
   ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
   and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
   Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
   than they have when their grain and wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
   for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Questions to Consider

1. What were the things that distressed David, and how did he find comfort in the Lord?
2. In v. 4, we read, “Be angry (or “In your anger” – NIV) and do not sin and offer right sacrifices.” What do you suppose this verse means?
3. In v. 7, David says that he has more joy than anyone who has riches. Why was he able to feel this way? Do you feel this way?

Notes

1. In verse 2, we read that there were wicked men who were trying to “shame” David, possibly through slanderous words. In verse 3, David found comfort in being set apart for God and the fact that the Lord hears his prayers.
2. In its context, it seems that when slandered, the natural reaction is to be angry; however, a righteous course of action is to remain silent (v. 4) as opposed to rushing in to defend oneself. In this context, a right sacrifice seems to be the faithful act of not retaliating. It’s helpful to know that David, while a man of action, never attacked Saul who persecuted him unjustly on several occasions.
3. I think vv. 7 and 8 are related. David’s joy came first because God put it there, but also in the fact that he could lie down in peace (knowing he had a clean conscience) and under the safety of the Lord’s hand. Do you believe a clear conscience is more important than a large bank account?

Evening Reflection

This morning, we talked about having God’s heart and caring for people, especially those who do not know Jesus. Take some time to pray for one or two people you see routinely, and allow God to speak to you about them. We also talked about trusting in God when others slander or persecute you. Are there people in your life who give you trouble for seemingly no reason? Consider what God wants you to do (or not do) about these people.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:13

But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds.

In a comedy routine, which I have never actually watched and would never recommend to our readers, Cedric the Entertainer made the joke that there are two types of people in the world: those with the “hope factor” and those with the “wish factor.”  Those with the hope factor go into situations hoping that nothing goes wrong; so when they go to a show, these people hope that no one is sitting in their seats.  On the other hand, those with the wish factor go into situations wishing something would happen so that they can retaliate; so if these people go to a show, they wish someone is sitting in their seats so that they can get into a fight.  Coincidentally, as I am writing this devotional, I am in a coffee shop where someone has brought in a very large dog. (In SF, people disregard health codes when it comes to dogs.)  I find myself wishing that this dog would eat something off my table, so I can make a fuss.

On Monday, we read about the Thessalonian Jews who had a vendetta against Christianity in general and Paul in particular.  They couldn’t get Paul, so they decided to get Jason and the other disciples arrested.  When these people heard that Paul was in Berea, they decided to take the 40-mile journey from Thessalonica to stir up trouble for him.  (Man, talk about a group of people who had the “wish factor”!)  I just shared how I have a little bit of wish factor in me, but even with a car, I wouldn’t drive the 40 miles from Thessalonica to Berea to get Paul. And I certainly wouldn’t walk as the Thessalonians did, but that is how far they were willing to go to stir up trouble.

As I get older, I realize that Christian life is more than just avoiding conflicts; and it is more than just mortifying that desire to pick a fight.  Ultimately, Christ’s call is higher; He calls us to be peacemakers. (Matt. 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”)  Peacemakers don’t wish for problems or hope to avoid them, but they are actively involved in solving them.  This morning, ask yourself, “Am I willing to get involved in difficult situations to bring about peace?”  Sometimes, this might mean standing up for another or sticking your neck out when your instinct is to put your head down.  Or this might entail making that difficult phone call to an estranged parent, sibling, or former friend.  Whatever it is, it’s probably going to be difficult and against our nature; but remember, our Lord who came to the earth, lived a sinless life, and died on a cross in order to bring us in a peaceful relationship with the Father.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live in a way that honors You.  Help me to have the wisdom to distinguish trouble for trouble’s sake and trouble that You are bringing into my life so that I can bring about reconciliation.  Thank You for the example of Christ who came to be the ultimate peace offering.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 3

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 3: O Lord, how many are my foes!  Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Questions to Consider

1. What were the discouraging circumstances David was facing?  What discouraging circumstances do you face?
2. How did David see the Lord working in his life?  Do you have similar security in God when you are faced with difficult situations?
3. Psalms are essentially prayers, and in vv. 4 and 7, David said he cried aloud and asked the Lord to save him.  How does this Psalm encourage you to pray?

Notes

1. We read in 2 Sam. 15-18 that David was at one point betrayed by his own son and forced to leave Jerusalem.  So those who betrayed him were likely his many foes (vv. 1-2).
2. Despite this, David sees God as his shield, lifter of his head (v. 3), sustainer (v. 5), vindicator/justifier (v. 7), and ultimately—Savior (v. 8).
3. Verses like 7, bring up many questions.  As believers, are we supposed to pray that God would strike our enemies and break the teeth of the wicked?  Probably not.  But we are to pray for justice to be served.  Also, these Psalms are encouraging because they are full of emotional truth.  In the end, God wants us to pray honestly, and sometimes emotionally.

