Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from Sept. 28-Oct.2 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 25:1-7: And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it. ² So the city was besieged till the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. ³ On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. ⁴ Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king’s garden, and the Chaldeans were around the city. And they went in the direction of the Arabah. ⁵ But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and all his army was scattered from him. ⁶ Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, and they passed sentence on him. ⁷ They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in chains and took him to Babylon.

The final moment of Judah’s last king was a cruel and unusual punishment.  Zedekiah, after the Babylonians gauged his eyes out, lived a while longer as a prisoner in Babylon (Jer. 52:11).  Forever etched in his memory, however, was what his eyes last saw: the killing of his terrified sons.  No one, even a terrible king, should suffer such a horrible fate.

Zedekiah was a bad king because “he became stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord” (2 Chron. 36:13).  What led him to such a perilous path, however, was something we all struggle with: a desire to please people.

Once, several officials of Zedekiah who despised Jeremiah said to him, “This man should be put to death’” (Jer. 38:4).  The king answered, “He is in your hands. . . . The king can do nothing to oppose you’” (v. 5).  Shortly thereafter, when an official sympathetic to Jeremiah found out he had been thrown into a muddy cistern to die, he said to Zedekiah, “These men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah” (vv.6-9).  The king, who moments ago allowed Jeremiah to be put to death, now commanded the official to “take thirty men . . . and lift Jeremiah . . . out of the cistern before he dies” (v.10).  In short, Zedekiah possessed no backbone; he went whichever way the wind blew.

Ultimately, Zedekiah feared man more than God.  Certainly, what Jeremiah told him was difficult to swallow: “Surrender to . . . the king of Babylon” (v.17).  Since by this time, God had handed the rebellious Judah over to the Babylonians, surrendering was His will.  Zedekiah couldn’t do it because he feared that “the Babylonians may hand [him] over to” the Jews already exiled in Babylon who “will mistreat [him]” (v.19).  Although God, through Jeremiah, assured him that “they will not hand you over. . . . then it will go well with you,” (v.20), Zedekiah disobeyed.

No matter how much we disobey God, we aren’t likely to suffer the cruel and unusual punishment that Zedekiah encountered; nevertheless, it will not go well with us when we disobey God.  We obey God against our so-called “better judgment” when we fear Him more than man.  Don’t over think or over analyze—be convicted by God’s word and simply obey!

Prayer

I love You, Lord, with all my heart.  When I fear man, acting as though I’ve no faith in God, please give me the strength to overcome that fear, so that I can boldly represent You with my gentle, yet firm words that speak of Your goodness and kindness.  Help me to live boldly for you. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 5

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Samuel 15:20-24: And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. ²¹ But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” ²² And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.²³ For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

²⁴ Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

Question to Consider

1. What made Saul to believe that he had obeyed the Lord?
2. Put yourself in Saul’s shoes: what does it mean that he was afraid of the people?
3. What does “to obey is better than sacrifice” really mean in our time?

Notes

1. The command was to kill everything, including the animals, belonging to the Amalekites, the archenemy of Israel that always sought to annihilate her (Deut. 25:17-19)—but Saul spared its king and the choicest animals. Saul assumed that he had obeyed the Lord because he made himself believe that the animals were for God, even though that wasn’t real reason.
2. He was afraid of their opinion. Surely, many people would have thought that killing of the choicest animals was a sheer waste that made no economic sense.  Saul, like Zedekiah, wanted to be liked by people instead of being liked by God.
3. God doesn’t want performance without the right heart; neither does He want what appears to be a flawless ministry that is executed without much prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit. He certainly does not want us do any ministry according to our time instead of God’s.

Evening Reflection

What tough decision did you face today?  Did you have an opportunity to present God’s word or truth today to someone at work or school?  Did you face a situation in which the matter of obeying God became a reality?  What does your response to these situations indicate with respect to the genuineness of your faith?  Take a moment to reflect and evaluate.  Ask the Lord for help.

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from Sept. 28-Oct.2 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 24:1-4: In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. ² And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by his servants the prophets. ³ Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, ⁴ and also for the innocent blood that he had shed.

