March 27, Thursday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted March 8, 2018, is provided by Pastor Mark Chun. Mark is now serving as a staff at Radiance Christian Church in S.F. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Root of our Skepticism: Does God Heal Today?”

Mark 1:21-34 (ESV)

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 

A great number of evangelical, Bible-believing Christians don’t truly believe that God performs miraculous healings today.  These views are largely shaped by the negative publicity of healing ministries and their leaders, who make a fortune on the misfortune of others.  Investigations show little documented evidence of the names and illnesses that they have healed, and some even use actors to fake healings.  These ministries seem to be a far cry from the way Jesus healed in the Gospels, and appear to be driven more by money than faith.  

In the midst of these kinds of lies and deceptive practices, I see why it is so easy for thoughtful Christians to dismiss any account of miraculous healing or to doubt the power of prayer.  However, the one institution that should be an expert on healing has long been embroiled in debates about whether or not faith and prayer has real efficacy in healing their patients. The medical school establishment here in the United States, which is among the best in the world, has long seen the connection between spirituality and healing.  Obviously, there is a great amount of debate here and the studies are inconclusive, but in the 2003 November edition of Newsweek magazine, it was reported that—at the time—nearly half of all medical schools offered a class called “Spirituality and Medicine.” Ten years prior, the number of schools that offered this type of class was only three.   

It seems that a great number of doctors and those who are experts in medicine cannot readily dismiss the unexplainable connection between faith and healing.  Newsweek magazine—along with many other reputable publications—have had some interesting articles from a secular standpoint on the power of God to heal.  (The one cited in this blog can be found in the 2003 Newsweek entitled “Faith and Healing.”) In fact, while doing some research, I was surprised to find that there was an archive of actual documented cases of miraculous healing in the library at the UC San Diego School of Medicine.  These patients had terminal diseases, such as inoperable cancer, but for reasons unknown to the doctors all symptoms of the disease were healed. Clearly, there seems to be some opposing arguments against the notion that God does not heal miraculously today.  It is a sad day when the secular world seems to have greater faith than some parts of the church, and it is a challenge for us to develop a proper understanding of the biblical ministry of healing.

Prayer: Lord, give us the faith to believe that You are our Healer.  Though You may not heal us completely in this lifetime, we know that at the resurrection, we will be made whole and complete.  In the meantime, as we struggle with pain and the impermanence of our earthly bodies, help us to resist the lies of the enemy that You cannot heal us today.  Just as You walked through the crowds and healed all their disease, we trust that healing is in Your hands.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Esther 4

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (ESV): But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 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. 

Questions to Consider

  • What does it mean to have treasures in jars of clay?
  • Why should we not lose heart in the midst of suffering and persecution?
  • What is the purpose of our temporary afflictions?

Notes

  • The treasure that every believer holds in their heart is the knowledge of the glory of God.  However, that treasure is held in our fragile, breakable, and temporary earthly bodies—this is a striking contrast of something so valuable and priceless being held in something so ordinary.  Therefore, what gives us worth is the treasure that is held in these earthen vessels; and our power comes from God and not from ourselves.    
  • Because of the light of Christ that is renewing us day by day.  Though our outer bodies might show signs of aging and begin to waste away, our inner self is being transformed from one glory to another through the work of the Holy Spirit.  This is why growing spiritually is so vitally important for the believer; it reminds us that though our flesh might be destroyed, yet with our eyes we will one day see God.   
  • Our temporary afflictions are preparing for us an eternal weight of glory that is beyond compare.   The suffering that we go through in this life shapes our character, increase our faith, and grow our dependence of God.  These things, however, are merely preparations for an incomparable glory that God will bestow to us when we see Him face to face.  On that day, we will be made like Christ—in all His perfection and glory!

Evening Reflection

Are you living in light of eternity and with an eternal perspective?  Perhaps you are going through some difficult times with your health, the unexpected passing of a loved one, or some tragedy in your family.  May the power of Christ’s resurrection fill your heart with hope, and provide you with the strength to overcome your current situation!       

