Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from today are provided by Kate Moon, an AMI missionary in East Asia.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 7:9-10:  9 [Ezra] had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him.  10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Why do we pray for people when they travel?  Statistics say that a person is more likely to die in a car accident than in a plane crash; they also say that a majority of car accidents happen closer to home rather than farther away.  This seems to suggest that we’re in more danger when living our everyday lives than when we travel; yet still we pray, for our loved ones, for traveling mercies, because traveling is hard.

We ask God to watch over and protect traveling friends, and when we hear that they have reached their destination safely, we thank Him in acknowledgment.  Ezra does the same when he writes this account of his journey, attributing his safe arrival in Jerusalem to “the gracious hand of his God” being upon him (v. 9).  In the following sentence, however, he also interestingly credits a second contributing factor.

Verse 10 begins with “for,” meaning “because,” and the logical connection it seems to be making appears odd.  That Ezra had had a successful journey because God was with him is relatively easy to understand, but is verse 10 really going on to say that another reason his trip was successful was that he had devoted himself to studying and obeying God’s word?

If we were in Ezra’s shoes, it may have made more sense to us to credit God’s gracious hand and our careful planning—or God’s gracious hand and the help of friends.  Studying and obeying God’s word doesn’t seem all that relevant when it comes to ensuring a good trip; but what it is essential for is staying connected to God.  God’s gracious hand was the most important factor for Ezra, but the very reason that Ezra could experience this grace was his devotion to God’s word.

What are we devoting ourselves to knowing more?  The latest news in technology or sports?  A reality show star’s most recent escapades?  There is a pursuit more rewarding.  An abundance of God’s grace is available to us, but are we willing to devote ourselves to His word that we might experience it more?

Prayer

Lord, You are so willing to pour out Your grace.  Why am I so unwilling at times to position myself to receive it?  Help me to devote myself more to studying and obeying Your word.  I want to stay close to You and experience all that You have for me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Lamentations 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Joshua 1:8-9: 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Questions to Consider

1. In this passage, God is giving instructions to Joshua as he gets ready to go into and claim the Promised Land. What does God tell Joshua to do?
2. What will happen when Joshua does these things?
3. Why do you think God gives Joshua instruction on this topic rather than something more practical like battle strategies or leadership principles? Do you really believe that if you do everything God tells you to do, you will be successful in life?

Notes

1. To keep His word close to his heart, studying and obeying it carefully; He also tells Joshua to be strong, courageous, unafraid, and not be discouraged.
2. He will do well and experience success.
3. This is actually the most practical instruction. The true reality is the spiritual reality, and battles won and lost in this realm are what really affect our daily lives.  Sometimes we don’t obey because we don’t truly believe what He is saying here; we don’t take Him at His word.

Evening Reflection

As you tried to meditate on God’s word throughout the day today, obeying it carefully, did you experience success?  In what ways did you experience His grace today?  Thank the Lord.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 6:16-22

The people of Israel–the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles–observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy. ¹⁷ For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁸ They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, in accord with the book of Moses. ¹⁹ The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. ²⁰ The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves. ²¹The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel. ²² They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the LORD had given them joy and had changed the opinion of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he assisted them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.

I love dedications. As a little girl in church, I’d see parents parade their small bundle of joy, covered in white lacey frills, to the front of the sanctuary for pastors and congregation to pray for their newborn baby. I remember buildings being completed and huge celebrations ensuing with church leaders showing off all the new amenities that the generous fundraising campaign made possible (as some of our AMI churches are experiencing right now!). We’d gather together and praise God for the life He created and the house of worship He established.

As I get older, I see something similar in other spheres as well – when a friend purchases a new home or receives a promotion, there is an instinctive desire to celebrate. In moments of great accomplishment, it is natural to want to gather others around us to revel. The question then becomes, what exactly are we celebrating? Unlike building projects and newborns in church (with which it’s harder to fall into this temptation), success in our personal lives often brings with it a temptation to shout, Look at me! Look at me! Look what I’ve done, what I’ve purchased, what I’ve made! And we may slap God’s name on it somewhere in there, but our hearts desire is for a celebration of us.