2 Chron. 36:5: Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.

I didn’t know that “Roberto,” a church leader, was badly mistreating his wife who taught Sunday school.  By the time I was told by our pastor regarding their impending separation, he had warned Roberto several times to stop—but he didn’t.  Eventually his wife filed for divorce.

If the Northern Kingdom (“Israel”) could talk, it would tell God that He was being unfair.  While God let the Assyrians to swiftly destroy Israel in 722 BC as a punishment for its persistent rebellion, Judah, its sister kingdom, received two more chances before the Babylonians destroyed it in 586 BC.  God had hoped that Judah, seeing Israel’s doom, would “return to [Him] with all her heart” (Jer. 3:10); but “unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery” (v.8).  Thus, God declared, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah” (v.11).

The Babylonians first attacked Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (2 Ki. 25:1), and Judah became its vassal.  Nevertheless, Jehoiakim continued to sit on the throne while the temple stayed intact.   Had he repented then, there would’ve been no more Babylonian attack, for God had Jeremiah write, “Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, each of them will turn from his wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin” (Jer. 36:3).   “In the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim” (36:9), he finally heard “all the words of the LORD from the scroll” (36:11) prepared by Jeremiah; but, instead of repenting, “the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the fire pot” (36:23).   Jehoiakim completely ignored God’s warning—much like Roberto

That brazen act resulted in a swift retribution that happened a little later— in 598—but God in His mercy didn’t end Judah yet; amazingly, she was given another 12 years to make things right with Him.  When she stubbornly refused, the final curtain came down on her in 586 when the Babylonians annexed Judah, thereby ending her dynasty, and “set fire to the temple of the Lord” (2 Kings 25:9).

Proverbs 29:1 says, “A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”  Here is an advice worth heeding: When you are warned by godly and praying people because of your imprudent action, listen to them.

Prayer

God, how gracious and merciful You are by giving us multiple opportunities to repent.  It is certainly true that you take “no pleasure in the death of anyone.”  Please help me to be sober-minded so that when I am warned of my unwise action, I will humble myself and heed.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 4

Lunch Break Study

Read Jeremiah 42:1-3, 7, 10, 13-15: Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah . . . came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Let our plea for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant—because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us— 3 that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do” . . . .

7 At the end of ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. . . .  10 “If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I relent of the disaster that I did to you. . . . 13 But if you say, ‘We will not remain in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God 14 and saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt’,. . . 15 then hear the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “If you set your faces to enter Egypt and go to live there, 16 then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine of which you are afraid shall follow close after you to Egypt, and there you shall die.”

43:1-2: When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the Lord . . . 2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to live there, . . .’”

Gal 6:1: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Question to Consider

1. Based on how Johanan, Jezaniah and Azariah responded to Jeremiah’s words, was their initial request genuine? Who are these guys and what were they trying to do?
2. What does this say about the proper attitude we need to have before hearing from the Lord, particularly when encountering words of warning?
3. When we are the ones who are giving the words of warning, what must we watch out for?

Notes

1. These guys already had made up their minds before coming to Jeremiah. These are religious folks who cared a great deal about appearing spiritual, but when push came to shove, they chose what they wanted—not what God had told them.
2. One attitude that needs to be exorcised is pride; that is, refusing to allow other people to speak into their lives. Jehoiakim, Johanan and Jezaniah acted as if they knew better than Jeremiah, God’s messenger. But ultimately, they rejected the one who sent him—God.
3. For God to use us to speak into the lives of others, we better not act as if we are better than them, or that we are immune from the same problem being addressed. We must be gentle, compassionate, and empathetic.

Evening Reflection

As you wrap up this day, do you recall anything that was said to you (or even to someone else) that may have been God’s way of speaking to you? Close your eyes and reflect upon your day.  Ask God what He wants you to hear from Him: perhaps affirmation or correction.

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from Sept. 28-Oct.2 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 24:3-4 (ESV): Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the Lord, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, ⁴ and also for the innocent blood that he had shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the Lord would not pardon.

