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

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 2:68-69

Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site. ⁶⁹ According to their ability they gave to the treasury of the work 61,000 darics of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priests’ garments.

They gave according to their ability. 

We are not told much about the journey of the returning exiles to Jerusalem, but we do know what they did first when they got there.  They gathered at the ruins of the temple and, according to their ability, each made freewill offerings for the house of God to be rebuilt.

We learn something remarkable about the priorities of the returning exiles here.  They had left their homes in Babylonia to return to their ancestral home, but after nearly 50 years of captivity, they wouldn’t know if they had homes to return to.  We would well understand if their first priority was to resettle the land and build homes.  And indeed, they did do that, but only after making provision for the house of God first.

Their example teaches us much about the heart of true worshipers.  Worshipers prioritize their giving to God, not because they are obligated to give, but because they put God and his work above all other things.  When God is not our first priority, we ask, “How much should I give?”  A true worshiper simply asks, “How can I give?”

Prayer:

Father, I am thankful for the example of these worshipers in Ezra, for it reminds me that You are a God who is worthy of being my first priority.  Like these people in Ezra 2, I want to give generously for Your kingdom work.  Help me to join in that work today.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Mark 12:41-44

And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Questions to Consider

1. Why do you think Jesus was watching people put money into the offering box?
2. Why did Jesus say that the widow had given more than the others? What is the lesson He is teaching?
3. Read Mark 12:38-40. Does the preceding passage help us learn a broader lesson?

Notes

1. I don’t believe Jesus was in the habit of watching the offerings at the temple, but He certainly was interested in teaching His disciples a lesson about giving.
2. Jesus considered the widow to have given more than the others, as she had more relative to what she had. What is important is not so much how much we give, but how we give.  Do we give sacrificially, acknowledging God’s worth and provision?
3. This passage seems like a simple lesson in giving, but when read in light of the preceding verses, there may be a deeper lesson. In verses 38-40, we see Jesus lamenting the actions of the scribes who “devour widow’s houses.”  In verses 41-44, Jesus praises the actions of a poor widow whose house may have been devoured, if all she had was two copper coins.  Jesus celebrates the widow’s act of radical giving, but also laments her circumstance.  Perhaps if those gave “out of their abundance” were to be more radically generous and caring, fewer would have to give “out of poverty.”

Evening Reflection

As disciples of Jesus, God asks us to radically participate in His work, using our material resources, skills, time and energy.  How are your priorities?  Let us journal a confession or declaration of intent as the Spirit leads.

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

Ezra 2:1-2, 64-65

Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. . . . 64 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female singers.

Why so few?

Yesterday, we saw that not everyone returned back to Jerusalem.   In fact, we learn in Ezra 2 that the total number of returnees numbered fewer than 50,000.  This was a tiny number in comparison with those who had originally been taken captive.  Why so few?

It appears that many of the exiles in Babylon had settled down and created new lives for themselves.  Indeed, Jeremiah the prophet had urged them to make the best of their captivity (see Jer. 29:4-7).  The result was that many of the Jews had grown comfortable and even prosperous, so that when the call came for them to travel some 900 miles to a ruined city and a temple that no longer existed, they could not rise to the occasion.  The cost was too big.  The shock to their lives was too great.

However, some—a remnant—chose to make the journey.  They rose up and stood on the precipice of greatness—they chose to take an active part in God’s story.  Often, that takes personal sacrifice.  William Booth once said: “You cannot improve the future without disturbing the present.”  As mentioned yesterday, that remnant was enough.  God can do more with one person who is 100% committed to Him than with one hundred people who are 90% committed.

On a side note:  No one would write books about the Jewish people who stayed in Babylon.  History remembers the people who acted with courage, not the people who opted for the status quo.  Actually, not always true! I am reminded that the biblical book Esther was written about a woman whose grandparents or great grandparents had chosen to stay in Babylon.  Even those who stayed in Babylon were under the grace of God!

Prayer:

Father, I know that you have called me into a godly life—not a comfortable life.  I want to join in the adventure You have for me.  I want to live in your presence, for Your mission, and with Your resources.  Forgive me for the times that my comfort has been a barrier to joining Your mission.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Matthew 14:22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe the circumstances surrounding Peter’s walk on water.
2. What needed to happen so that Peter could walk on water?
3. Is God asking you to get out of your boat in some way? What is stopping you from walking toward God?

Notes:

1. Jesus tells the disciples to get into their boat and go to the other side of the sea. Dutifully, they set off, but find themselves battling the winds and the waves all night.  By the time Jesus reaches them (as He walks on water) in the very early morning, they must have been on the brink of exhaustion.  As the wind blows and the waves knock the boat around, the shadowy figure approaching the boat would have been terrifying for the disciples.  However, Jesus announces His identity—and Peter courageously asks Jesus to call him to come.  Jesus obliges, and Peter climbs over the rail, stepping onto the raging waters, as the boat tossed back and forth.
   Sometimes, we want God to make all the conditions perfect for us before we take a step of faith.  Peter, however, had no such conditions.  He was stepping out of one precarious situation (a boat knocking back and forth by the wind and waves) into the waves themselves—the frying pan into the fire, as it were.  We will not always have perfect conditions to follow Jesus.  But true peace comes only after we follow Him.

2. In order for Peter to walk on water, three things needed to happen: (1) Jesus had to call him. We can’t decide to walk on water—Jesus has to invite us first. (2) Peter had to get out of the relatively safe boat and step into the chaos of the sea. (3) Peter had to keep his eyes focused on Jesus.  When he focused on the waves instead of Jesus, fear set in, and he began to sink.

