Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 6:8-15

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. ^[1]

Jesus’ call to love our enemies has largely been swept aside as a utopian fantasy that is unrealistic in the real world.   I recently heard a joke that highlights this point.  A pastor was preaching to his church about loving their enemies and he decided to take a quick survey of his congregation. He asked how many of them could count 10 or more enemies in their life.  A few guilty hands went up.  Then he asked how many of them had 5-10 enemies and a few more repentant hands went up.   Then he asked who had at least one enemy and this time nearly all the hands were raised.  Finally the preacher asked, “Who has no enemies?”  After a moment, the pastor saw the hand of one elderly man being raised and, wanting the church to hear the counsel of this godly man, he asked, “What is your secret to having no enemies so late in life?”    The man replied, “I thank God all those jerks have died!”

Laughter aside, this is a joke that has some level of truth to it.  And the truth is that most of us choose to ignore people whom we don’t like, simply waiting for the day that either you or that person will die or disappear.  Rarely would we even consider sharing God’s love by evangelizing those who are hostile to us.   Instead of seeing difficult people as an opportunity to fulfill the law of Christ, we tend to run away from the challenges of loving those who disagree with us, offend us, or just annoy us.  As the Scriptures point out, man’s natural tendency is to love only those who love us and to show kindness only to those who are kind to us.  Those with a greater sense of social responsibility may show love to people whom they have little or no relationship with, but it is a rare thing to find someone who is able to love those who are openly hostile towards them.

But as impossible as this may seem, the practice of loving our enemies was central to the success of the early church, especially as they were persecuted mercilessly. In fact, our understanding of this golden rule is still vitally important in truly living out the Gospel.   We are told that Stephen was a man full of grace and power.  Both of those characteristics were put to the test as he was wrongfully placed on trial and ultimately martyred for his faith.  Yet through it all, we read that Stephen’s face was like that of an angel.  I believe that the only thing that could explain his demeanor under such hostile circumstances was the fact that he was filled with the love of Christ, a love that is not bound by friendship but extends to our enemies.

Prayer:  Father, reveal to us the full depth, width, and breadth of your love.  Remind us that we were your enemies, yet you demonstrated your love by sending your Son to die on our behalf.   As we face those who are hostile to us and to the message of Christianity, help us to respond with the same love that you displayed for us.  Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ac 6:8–15). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 14-15

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 6:1-7

 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ³ Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. ^[1]

Before becoming a full-time pastor, I spent a number of years in the corporate world as a biochemist.  I spent the bulk of my time working in two companies.  One was a publicly traded company, which relied on secular investors; and the other, a private firm owned and operated by Christian businessmen.  On the surface, you would think that the company run by Christian ownership would have a better atmosphere, culture, and work environment, and that they would treat their employees better than a company without any sort of Christian ethic.  To my surprise, it was the non-Christian ownership that was better on most of these counts.  Unfortunately, this is a trend that I see as I compare the majority of Christendom to the world.  The world organizes better, sings better, motivates better, administrates better, builds better, and leads better.  The main reason for this is the fact that the world doesn’t accept mediocrity, while the church—in the name of God’s grace—is perfectly fine with the mediocre.  While I was working at my first company, one of my co-workers sent me a pretty funny email about laziness in the workplace:

“This company cannot afford to have our employees give half-[bottom] efforts.  It doesn’t matter if your [bottom] is half empty or half full.  Half is still half.  One cheek will never get the job done.  We demand that you put both of your cheeks into your work.  Half a buttocks, half a rump, half a tush will only get you half the results.  If we want to achieve success, we need to get behind our work (pun intended).”

I think many of us have overlooked this emphasis on doing things well in regards to our faith and service to the Lord, but if we sit down and think about it logically, it makes all the sense in the world.  We serve a God who does all things well, and as His children, we should reflect this characteristic of our Father in heaven.  There has to be a desire in us to excel in those areas where He has called us to minister.  Obviously, only God can do all things well.  You and I can only do a handful of things well, and so we need to prioritize.  Good leaders not only display proficiency, they understand priority.  This is what we see the apostles essentially doing.   They are proficient in caring for the widows, but their priority is to pray and preach the Word of God.  They could not do both well so they raised a new group of leaders.  Nevertheless, they felt that serving the poor was important enough to recruit the best candidates in the church—men who were filled with the Spirit and of wisdom, because, again, this was a ministry worth the best effort of the church.  As we prepare for Sunday, I pray that the Lord would encourage all of us to serve well.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we know that Your Son did all things well and grew in His reputation among men.  Help us to do things well, not from a legalistic motivation, but because we long to give You our best.  Guard us against laziness, and grow us in our capacity to minister and serve Your church effectively.  Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Acts 6:1–7). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 13