Joseph Prince, pastor of a megachurch in Singapore, who writes, “We don’t have to keep on asking the Lord . . . for forgiveness because He has already forgiven us,” would probably warn us to stay clear of this verse: “The LORD was not willing to forgive” (NIV).  However, be rest assured that even during the Old Testament time, God was all too willing to forgive the wayward Israelites with whom He had covenanted unconditionally (i.e., an unbreakable contract).  Though indignant God had declared, “I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should forgive them” (Hos. 1:6), in the next breath, He added, “Yet I will show love to the house of Judah” (1:7).   God assured the Jews being punished in Babylonia as captives, “I will restore [your] fortunes and have compassion” (Jer. 33:26).

Then why does God make statements that seem to contradict His very nature?  How can an omniscient God, upon seeing man’s wickedness during Noah’s days, “repent[] . . . that he had made man on the earth” (Gn. 6:6 KJV).  Surely, the term “anthropomorphic” is too heavy for a morning devotion, but we cannot understand why God would say, “I’m not willing to forgive,” apart from grasping its meaning.  Anthropomorphism is attributing human qualities to God, so that we may gain an adequate understanding of this infinite being whose nature and qualities would otherwise be unknowable to finite humans.  The essence of anthropomorphic expressions isn’t doctrinal exactitude—but emotional candidness, to draw us closer so as to hear His heartbeat.  And as we wait in stillness, we would hear Him say, “You matter to me.”  Think about that for a second: the God of this vast universe, instead of being indifferent, actually cares about me; so much so that He would respond emotionally—rather than doctrinally—when we err to our own detriment!

God has already forgiven all our sins in Christ, but we must first acknowledge our sins and then confess them for His forgiveness to be effectual (1 Jn. 1:9).  So today, examine your heart in light of the Scriptures; and under the guidance of the Spirit, confess your sins to the Lord in order that your relationship with Him would be truly restored.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I praise You this morning for your loving kindness.  While I’m easily dismissed and ignored by those who are more powerful than me, I’m heartened to realize that You, who is above everyone and everything, considers me so important that You would open Your heart towards me.   While I don’t understand why I would matter to You, I’m awed and grateful that You do.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 3

Lunch Break Study

Pastor Prince comments that since “[God] . . . forgave all—past, present, and future—of our trespasses” (p. 44) . . ., we don’t have to confess our sins in order to be forgiven.  We confess our sins because we are already forgiven” (p. 104).

Read Matt. 6:14-5: For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 John 1:9-10: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Matt. 18:34-5: And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Question to Consider

1. How would appraise Prince’s theology or teaching in light of these verses?
2. If you consider this matter similar to Christ’s atonement for the world (1 Jn. 2:2: “He is the atoning sacrifices for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world”) and our need to actually believe what he did to be saved, then, what would you say to those who insist that we don’t need to confess ours sin because they are already forgiven?
3. Are you in need of asking forgiveness from God? We learned today that we must first ask forgiveness from the one whom we wronged.  Pray about making that call to reconcile today.

Notes

1. The main problem is that his teaching doesn’t address these verses that say that we won’t be forgiven unless we forgive those who wronged us and unless we confess our sins. Having read his book (2007), he either ignores these verses or does a very poor job of explaining them.  For instance, he insists that 1 John 1:9 addresses the unbelieving Gnostics, which is incorrect, since John wrote 1 John to the believers to “make [their] joy complete” (1:4).
2. The fact that Jesus is the “atoning sacrifices for the sins of the whole world” doesn’t mean that everyone in the world for which Jesus died is already saved. They need to first hear the gospel, and then believe.  Likewise, those who are in Christ are already forgiven in Him (future sins included), but they must first recognize and then confess them in order for God’s forgiveness to “kick in.”  That doesn’t mean that unforgiving Christians who, therefore, are unforgiven of a particular sin are  no longer saved; while the relationship is still intact, there cannot be a true fellowship with God as long as we linger in our unconfessed sins.
3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

One undeniable fact is that we are full of self-righteousness.  As a result, we see “the speck of sawdust in []our brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in []our own eye (Matt. 7:2).  In looking back, were you upset at someone today for what that person said or did to you?  Stay still and ask the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to that situation.  What really happened?  Does that person still owe you an apology, or is it you?  Even if that person did wrong, were you overly righteous in your response (Eccles. 7:16)?  Did you forgive or ask for forgiveness?   It is never too late.