Life has many moments worthy of celebration. We will be promoted, collect a bonus, receive awards, complete projects, graduate, get jobs, buy homes, build churches, get married and bring life into the world. These are precious moments, and it is important for us to stop not merely to celebrate ourselves, but to acknowledge our Heavenly Father – not only in thanksgiving for our success, but also in commitment to Him in what we will do with it. Much like the dedication of the temple in our passage for today, there should be a dedication in the midst of all our accomplishments in joyous thanksgiving for what God has enabled us to do (we’ve seen all week that He is at work in providing for His people in various ways as we seek to do His will) and in steadfast commitment to use our newfound resources to His glory. Celebrating ourselves is great, but it pales in comparison to pointing our little glory to God’s great glory at work in us.

Lets us take time today to admire the works of our hands and celebrate the successes in our lives by acknowledging the God who made them possible and dedicating them to Him for His good purposes. And let us seek the Lord for how He intends us to use our accomplishments for His kingdom and commit in joyful obedience.

Prayer: Lord, in recognition of all that You have done for me, I celebrate Your presence in my heart. I thank You for continuous love for me expressed through Your abundant provisions in all areas of my life, including spiritual and physical. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Lamentations 4

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 6:8-12

“I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work. 9 Whatever is needed–whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by the priests who are in Jerusalem–must be given to them daily without any neglect, 10 so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.”

11 “I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled on it, and his house is to be reduced to a rubbish heap for this indiscretion. 12 May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation who reaches out to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!”

One of my favorite words in Scripture is that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think according to the power at work within us…” (Ephesians 3:20). After reading the passage above, I’m sure Israel was blown away by God’s provision for them!

A local pastor tells the following story:

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had “mountain moving faith.” They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week.
At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation’s 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o’clock the pastor said the final “Amen.” “We’ll open next Sunday as scheduled,” he assured everyone. “God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too.”
The next morning, as he was working in his study, there came a loud knock at the pastor’s door. When he called, “Come in,” a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.
“Excuse me, Reverend. I’m from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We’re building a huge new shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We’ll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can’t do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly.”

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned, and there were far more members with “mountain moving faith” on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!  “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be glory” (Eph. 3:20, 21).

Prayer: Lord, may we remember today that we, with mustard seed faith and the Holy Sprit’s power within, can become mountain movers.  Help us to continue to trust in You and expect You to move in ways far beyond our wildest dreams in the face of our present struggles.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Lamentations 2-3

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 6:1-6

So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. 2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows: “Memorandum: 3 In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: ‘Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety feet, 4 with three layers of large stones and one layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized by the royal treasury. 5 Furthermore let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God,  which  Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.’ 6 “Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of Trans-Euphrates – all of you stay faraway from there! 7 Leave the work on this temple of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.

“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil…” (E.M. Bounds)

When was the last time you prayed for your nation? More specifically, for the leaders of your nation? We all know the importance of prayer, but how often do we extend that conviction to praying for the people who hold the most power and influence in the world?

Today’s passage isn’t one about prayer. But it is one that reminds us how God can use the rulers over us to accomplish His good purposes. We know that every authority is somehow established by God (see Romans 13:1). Yesterday we saw King Nebuchadnezzar (Babylonian empire) was used by God to chasten His people. In today’s passage we see King Darius used by God to aid His people. Simply put: God can use those in power to His own ends and purposes (oftentimes without them even knowing it!).

When Israel was questioned regarding their attempts to rebuild the temple, the king ultimately held the power to support or thwart their mission. King Darius was a man of integrity, and because there was documentation from a previous king giving permission for the building of the temple, Darius supported their work. A lesser king may have made a different choice. God used King Darius (and the previous king as well) as instruments for His good purposes regarding the building of His temple.

