February 11, Thursday

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from February 8 to 14 are co-written by the AMI Teaching Pastor Ryun Chang (Ph.D.) and Joshua Chang, a graduate of Swarthmore College and currently a student at Yale Divinity School. They are taking a break from the study of Acts.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Corinthians 4:17-8

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

In the pit of “momentary affliction,” there is the struggle for meaning, answers, comfort, God; the darkness covers us. Jesus is the light, but sometimes, Jesus does not take away the pain—the cancer is still there, the job is still lost, our loved ones are still dead.

From the Scriptures, I can only cull, for now, some brief ways of how the Christian story, through the lens of unseen, can help us to find our way through suffering. First, don’t waste your suffering: even though we may never know the answer to why we have suffered, we can use it to still give glory to God, for example, by reflecting on how we can use the occasion to bring light to others. Bitterness can’t be an option. Second, trust that God is good and knows what He is doing: God is all-wise and perfectly holy; no one can understand why He allows all that He allows. Yet we trust that God does so for good and not evil. Third, we are not alone: Psalm 23 tells us this: we will suffer, but God is with us when we do. Finally, endure and hope: We endure our pain with God by our side: we pray to Him, we rely on Him, knowing that one day, it will all be over. There will be no pain, only the goodness of God.

I find it best here to close with the reflections of one who has suffered with Christ as his strength; the following is a passage by theologian Jack Deere and his thoughts on his and his wife’s ordeal regarding the suicide of their adult son: “God did not remove my pain. The death of my son was the darkest, hardest 10 years of my life. We retreated from the world. We lived in a cave. My son’s death was the door to that cave. We crept in further and further trying to escape the pain, the insanity of it all. The death of my son was also the door to a deeper walk with God…. Even if we retreat to a cave, Jesus will come and find us, get us and take us out of that cave to a party that will never end.”

Prayer: Father, I stand amazed at Your steadfast presence in my life. Of course, I don’t always feel that way since I walk by sight in response to the things that are seen, instead of by faith of the things that are unseen. God, remind and empower me to walk by faith based on Your eternal word and truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 40

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Habakkuk 3:17-9: Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength.

Question to Consider

In the morning devotional, we read that those who suffered can use their experience as a way to bring light to others. In what sense does 2 Cor. 1:3-4 support that view?
God orchestrated the forthcoming disaster described by Prophet Habakkuk in response to the unrepentant Israel, by allowing the ruthless Babylonians to ransack Israel. The prophet protested (“The wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves”), but to avail. Now, re-read Habakkuk 3:17-9; what did the prophet learn about God through this?
What are the situations in your life that are causing you to feel anxious, to worry and even to feel pain?

Notes

It is always noble for someone to try to comfort those who are suffering, but that doesn’t mean the effort equals effectiveness. Apostle Paul states that the sufferers whom God comforted are uniquely enabled to help those who are presently suffering.
I think Habakkuk finally realized and accepted what it means to worship a holy God— and unrepentance will not be tolerated. Instead of being appalled by that realization, the prophet rejoiced over this God who does so “for our own good, that we may share in his holiness” (Heb. 12:10).
Identify them first and then bring those concerns before the Lord.

Evening Reflection

Before going to bed, meditate on Lamentations 3:22-4: “My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him’”. May you rest tonight in this hope.

February 10, Wednesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

John 6:63

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Proverbs 4:23, 27:19

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. . .. As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.

“After hearing your testimony about family turmoil,” someone says, “mine is just like yours”; but, after hearing that person’s story, you realize that what appear to be similar stories on the surface, they are actually quite different—while you spoke of unilateral forgiveness, the other person was talking about a conditional forgiveness: They are not the same.

The Christian narrative is one given to us in God’s Word, interpreted by the Christian community through the Spirit. It is the story that tells us of God’s creation of all things, of the human fall, of how God sent Jesus Christ to redeem humankind from wickedness and suffering. It tells how the Holy Spirit teaches us to live and how Christ will one day come back to enact true justice and transform the universe into his all-good kingdom. This is our story, and we should not be afraid to live by it.

But the world tells its own stories, like that sexuality is not God-made and God-directed, that we can only look to ourselves to make the world better, that all religions lead to the same God. We must guard our heart against these narratives and influences that subvert our story and cause us to live against Christ. What we let influence our heart—whether through media, friends, literature, etc.—will affect who we become and how we live.