Evening Reflection

Is God asking you to leave your comfort zone and follow Him in faith?  Let us journal a prayer of faith as we seek to follow Jesus more.

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

Ezra 1:5-10

Then rose up the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. ⁶ And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. ⁷ Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. ⁸ Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. ⁹ And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, ¹⁰ 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; ¹¹ all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

It had been almost 50 years since the exile; enough time for two whole generations to be born in foreign lands; enough time that life within the Babylonian empire was all that many Jews knew about.  Cyrus’s proclamation must have come like a bolt of lightning for the Jewish people.  Jerusalem?  Rebuild the temple?  Walk hundreds of miles through possibly dangerous territory?  Leave the life that they had built?  Understandably, not everyone RSVP-ed.

But some rose up—heads of houses, priests, Levites and others “whose spirits God had stirred up.”  Not everyone—but  enough.  The number that God calls is always enough for the task.  And for those called to return, God provided what was necessary to finance the trip to their ancestral home, to rebuild the temple, and to replenish the temple with its implements of worship.

When God calls us to a task, He always provides what is necessary for carrying out that task—whether human resources, money, materials or power.  As a church planter, I have seen God provide over and over again the past five years.  Has your spirit been stirred by God for some great (or small) endeavor?  Trust in God to provide!

Prayer:

Father, I thank you for Your gracious and sovereign provision!  I thank You that even beyond people, money or materials, You provide me with salvation and grace.  I want to trust that You will always be enough.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 3

Lunch Break Study

Read 2 Kings 4:1-7

Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” ² And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” ³ Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. ⁴ Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” ⁵ So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. ⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Questions to Consider:

1. What was the widow’s situation? What options were available to her?
2. Why do you think Elisha asked the widow what she had in her house?
3. What specific steps of faith were required for the widow to experience God’s provision?
4. How much did God provide?

Notes:

1. The widow was in debt and owed her sons as slaves to a creditor. At this point, her only option, other than surrendering her sons, was to ask for help.
2. I am sure that the widow did not consider her present resources as sufficient in any way to overcome her circumstances. But Elisha directs her attention to what she does  Just as Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes, God can use what we already have.
3. The widow had to show faith in a number of ways: (1) she had to decide to obey Elisha’s instructions; (2) she had to instruct her sons to ask her neighbors for many empty vessels (which must have seemed like a strange and potentially humbling request); and (3) she had to pour out the one jar of oil that she had into another vessel (if this didn’t work, presumably some of the oil would be wasted in the transfer).
4. The jar of oil did not stop flowing until the last vessel was filled. God provided in exact proportion to the widow’s lived out faith!  This was enough to pay off the widow’s debts and enough to live on afterwards.

Evening Reflection

How has God provided for you?  As we journal, let us gladden our hearts by remembering instances of God’s provision for us.

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

Ezra 1:1-4 (NLT)

In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah.  He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:  ² This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. ³ Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! ⁴ Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

God can use non-Christian leaders

Yesterday, we looked at how God keeps His promises.  Remarkably, God’s promise to return His people from exile was fulfilled through a non-Jewish, pagan king – Cyrus of Persia – who conquered Babylon in 539BC.

While Cyrus sounds like a believer in Ezra 1, we know from the historical record (particularly from a document known as the ‘Cyrus Cylinder’) that he primarily worshiped Marduk, but he was also a respecter of regional gods (as Cyrus would have seen them).  In the Cyrus Cylinder, Cyrus describes some of his works in the following manner:

I returned to (these) sacred cities on the other side of the Tigris, the sanctuaries of which have been ruins for a long time, the images which (used) to live therein and established for them permanent sanctuaries. I (also) gathered all their (former) inhabitants and returned (to them) their habitations.

(Pritchard, Ancient Near East, 1:208.)

Amazingly, the prophet Isaiah names Cyrus as one “anointed” by God — a “messiah” who has been raised up by God to do His bidding (Isaiah 45:1).

I confess that I am not heavily involved in praying for national politics (here or abroad).  I do not convene with other pastors to intentionally pray for local political leaders.  But this passage encourages me to pray much more for them.  Why?  Because the story of Cyrus tells us that God can and does use leaders (even non-Christian leaders) to bring about God’s will.  God is sovereign over all the nations.  He doesn’t need national leaders to believe in Him to be their ultimate ruler!

Prayer:

Dear Lord of lords, I am reminded by Your word to pray for all leaders—even those who don’t acknowledge You or seem to have a wrong understanding of You.  I pray for the leaders of countries where Christians are officially persecuted.  I pray especially for Syria.  I ask that you would guide leaders there as you once guided Cyrus, and that they might be used as instruments of Your will.  May Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 2

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-4

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.

Questions to Consider:

1. Who does Paul instruct us to pray for? How might this change our prayers?
2. Why does Paul ask us to pray for national leaders?
3. In respect to your answer to question 2, why is this pleasing to God?

Notes:

1. Paul instructs us to pray for everyone in general; and in particular, kings and those in high positions. Our prayers ought to be global and broad in scope—particularly for leaders who have been given great influence. It is instructive to note that in Paul’s time, no national leaders were believers in Christ.
2. We are to pray for leaders so that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” The basic benefit of good government is peace –from war and civil strife–so that free worship of God can be given and people can live “dignified” or holy lives.
3. God is pleased with this kind of peace as it is His desire that “all people” will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. We are to pray for leaders to effect an environment where the gospel can be advanced freely.

Evening Reflection

I encourage you to journal some ways that you can be praying for national leaders, international leaders and local leaders (including, perhaps, your boss).  How is God encouraging you to pray more globally and broadly?