As believers, we have the burden to pray for the world around us. We are those called to stand in the gap and call upon the name of the Lord for the salvation of humanity and the redemption of the world. When we pray for our leaders – that they be people of integrity, courage, compassion, with strong morals, God-honoring convictions, and the like – we serve our nation in a powerful way. And this has nothing to do with choosing political sides. Regardless of who is in power, we can pray that God uses them for His good purposes and ultimately for His glory.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, thank You for the rulers and authorities You’ve established in my nation. Thank You for the ways You intend to work through them to accomplish Your good purposes. Stir in my heart a burden for my community, my nation, and the world. Teach me to pray for those in power to be used as instruments in Your hands for the blessing to the people under their authority and to the glory of Your name.

Bible Reading for Today: Lamentations 1

Lunch Break Study

1 Timothy 2:1-5
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

Questions to Consider

1. Why does Paul begin his instructions on prayer with “First of all…”?
2. How (or for whom) does Paul instruct us to pray? What names and faces come to mind as you reflect on Paul’s words?
3. Why does Paul say it’s important that we pray in these ways?

Notes

1. Paul is not merely saying that prayer should be the very first thing we do whenever we gather together (although that is not a bad practice). What he is stressing is that prayer is of chief importance in the life of the believer. “The ministry of prayer is the most important service that the Church of Christ can engage in… It is the most dynamic work which God has entrusted to His saints, but it is also the most neglected ministry open to the believer.” (D. Edmond Hiebert)
2. (1) For all people – we should not only pray for those around us, but for those around the world; (2) kings and all in high positions – as we learned this morning, it is important for us to pray for those in positions of power.
3. This kind of prayer is pleasing to God because His desire is that all be saved and to know His truth. As evangelicals, we know that God wants people to be saved and that we play a part in that. But the first step in our role is to pray for all people (then to speak and to act as the Holy Spirit leads – both prayer and action are necessary).

Evening Reflection

Spend some time praying for your community (local), your country (national), and the world (global). Pray for those in positions of authority, that God would use them for His good purposes. Pray for the Christians in these areas, that they would be light in darkness. Pray for those who have not yet come to know God, and that He would continue to pursue them and draw them unto Himself. Ask God to lead you as you pray for specific topics and people groups and even names through His Holy Spirit. End in thanksgiving for all God will do through your prayers.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 5:6-12

This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius. 7 The report they sent to him was written as follows:
“To King Darius: All greetings! 8 Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. 9 We inquired of those elders, asking them, ‘Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?’ 10 We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.11 They responded to us in the following way: ‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king of Israel built it and completed it. 12 But after our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.

Maria Augusta von Trapp, the woman whose story inspired The Sound of Music, once said, “It will be very interesting one day to follow the pattern of our life as it is spread out like a beautiful tapestry. As long as we live here we see only the reverse side of the weaving, and very often the pattern, with its threads running wildly, doesn’t seem to make sense. Some day, however, we shall understand. In looking back over the years we can discover how a red thread goes through the pattern of our life: the Will of God.”

One thing that is always easy to see in the stories of the Old Testament is God’s hand in the circumstances of His people. They don’t attribute their rise and fall, successes and failures, plenty and want, merely to their own efforts or to chance. They are able to see God’s hand at work through it all (or at least the writers of the narratives are able to point it out retrospectively). When the Israelite rulers recounted their story to those inquiring of them in the passage above, it’s interesting that they mention God’s work in it all. Their being conquered by the Babylonian empire wasn’t mere coincidence or misfortune or even their lack of military prowess, but it was God at work to punish them for their rebellion (in His infinite love He was disciplining them).

So often we attribute our circumstances merely to things that can be seen or causes and effects that we can calculate and measure in human terms. But as we learned yesterday regarding spiritual battle, there is a spiritual realm where God is at work in and through our lives. And as His people, we are part of a greater story He is writing – the redemption of the world. May this give us great encouragement today as we live our lives, remembering God is at work in every moment and writing an amazing story not only for us, but for the world.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I acknowledge You as the sovereign Lord who, in ways I cannot always see or understand, is at work in my life and in the world. Thank You for Your will, which is good and perfect. Thank You for Your work in my life and Your plan of redemption for the world. May I have eyes to see Your movements today and everyday.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 12

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 121:1-8

This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Questions to Consider

1. Jeremiah 29:11 is a well known verse, but what does today’s passage teach us about the context surrounding God’s word  in verse 11? What might this teach us about God’s activity in our lives?
2. What are God’s promises to His people in these verses? How might they encourage us today as we think about His will and plans for our lives?