Editor’s Note: AMI devotionals from Sept. 28-Oct.2 are written by Pastor Ryun Chang.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 King 24:1a, 10-13: In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up,. . . 10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, 12 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign 13 and carried off all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the Lord, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the Lord had foretold.

When “John,” who was in my youth group many years ago, wanted to speak to me in private, I just assumed that he was having problems with his parents; but I was wrong—he was having problems with me!  Dumbfounded by a litany of his accusations, I surprised even myself by refraining from responding to him in anger. Was it because all his charges were groundless?  Most of them were—but not everything.  What galled me the most was the fact that he wasn’t exactly a model citizen—he frequently ditched school and was into pornography.

The truth is, that while we don’t necessarily mind being corrected by someone deemed wiser and holier, we recoil at the idea of being reprimanded by someone less wise and righteous than us.  And that’s what troubled the Israelites upon being told that God had chosen the “ruthless and impetuous” Babylonians (Hab. 1:6), led by its cruel King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC), to invade and then conquer them as a divine punishment for their idolatry and rebellion.  Capturing the sentiment of the bewildered Jews, Prophet Habakkuk cried out to God, saying, “Why are you silent while the wicked (i.e., the Babylonians) swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (v.13).

It is a hard truth to swallow, but God sometimes uses people less righteous than us to correct and rebuke us.  How galling it must have been when God, through Prophet Jeremiah, declared, “I will summon . . . my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon . . . and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants” (Jer. 25:9).  Of course we need to discern as to what to heed and what to disregard, since what they say is a mixed bag of some truths as well as baseless accusations.  But without humility we are liable to throw everything out the window and miss out on an opportunity to grow.

Out of all that John said, one thing that I still remember was that I liked to hear myself talk; I kept it in my heart as a reminder that I ought to speak God’s word instead of mine.  Keep your ears open today and perhaps you may hear something useful (as well as painful) to the well-being of your soul.

Prayer

Father, I magnify your glorious Name.  I thank You that You love me enough to use anyone to correct me, so that I do not veer off to do my own thing.  Lord, increase my capacity to be humble so that I’ll readily listen to the words of those sent by You to make me more Christ-like.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thessalonians 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Num. 22:26-32 (ESV): Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” 30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” 34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

Lk. 19:40: He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Question to Consider

1. What must you assume about God making a donkey to speak to an errant prophet?
2. It is “understandable” why the prophet wouldn’t listen to a dumb animal. In what sense is that also true for us when someone tries to speak into our lives that isn’t so easy to accept?
3. What do you suppose God is saying to you these days, and who is He using to speak to you? Does the fact that God is using this particular person to speak to you make it harder to hear?

Notes

1. That all other previous, more conventional means to correct him went unheeded; that is, we better listen to God’s correction before God summons a Babylonian-like person (i.e., scary people) or a donkey-like individual (i.e., those who seemingly are below us).
2. It is always easier to dismiss people who do not look very impressive on the outside. But one undeniable fact is that throughout church history, God has used people from the margins of the society to challenge those who occupied the center of power (e.g., Luther, Wycliffe, Savonarola, Huss, etc.).
3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Think about all the things that you heard today that were directed to you.  Then pick out things that didn’t make you feel too good.  Take a moment to reflect on why it bothered you: Was it the messenger or the message?   What is the Lord saying to you at this moment?

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 26-27 are provided by Jabez Yeo of TRPC (NYC).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Daniel 3:14-8

Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good.  But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Miami Heats, down 3-2 to San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals, were trailing by 3 points with seconds left in the sixth game.  Then Miami’s Ray Allen, after grabbing the rebound, frantically backpedaled to the corner to launch a 3-pointer without checking to see if his feet were on the 3-point line. The ball went in and the Heat eventually became champions.  Later, it was revealed that Allen had invented a drill in which he backpedaled to the corner, received a pass, and shot without looking at the 3-point line. After 17 years of doing the same drill, Allen delivered.

Each of us will experience moments of pressure, where we are expected to conform to the world’s standards. In Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego faced tremendous pressure to follow all of King Nebuchadnezzar’s servants in bowing down to his giant statue. With their lives dependent on their decision, they chose to honor God instead of following their peers. How were they able to do so?