March 26, Wednesday

Today’s AMI QT Devotional, originally posted on April 25, 2018, is written by Myra Huang. Myra, who holds a Bachelor’s degree from Juilliard School and a Master’s degree from The Manhattan School of Music, served faithfully at Remnant Church in Manhattan for many years.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

2 Corinthians 3:18

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

In my previous blog, I mentioned that my last album with my colleague Nick was nominated for a Grammy Award in the “Best Classical Vocal Solo” category (2017).  

Well, in the end, we did not win our Grammy category.  I had butterflies in my stomach as they reached the few categories right before ours, as I knew they would be announcing ours soon.  I truly did not expect to win, but the greatest gift I had received from the Lord was that He had released me from the fear of losing a few weeks before (see previous blog).  After encountering God’s healing, I was able to look back at moments when He closed doors for me and understand His pacing and His timing.  One thing I have learned deeply about His wise and loving leading is that His timing truly is perfect.  I had experienced so much consistency in God’s faithfulness in my career that I knew that I did not “need” this Grammy to have a great career.  The peace of God in such a moment of great expectation and the freedom to lose was the greatest gift the Lord could have ever given me.  I felt so loved—and still feel so loved—that He sought me out to give me this kind of freedom before my big moment.  

I never became a classical pianist “for God’s glory.”  Many people attach that phrase to whatever they do as an afterthought.  I pursued my career because I didn’t know what else to do; it was what God had put in front of me, and I just followed Him step by step.  What I have learned is that we give God glory in whatever we do, by being transformed into His likeness and loving those around us.  It’s not the career that glorifies God—it’s who you are in Christ that glorifies Him and your relationship with Him.  Before I step out on stage at every concert, I spend time reminding myself that the concert I am about to give is my worship to God.  I remind myself that I am performing for the audience of One.  

My final thought about the Grammys is … let the Lord’s will be done!  If He wants me to have a Grammy one day, that’s great; if not, that’s great too.  Because I don’t need a Grammy to have a successful career.  My goal is not to win, but to know the love of my Lord and to follow Him wherever He leads me.  

Prayer: Lord, there are things, not only in my personal life but for Your greater kingdom purposes, that need to get done. But, before letting me see what I need to do, allow me to see and then constantly remind me who I need to be in Christ.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Esther 3

Lunch Break Study

(Pastor Ryun)

Read 2 Timothy 4:16-8: “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Questions to Consider

  • At first glance, this passage may not seem to correspond to this morning’s devotion, but actually it does, because both deal with being constantly aware of the true reality as opposed to operating out of a false reality. Myra saw herself as a winner in Christ even though she didn’t actually win the Grammy, and this realization was already internalized before the winner of the award was announced.  In the case of Paul, what did he already internalize long before whether anyone ever came to visit him in Rome?
  • In what sense are the experiences of Myra and Paul similar?
  • The kind of self-realization we are talking about here does require one thing: self-awareness of what truly drives and motivates us. Is it winning (even if it is for Christ) or being like Him—that is, being transformed by the Spirit to embody the likeness of Christ? Take a moment to reflect on this matter that we often ignore. 

Notes

  • Before anyone were to visit Paul in prison to show their care and concern for him, the apostle already felt sufficiently cared for because he was acutely aware of the Lord’s protective presence in his life.  
  • Their experiences are similar in the sense that they prioritized the presence of  One in order to deal with their respective struggles. For Paul, the struggle was dealing with the sense that no one supported him, despite all that he had done for them; for Myra, the struggle was dealing with the sense that she is “only as good as your last performance.” 
  • Personal response. It bears repeating what Myra said: “It’s not the career that glorifies God—it’s who you are in Christ that glorifies Him and your relationship with Him.”