Notes

1. This famous promise of God is given in the context of punishment. He has allowed His people to be taken captive by Babylon to discipline them in response to their sin and rebellion. This teaches us that sometimes God uses difficult things to chasten us. Not to suggest that every bad situation is God punishing us for wrong. Absolutely not. But in every season, good and bad, God is certainly at work, and sometimes it’s to discipline us as a loving Father.
2. First, God has a plan. That in itself should be a great encouragement. Our lives are not random or haphazard – God has thought about us and planned for us. Second, His plans are good. We don’t have to worry whether God will give us the best – He wills good for us and will give us nothing less. He longs to prosper us, give us hope, and give us a glorious future. Finally, God promises to listen to us when we call Him and to be found by us when we seek Him. With all of this in mind we should be encouraged to persist in the things of God knowing that He is bringing forth His good plan for us through every circumstance in our lives.

Evening Reflection

Henry Blackaby, in his famous workbook Experiencing God, says that God is always at work around us. By this he means that God is always up to something in the world, and as believers, we are called to get involved in what He’s doing. In a similar way, God is always at work in our lives – in each circumstance we face, God’s will is laced through our lives like a thread, weaving together a beautiful story and abundant life for each of us. What are some ways you can connect the dots of God’s movements in your life in the past. What are some ways He is at work right now? Spend some time looking at the story God is writing in and through your life. Thank Him for the good plans He has for you and the hope and future He is preparing for you.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 5:1-5

Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. 2 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them. 3 At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: “Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?” 4 They also asked them this: “What are the names of the men who are building this building?” 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.

This week we’ve read about the opposition the Jews faced at every step in their efforts to honor God first in the rebuilding of the temple and then in the building of the city walls. Today’s passage takes us back to before the temple was actually completed. The Governor, Tattenai, of the region where Jerusalem was located questioned the Jews on their rebuilding efforts. He wanted to know who gave them permission to rebuild and on whose orders and authorities were they acting. The answer is clear in these verses – God alone had given them the authority and the orders to build His temple and His city. Through His prophets, God called His people to rise up and rebuild what, at that time, lay in desolation.

Today’s passage reminds us of two important things. The first is that as believers, we take our orders from God. Not that we don’t submit to the governing authorities over us (see 1 Peter 2:13-14), but our lives should be guided and directed by the Lord – His will, His efforts, His mission. Too often we settle for orders from lesser authorities. We take our cues from the world when it comes to what kind of life we should have, what kind of work we should do, and how we should spend our time and resources. We allow culture to be our authority, often without even being aware. But as believers, we are called to operate based on a higher authority, and we have to intentionally turn and submit to Him if we desire to do His work.

The second reminder in this passage is that God’s eye is upon His people. When the Israelites were being questioned and when they faced opposition, God was with them and was aware of all their struggles and their needs. And He was not only aware, but He also protected them and aided them in the work He called them to do. When we become God’s possession, we are not only guided through the directives of God, but we are also guarded by His protection and led by His aid into the fullness of what He has for us. In this we should find great encouragement.

Prayer: Almighty God, I submit afresh my life to You this morning, remembering that You alone are Lord. You are the one who guides my life and orders my steps. Help me to submit to You will alone today. May I not be guided simply by the culture around me, but by Your Holy Spirit within me. Thank You for constantly watching over me and aiding me in all You call me to do. May that encourage my heart today. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 11

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 121:1-8
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Questions to Consider:

1. Why might the psalmist mention that the Lord is the “maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2) who “does not slumber” in this passage (vv. 3-4)?
2. What are some ways that the Lord is our help according to these verses? How does this encourage you today?