Theologian Wayne Grudem, in speaking of Proverbs 4:23, says that when he was on the translation committee for the ESV Bible, he stopped his personal time of reading his Bible and praying, thinking he was already reading the Scriptures enough in his scholarly work. After a few days of sensing something wrong, he began to reflect on the effects of this neglect of devotion to God: “Results of missing personal Bible-reading and prayer time: pride, talking about myself a lot, often inwardly hoping people will praise me, lack of love for friends, irritability, relationships with friends just stall or put on hold, general inward feeling of unease, unsettledness, hard to concentrate on Scripture and prayer, self-reliance, no peace.”

Once we let the stories of this world influence our hearts, they will change who we are and our faithfulness in living according to Christ’s story. Deny the ungodly narratives of the world any power in your life! Live according to the Christian story! Live for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Prayer: Father, I glorify You, for there is none greater in this entire universe. I thank You for giving us the story of redemption in which we are ultimately triumphant. While darkness, at times, still inundates my life, the hope in my final redemption in heaven brings me joy unspeakable. Thank You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 39

Lunch Break Study

Read Genesis 3:1-7: Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Question to Consider

We are familiar with the story of what the first couple was told as a condition to living in peace and joy in the garden. The adversary, who opposes God, had a plan to undo all that. What was his strategy that worked to a tee?
In what sense does this chain of events demonstrate the power of believing in the wrong narrative?
What are some stories that we are being told by those who wield great influence in our society that have everything on their side except unvarnished truth and facts?

Notes

The enemy, being mindful of the original narrative (“You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die”) induced the woman to distort it. All the devil had to do was raise a doubt (“Did God really say?”) and Eve took it from there: she changed God’s narrative from “You must not” to “You may not.” That’s what led to the Fall.
What truly affects our view of the reality is what we believe and how passionately we believe it. If you still believe in a flat earth, then you wouldn’t be sailing too far from the harbor. If you don’t believe in a loving and gracious God, then you would try to earn His acceptance by good works. That, of course, is a ready-made recipe for never-ending disappointments and insecurity.
The factuality of evolution, the biological determinism of homosexuality, the global warming—you challenge any one of those reigning discourses of our secular society and you may lose your job in the academia; you will certainly not be invited to cool parties or be considered very bright.

Evening Reflection

Here are some truths that you should meditate on before going to bed tonight: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16); “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 Jn. 3:16^a). You are loved by the God of this vast universe; He knows you by name, in Christ. Yes, you have the right to feel elated and joyous, regardless of what you got on your last exam, or whether your boss likes your report or not.

February 9, Tuesday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Proverbs 7:21-2

With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

I’m ashamed to admit this, but I once saw a movie with an absurd amount of violence and foul language. After it was over, however, I felt strongly defiled—scenes of gore were now flashing through my head, curse words now seemed on the tip of my tongue. I realized I couldn’t watch a movie like that again—it prods me on a path I do not want to follow. The movie portrayed itself as harmless fun; it taught no official doctrine explicitly against Christ. But its ethic was one of glorified violence and vile speech, and I could feel it setting my heart on the ways of the world and not of God. I felt like “an ox going to the slaughter.”

While we need to be engaged in the world, we must shield our hearts from becoming desensitized and corrupted, or as Paul puts it, “destroy” those teachings and influences of the world that severely weaken the health of our relationship with Christ. We must live by the standards of Christ and not the standards of man.

As an example, consider an issue that many Christians end up mimicking what pundits say because it sounds so loving. Concerning the current Syrian refugee crisis, some critics have said or implied that those who don’t want Syrian refugees to enter the USA say so because they are bigoted/racist. The issue here is not whether the government should let them in (they probably should) or whether they are bigots (there are). The problem is that this is an unfair judgment to make on those who disagree: how do these critics know that everyone who wants to drastically limit the number of Syrian refugees is racist?—on what basis? How would the critics like to be judged in the same manner: “Oh, you disagree with me? You are hateful and immoral.” This is one of the spirits of the world: it does not judge by the standards of Christ but the standards of man, marked by a vicious judgmental attitude (Matt. 7:2).

We cannot let this kind of speech creep into our Christian community: Our talk, our thinking, our hope, our love, our social justice, our very lives are ruled by Christ and no other! We serve the Lord Jesus Christ! So, instead, “come now, let us reason together” (Is. 1:18).