Evening Reflection

In reviewing this day, was it a struggle to keep your head high (not in arrogance but in admiration of our gracious God) because things just didn’t turn out the way you planned?  In recognizing our shortcomings, how is the Lord using that to transform you? Perhaps James 4:6 may be helpful here: “6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”  

March 25, Tuesday

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on April 19, 2018.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Humanity Playing God”

Mark 12:1-12

“And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. 2 When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. 6 He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard.9 What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”12 And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.”

The Enlightenment marked a profound change in human history. No longer was God central to the grand narrative of culture; that place was now taken by men and their optimism for humanity’s potential and ability to create meaning apart from God. People began to invest into the sciences and philosophies not as a way of discovering the wonders of God but to gain autonomy apart from Him. This began the secularization of the world in which we find ourselves today; where society has sought to maximize individual freedom and to write its own narrative script. In some sense, it has attempted to kill off God and take over the course of history – seeing it as its own project. 

Similarly, in our passage for today, Israel in its own way attempted to distance themselves from God as a way of running their lives as how they saw fit. Here, Jesus is narrating the story of Israel in parable form. Israel is represented by the vineyard and their religious leaders are represented by the tenants. The servants are the prophets of God who were dismissed and killed throughout the history of Israel. The “beloved Son” in the story is Jesus Himself who is cryptically predicting His own fate that will come at the hands of the religious leaders. In other words, this story condemns the religious leaders’ failure to once again recognize those who are from God; instead, they attempt to keep their traditions alive even if it meant killing God’s servants. This is just like the tenants who said “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 

In many ways, this is the essence of sin. It is humanity’s attempt at killing off God for the sake of our own individual autonomy. I once heard it said that sin is living life as if God did not exist. In our culture, the temptation to follow this course is strong. Everywhere we look, we see the culture telling us to carve our own path, to follow our dreams, and to pursue the things that make us feel good. However, we have to understand that just like the tenants, the life given to us is not ours; it is given to us by our creator God who has a purpose for our lives- a life meant to be lived out in loving submission to His will and plans for us. Today, let us once again surrender our lives to God in prayer, committed all that we have to Him. 

Prayer: Father, forgive me for I have often tried to take control of the life You have given me- living for my own purpose. Help me to surrender and give You full control of every aspect of my life. Help me to trust You with all of my life. 

Bible Reading for Today: Esther 2

Lunch Break Study 

Read Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship 2 Do not be conformed to this world  but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Questions to Consider 

  • What is Paul’s main call to the Roman Christians in this passage? 
  • What is the purpose of renewing our minds? 
  • Which part of your thinking reflects the world rather than the thoughts of God? 

Notes 

  • Paul is calling them to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to God. The entirety of your life is called to be sacrificed to God as a means of spiritual worship to Him. 
  • Our minds must be renewed so that we may be able to understand and discern what is the will of God for our lives. 
  • Personal response

Evening Reflection 

As we are busy carving out and setting the course for our lives, take some time to prayerfully consider where your life is headed. Does it seem like it is a life shaped by God or shaped by your own hand? 

March 24, Monday 

REPOST Today’s AMI Devotional QT, first posted on March 18, 2018, is provided by Pastor Shan Gian who leads Remnant Westside Church in Manhattan.  Shan is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Gordon Conwell Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Morning 

“Dirty Job” 

Genesis 46:31-34 

 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” 

There used to be a TV show on the Discovery Channel called Dirty Jobs. The title gives the basic premise of the show: the host would go around the country and join actual workers for a day, doing their “dirty jobs” that were uncomfortable, hazardous, disgusting and sometimes all of the above.  Some of the examples of the dirty jobs that he did were sewer inspector, pig farming, mosquito control officer, and diaper cleaner.  None of these jobs are at all appealing, but they are all necessary because someone has to do them. 