Notes:

1. In a time of need, it is important to remember just how powerful God is. He made the heavens and the earth – there is nothing out of His reach, nothing greater than His power. God is the ultimate help and the best possible ally. Not only this, but He is always alert and always aware and always looking out for us. He doesn’t need to close His eyes to rest (and potentially leave us unaided).
2. (1) He does not allow our foot to slip – in our pilgrimage through this life, God will keep our feet steady and our way straight; (2) He watches over us – God is intimately involved in the details of our life because He loves us and cares for us; (3) He is our shade at our right hand – He protects us from external dangers by day and by night; (4) He keeps all harm at bay and preserves our life; and (5) He does all these things not only now but forever. Praise be to God!

Evening Reflection

Psalm 33:18 tells us that, “…the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…” God’s protection over us and our fear of God go hand in hand. When we revere God for who He is and, in response, surrender our lives and yield ourselves to Him, He becomes our sole protection and aid. In some sense, we get what we hope for (or who we hope in). Are there any areas in your life where you’re forgoing God’s protection and aid because of a refusal to surrender to (or fear) Him? Spend some time being honest with God about those areas, surrendering them to Him and asking the Holy Spirit to help you to truly fear the Lord.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals from October 12-18 are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 4:11-16

“To King Artaxerxes, from your servants in Trans-Euphrates: 12 Now let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. 13 Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer loss. 14 In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information 15 so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. 16 We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.”

“No project that seeks to honor God and advance His will in the world will go unopposed by Satan and his agents.” (Dr. Thomas Constable, Th.D.)
We read Dr. Constable’s quote above yesterday when we talked about the temptation to compromise that comes to those who seek to follow the will of God. Today we read it again as we learn about the opposition that Israel continued to face as they followed God. The basic point for this morning is this: opposition will not only come, it will persist as we follow God’s will in our lives.  Biblical scholars and historians believe that the letter contained in these verses was actually written well after the temple had been rebuilt (the story we learned about yesterday). This tells us that the opposition to the Israelites persisted for many years and well after they began to rebuild God’s temple and follow His will. Not only did they face opposition when they built their house of worship, but right down to their construction of the city wall (a basic need for any city at that time), as the surrounding cities tried to thwart their efforts by writing to the current king and slandering the Israelites’ intentions, hoping he will step in and oppose them.

As a seminary student I talked to many believers, particularly those in ministry, and one thing I found, one constant thread in all their lives, was difficulty. It’s natural to assume that the longer we live for God and the more we do for God, the less struggle we will have and life will get easier. But the opposite is true. And any believer who has been in the “game” for a while probably knows by experience that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12); in fact, “we were destined for them” (1 Thess. 3:3).

So, if you are facing opposition and difficulties today as you strive to live for the Lord, take heart in knowing that you are not alone and all God’s people (as we see in scripture and in the lives of saints around us) face opposition in many ways as the enemy, through circumstance and people around us, tries to thwart God’s work in and through us. Take heart and don’t give up. May we not allow opposition and difficulties to hinder us from faithfulness to the will of God.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the good work you’ve prepared in advance for me to do. Thank you for empowering me through your Holy Spirit to be participate in your coming Kingdom. As I seek to follow you today and everyday, please help me to remain faithful in the face of any opposition. Help me to rely upon you and trust you when you say that no weapon formed against me will prosper. In Jesus’ name.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 10

Lunch Break Study

Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Questions to Consider

1. What does Paul teach us about the true nature of opposition we face in our lives?
2. What does Paul encourage us to do in the face of this kind of opposition?
3. Where might your “armor” need to be strengthened? Where are you vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks? Identify from Paul’s teaching some areas that you need to surrender to God, asking Him to give practical steps to position you to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in those areas so that you can stand firm when facing opposition.
Notes