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 5:33-42

³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. ^[1]

In his farewell speech to the disciples, Jesus states clearly, “No servant is greater than his master and if they persecuted me, they will persecute you.” As we are faced with the suffering of Christ and the call to pick up our cross and follow Him, an important question arises: What does it mean for us, surrounded by all of this affluence and comfort, to suffer for the sake of the gospel?

In answering this question, one of the problems we face is that we could never imagine God asking us to suffer for His name.   So when things are going well, we feel pretty good about our relationship with God. However, when things turn for the worse, if there is an ounce of discomfort or suffering, we are often quick to question the purpose of God. The words of Christ from the cross remind us that we haven’t even begun the first lessons of trusting in our heavenly Father until we have moved through deep seasons of pain and anguish. This is often when our relationship with God is put to the test. Can you commit your spirit, your entire life into the hands of your Father in heaven, even when it comes at a price?   The logical question that we need to reflect on today is this: “If God asked his natural Son to suffer for His name and for the purpose of love, would He not ask his adopted children to do the same?”

And here, some of us might wonder, how can a loving God allow his children to suffer? How does a good father willingly and knowingly put his children at risk?   Well, the answer to that is very simple: we are not living in peacetime. There is a war that surrounds us, a war for the ages between good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate—ultimately, life versus death. Any good father would proudly enlist his children into that struggle and with a grieving heart, even risk their well-being for the purpose of winning a just war. And in the same way that God asked His only begotten Son to suffer for the sake of gospel, he asks His spiritual children to do the same.

Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the examples of men and women, both past and present, who have paid the highest price to live out their faith. Help us to remember that there are many brothers and sisters in Christ who don’t live in the relative ease and comfort that we enjoy in the West.   We lift up the persecuted church in prayer, and rejoice that your people have been found worthy enough to suffer for Your Name. Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Acts 5:33–42). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 12

Lunch Break Study

Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, ⁴ and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. ^[1]

Questions to Consider:

1. What does it mean to be justified by faith?
2. What are the benefits of being justified in the eyes of God?
3. How is justification and glorification connected in the Christian life?

Notes:

1. Justification by faith is a central doctrine of Christianity. It is the belief that through our relationship with Christ and faith in His work on the cross, we are found to be righteous in the sight of God.
2. The main benefit of being justified is having peace with God. However, justification is more than the forgiveness of sin, it comes with the promise of our glorification, that one day we will be made to be like Christ. Many confuse justification with simply the negation of debt that leaves us with an empty account. The biblical view of justification is that our accounts are positively filled with the righteousness of Christ by the grace of God. This is what theologians refer to as the imputation of righteousness to the believer.
3. Between justification and glorification, the believer enters into the process of sanctification or being refined in holiness. One of the ways that God produces this growth in the believer is through the use of suffering. We rejoice in times of suffering, because we can see the endurance, character, and hope that it produces in us. Furthermore, if we know that we stand justified by grace, we know that our suffering is not judgment against our sin.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ro 5:1–5). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Evening Reflection

Are you going through a difficult time, or is someone that you know suffering? Pray that God would give you joy and hope during these trying circumstances?   Remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28)!

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 5:17-32

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” ^[1]

As Christians, our courage was meant to come from our identity in Christ. So much of the timidity that we experience in life comes because we feel like we are not good enough. When we get a job that is well beyond our qualifications, we struggle with being unsure of ourselves. When we fall for someone who seems to be out of our league, we find ourselves stumbling over our words trying to communicate. In fact, whenever we are in the presence of people who seem smarter, richer, or more talented than we are, we feel our insecurities rising to the surface and all of our confidence leaking out. But when you truly come to believe in Christ, your sense of identity doesn’t come from yourself— it comes from the One who died for you.   And when you begin to see the world from the perspective that everyone is a sinner in need of a Savior, a wonderful thing happens: you find yourself free from crippling self-consciousness.