If the Egyptians had TV and had their own version of Dirty Jobs, they definitely would have aired an episode involving shepherds.  We’re told in verse 34 that “every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”  We don’t know why exactly the Egyptians so disliked shepherding, but we can guess that it was mostly due to the fact that shepherding was a dirty job.  It was physically taxing as shepherds were outside all day long and likely slept in tents at night, still tending their flocks.  They were separated from most of general society, outside city walls.  The work of a shepherd was constant because sheep are very needy and not the brightest of animals. Shepherds had to lead the sheep to food and water, they had to defend them from predators, help them if they had fallen into ditches, and keep them away from danger.  And of course the job itself was dirty, because sheep, of course, aren’t exactly the fluffy and white animals that we see in children’s books; they are dirty and smelly and so were the shepherds.  We don’t have to wonder too much about why the Egyptians despised shepherds.  

When we consider how despised shepherds were, it’s amazing to think that one of the most prominent and important descriptions of who Jesus is to us is that He is our shepherd.  We can understand that Jesus is our king or that Jesus is our judge.  He is God, so He has authority and power, and He is to be revered and honored as such.  And yet, Jesus is our shepherd.  What the Scriptures tell us is that Jesus took on the dirtiest and toughest job, and it didn’t just last for one day.  He leads us, His flock, from danger and to food and water.  He helps us when we fall down.  He attends to our needs.  Jesus Himself got “dirty” when He took our sin on the cross, and He was despised by humanity and separated from God.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for His sheep. 

So today, let us remember our shepherd who loves us and did the toughest and dirtiest job imaginable, so that we could be with Him. 

Prayer: ​Jesus, thank You for being the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for us.  You have come into the messiness of my life to show me Your love for me.  Thank you Jesus for your amazing love and care for me.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Esther 1

Lunch Break Study

(P. Ryun) 

Read Luke 15:11-13: ​ ​And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 

 2 Tim. 4:10a​: ​For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 

Questions to Consider 

1. Although parables are fictitious stories, they are based on the lives of real people. So why would a young man want so desperately to leave his family? 

2. Spiritualize your answer to the first question. Why would some of us want to leave the Father’s house?  

3. There is a saying that goes, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” For those us who have wandered off from the Father’s house and stepped into the world, how has your experience been? Decent? Yes, perhaps at first. Why don’t you come back, today! If you know someone like that, then pray for that person right this moment.  

Note 

1. It is always a combination of things, right? First, the dull life of a farm boy makes a person feels like they are missing out; second, the rumors of great fun and opportunities in the city lure them as well. What they don’t hear about is the emotional, financial and spiritual cost of trying to find that life.  Many have been and continue to be disappointed. 

2. Besides the typical reasons such as loving the world, which is what sidetracked Demas from the narrow path, one other reason can be the unhealthiness of the spiritual community of which you are a part, that is causing more pain than joy. My suggestion: Don’t go the world where more pain awaits; instead, first address your legitimate concerns with your leaders; second, if all else fail, then, look for another fellowship, but know that as long as humans are involved, nothing will match your idealism.  

3. Come on, think of someone! You know a lot of these people. Care enough to pray for them. 

Evening Reflection 

As we wrap up this day, ask yourself this question: Am I the kind of person who is willing to take on responsibilities at work or church that no one wants to take on? Of course, this question needs to be tempered with other considerations, but I am talking about our basic orientation and attitude. Mull on Philippians 2:5-8 and examine what is in your heart. 

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

March 23, Sunday

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on May 6, 2018, is provided by Jabez Yeo. He and his family are getting ready to leave for Thailand as missionaries with OMF.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“A Call to Go”

Mark 16:15-20

He [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

In yesterday’s devotional on Mark 16:9-14, I wrote about the disciples’ lack of faith and how we ourselves may have unbelief. While trusting in Jesus is a lifelong process, a simple way to exhibit our trust is to obey what Christ has called us, the church, to do. 