1. Paul teaches us that our opposition is ultimately a spiritual one and reminds us of the reality of a spiritual battle      happening in the unseen. Too often we forget that various circumstances, emotions, experiences, and difficulties in our lives are not just coincidence or wholly material, but there is a spiritual component, that is, a crafty enemy who scheming and using these things to try to steal, kill, and destroy us.
2. He tells us to take up the “whole armor of God” so that we are able to stand firm in the face of opposition. He calls us to take up:
– Truth (to be people of integrity and not hypocrisy)
– Righteousness (to be people with a strong moral compass and a track record of right actions)
– Readiness given by the gospel of peace (to be people who constantly preach the gospel to themselves, remembering the peace we have in Christ and being compelled to share it with others)
– Faith (to be people who trust in God’s promises, even without having yet seen them come in their fullness)
– Salvation (to be people who yield our lives to God, acknowledging our need for him and receiving his aid to us)
– The word of God (to be people who know God’s word – allowing it, and it alone, to inform us of what is true – about God, ourselves, etc.)
Then and only then will we be able to stand firm in the face of opposition. And finally he calls us to pray not only for ourselves as we face battle, but for all saints around the world who too will face opposition as they seek to do God’s will.
3. Personal response

Evening Reflection

Are you facing opposition today? Spend sometime asking the Lord to strengthen you in the face of difficulties so that you can continue to fight the good fight. Reflect on previous times of struggle in your life where God demonstrated His faithfulness. Thank Him for those moments and declare your trust in His promises.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for today are provided by Cami King of Journey Community Church.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Ezra 4:1-5

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.”4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

“No project that seeks to honor God and advance His will in the world will go unopposed by Satan and his agents.” (Dr. Thomas Constable, Th.D.)

This story reminds us of the temptation to compromise in our commitment to the Lord. While it seems intolerant and exclusionary at first glance, when studied further the narrative reveals that there is something quite different at work here. As God’s people (the exiles returning from Babylon) are endeavoring to rebuild the temple of God, they encounter adversity in the form of an offer to compromise. The people around them worshiped their God, Yahweh, but they also worshiped other gods as well. But God demands exclusive worship and, therefore, building a temple (a house of worship where God’s presence would dwell) in partnership with people who were not loyal to God alone would have been unacceptable.

There will always be the temptation to compromise in the Christian life. And many times we have to be careful the degree and manner to which we align ourselves with those who are not committed to the same things we believe to be worthy of commitment, namely the things of God. We no longer worship God in a temple; His presence resides within us. Our worship is with our lives. Therefore, we have to guard ourselves from the temptation to compromise and any alliances that will lead us to do such. I don’t think the answer is to run away from anyone with a different world view than us. On the contrary, we are called to be light in darkness and to be in the world (although not of it) – so absolute evacuation is not a feasible option. On the contrary we have to be alert in order to be fully committed to the work that God calls us to do everyday—serving and worshiping Him alone and making no room for compromise.

Today, be on your guard, not making any compromises so that God is honored in all your choices.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for making Your home in my heart and choosing to partner with me in Your work in the world. May the worship of my life be exclusively Yours. Please protect me from the temptation to compromise and offer my worship on other altars. Help me to walk in wisdom as I am in the world and to honor You in all that I do.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 9

Lunch Break Study

Psalm 119:1-8

Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your decrees.
Please don’t give up on me!

 Questions to Consider

1. What characterizes a person who does not “compromise with evil”?
2. Why do you think obedience is important to protect ourselves from the temptation to compromise?
3. According to the passage, what are the results of compromise?

Notes

1. Integrity and obedience characterize the person who does not “compromise with evil.” Sound morals (and consistency in character) along with obedience to the word of God are a sure fire way to walk in righteousness.
2. If we value obedience to God and His word, even when we aren’t aware of all the reasons for why He asks us to do various things, we know that we will stay on the straight and narrow path. It’s when we lean upon our own understanding that we fall victim to compromise. Our hearts are deceptive, but God’s word is trustworthy and true. When we trust Him enough to obey, we will, without a doubt, avoid compromise.
3. Shame (v. 6) will ultimately be the fruit of compromise.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time tonight reflecting on the areas of your life where you are vulnerable to compromise. Pray and ask God to reveal specific ways He is calling you to obedience in these areas. Commit to taking one step of obedience tomorrow. Pray and ask the Lord to strengthen your integrity as a protection from future temptations to compromise.

