Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals from February 22 to 24 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 small children.
Devotional Thoughts for Today
Acts 4:29-30
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
Do you ever play armchair quarterback when you read the Bible? So, this is when you read something, you start second guessing the character’s actions and/or choices. For example, in 1 Kings 3, God tells Solomon in a dream that he can ask for anything he wants; and Solomon chooses… wisdom. God considered it a great choice (I would have probably asked for something more “shiny”). Anyway, we see here that after Peter and John get out of jail, they start praying; and after thanking the Lord for His sovereignty, they make their supplications. Now, what did Peter and John ask for? Protection from their persecutors? Nope. Favor from the Jews? Nope? Effectiveness in preaching? Nope. They asked for more boldness to preach God’s Word (while God performs signs and wonders).
As I read this account, I realized how much I underestimate the value of certain things that God values—such as wisdom and boldness. From the beatitudes alone, we see all the qualities that God values: meekness, poverty of spirit, purity of heart, merciful spirit, etc. Going back to boldness, isn’t fear the real reason we don’t share the gospel as much as we should? We don’t want others to think we are religious fanatics, fundamentalists, or intellectually lacking. Isn’t fear the reason why we don’t speak into other people’s lives? We don’t want to offend or damage the relationship. For you singles, isn’t fear the reason you don’t ask out that girl (or say yes to that guy)? Low blow, I know, but let’s face it—we are going to face rejection or heartbreak. But think about how awesome your Christian life would be if you were bold and feared only God. You could share the gospel with that friend, correct that brother with love—or even get that girl. Do not underestimate the value of boldness. Let’s ask for the boldness that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Let me close with one quick story. I had this neighbor who many would call her “shameless,” but quite frankly—she was bold. Within two minutes of meeting a person, she would ask questions like, “Why aren’t you serving in church now?” or “Why aren’t you tithing?” She would also ask people outside the church, whom she’d just met, “Will you visit our church?” or “What do you think about Jesus?” She inspired me to desire to be more bold.
Prayer
Lord, give me boldness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to fear You, not people. Let me stand up for what You think is right today, and give me an opportunity to share about You to someone—even if it makes me feel uncomfortable. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 1
Lunch Break Study
Read Matthew 10:24-33: A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household. 26 So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Questions to Consider:
- Based on this passage, how should a follower of Christ expect to be treated?
- In vv. 28-30, Christ gives us some reasons why we shouldn’t fear people. What are they?
- What are the rewards for those who stand up for the Lord?
Notes:
- Christ tells the Twelve that people have accused Him of working for Satan and maligned Him as such. Therefore, His followers should expect similar or worse treatment. A disciple is not greater than a teacher, nor a slave is greater than his master. They hated Christ; they will hate us too.
- First, fear of man is irrational because man can only harm our physical bodies; God can destroy both the body and the soul (v. 28). Ultimately, Christ points us to the love and care that the Father has for us as the reason to not fear people.
- The one who acknowledges God before mankind will be acknowledged by God in heaven (v. 32). This is our reward.
Evening Reflection
In general, do you fear looking silly in front of others or being rejected? Do you lack boldness? Were there ways in which you were given the chance to grow in boldness today? Did you take them?
Let me make a stereotypical statement to start this morning: “Women hate sci-fi, and only men—but not all men— like sci-fi movies.” So in logic terms, the conditional statement, “If you like sci-fi, then you are a man” holds true; however, the converse does not: “If you are a man, then you like sci-fi.” I bring this up because one of the more popular themes in sci-fi is time travel. Now when Hollywood gets its hands on time travel, they generally go one of two ways: Option 1: Fate is set, and all your actions will inevitably lead you to the one destined path. For example, in The Time Traveler’s Wife (do you see how I got the ladies back into this conversation by connecting sci-fi and romance movies?), despite her best efforts, Rachel McAdams cannot stop her husband from being shot in a freak hunting accident. Option 2: There is no fate—and people have the power to change their future (e.g., Back to the Future).
Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is provided by Pastor Shan Gian, who serves at Symphony Church in Boston. Shan, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, just completed the Master of Divinity program at Gordon Conwell Seminary. He is married to Jenny, who is almost 8 months pregnant with their first baby. 