Yet, what is it exactly that Christ has called the church to do? In contemporary Christianity, there are several ideas of the church’s role, a trend that Kevin DeYoung laments about in What is the Mission of the Church? DeYoung (2016) then argues that “the mission of the church is summarized in the Great Commission passages” (p. 26). and that “the church is sent into the world to witness to Jesus by proclaiming the gospel and making disciples of all nations” (p. 26). Indeed, we see Mark’s version of the Great Commission through Jesus’ command to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (v.15). Furthermore, Jesus promised His disciples that miraculous signs would accompany them (v.17)—something which was validated in Mark’s concluding statement (v.20) and the book of Acts. 

For some of us, proclaiming the gospel can be extremely intimidating. In my own journey, God helped me to overcome my fear by taking the first step of evangelizing with a GCC staff member. The next step was attending OTR’s School of Evangelism, which led to us starting a weekly evangelism ministry. The lessons that we learned helped us to start an international student ministry; and this enabled me to gain experience in cross-cultural ministry, which I now utilize while serving in Jackson Heights, Queens. God simply took me, with no ministry experience, and led me one step at a time, displaying the truth that all of us start from scratch and all that is required is the next step of obedience. 

So where is God calling you to “go” today? It may be to your offices, classrooms or somewhere overseas. Wherever God has led us, may we trust in Him and obey what He has called us to do.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your mercy in allowing me to hear the gospel and moving my heart to receive it. There are so many people in my city, country and the world who have yet to hear about You. Please help me to overcome my fear of man, and give me the strength to testify about who You are to the people You have placed in my path. Help me simply to be faithful and obey. In Your Name I pray. Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Joel 3

March 22, Saturday

NEW Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is provided by Charmer Pratt. Charmer, a longtime member of Grace Covenant Church Philadelphia, has served faithfully in the welcoming ministry since 2016.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

Psalm 1:1–2

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.”

I don’t know if there’s a term for it (I spent way too much time looking for one), but I have a bad habit of procrastinating when it comes to doing something I want to do if it’s too convenient. If a restaurant opens up near me, I’ll often put off checking it out because I think, “I can go eat there any time I want,” which has resulted in me missing out on many things I thought would be around longer than they were.

One thing that will last forever, yet I still frequently fall into the habit of “not checking out,” is God’s Word. At the time this psalm was written—and for hundreds of years both before and after—reading Scripture was not easy at all. Written copies of Scripture were scarce, and most people were illiterate. If you didn’t have Scripture memorized, you would likely have to go to a priest to hear God’s Word. Being exposed to Scripture was a special event during Biblical times.

Do you notice the error in what I just wrote? Being exposed to Scripture was a special event? Scripture is the Word of God; reading it is a special event! Today, if you can read this devotional, not only do you have access to all of God’s breathed Word, but you have it in hundreds of translations and many languages. Yet because of this convenience, it’s easy for many of us to think, “I can read the Bible any time I want,” leading us to go through stretches where we don’t read it at all.

So ask yourself this question: when was the last time you truly delighted in reading God’s Word? If you find yourself struggling to answer this question and reading Scripture more out of obligation than joy, I encourage you to take time to ask God to soften your heart today.

Prayer: Thank You, Abba, for Your wonderful Word, which I can read day and night. Please forgive me for the times I take for granted my access to You and Your Word. Soften my heart, and reignite in me the joy that causes me to delight in reading Your Word again. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Joel 1-2

March 21, Friday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional is a reprint of Kate Moon’s blog originally posted on January 21, 2018.  Kate continues to serve the Lord in E. Asia. 

Devotional Thought for this Morning

“How Are You Doing?”

Genesis 40:2-8

Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, 5 each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 6 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

“How are you doing?  Doing OK?” Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Israel with the saints of the Church of Southland and overseas workers from various places. I have many good memories of the trip, including enlightening teachings in historical settings, the beauty of the seasides, catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.  Traveling in a group of about a hundred people, we didn’t always get to have extended conversations, but an impression that’s particularly stayed with me has been that of different people at various points throughout the trip greeting me with a kind, quick but sincere, “How are you doing?  Doing OK?”