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for October 5-11 are provided by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church (Boston).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Read Ezra 3:12-13

But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

The referee blows his whistle to signal the end of the game.  From one end, a roar of jubilation erupts.  Exuberant players jump up and down and embrace.  Coaches are baptized in Gatorade.  On the other end, tears flow—not of joy but of regret and bitter disappointment.  Players of a different uniform fling themselves onto the ground and weep.  They tell themselves and one another to never forget this feeling, because they never want to experience it again.  There is something about sports that resonate with the human experience: joy on one hand; sorrow on the other.

It’s rare that joy and sorrow are experienced by the same team at the same time.  But that’s what is depicted here at the end of Ezra 3—sorrow and joy from the same team.  We can understand the joy of the exiles as they saw tangible evidence for hope and the faithfulness of God.  But as the people gathered to celebrate the laying of the new temple’s foundations, the people could not distinguish the cries of sorrow from the cries of joy.

Could not distinguish?   Joy is usually much louder than sorrow.  What was behind the sorrow so that its sound matched the sound of joy?  We are told that it was the elderly who had seen the first temple who wept aloud.  Perhaps they mourned as they compared the beginnings of this new temple with their remembrance of the majesty of the former temple.  The prophet Haggai seems to confirm this in Haggai 2.

But does this explain the intensity of their sorrow?  I suspect that they could have been remembering what had made this day of celebration necessary.  It was their (and their nation’s) sin and idolatry that had brought divine judgment in the form of the Babylonian captivity.  Perhaps they grieved as they remembered how they and their fathers had grieved God.

I believe Ezra 3:12-13 gives us a whole picture of worship.  We give worship to God in joy and sorrow.  My wife Sunny has been reminding me recently that our worship to God is given in the midst of brokenness and pain.  This is a special kind of worship that we will not be able to offer in heaven where we will worship in the perfection of God’s shalom!

Even our ability to bring worship to God captures this tension.  We can only come into the presence of God because of an event that also evokes joy and sorrow:  the joy of the resurrected Christ and sorrow that our sin required the death and suffering of the same.

I believe God is honored as we come to Him with both joy and sorrow.

Prayer

Father, I want to worship You with the wholeness of my being, bringing worship in the midst of my brokenness and pain, and remembering with sorrow the cost of my sin.  Yet I’m filled with joy and hope because of what You have done.  Thank You for Your compassion and sorrow that moved You to redeem this world.  Thank You that You invite us into the fullness of Your joy.  Help me to grow in each of these areas.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 8

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for October 5-11 are provided by Pastor Barry Kang of Symphony Church (Boston).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Read Ezra 3:1-11

When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia. 8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers. 10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Worship as the Foundation!

On Thursday, we looked at the priorities of the returning exiles in Ezra 2—how they made provision for the rebuilding of the temple before they focused on resettling the land.  Today, we look again at priorities as the exiles began the work of rebuilding the temple.  Ezra 3 is a story of foundations—both figurative and literal.

Ezra 3 tells us that even before the physical foundations were laid, a spiritual foundation was being laid: “they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord.  But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid” (v. 6).  As such, we can better nuance the priorities of the exiles—even before the actual house of God was built, they prioritized the purpose of the temple, which was to worship God.  They had come to Jerusalem for the explicit purpose of rebuilding the temple, but they played the highest priority upon the worship of God, not on the building in which that worship would occur.

There were likely some who would have said, “Let’s wait for a real temple before we start sacrifices.”  But the leaders of Judah knew that worship could and should begin right away!

Then when the workers had laid the foundation, they stopped everything for an extended time of praise and thanksgiving.  Again, the pragmatists in the crowd might have said, “Why are we stopping now?  We will lose momentum.  Let’s build now and worship later.”  But again, the leaders insisted upon the right spiritual priorities.

Ezra 3 challenges us to have the right spiritual foundations in our lives and to make worship one of those foundations. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (A.D. 1647) proclaims that our chief purpose in life is “to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”  Worship is our fundamental purpose and is the foundation upon which we can pursue any mission of God.

Prayer

Father, you are indeed good.  And Your steadfast love does endure forever!  I thank You that even as You invite us into Your work, first of all, You invite us into Your presence to behold You and declare who You are, with all of our souls, bodies and minds.   May my worship of You be the foundation of my life and may everything else follow!  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 6-7