Prayer: God, thank You for giving me the mind so that I can think. But I must confess that I have become complacent and haven’t done much to challenge my mind. O Spirit, prod me to feel the urgency to develop my mind; help me to change my reading habit; discipline me so that I can read your Word consistently and change. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 38

Lunch Break Study

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

1 Cor. 3:1, 3-4: Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. . .. ³For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? ⁴For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?

Question to Consider

There are many ways through which we can act like the world: watching gory and meaningless movies that, in effect, mock our faith; judging people mercilessly just because they disagree with my view. What is the worldliness that concerns Paul here?
In what sense do we do the same as those who said, “I follow Paul; I follow Apollos; I follow Cephas (Peter)”?
That being said, what is the key to breaking away from this sort of disunity that makes us worldly, mere infants in Christ?

Notes

The worldliness that concerns Paul here is envy and jealousy among the brothers that create disunity among them. It is ironic since these people all claim to follow, not some movie or sports stars, but important Christian leaders. Regardless, the apostle calls them mere infants.
We do the same when Christians fight among themselves over theology and doctrines, often, classifying ourselves as loyal followers of the founder of these teachings. Some people seem to care more about what Calvin or Wesley wrote than what the inspired writers of the Scripture wrote.
The key is being reminded that it is Christ who died for us, not Calvin, Luther, or Paul. While we can have a dialogue over our differences, we should do so without envy and jealousy. To do so to the point of fracturing the Body is being worldly and carnal.

Evening Reflection

Did you have any meaningful dialogue with someone today? Did you have a disagreement? How did you handle it? How can we distinguish ourselves as followers of Christ when we speak to people at work or school regarding anything, especially important issues? Two things are more important than others: well-thought out convictions, as well as grace. Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:5-6).

February 8, Monday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 John 5:19

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

Christiana is a slim, healthy woman who was raised on nutritious meals. When she goes off to college, however, she encounters the university dining scene. She had never eaten french fries before, but, boy, are they so tasty! Unlimited ice cream! Buffet lines of fried chicken and burgers! The first few weeks of this new diet has caused a little waistline tightness, but she thinks, It’s no big deal; I still eat my salads, she reassures herself. Then, after the semester is over, her parents are mortified to see their now hefty daughter plodding down the airport return gate.

This is my fear for the Christian church in America. Once we leave the doors of the church steeple, we soak in the influences of the secular world, a world whose mind is ultimately directed not by God but by his enemy. Little by little, our Christian character becomes unhealthier, bloating and bloating until one day, we find we can no longer pass through the narrow gate. It is not without reason that the narrow gate parable is followed by a very unsettling declaration by Jesus: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21). While they certainly profess to have faith, the object of their faith is not the God of the Bible who commands that we “do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 Jn. 2:15).

We must remember that our ultimate authority is to Christ, to His teachings and call of obedience! We must “see to it that no one takes [us] captive by” the influences of the world that are not guided by Christ but by some other authority. This doesn’t mean that we wear strange clothes and do even stranger things in public to ensure that we appear weird before the world. Be fashionable, if you would like, but within reason and budget, but stand up for God’s truth with integrity and love. Study the Word, understand the issues, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then engage!

Prayer

Father, I praise and exalt You this morning. Once again I am in need of repentance for fooling myself into thinking that I am somehow spiritual because of what I do inside the church—praying loud and praising even louder. Lord, help me to praise You in the world as well through how I live and think. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 37

Lunch Break Study

Read James 2:14-9, 24, 26: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, . . . faith without deeds is useless. . .. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. . .. 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Question to Consider

According to James, do demons have faith in God? If yes, is this a faith that can save? If not, what is it about the faith that demons have that make it a dead and useless faith?
In light of that, what is the problem that James was seeing and addressing?
Examine your life: based on what you actually do outside the church, does your faith resemble that of the demons (i.e., intellectual assent that changes nothing) or Abraham?

Notes

Yes, demons do have faith but it is not a saving faith; otherwise, we should expect to see them in heaven. What makes their faith useless and dead is that it doesn’t change them; their condition remains the same. What the demons have is intellectual assent that doesn’t change the heart.
Though it may seem harsh, James is saying that people who say they believe but are the same as before, without any affirmative changes and good fruits, are not saved at all. Their faith is that of demons. In other words, their faith is too wide for the narrow gate.
Don’t look at just one thing or how you did today; instead, examine your body of work—a general pattern of your life. We are looking for consistency, with gaps here and there (because we are, after all, humans)—not perfection; for that, we need to wait until we reach the abode of God.