Evening Reflection

In today’s passages, we saw two people being persecuted—Paul by the Thessalonian Jews and David from his son Absalom.  In the morning, we touched upon the topic of bringing peace, not hostility. And then in the afternoon, we saw how David prayed and looked to the character of God in trying circumstances.  This evening, pray that you, as David did, can see the Lord as your shield, sustainer, and Savior in difficult circumstances.  Pray also about how you can bring peace where there is conflict.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:11-12

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

My wife teaches advanced nursing at UCSF, so most of her students have been practicing as registered nurses for several years.  Generally, she likes her job and her students, but every so often, she will tell me about a few who try her nerves.  The commonality among these students is that when the class gets to topics that they are familiar with –because they have years of experience in these areas—they become know-it-alls and quite opinionated about what is being taught.  I have found this experience common in a lot of settings.  Some classes in seminary were difficult to get through, simply because everyone had an opinion or criticism about the book we were reading.  The point I am trying to make is, that many want to be teachers (or critics), but few are willing to be students.

If you’ve been in the church for a while, you’ve probably heard preachers praise the practices of the Berean Jews.  These Bereans, upon hearing Paul’s message, examined the Old Testament to confirm the truth of what was being taught.  So the common exhortation is that everyone should study the Word and make sure the preacher is teaching soundly.  While I obviously don’t want to discourage this practice, I do want to point out one important detail:  In v. 11, we read that the Bereans received the Word with great eagerness.  Because the Bereans loved Paul’s message, they eagerly searched the Scriptures, hoping that he and the gospel message were correct and trustworthy.  In other words, the reason they searched the Scriptures so intently was that they were genuinely interested in learning more than teaching.

As we get older and more seasoned, we become less teachable, don’t we?  And as we become less teachable, things become more mundane and dull, don’t they?  One of the signs that you are still teachable is eagerness and excitement.  Are you eager to read the Bible or go to church?  In your heart of hearts, do you feel like you’ve read that or heard that before—“same old, same old”?  This morning, let’s remind ourselves that the infinite God has more than enough tricks for our finite selves to keep us from getting bored; let’s be eager for God’s presence and being!

Prayer

Lord, give me excitement in getting to know You.  Let me never feel like I’ve heard it all or read it all or experienced it all.  Give me a teachable spirit and an open heart.  Let me fall in love with You anew.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 2: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break[b] them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear,  and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Questions to Consider

Generally ascribed to David, Psalm 2 is a royal Psalm that speaks about the Lord’s sovereign rule and His volition to establish David’s monarchy.  This Psalm will find its fullest ministry in the reign of Christ.

1. How do the “nations” respond to the Lord’s rule in vv. 1-3? How are you sometimes like them?
2. What is the Lord’s response in vv. 4-6? And whose rule is established in vv. 7-9?
3. How does the psalmist’s exhortation in vv.10-12 apply to you?

Notes

1. The nations rebel against the Lord and His anointed One. Sometimes, it is helpful to take the Psalms personally: Ask yourself, “Do you ever rebel, or desire to rebel, against the Lord’s rule?”
2. Ultimately, the nations’ rebellion has insignificant impact on the Lord; He laughs at these attempts (v. 3). The Psalm may have originally been about David’s reign; however, it is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.  Jesus’ reign is firmly and unshakably established.
3. Question: Are you fully satisfied under the Lord’s rule?  Do you embrace His lordship over your life and strive to serve Him faithfully? Or, do you desire to rebel?

Evening Reflection

Today, we discussed two themes: This morning, it was about having a teachable heart and being eager to know and love God more; while this afternoon, it was about living joyfully under the Lord’s sovereign rule.  These themes are somewhat related, as they both require faith— faith to believe that God’s rule is good and trustworthy, and faith to believe that God knows more than you and you have much to learn about Him.  As you reflect on these ideas, pray for whatever may be lacking in your faith.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from April 11 to 17 are provided by Pastor Yohan of Radiance Christian Church, San Francisco.  Yohan graduated from University of Pennsylvania and Cairn University, where he studied theology.  He is married to Mandie, and they have four children: Maggie, Jonathan, Abigail and Simon.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 17:5-7

But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”

We have a ton of Legos in my home, and I have to admit that I think they are really cool toys.  I enjoy the craftsmanship of having to put together complex sets, as well as the creativity it takes to make something original. I even find collecting the mini-figures intoxicating.  But one thing that I hate about Legos is when I have to clean and sort all those small pieces.  What I hate most is when those pieces are all over the floor and I step on a misplaced one—it hurts so much!  I realize my kids don’t mind stepping on Legos as much as I do because they are light: It’s simple physics: F=ma (Force = mass x acceleration); less mass accelerating on a Lego equals less force on a foot and less pain.  My kids basically run over those hazardous Legos like those Polynesian fire walkers.