Every one of us knows the glaring weaknesses in our lives. Maybe you didn’t go to the best college or have a prestigious career or have the right pedigree. In today’s passage, we see that the disparity between the apostles and the men putting them on trial is greater than the difference between the average person in our churches and a supreme court judge. Yet we can see that they didn’t fumble for words, they showed no signs of nerves, fear, or doubt. It’s possible that these religious leaders had never been addressed in this way by the lower class. The gospel does something astounding in those who truly believe.   When you identify yourself with the resurrected Christ, you no longer measure yourself on the sliding scale of relative status. In other words, your worth and sense of significance isn’t from your career, your degrees, your bank account, or your talents.

The gospel puts everyone on the same level playing field—sinners in need of a Savior. Whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, President of the United States or a janitor, the gospel looks at every individual as equal in the eyes of God. There is something about putting our faith into Christ and leveling out this playing field that gives every person the opportunity to live the life that God intended for them.   Peter and the apostles were simply following the lead of their Master, because though He was born in poverty, He lived like He had possession of the treasures of heaven; though He was uneducated, He confounded the philosophy of the wise; though He had no earthly power, He spoke of a kingdom that has no end. Ultimately, it is this ability to fully identify with Christ that allows us to obey God as opposed to fearing man. 

Prayer

Father, give us a courageous faith that allows us to live in obedience to You, no matter what the world says. Help us to fight against the temptation to be timid or to compromise our beliefs in the name of political correctness or even fear. In all circumstances, may we choose obedience to You as opposed to the approval of people. Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Acts 5:17–32). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 11

Lunch Break Study

2 Timothy 1:6-12 (ESV)

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do.^[1] 

Questions to Consider:

1. What gift is Paul commanding Timothy to fan into flame?
2. Why does Timothy appear to be struggling with fear?
3. What solution does Paul give as the answer to Timothy’s timidity?

Notes:

1. Paul is exhorting Timothy to fan into flame the spiritual gifts of ministry, especially the gifts of leadership and faith. Timothy’s calling as a pastor was confirmed by the laying on of Paul’s hands, and he is now reminding his young protégé of his need to exercise the calling with power, love, and self-control.
2. Timothy is generally pictured as a reluctant leader who is unsure of himself because of his age and lack of experience. Perhaps due to confrontations with older men in the church, he was hesitant to exert his own leadership and utilize his spiritual gifts.
3. As a seasoned minister of the gospel, Paul points Timothy to the power of God as the basis for his calling. The solution to our fears is not simply trying harder to overcome them but by our confidence in the purpose and grace of God. Paul reminds Timothy gently that just as he was given his calling in Christ Jesus before the ages began, Timothy, too, shared in that same glorious calling.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (2 Ti 1:6–12). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Evening Reflection

Do you recognize your personal tendency towards timidity and fear regarding your faith? Is there someone in your life that will challenge and remind you of your calling to live boldly and courageously?   Take some time to ask God to fan into flame your own spiritual gifts, and consider ways that you can serve God more faithfully and more fruitfully.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 5:12-16: ¹² Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. ¹⁴ And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. ^[1]

George Ladd, who was a renowned professor of New Testament at Fuller Seminary , taught that the kingdom of heaven is the dynamic reign of God and that the present reality of the kingdom is manifested through various signs such as the forgiveness of sins, care for the poor, healing for the sick, deliverance from evil spirits, miracles over nature, and the raising of the dead.  Jesus began the rule of God through His life, death, and resurrection but Satan is still the god of this world (according to 2 Corinthians 4:4) and will not be completely defeated until the second coming of Christ.  For John Wimber, this became the foundation on which he built the healing ministry at Vineyard through a theology of both power and pain.  It was a way of believing that healings will happen but also a way to explain why it doesn’t always happen.

As Wimber preached through the New Testament at the beginning of the Vineyard, he began to focus on this connection between the kingdom of God and the gifts of healing.  After four months he came to an impasse, in which he questioned whether or not healing was supposed to be a regular part of the church’s ministry.  He concluded that it was and the following Sunday, he asked people to come up for prayer.  The results were horrifying because instead of healing the sick, the prayer team caught the sicknesses of those they were praying for!  As Wimber continued to encourage prayer for the sick, the church began to shrink because people thought this healing ministry was far too risky.  Wimber knew from his time as a church consultant that it was okay to talk about some things as long as you didn’t actually try to do them and he questioned whether to quit or continue.