Evening Reflection

Be honest: In what ways is your life any different from those who do not confess Christ? If someone who doesn’t know you saw you throughout the day, would that person think that you are different for the right reasons? Can people tell that we are different for reasons other than praying before lunch? 1 Peter 1:15 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” That is tantamount to saying, “Be different from the world, because I am not of the world.” Would you take this seriously and start being intentional about living with integrity, love, and in truth?

February 7, Sunday

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from Feb. 1-7 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 3:11-16

“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Many of us grew up being taught that no sin is worse than any other – in the sense that hatred in heart and murder in body both played a part in nailing Jesus to the cross for the salvation of the world. But if you’re like me, there are times when you feel much worse about some of your transgressions and failures than others. There are ways we fall short that are bearable for us, we can carry our sins before God and receive grace and forgiveness. But there are those dark and painful moments when we fall so far short of God’s glory, our own expectations of ourselves, and the disconnect between who we should be and who we are appears so vast, that it’s utterly crippling and we find ourselves in despair.

In the passage above, Peter spoke to a group of people who were personally implicated in the crucifixion of Jesus – and not in the abstract way that many of us see our own hand in the matter –but they were there, approving, jeering, and crucifying the Messiah. What utter despair they must have felt as they listened to Peter’s cryptic words, and they began to see clearly for the first time just what they had done. Yet even in the face of what was likely their lowest moment before the Lord, they are each invited to repent – not condemned, but invited to turn back to God and receive grace and forgiveness. And even though we may surprise ourselves with the depths of our depravity, God is not surprised, and He still bids us come because He has made a way for us to wholeness and righteousness.

Regardless of what we’re facing today, may we be reminded that our God already knows the ways we will transgress Him. He knows more intimately than we do the mystery of our hearts and the depths of our depravity. Yet He still bids us come. He still extends grace. He has already made a way for us to move from our shortcomings and sin into righteousness and wholeness through His Son Jesus Christ. All we have to do is turn.

Prayer: Gracious God, forgive me for my sins today. I bring before You my brokenness and receive your grace. Help me to take comfort in knowing that You knew every mistake I’d make before I made it and planned a way to make things right. Thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 36

February 6, Saturday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 3:11-16

While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

The famed apologist Ravi Zacharias writes: “I recall on one campus some years ago finishing a tough series of meetings. On the day I was departing from that city, my host mentioned to me that he had brought his neighbor, a medical doctor, to the last meeting. ‘She is a skeptic through and through,’ he said. ‘Would you like to know what her response was to your presentation last night?’ he asked. Knowing full well that I had no choice, I answered rather eagerly in the affirmative. This was his reply of sentiments: ‘Powerful… simply powerful… I wonder what he’s like in his private life.’ That was her one-line response to a three-hour evening. In short, the entire weight of the argument rested, for her, on the coherence between the argument and the enfleshing of the argument. The reasoning was not good enough. The practical impact in the private life of the reasoned was the final test.”

What gives us the right to speak into another person’s life? As someone in full-time ministry, I’ve had to ask this question quite a bit regarding people within the church. But what about people outside the Christian community? In our politically correct, tolerant society, it can feel not only inappropriate, but down right rude to speak (let alone preach) into someone else’s life – particularly if our words are unsolicited and potentially offensive. So how do we get a foot in the door and a listening ear? How do we get license to speak the Gospel to the outside world? In our passage for today, Peter and John’s healing of the paralytic man gave them the platform from which to speak. It was the Spirit at work in them, as they simply lived a faithful life of worship and devotion, that granted them the attention of the outside word.