Some Bible passages give us a clue. Psalm 1 describes the man who is blessed because “his delight in the law of the Lord and on His law He meditates day and night.” Similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul implores us to “pray continually…for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Thus, it is clear that spiritual disciplines are tremendously important in our daily faith walk. This statement is not meant to be legalistic but rational. Just as it is absurd to believe that we could have done what Ray Allen did without practice, it is equally absurd to believe that we could respond faithfully during temptation without engaging in the spiritual disciplines.

Ultimately, God is the author and perfector of our faith (Heb. 12:2); yet we are also implored to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12). No matter what happened in the past, let’s start today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, I often find it hard to pray or to read Your Word. Sometimes I am too tired, while other times I just don’t have the desire to do so. In those times, help me, Lord, to seek You through those disciplines. Help me to work out the faith that You have placed in me, so that I will be able to respond faithfully during the trials and temptations of this life. In Your Name I pray, Amen

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Thess. 1

Editor’s Note: The AMI QT devotionals for September 26-27 are provided by Jabez Yeo of TRPC (NYC).

Devotional Thoughts for Today

Hebrews 11:8-16

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God… ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s short story, “Leaf by Niggle,” Niggle is a perfectionist painter who wants to paint a picture of a leaf and then a whole tree. While this project becomes his sole responsibility, Niggle doesn’t get much done because of his intense focus on painting the leaf and his heart for helping his neighbors. After an unfortunate accident, Niggle dies— weeping that he left only a single painted leaf. But as Niggle enters heaven, he is comforted by Mercy because of his willingness to sacrifice for others. He, then, discovers that his tree, fully detailed and finished, is now “part of the True Reality that would be enjoyed forever.”

As Christians, each of us may have different godly visions or promises that we hope will be fulfilled in this life. In the case of Abraham, God had specifically promised him the land of Canaan and descendants as numerous as the stars (Gn. 12:1-3, 15:1-5). Yet at the time of Abraham’s death, Abraham only had a small plot of ground (23:17-18) and two sons (25:7-11). And Hebrews 11:13 notes that Abraham “died in faith, not having received the things promised….”

How, then, did Abraham have faith, even in the midst of seemingly unfulfilled promises? Hebrews 11:13 explains that heroes like Abraham saw God’s promises and “greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” As believers today, do we remember that this world is not our final destination? When we seek a homeland (Heb. 11:14) and desire a heavenly country (11:16) like Abraham did, we can have faith that what we do for the Lord has eternal significance, even if we don’t see the desired end results.

As sons of Abraham by faith (Gal. 3:7), we know the final ending, in which “a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Rev. 7:9) will gather to praise the Lord. Let’s put our faith in God that He will fulfill His promises—in this life or the next.

Prayer

Lord, increase my faith in You, the faithful promise keeper. I confess that so often, I have to see to believe. Remind me once again how blessed are those who have not seen but have yet believed. Thank You for Your patience with me, and help me to fully seek my true home where there will be no more tears, pain or death. In Your Name I pray, Amen

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Timothy 3-4

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Time devotionals from September 24-25 are provided by Tina Hsu who is interning at Church of Southland.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 23:3, 24-26 (NASB): The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant. ²⁴Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. ²⁵Before him there was no king like him who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

Some of us who follow a reading plan to read the Bible in one year, have had times when we had absolutely no idea what we had just read; nonetheless, we were content to mark off another 5 chapters from the reading chart. But King Josiah wasn’t like that. Upon discovering the Book of God’s Law that had been lost for a long time, he devoted himself to purify the land of Judah of its idolatry so that Judah’s ways would conform to what was written in God’s book. He read God’s Word to the people of Judah and led them to renew their commitment to walk in the way of the Lord. The majority of this chapter (vv. 4-20) records how Josiah removed idolatrous priests from the house of the LORD, removed altars that previous kings of Judah had built, burned vessels that were for Baal and Asherah worship, and more. Josiah truly turned to the Lord with all his heart, all his soul, and certainly, with all his might.