In yesterday’s passage, we saw that Joseph had been put in charge of those with him in the prison and made responsible for all that happened there (39:22).  What did this mean and how did he carry out his duties?  What we get a glimpse of today is that he served people by asking the very question, “How are you doing?” or in his words, “Why do you look so sad today?” (v. 7)

He had been assigned to attend to the former cupbearer and baker to Pharaoh.  The three of them were fellow prisoners (v. 7), and over time, they developed among themselves a relationship that allowed them to have this exchange: Joseph being able to sense that something was wrong, their being willing to share, his offering to help.  Regardless of their official rankings, whether he was above or below them, because he was prison manager or prison slave, the role we see Joseph taking on here is that of a shepherd and servant leader.  

Joseph’s faithful service over time that earned their trust, his attentiveness to their state, his caring enough to get involved, and his willingness to serve others with his God-given gift: all these were how he took responsibility for those who had been put under his charge.  Whether we are called to servant lead a small group, a family, or even just one or two people in outreach or discipleship, Joseph demonstrates a model for all of us to admire and follow today.

Prayer:  Lord, help me to be sincerely attentive to people around me today.  The blessing I have received, help me to pass on to others.  In your name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 13

Lunch Break Study 

Joseph has the dubious honor of being the first prisoner in the Bible.  He is followed by a long, illustrious line of others including John the Baptist, Peter and Jesus himself.  Paul, the last prisoner of the Bible, wrote the letters below:

Read Philemon 1: Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 

Ephesians 4:1: As a prisoner for the Lord…

Ephesians 6:19-20: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Philippians 1:12-14: 12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Colossians 4:10:  Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you…

Questions to Consider

1. When Paul refers to himself as a prisoner, do you think he is doing so literally or metaphorically?

2. How did Paul spend his time in prison?  What was his main concern? (Ephesians 6:19-20, Philippians 1:13)

3. How did Paul’s imprisonment affect other believers? (Philippians 1:14)  When we hear about believers in prison for the sake of the gospel today, what is our response?

Notes

1. When Paul writes of being a prisoner of Christ, he is not meaning this in just a purely metaphorical way.  He was literally in prison when he wrote many of his letters that eventually became our New Testament.

2. Sharing the gospel, even in prison.

3.   It encouraged them to share more boldly rather than becoming afraid.  

Evening Reflection

Spend some time thinking about and praying for believers around the world who are in prison for the sake of the gospel.  Pray that they (as well as we ourselves) may continue to declare it fearlessly, as we all should.

March 20, Thursday 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on January 4, 2018, is provided by Pastor Jason Sato who, along with his wife Jessica and three young children, serves in Japan as an AMI missionary. Jason, a graduate of UC San Diego (BS) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.), is currently planting a church in Tokyo. Please pray for this work.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Good Enough”

Genesis 33:18–20 (ESV)

And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. [19] And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. [20] There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. 

When I was a college student, grades were not very important to me.  My goal was to get the best grade possible for the least amount of work possible.  My academic philosophy could have been called “good enough.”  

At this time in his life, Jacob is a changed man.  He courageously repents and reconciles with Esau, he resists the temptation to follow Esau into Seir, and he even buys a plot of land in the promised, making an altar to his God.

But Jacob is not perfect yet.  He settles in Shechem, not Bethel.  When Jacob was fleeing from Esau, he vowed to build God a house in Bethel if God enabled him to return.  Perhaps because Bethel is a mere 20 miles from Shechem, Jacob decides he is close enough.

Now of course, God did not demand that Jacob make that vow, nor is God unnecessarily concerned with the letter of the law rather than the heart.  But there is a better reason than legalism for Jacob to keep his vow and go on to Bethel, just as there is a excellent reason for believers to rise above a half-hearted, “good enough” mentality of faith: love.