One week, as Wimber was preparing his Sunday sermon, he slammed his Bible shut and told the Lord, “I will not teach about healing anymore.”  He immediately sensed the Holy Spirit rebuking him by saying, “Either preach my Word or get out.”  Fortunately, he continued the healing ministry at the Vineyard and began to witness the power of God move through his congregation.  Eventually, hundreds of people would be healed and the movement known as the Vineyard renewal was born.

It is impossible to preach through the Bible especially the Gospels and the book of Acts and not have to wrestle with why the church seems to have so little power.  We often end up preaching our experience as opposed to what the Holy Spirit would have us believe about these subjects.  The advancement of the kingdom is often evidenced by a display of miraculous power over sickness, both physically and spiritually.   The Scriptures present to us an indisputable connection between the two.  After all, the apostles represent the greatest preachers, pastors, and teachers in Christian history but we see that their ministry was not simply a matter of persuasive words but was evidenced by the demonstration of power.

Prayer

Lord, increase our faith to believe that you came to heal the sick, release the captives, give sight to the blind, and to free those in bondage to sin.  Help us to overcome our lack of faith and to pray your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as in heaven.  Teach us how to seek your kingdom first and trust that you will add everything else unto us.  Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Ac 5:12–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 10

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 10:5-15 (ESV): ⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, ⁶ but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. ⁷ And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. ⁹ Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, ¹⁰ no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. ¹¹ And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. ¹² As you enter the house, greet it. ¹³ And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. ¹⁴ And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. ^[1]

Questions to Consider:

1. Why does Jesus give priority to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” in his mission?
2. How should we view the commands given by Jesus in verse 7-8 to proclaim the kingdom with its accompanying signs and miracles?
3. Why did Jesus forbid the disciples from taking money and supplies on their mission?

Notes:

1. In the beginnings of Christianity, the strategy was to evangelize the Jews first for two main reasons. The first reason is mainly spiritual.  Since the Jews represent God’s original people, his first born son, and the tree that Gentiles would be grated into, they had the privilege of receiving the gospel first.  The second reason was more pragmatic.  Jewish converts to Christianity would already have a baseline understanding of God and the OT scriptures from Judaism so they could quickly grow in their new found faith in Christ.
2. Although many people dispute the commands in verse 8 as being limited to just the original disciples, there is no biblical warrant to relegate the commands to heal the sick, exorcise demons, and even raise the dead to Christians in the first century. If this were the case, we would have to limit the command to proclaim the kingdom to the original apostles.  We see in the book of Acts that there was no such limitation in place nor is there any exegetical proof that miracles ceased with the last apostle.  Therefore, Christians throughout the ages can expect signs and wonders from time to time.
3. Jesus wanted the disciples to depend on the grace of those who received their ministry. Clearly this was not to exploit the sick or become rich using the name of Jesus as some have done but rather it was a means of teaching about God’s grace to both giver and recipient.  It should be remembered that ministers of the gospel are not paid for their work but rather paid so that they can serve more freely.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Mt 10:5–15). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Evening Reflection

In what ways have your experienced the supernatural work of God in your life?  How have you limited God or limited yourself in terms of the ministry that you are called to perform?   It has been said that a Christian is only bound by the limits of his or her faith.  Pray that you would grow in faith and expect to do great things for God.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 5:7-11

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. ^[1]

As we look again at the judgment incurred by Ananias and Sapphira, we see the clear warning given by Peter against testing or lying to the Spirit of God. We may not consider this sin very often, but it is more common than we realize. Tom Constable, a theologian at Dallas Seminary describes this particular sin as follows: “Lying to the Holy Spirit is a sin that Christians commit frequently today. When Christians act hypocritically by pretending a devotion that is not there or a surrender of life that they have not really made, they lie to the Holy Spirit. If God worked today as he did in the early Jerusalem church, undertakers would have much work.” ^[2]

For Ananias and Sapphira, there was no reason to lie about the amount of money they were offering to the Lord. There was no obligation to sell their property and certainly no pressure to give the full amount of the sale. What they had committed to give was strictly a free will offering, and no one would have faulted them for committing less than the entire amount. Yet, they were driven to lie needlessly in order to build a reputation of godliness and sacrifice that was not genuine.