The other day, my overweight foot stepped on one of those darn Legos, and I proceeded to yell at my son for not putting them away.  My son looked at me, and said, “Dad, I didn’t leave that there, you did.”  Now at that point, most rational people will stop or apologize, but not me.  I was angry and hurt and someone was going to get in trouble: “Well, they are your Legos!” I yelled.  Then I started looking around the house for any way to punish my son.  “Who left those pencils out?  Put those away!  Did you leave your crayons out?  Do your homework!”  I later apologized for my childishness.

In today’s passage, I see a lot of myself in this crowd.  When I am angry, I care less about justice than I do about making sure someone gets punished.  The mob in Thessalonica came in search of Paul, but because they could not find him, they settled for punishing Jason and some of the other disciples.  Would Paul have been a better option for the mob?  Sure, but it didn’t really matter. They were angry, and they needed someone to blame—anyone would have done.

How about you?  When you are angry, hurt, or under emotional duress, do you become irrational?  Do you say ugly things to your spouse or friends that you wish you could take back?  Do you excuse yourself because you were in the “heat of the moment”?  Is that fair or becoming of a man/woman of God?  Today, let’s not act like a crazy mob, looking to punish anyone.  Let’s resolve to have Christ’s patience, to act in love, and keep a cool head.

Prayer: Lord, give me patience today, and help me to develop the fruit of patience in my life.  Help me to have control over my emotions and not say anything regrettable to those close to me.  Help me to love justice and to be a fair administrator of it.

Bible Reading for Today:  Psalm 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so,  but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Questions to Consider

1. Track the regression of this hypothetical person in verse 1.
2. Make two or three comparisons/contrasts between the righteous and the wicked.
3. Are you like a tree planted by the streams of water?  Do you delight in the law of the Lord?

Notes

1. Verse 1 illustrates the entangling nature of sin:  At first, you walk in some ill behavior or thought pattern, but you are still active—meaning, you know it’s wrong and that you shouldn’t partake in it.  Then after ignoring the Spirit’s rebuke, you stand in it and get a little more comfortable.  Soon you are sitting in the seat of scoffers.
2. The righteous man delights in and meditates on God’s word; he is rooted like a tree, bears fruit, and prospers or grows.  The wicked man, in contrast, is unsteady/easily shaken, and ultimately will not survive testing.
3. All the characteristics of a righteous person are founded on reading, meditating, and obeying God’s word.  I know for most of us, studying God’s word sometimes feels like a chore, but press on—I know you will come to love it.

Evening Reflection

When was the last time you thought about your character?  Take, for example, the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Are there one or two of those that are glaring deficiencies in your life?  Have you come to enjoy spending time in God’s word?  Take some time to pray this evening about one area you’d like to grow in.

 

 

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT devotionals from April 4-10 are provided by Cami King.  Cami, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is about to complete her M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary.  She is currently serving as a staff at Journey Community Church in Raleigh. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 16:22-30

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

My Hebrew professor taught our class about something she called “the suffering witness.” As we studied the life of Naomi, and how Ruth managed to somehow come to faith in Yahweh even as Naomi suffered and appeared forsaken by Him, and then studied the life of Job and how he teaches us about God—not in spite of, but through his suffering—she explained that sometimes we are positioned to be a greater witness for God as we move through suffering than we are as we move through times of abundance. Sometimes, the voice of our witness carries a little further and echoes a little louder from the valley than it does from the mountaintop.

To drive this point home, she told the story of a missionary to Burma who lived for years with the Matu tribe with not one single convert. Although he was welcomed by the tribe and did life together with them for many years, no one professed faith in Jesus. As he neared the end of His life and eventually died, another missionary arrived and, to everyone’s surprise, saw almost instant revival in the community with too many converts to keep track. When the chief of the Matu people was asked what made the difference (assuming it was something this new missionary was doing well), he explained that they were drawn to the faith by the life and witness of the first missionary. But they were unwilling to fully buy in and accept His message until they saw how he died. They were waiting to see how he died, how he moved through the greatest moment of human suffering, in order to fully evaluate the merits of his message of the gospel. And obviously he died well, because when his successor stepped on the scene, he couldn’t baptize the converts fast enough.

When Paul and Silas were thrown in jail, Luke writes that they spent the night praying and singing hymns to God. And he notes that their response to the situation was in the hearing of the other prisoners. Not only this, but when they were freed by supernatural means, they stayed put (knowing that Roman law required guards be put to death for losing track of prisoners). Their witness in a time of suffering spoke volumes and led to the conversion of their jailer who, beholding the whole thing, was filled with awe and fear of the Lord.

More often than not, we want alleviation of difficult circumstances so badly that we forget to worship God where we are and allow Him to use us even in suffering. But may we remember today that our suffering witness is extremely powerful in the hands of our Faithful God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to surrender times of difficulty and suffering to You for Your glory. As the song says, “I will fall at your feet and worship you here…” in the midst of trials, in the face of suffering, as I move through difficulties, right here I choose to worship. May my suffering witness speak volumes to those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Proverbs 30