As Ravi Zacharias’ story above illustrates, more so than our well-formed arguments and eloquent words, the message of the Gospel is taken seriously when the people who preach it live a life that is harmonious with the message they preach. Our lives are a better testimony than our words. Many of us never find ourselves needing to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15) because no one ever asks. May our lives bear witness to the goodness of God and give us a platform from which to share His good news.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, make my life a living witness to your goodness. May I live in such a way that others want to know more about the hope I have in You. And when I’m given the platform to speak, may I proclaim your truth in the power of your Spirit, to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 34-35

February 5, Friday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 3:6-10

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Very few Christians in America have ever seen a good old fashioned, New Testament healing. I personally have never seen a lame man get up and walk at a mere command. Part of me wonders if the infrequency of the miraculous is due to our lack of felt-need for God’s supernatural power. When Peter and John encountered the man in the passage above, he asked them for something – not healing, obviously, because he didn’t imagine that was something they could give, but money, a more reasonable request. However, Peter first responded by acknowledging his lack and what he didn’t have – I don’t have any money – and his dependence on God for provision – but I do have the power of the name of Jesus.

Self-reliance can lead us to miss the opportunity to experience the supernatural work of God in our lives. In some ways, it’s understandable – we have modern medicine and therefore don’t need to command healings. We have food and money and material resources and therefore can give of those things when we are asked. And that all makes sense, as these things are gifts from God. But I wonder how often we miss an opportunity to see God at work in ways beyond what we’ve imagined possible when we don’t stop to acknowledge our dependence upon Him.

No matter how much we have and how advanced we’ve become as a society, we are still dependent on God. Even in operating rooms and at ATMs, God is the ultimate provider of every good gift. And when we are asked by others for help, we might want to stop for a brief moment and ask the Spirit within us how He wants to meet that need through us. Oftentimes He will do the expected, and has already empowered us through our material resources to be a blessing. But every now and again, He may have something in mind that is immeasurably more than what we thought or imagined possible. May we not miss it because we never stopped to ask.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember that You are my provider and I am dependent upon You always. Thank You for the many resources You’ve given me and the many ways You’ve blessed me. May I use them wisely to be a blessing to others. And if there are ways You want to move through me that are outside of my material resources, make me sensitive to the promptings of Your Spirit within. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 33

Lunch Break Study

Read James 1:9-11

Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position. 10 But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow. 11 For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away.

James 4:13-17

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.” 14 You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. 15 You ought to say instead, “If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast about your arrogant plans. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.

Questions to Consider:

Many people interpret James’s words in 1:13-17 as a condemnation of being rich. But with his words in 4:13-17 in mind (where he speaks again directly to the rich Christians), what is James actually condemning and why is it dangerous?
How do James’s words in the 4:13-17 challenge you? What are the areas in your life where you tend to fall into this line of thinking?
What would it look like for you to take a “if the Lord is willing” posture in your life (maybe in the areas you mentioned in question 2)?

Notes:

James’s words are a condemnation not of being rich but of being prideful and self-reliant. Wealth and material resources often woo us into a false sense of independence. When we don’t have any felt need from the people around us, we begin to convince ourselves that we don’t have any need at all – even from God. We believe the lie that we are the source of what we have and find security in our wealth. This is dangerous because, as James explains, we are still dependent, even our lives are not our own, they will one day fade away and that’s completely out of our control. When we have the freedom that wealth affords in the material world, we have to be careful to remember our dependence on God.
Most people in America have their basic needs met and have never experienced true hunger or poverty. Because we go to work and receive a paycheck on schedule, progress through school in a fairly pre-defined manner, begin a career and expect to advance on a certain time table, we tend to know what to expect from life. And we often make plans based on those rhythms with little consideration for God and what He may be up to and desiring for us. Not that it’s wrong to make plans, but it’s important to remember that we are dependent on God and to pause from time to time to give Him room to lead us according to His will.
Spend some time in personal reflection. For most of us this comes down to creating greater margins – in our budget, in our daily schedule, in our plans for the year—and we need to leave room for God to do something different. For others of us it comes down to opening our hands – instead of holding our plans so tightly, we may need to be a bit more flexible when we do sense God moving us in a different direction.

Evening Reflection

While self-reliance often hinders us from experiencing God at work in and through us, there is another obstacle many of us face: busyness. When Peter and John were approached on their way into the temple, they took the time to actually have a person-to-person interaction. It’s not that they weren’t busy (they were “on their way” to do something), but they took time out of their schedule to be a blessing. Are there people in your life today who have needs that God may desire to meet through you? Ask the Lord to bring to mind a specific person and one tangible way you can be a blessing to him/her this week.