Good enough is fine for things that are peripheral or temporal – things like our salaries, reputations, or material comforts.  But “good enough” is deadly and beneath the dignity of a friendship, or a marriage, or a relationship with Jesus Christ.  While we may have little to give to the Lord, let us give Him the best that we have each day.

Prayer

Father, I am often tempted to believe that I serve You or love You enough.  Thank You that there is grace for sinners like me.  May this incredible grace and love spur me to give my whole heart to You.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 12

Lunch Break Study

Read: 1 Samuel 15:2–3, 9, 13-15 (ESV):

Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. [3] Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” …

[9] But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction…

[13] And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” [14] And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” [15] Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.”

Question to Consider

  • What was the clear commandment of the Lord?
  • What did Saul do instead?
  • How did Saul excuse his disobedience? 

Notes

  • To devote every living thing of Amalek to destruction.
  • Saul spared King Agag and best of the sheep and of the oxen.
  • Saul tells Samuel that the animals were spared in order to sacrifice them to the Lord.  Saul spiritualizes his disobedience.

Evening Reflection

Reflect upon your day.  In what ways were you tempted to serve God half-heartedly?  Confess these things to the Lord and thank Him for His grace today.  Ask God for strength to honor him wholeheartedly tomorrow.

March 19, Wednesday

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on March 14, 2018, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman—now a friend of AMI—who had served at Grace Covenant Church UC (now Philadelphia) for a long time.   

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Habit of Inquiring”

1 Samuel 23:1-12

Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” 2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David’s men said to him, “Behold, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” 4 Then David inquired of the Lord again. And the Lord answered him, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” 5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines and brought away their livestock and struck them with a great blow. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 When Abiathar the son of Ahimelech had fled to David to Keilah, he had come down with an ephod in his hand. 7 Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, “God has given him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.” 8 And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. 9 David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. And he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” 10 Then David said, “O Lord, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account. 11 Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord, the God of Israel, please tell your servant.” And the Lord said, “He will come down.” 12 Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?” And the Lord said, “They will surrender you.

Twenty-two years ago, when my boyfriend Kirt (now my husband) informed me that he was coming to visit me in Taiwan with the intention of marrying me, my immediate thought was to pray and to call my college professors Dr. Gray and Dr. Charalambakis.  They both knew me well through three plus years of college and also got to know Kirt when we began dating. Being the only Christian in my family then, I valued their counsel and blessing above my own mother’s approval and blessing, before I could move forward with the relationship. I didn’t fully trust myself with the decision, and I wanted confirmation on what I was hearing from God. Because of their genuine love for me and their solid witness of having an intimate relationship with Jesus and a Christ centered marriage, I knew I could trust them.  

God described King David in Acts 13:22 as a man after His own heart.  When our church was reading through 1 & 2 Samuel, one repeating phrase that caught my attention was: “David inquired the Lord” (1 Sam 23:2,4,12; 30:8; 2 Sam 2:1; 5:23). I believe David became a man after God’s own heart because through the years, he developed a spiritual discipline to depend on the Lord through prayer.  He took time to lay his concerns before God, seek His direction, wait for a clear answer, and then take action according to what he heard from God. His discipline formed a lifelong habit and became a foundational core of his character.

In our postmodern age, it’s so easy to follow after our own plans and expect God to stamp His blessings upon our plans by orchestrating events to line up according to our liking.  When things do not go as we expected, we easily turn against God in anger, disillusionment, and in extreme cases, abandon our faith all together.

May we be reminded once again that a man’s life is not his own (Jer. 10:23). The steps of a good man are directed by the Lord (Ps. 37:23).  In order for God to direct our steps, we must take the time to inquire Him through prayer. And we must remember that prayer is a two-way relationship: we don’t just tell God what we want and what we would like for Him to do for us. Take time to ask God what is on His heart for you for this particular situation, and to help you to see things through His perspective.  Wait to hear from Him and make necessary adjustments, or take proper actions to carry out His will.