In the context of the previous chapter, this couple had witnessed the accolades and praise that were given to Barnabas, and it appears that they wanted that for themselves.   Sadly, they failed to realize that God doesn’t look just at how much we give but more importantly God examines the reasons why we give. The final worth of our service to the Lord will be weighed by the motives of our heart, not by the final line on a budget sheet.   Without the prerequisite of a pure and humble heart, what we vow to the Lord will not amount to much.

Who among us hasn’t felt that tinge of pride when we do something charitable or make a grand gesture of commitment to God? This happens to the best of us; and it reminds us of the subtle but real danger of making a show of our religious devotion in order to increase our own sense of worth and significance. However, if this is our sole motivation, then Jesus’ warning to us is that “we have received our reward in full.” Heart motivation is what authenticates every religious activity we undertake in the name of God, whether it is giving our offerings or sacrificing our time and energy to serve the church.

Prayer

Father, we confess that our motives are not as pure and that our hearts are not as contrite as they should be. Help us to see the dangers of self-deception, and the subtle way we look to promote ourselves at the expense of Your glory. Holy Spirit, would You search our hearts today so that we would be aware of the ways in which we test You. Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Acts 5:7–11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

^[2] Gangel, K. O. (1998). Acts. Holman New Testament Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 75). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 9

Lunch Break Study

Luke 21:1-4 (ESV)

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” [1]

Questions to Consider:

1. What do you think that Jesus is saying on the topic of giving as he compares the gifts of the rich with the two copper coins of the widow?
2. How should we respond, given the main point of this story?

Notes:

1. There are three main theories in regards to the point that Jesus is trying to make in this passage: First, the measure of one’s gift does not involve how much one gives but how much remains; second, a gift is measured by the spirit in which it is given; and third, one’s giving should be commensurate with one’s means.
2. I believe that there is truth in each of these theories, but I would lean towards the first point because nothing is actually indicated about the inner motives of the widow. Most likely, Jesus correlated the widow’s actions with the right heart.   After all, she gave what little she had to live on, which exemplified a generosity towards God, a trust in His provision, and a willingness to commit everything as an expression of love for her God.

Evening Reflection

Jesus tells us that in order to follow him, we must deny ourselves and pick up our cross daily. When is the last time you have sacrificed or surrendered something in order to obey God? Have you given or served to the point that it has made your life uncomfortable or at least inconvenient? Pray about ways you can live sacrificially for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from February 29 to March 6 are provided by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S. F.  Mark, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), has been married to Mira for 20 years; they have two children, Jeremiah and Carissa.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 5:1-6

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. [1]

I realize that this passage is probably not the easiest one to start your Monday with, since very rarely do we like to look at difficult subjects like God’s judgment.  But the obvious question here is this: “Why did God deal so severely with Ananias and Sapphira?”   In short, the answer could be found in what follows.

There were two ideals that the Holy Spirit empowered the early believers to fulfill.  The first was a fulfillment of the Greek ideal of friendship.  For the Greeks, true friendship meant holding everything in common and to be of one mind.  Aristotle has been reputed to having defined friendship as “two bodies with one soul.”   This ideal became a reality in the life of the early church, and for that reason, it attracted those looking for authentic friendship.

The second ideal that was fulfilled by the early church was the Old Testament promise that in a society that followed the commands of God, God would bless them by eradicating poverty.  Again, the early church realized this ideal and drew those who were looking for a just and fair society.  It’s no wonder that Christianity had such an overwhelming power of attraction in the book of Acts.

Ultimately, this explains why God dealt so severely with Ananias and Sapphira.  What seems unfair to us and overly severe is perfect and righteous in the hands of God.  For this special period of time where Christianity was just taking root, it was imperative that the church be established in purity.  Unfortunately, Ananias and Sapphira were in the wrong place at the wrong time; but because of the fate of this couple, no pretenders, or those with a half-hearted commitment or mixed motives dared to join the group of disciples.  Amazingly, later in the chapter, we see an unexpected result of God’s judgment—a multitude of new believers were added to the church.  The warning and the lesson to be taken from this story this: the purity of the church is vitally important and well worth guarding, if we are to be light in our world. 