February 4, Thursday

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 3:1-5

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

“Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught. Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a true reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.” (Tim Keller)

In one way or another, all people have a felt internal need to make their lives matter. Some of us satisfy this need by serving of others, believing our life to be more significant the more people we impact. Others of us do it by seeking to fulfill all our desires and dreams to the uttermost, believing that we’ll make it count most by maxing out on experiences and adventures. Whatever approach we take, whether Christian or not, humans crave significance and need to know that we make a difference in the world.

In the context of the church, this need is often addressed through the language of “calling.” We wonder what good works God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), and how He wants us to make an impact in the world for His Kingdom. But, as we see in our passage today, more so than having a comprehensive understanding of God’s calling on our life – how He’s gifted us and what He wants to do – God’s people made a great impact in the world as they lived simple lives of worship to Him. Peter and John, in their regular and mundane life of devotion (it was their custom to go to the temple for prayers, sacrifice, and fellowship), were used powerfully by God to perform a miracle. In our passage yesterday we talked about the importance of devotion. And today we see that it is that very life of devotion that positions us to be used by God in significant and meaningful ways.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, make my life matter for the advancement of your Kingdom and the glory of Your Name. May my simple offering of my devotion and worship every day position me to be used by You in unexpected and powerful ways. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 32

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Questions to Consider:

What preceded the disciples receiving their “calling” from Jesus?
Many commentators say the following translation better communicates Jesus’ intent in verse 19 – “ As you are going, make disciples, baptizing and teaching.” How does this influence your understanding of this passage?
Why are Jesus’ words at the very end of this passage important? How do they encourage you?

Notes:

The disciples were obedient to what Jesus told them to do – not knowing why or what would happen when they did. Their simple act of obedience positioned them to receive the greatest calling not only for their life but for the life of the Church.
Oftentimes we focus too much on the perceived command to “go” and we immediately ask the question, “Where?” While this is an important question, a more important emphasis should be on making disciples. “Make disciples” is the only command given in Jesus’ instructions (while “going” “baptizing” “teaching” are all modifying the command to go). A more important question may be how can I make disciples? How can I best position myself to make disciples? That is how we make an eternal impact.
Jesus’ command to His disciples ends with a promise of His commitment to be with them. Knowing that God is with us should encourage us to continue to be faithful, even in small things, knowing that as we do, we are positioning ourselves to be used by Him. It is always God who does the work of His Kingdom through us.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thinking about your devotional life. How are you doing in the area of obedience to God in the everyday small things? Would you describe your life as one of worship to Him? Why or why not? How is God calling you to greater devotion and obedience today? Spend some time offering yourself to God in these areas, believing that as you do, He will move through you and make your life matter in ways that far exceed your expectations.

February 3, Wednesday

Cami King

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 2:42-47

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

At our church’s weekly prayer meeting last week, we prayed for our church, as we always do, and my pastor reminded us of something very simple but important. As he often says, “We’re not a fancy church. We don’t have a lot of bells and whistles. We want to be a group of people who truly love God and love others.” And as I prayed this simple prayer for my church, “God please teach us to love you with our whole hearts and love the people in the world whom you love so much,” I recalled our passage for today which describes the nature and growth of the early church. As the gospel went forth and the power of the Holy Spirit came, our brothers and sisters responded by devoting themselves completely to God and to one another.

In our sophisticated, technological word, we often fix our attention on fancy programs and initiatives to grow, strengthen, and renew the church. And while vision is imperative and innovation is necessary, it’s important to remember what should always remain at the foundation of it all – a group of people persuaded of the Gospel and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love God and love others. Now that is a powerful combination. The church didn’t start out with a lot of fancy programs, but they impacted the world in amazing ways. Their conviction by the gospel (as we read earlier this week), and empowering by the Holy Spirit, led them to complete devotion – to the Word, community, worship, and prayer. Through this devotion, the Holy Spirit brought into being, from this small group of people, the Church we know it today. As we continue to do life together in the body of Christ, may we never lose sight of our heritage. May we challenge ourselves daily to greater devotion to God’s Word, God’s people, worship and prayer. And may we add to it (not replace it with) innovative and creative programs and initiatives that spread the Gospel further and grow the Church wider.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, thank you for the Gospel – your salvation plan for me and for the world. Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to empower me to live the life Christ died to give. Make me a devoted follower of Jesus. Teach me to love your word, and your people. Teach me to pray and to live a life of worship. And through me and my local church community, may you expand your kingdom exponentially. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 31

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-20

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Questions to Consider:

How would you summarize (or paraphrase) verse 15? How does this help you understand what Paul is saying?
How can we avoid being foolish? What are some practical ways we come to “understand what the Lord’s will is”?
What are some “opportunities” in your life right now? What are some ways you can be intentional about making the most of them?