Though Josiah knew that God was going to “remove Judah and cast off Jerusalem” (23:27) because the generations of his forefathers had forsaken God, the Book of the Law (God’s Word) led Josiah to lead the nation back to God in his lifetime. He let God’s Word, which Judah had neglected for many years, define his course of action and his leadership. Though the outcome for Judah was sealed, Josiah was instrumental in preserving covenant faithfulness for Judah in his lifetime. In this way, Josiah was successful and Scripture records, “there was no king like him…nor did any like him arise after him” (23:25). Though he had no control over Judah’s future, he glorified God by faithfully keeping a covenant relationship with God.

The Word of God provides power for endurance and faithfulness. Nothing can nourish our souls and strengthen us to do the work of the Lord than the very words of God. If reading or listening to the Word of God is lacking in your daily spiritual life, ask the Lord today to renew your thirst and devotion for His Word.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, I desire for your commands and your Words to be near and dear to me. As your Word is able to equip me to do every good work, help me to spend time in your Word daily. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Timothy 2

Lunch Break Study

Matthew 4:1-4 (NASB): Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” ⁴ But He answered and said, “It is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

Questions to consider

1. What is happening during this time in Jesus’ life and ministry?
2. What is the nature of Satan’s temptation?
3. How does Jesus’ answer minister and encourage you today?

Notes

1. This takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist baptized Jesus at the Jordan River, where Jesus revealed that He came to “fulfill all righteousness” (Mt. 3:15). He came to fulfill and complete what man, tainted by sin, could not do. The world fell under the power of sin because man was overcome by temptation, but Jesus has now come to face temptation and to overcome it by the Word of God.
2. Satan’s temptations begin with “If you are the Son of God” (v. 3). Satan desires to drive a wedge between Jesus’ love relationship with the Father. He wants to deceive Jesus into using His own power and role for His own personal gain. He wants to hinder Jesus from trusting and obeying the Father’s will.
3. Personal response.

Evening Reflection

Psalm 119:103-104: How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Editor’s Note: The AMI Quiet Time devotionals from September 24-25 are provided by Tina Hsu who is interning at Church of Southland.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 23:21-23 (NASB): Then the king commanded all the people saying, “Celebrate the Passover to the Lord your God as it is written in this book of the covenant.” ²² Surely such a Passover had not been celebrated from the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and of the kings of Judah. ²³ But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, this Passover was observed to the Lord in Jerusalem.

How amazing is it that we effortlessly fill our brain with trivial stuff (e.g., batting average of your favorite player) while neglecting the important matters, which, in the end, will cost us dearly.  2 Kings 23 shows us that when God’s people disregard God’s Word (in Israel’s case, she didn’t even know where the “Bible” was), not only their hearts turn away from God, but they end up doing the unthinkable.

When the Passover was observed during the reign of King Josiah, it was the first time observed since the days of the Judges (v. 22).  It is absolutely mind-boggling that in a span of nearly 500 years, the Israelites neglected the Passover because they were busy turning away from the Lord and serving other gods.

The purpose of the Passover was to remember and honor God, who brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (Ex. 12:42), and made them His treasured possession (Ex. 19:5). By observing the Passover regularly, they would remember, among many attributes of God, His mercy. Could their spiritual decline be related to their neglect of the Passover, to their neglect of remembering God’s mercy? By forgetting to remember God’s mercy, their hearts became less and less devoted to God.

So what is the outcome of reflecting on God’s mercy? The outcome is that we are moved to obey and worship God. God’s mercy is the reason and the power behind a steadfast devotion to God and to His commandments. Out of the riches of His mercy, God delivered us out of darkness and from our bondage to sin. His mercy enables us to obey His commands. Works righteousness or legalism doesn’t lead us to delight in obedience, but God’s mercy, forgiveness, and love move us to obedience. So what happens if we regularly reflect on God’s mercy? His mercy compels us to obey and worship Him. Take some time this morning to sit and to receive God’s abundant mercy. May He empower you to love and obey Him today.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise you because Your mercies are new every morning!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 2 Timothy 1

Lunch Break Study

Romans 12:1-2 (NASB): Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Questions to Consider

1. What does Paul mean by “the mercies of God”?
2. What are we called to because of the mercies of God?
3. In what ways do you see or sense transformation in your life lately?