Prayer:  Draw us near You, Lord, and tune our ears to hear Your voice, so we might walk accordingly. Let us taste and see the sweetness and goodness of Your very presence and wise counsel. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 11

Lunch Break Study

Read Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Questions to Consider

  • What are some of the burdens or needs you are carrying?
  • What makes trusting God so hard to do?
  • Have you taken these burden before the Lord and ask for His help?

Notes

1. Jot them down and then take some time to meditate on God’s truth and promise.

2.  If we are really honest, it is fear—that God may take you to another direction. The only way to overcome that is to trust in His goodness, that He does what is always best for you.

3. Pray this: “Holy Spirit, would you please use this verse to cultivate in me the habit of turning all my concerns into prayer throughout the day?”

Evening Reflection

Did you notice the difference it made by simply casting your cares upon Him and rest in His love and provision for you?  Take a moment to offer Him a simple prayer of gratitude for His constant love and care for you.

March 18, Tuesday

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on May 15, 2018, is provided by Ulysses Wang who pastors Renewal Church in Sunnyvale, California. Pastor Ulysses is a graduate of New York University (BA) and Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div.).  

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“God According to Richard Dawkins”

Jeremiah 3:11-14

And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.13 Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord. 14 Return, O faithless children, declares the Lord; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

“The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control-freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.” – Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

No, seriously Richard, tell me what you really think about God!

God gets a really bad rap for His works in the Old Testament, and undeservedly so. Today let’s just focus on one of the characteristics in Dawkins’ laundry list of complaints: “unforgiving.” Is that really the case? In today’s passage, God was confronted with serious infidelity. His people, whom He created, and who willingly entered into covenant obedience to Him at Mount Sinai, have completely turned their backs on their commitment and forsaken Yahweh for any and every floozy god that struts his or her stuff. They “scattered [their] favors among foreigners under every green tree.” Those “foreigners” are foreign gods, and Israel has played the whore.

Marital infidelity is a serious offense that wreaks serious devastation—many marriages don’t recover. Now imagine if your spouse cheated on you with not just one person, but entered into illegitimate relationships with anyone and everyone—even veritable strangers! How would you feel about that? Even the most patient and forgiving among us may declare the marriage beyond repair. Yet here is the God of the Old Testament, calling out to His wayward wife to “return.” His only requirement is that she “acknowledge [her] guilt.” Does this sound like a “petty… unforgiving… vindictive” God to you? His forgiveness should blow us away. This is the same forgiving nature that we see thousands of years later upon the cross.

If there is anything holding you back from coming to God, don’t wait, but only “acknowledge your guilt,” and God is waiting to receive you. Even today He calls to you, “return”! There is nothing that cannot be forgiven, sins old and new, by the God of the Testaments, both Old and New.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I bring You my heart. I confess my shortcomings, my waywardness, my inner thoughts that align with the desires of my flesh—thoughts of vengeance, jealousy, pride and insecurity. I know that in Christ, I no longer stand condemned, but rather accepted on account of the cross. Thank You for a forgiveness that surpasses my wildest imagination—thank You for the cross. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Nehemiah 10

Lunch Break Study  

Read Hebrews 10:11-14:And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Questions to Consider

1. If the sacrifices of the priests couldn’t take away sins, why were they offered?

2. What is the significance of Christ sitting down?

3.  How is it possible to be “perfected” yet still be in the process of “being sanctified”? What impact should this have on our daily living?

Notes

1. They were offered in faith that one day there would be a sacrifice that could truly take away sin, and there was— Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross.

2. The work of forgiveness is done! So stop trying to earn it!

3. This is the “already, not yet” nature of life in the church age. When God looks at us, He sees no sin on account of the cross. However, we still must deal with a sinful nature that must be put to death daily, hence our need for sanctification.

Evening Reflection

Have you brought everything to God? Is there anything you feel ashamed, fearful, or simply shy about acknowledging before Him? Take your relationship to a new level of intimacy, and share the depths of your heart with God.