Amazon Prime has been among the greatest technological advances of the 21st century. It’s amazing to be able to go online, look for something you want, buy it—and it shows up at your door in two days. We don’t even need to leave our houses. But have you ever bought something on Amazon Prime, and it didn’t get to you in time? It’s happened to me before. I bought a shiny new book, and instead of the expected two days, it took a FULL THREE DAYS to get to me. Oh, the outrage that I felt at this injustice!
Editor’s Note: Today’s devotional is written by Andy Kim. Andy, a graduate of Northwestern University, is about to complete his M.Div. at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco, CA. 
I’m not the biggest fan of politics, but it’s hard not to see how much of it has taken over the news. Even in my limited understanding of the current events, I know that Donald Trump has said some ridiculous things—yet manages to have the support of many people. Many of us are concerned about a man like Donald Trump becoming president, because it would affect us—that’s how we’re trained to think. In any situation we may ask, How does this affect us, or what do I have to gain from this? But what about all the other things that are happening around the world? For example, it is reported that there are over 10,000 refugee children missing in the past two years—some have been criminally exploited and others being unaccounted for. So how do we respond to such news? Maybe we can glean from Nehemiah’s experience.
While the adherents of capitalism wouldn’t be able to say, “There was not a needy person among [us],” that was the claim long made by the communists. But, once the iron curtain came down in Eastern Europe, we discovered that the communist leaders lived in nicer homes and ate better food, while the needs of the rest were barely met.
While serving in Mexico, I used to hand out evangelistic tracts during my daily jog. After returning to the states, I continued the practice—at least for a time. One day while jogging in a park, I ran by three park workers but felt timid to say anything. So I said to God, “If they’re still there when I return, then I will hand out tracts.” I was hoping that they would be gone by then, but they were still there—and I felt just as nervous. Now, what do I do?
The Oakland Athletics was the last team to win three consecutive World Series from 1972 to 1974. Ironically, although the players feuded among themselves, their common dislike for the team owner Charles Finley brought them together. Similarly, Herod and Pilate, who “had been enemies,” became friends over making sport of Jesus (Lk. 23:11-2). Perhaps that friendship pales in comparison to an alliance formed among Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin during the World War II. While Roosevelt and Churchill must’ve been horrified to later find that Stalin engineered the genocide of millions of people, including the Russian leader in the alliance must have seemed like a good idea since their common enemy was Hitler.
Editor’s Note: The AMI QT Devotionals for February 15-16 are provided by Doug Tritton. Doug, a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, is currently pursuing a M.Div. at Gordon Conwell Seminary while working fulltime. He is married to Cindy and they serve at Symphony Church in Boston. 
When I was in middle school, I had to give a presentation in one of my classes—this was so frightening to me. Never before had I stood before a group of people to give a talk for more than a few seconds. Extremely nervous, I gave my presentation, but unable to really think about what I was saying. Afterwards, I remember my teacher asking me if I even breathed once during my presentation; apparently, I was so nervous that I could not even breathe!
In my current job, I work on the release of tech products. There is much momentum as we work on the hottest new trend and put great effort into launching the product; but then once we finish and release it, there is a lull. Since we are not in sales, we do not know right away how the product is doing in the market—and so all we can do is wait and see.
Here is a sobering thought for Valentine’s Day, a day reserved to celebrate significant others in our lives: Have you ever been used by someone, especially those who are close to you? It’s natural to expect care and concern from those who we think love us, but when we find out we have been used and disregarded, our spirits can sink to the dark depths due to the deeply cutting hurt we suffer (Gaylin, Feelings, 148-164). Former Columbia University psychiatry professor Willard Gaylin insightfully describes the feeling of being used when he writes, “The sense of being used . . . arises from the fear that the person dealing with us is not involved with us in emotional ties and affection—where there may be mutual use—but is simply using us as an instrument, a vehicle of his own purposes. We then are equated with the things in his life. We are signs of his needs, not of his affections.
Sometimes the Bible calls on us to be used: although I doubt Jesus meant in Ma tthew 5:40-1 that we should let thieves steal whatever they want from us because we should never resist. (Hyperbole seems to be in play here.) Nevertheless, Jesus conveys the message that sometimes doing good means letting ourselves be used by others for the glory of God. Jesus should know: while He let Judas to use Him to profit himself materially, Jesus allowed it to profit us spiritually.