Prayer

Lord, we pray for the church today—both our local church and the universal body.  Help us to desire purity and power in our congregations so that we might serve as Your witnesses in a darkened world.  We pray for the pouring out of Your Spirit and true revival to sweep through the hearts of believers across our cities, nation, and world.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Acts 5:1–6). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 8

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. [1]

Questions to Consider:

1. What does it mean for Christians to be the salt of the earth?
2. Why are Christians the light of the world?

Notes:

1. The duty of the Christian in the world is two-fold: First, as salt of the earth, we are called to arrest and prevent the moral decay and corruption of the world.  The main purpose of salt in the days before refrigeration was its utility as a preservative and a disinfectant.  If you cure a piece of meat properly with salt, it will stay good for a long time.  If you rub salt in a wound, it will keep it from being infected.  In this way, Christians are meant to permeate the whole of society so that even though we are few, we hold the world accountable to what is true, just, fair, and good.
2. Second, we are the light of the world because the light of Christ dwells within us. We not only play a preventive role against decay and corruption, Christians are the only ones that can bring light into the darkness, life to the dead, and real change in the heart. The church is only as bright as the indwelling presence of Christ and the fullness of His Holy Spirit in each believer.  As a biblical metaphor, light encompasses more than the idea of truth but it is not less than that.  And in Luke’s account of this subject of light, Jesus tells Christians, “Be careful lest the light in you be darkness.”

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Mt. 5:13–16). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Evening Reflection

How have you been a witness for Christ today?  When is the last time you prayed for a non-believer or shared the gospel with someone who was seeking?  As we approach Easter Sunday in a few weeks, pray that God would give you opportunities to share your faith and invite someone to church.

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

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Have you ever sought meaning in life’s philosophies or in the world’s wisdom? One person who did but was eventually disillusioned by his search was Justin Martyr. Justin, born in the early 2^nd century A.D., attempted to find fulfillment in the Greek philosophy of Stoicism. Unconvinced, he then cycled through the teachings of different philosophers but was never completely satisfied. Around A.D. 130, conversations with an elderly believer led Justin Martyr to surrender his life to Jesus—and he experienced a powerful life transformation!

Around the same time, the heresy of Gnosticism was becoming rampant in the early church. In a nutshell, the Gnostics believed that the material world was unimportant, and that physical bodies were prisons trapping the human spirit, which they considered to be the “spark of God.” Thus, they proposed that Christ had not become incarnate but had only appeared to be human in order to rescue stray “sparks” of God’s being that were trapped in human bodies. Since its inception, Gnosticism has spawned heretical beliefs, including the elevation of the soul to divinity that have echoed throughout history, especially in the recent New Age movement.

Utilizing his past experience in Greek philosophy, Justin Martyr countered the claims of Gnosticism thoroughly in his writings. In particular, Justin Martyr delved into the concept of the Logos—God’s pre-existent spirit who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. He explained, “just as fire comes from fire without diminishing the original source, so Christ as the universal Logos pre-existed as God’s Son.”[1] Justin Martyr then wrote Syntagma, which established him as the most important 2^nd century apologist in the eyes of many, as it was the first major anti-Gnostic writing by an orthodox Christian.

Ultimately, Justin was arrested for his faith and was ordered by Roman authorities to denounce his belief in God. Refusing to do so, Justin was then executed and surnamed “Martyr,” as he gave his life for what he considered to be “true philosophy.” As Christians today, may we also find our true satisfaction, not in the world’s wisdom, but in God’s eternal truth.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the Way, the Truth and the Life. Help me to find ultimate meaning in Your Word, and may it spur me to lead a life that is pleasing to You. May I not trust in my own intellect or in the world’s wisdom, but help me to place my hope in Your truth, even though my mind cannot completely comprehend it. Lord Jesus, as my Good Shepherd, lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

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

Bible Reading for Today: Revelations 7

Editor’s Note: Today’s AMI Devotional QT is written by Phillip Chen, college pastor intern at Church of Southland. Philip, a graduate of University of California, San Diego, is currently studying at Talbot School of Theology.  He is married to Esther.  

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Philippians 2:1-8 (ESV): So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

There is a Jewish prayer that men would pray. It goes like this: “Blessed are you, Hashem (which is a title for God), King of the Universe, for not having made me a Gentile, a slave, a woman.”  This reflects the social structure that considered Gentiles, slaves, and women as second class citizen. The funny thing is that the inauguration of the Philippian church started with Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and the demonized slave girl. If you look carefully, you notice that these are the exact people that Jews considered as second-class citizens. Truly, God uses the foolish things of the world to shame the strong, the least expected people to shake society.