Notes:

Paul is essentially saying – be intentional (paraphrase – “be intentional about what you do from day to day, exercising sound wisdom, not silly foolishness.”) Paul isn’t telling us to be on edge or walk on eggshells because we don’t want to “mess up.” What he is encouraging is intentionality and forethought into how we will spend each day.
Instead of lending ourselves to foolishness, we are encouraged to understand God’s will. We can do this in a few important ways – first through God’s word and prayer. As we read God’s word and commune with Him in prayer we come to know his will more. Also, as we see in the text, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and spend time in community, we also come to know God and His will more fully. Community is a huge part of coming to know the will of God, as the Spirit-filled believer is a powerful way God makes Himself know to the world.
Spend time in personal reflection.

Evening Reflection

Missionary and minister Andrew Murray once said, “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” While we began today considering the ways we’re called to devotion to God and His people, let us end it in reflection on God’s devotion to us. Devotion is defined as both “adherence to and constancy in a thing” and “steadfast attentiveness and unremitting care for a thing.” How have you experienced God’s steadfast attentiveness and unremitting care? Spend some time in thanksgiving.

February 2, Tuesday

Cami King

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Acts 2:37-41

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The late great preacher S.M. Lockridge once said, “A sermon should do at least four things for you. One, a sermon should stretch your mind… You ought to be able to learn something from a sermon. Two, a sermon should tan your hide. A sermon should correct you. Three, a sermon should warm your heart. It should inspire you. Four, a sermon should provoke the will. It should challenge you to do what the Lord would have you do.”

Whenever we receive God’s word, be it preached from a pulpit or studied in the privacy of our homes, there are a few things that happen. In our post-enlightenment, post-modern world, many approach God’s word expecting primarily to learn something. Be it learning something new, being reminded of something old, or gaining deeper insight into something familiar, we are ready and willing to engage our minds. With the dawn of the modern-worship movement, Western Christianity has begun anew to engage the heart. As a result, we also expect to feel – usually to feel encouraged and uplifted. For many of us, God’s word functions like a motivational speaker or a morning cup of coffee, preparing us to face a new day. And with the basic formula of the expository sermon now-a-days, which always ends in application (“how do I apply what I learned”), most of us are trained to draw from God’s word practical life applications. All of these are immensely important, but one thing is missing.

When the word of God goes forth, there should be repentance – this is the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. When truly understood and received by a broken and sinful people (which all of us are), God’s word convicts and the only proper response is to repent and surrender to Him. May we seek God in His word, not only to strengthen our minds, or to comfort our hearts, or even to guide us in a specific situation, but may it transform us as we turn from our ways and yield to His.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please “search me and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Genesis 30

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Questions to Consider:

Why is it important for Timothy to remember from whom he learned God’s word? How are Paul’s words to him relevant for us today?
According to this passage, why is knowledge of God’s word so important?
What are the reasons Paul says God’s word is useful? Why is this the case? How have you experienced the profitability of God’s word in your life?

Notes:

The truth of God is demonstrated in the lives of the people who follow Him. It’s important for Timothy to remember what He learned, not only from childhood, but from Paul, because he’s seen God’s truth at work in Paul’s life (a testament to the truth of the message). In a similar way, our lives should bear witness to the truth of God’s word and we should serve as witnesses or proofs to its genuineness to an on-looking world.
It is important to know God’s word because it is “able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” It is through the Scripture that we come to know God and gain wisdom. And, ultimately, the Scriptures are our avenue to salvation in Christ as we come to know the Gospel and put our trust in God’s salvation.
Paul gives a list – doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness. Through knowing and yielding to God’s word, we are equipped to do good works in the world. Scripture has this effect because, although written by human agents, it is inspired by God and is ultimately a revelation of God Himself to us – and He is what we need to be complete.

Evening Reflection

What are some ways God has called you to repentance through His word recently? Think back to Sunday’s sermon, small group Bible study, or your personal time in the word. Spend some time in repentance. Offer those areas to God, acknowledging your error, receiving His forgiveness, and surrendering your ways to His ways.