However, what is most shocking is how different these three people must have been. Can you imagine what it must have been like for these three people to be a part of the church-planting team in Philippi? It must have been difficult, as Paul writes this encouragement to the church, to pursue unity by having the mind of Christ. He is not denying the individuality or uniqueness of each person. Rather, he is encouraging the body to submit to the head, which is Christ, by having the same mindset. Paul says that we are to look not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others. What a difficult command this is, particularly as our sinful tendencies cause us to be naturally self-centered. It is not easy, but it is not impossible.

Brothers and Sisters, we are all part of local churches that are composed of different people. We all have different upbringings, different ways of doing things, different cultures and backgrounds, but we are to be in unity, in one accord by having this mind of Christ – to consider the interests of others more significant than our own. God will use whomever He wishes, and as He used the ‘weakest’ and most ‘diverse’ group of people in Philippi to impact their community, let’s pray that God would also give us a spirit of unity so that we might be healthy churches used by God for His purposes.

Prayer

Father, particularly as I relate to my church, help me to die to my flesh so that I might submit to the head of my church. Give me and my church a spirit of unity so that we would be a healthy church that can fulfill Your purposes for our church, as well as to bless and impact our immediate and surrounding communities. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we can walk in step with the exciting things that You are doing. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelations 5-6

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for February 25-6 are provided by Tina Hsu.  Tina, a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), currently serves in E. Asia as a preaching intern. 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Joshua 2:1-3, 8-14, 23-24 (NASB)

Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”

The story of Rahab and the two spies displays God at work in two significant ways. First, God uses Rahab, an unlikely heroine, to play a part in God’s purpose for Israel. Through a Gentile harlot, the two spies learn that Jericho is melting in fear at the thought of the sons of Israel. Jericho had heard about how the God of Israel split the Red Sea and also gave Israel victory over the Amorites. Rahab’s report is a sign for the two spies, and later for Joshua, that God has paved the way for Israel to successfully enter and possess the land.

Second, this story reveals a glimpse of God reaching the Gentiles, which was His heart for Abraham as He said in Gen. 12:3, “And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” God delivers Rahab and her family from the judgment He was about to bring about by His holy nation, Israel. Rahab was probably confused that the two spies sought to lodge at her place, whereas most men seek her out for her business as a harlot. It was not until the servants of Jericho’s king knocked on her door that she found that these men were actually the sons of Israel. In her heart, she thought to herself, “The God of these men who are lodging in my home is the God who did mighty wonders for His people. He is God of heaven and earth. I want a future with the God of Israel. If I have favor from them, my family and I could have a hope and a future.” Rahab was not only God’s instrument to speak to Joshua and the two spies, but she was the key instrument for her family’s redemption and future with God’s people. In the eyes of the world and in the eyes of her family, Rahab is an unlikely heroine, but God chose to touch her life in this transformative way and to use her to bring about His purposes for Israel.

God uses average people who are precious in His eyes to accomplish His extraordinary plans. Today, spend some time thanking the Lord that He has called average people like us to be blessed and to be a blessing.

Prayer: Dear God, I echo Psalm 20:7 as my prayer this morning, “Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God.” I desire for Your glory and honor to shine in and through my life. Continue to use an ordinary person like me for Your extraordinary purpose. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31: For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Questions to Consider

1. What is the situation of Paul’s audience, the Corinthian church?
2. What does Paul exhort the Corinthians to consider?
3. What do you usually boast about to feel valued and significant? Consider your calling – how your value and worth are found in Christ Jesus – and boast in Him today.

Notes

1. There was internal division and quarreling in the church body. People were also troubled and felt inferior to the world’s standard of wisdom because their faith was centered on a crucified Messiah, which is foolishness in the eyes of the world.
2. Paul exhorts them to be empowered by that truth that they are God’s chosen ones. They are “in Christ Jesus, who became to [them] wisdom from God.” God did not base His choosing upon human wisdom, power, or ancestry. God chose them by His wisdom and power, so that they may only boast in God.
3. Personal Reflection.

Evening Reflection

Consider your personal testimony of salvation and transformation. How does your life testimony highlight the goodness and power of God? Ask God for an opportunity this weekend to boast about His goodness and power to someone.