Notes

1. In Romans, “the mercies of God” sum up all that God has done in and through Jesus Christ to save us from the eternal consequence of sin and to give us eternal life on the basis of His death and resurrection.
2. We are called to offer our entire person, or life, to serve and worship God. We are called to be holy, which means to be set apart as God’s people. By the power of God’s mercy, we are called to be changed from the inside out.
3. Personal Response.

Evening Reflection

Take five minutes to reflect on God’s mercy today. How did God show you His mercy today? How did God’s mercy impact you?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from September 21-23 are provided by Kate Moon who serves as a missionary in E. Asia.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 22:3-4, 8-12: 

In the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the secretary, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the temple of the LORD.  He said: 4 “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD . . . .” 8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the LORD.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it . . . 10 Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.  11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.  He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant . . ..

Fall is football season, and there are few sports in which the beauty of teamwork is more evident.  Marathons are by nature individual, basketball can be played one-on-one, but with football, you need a team.  Even before the quarterback throws the ball, he is only able to because he has teammates protecting him from getting tackled, giving him the time he needs to assess the overall situation on the field and make the best decision.  The quarterback could then run with the ball himself, but most of the time it’s more effective for him to pass it to another in a better position to run with it.  Teamwork is therefore essential and a great part of what makes the game enjoyable.

In today’s passage we see an example of a healthy team dynamic between a leader and his staff, all the more highlighted by the stark contrast of how his father died several verses prior (“Amon’s officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace.” 2 Ki 21:23).  In Amon’s case, he is betrayed by those who should have been his chief sources of support and wise counsel.  In Josiah’s case, he has people who are on board with his spiritual leadership, working together with him for the common good.

King Josiah steps up to his role of setting the spiritual direction of the nation by giving orders regarding restoring the temple; and his faithful chief aides carry out his orders and communicate back to the king important developments found in the field—namely, discovering the Book of the Law.  Most impressively, we see the king listen to his staff and respond.  And finally, we see him make decisions and give orders to his staff based on the information they have provided to him.  In this way, the king led the way but at the same time relied on and worked together with his trusted council.

Whether we are leaders or people who carry out orders and turn intentions into reality, how can we work better with our teammates today?  Do we need to listen better?  Or obey better?

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the team.  Help me to realize more and more what my specific position is and to fulfill it well.  Help me do my best to work with others today.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 6

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 5:1-7: To the elders among you . . . : 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock . . . 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Questions to Consider

1. Who is Paul addressing when he says “one another” in verse 5? What is the main point of this verse?
2. While it is relatively easy to understand how the younger are to submit to the elders, how are elders to “submit” and show humility towards those in their care (vv. 2-3)?
3. When we humble ourselves before others, who are we really submitting to (v. 6)? What can keep us from submitting to others (v. 7)? Is there anything I am anxious about today that keeps me from submitting to those around me?

Notes

1. One another = older and younger. Verses 5-6 can be seen as an echo of Ephesians 5:21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
2. By being eager to serve them (v. 2) and not lording their “elder” positions over them (v. 3) (i.e., being “bossy” or giving orders just for the sake of enjoying telling people what to do).
3. God. When we get anxious, it is because we are having a hard time trusting, which leads to a hard time submitting.  When we cast our anxieties on God, we can relax and not feel like we have to have things our way (under our control) all the time; we can submit and yield to others.

Evening Reflection

How did I do today in terms of submitting to others around me, whether “above” (my leaders) or “below” (those I take care of or who serve me)?

Editor’s Note:  The AMI QT Devotionals from September 21-23 are provided by Kate Moon who serves as a missionary in E. Asia.

Devotional Thoughts for Today

2 Kings 21:11-15: 

Manasseh king of Judah has committed these detestable sins. He has done more evil than the Amorites who preceded him and has led Judah into sin with his idols. 12 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle . . . 14 I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hands of enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their enemies; 15 they have done evil in my eyes and have aroused my anger from the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day.”

Leaders will be held accountable by God for the influence they exert, for good or for evil, and the direction in which they lead people; but people are also responsible for their choices.  In 1 & 2 Kings, we have seen a succession of good kings and bad kings, their reigns and legacies defined by this one standard: whether or not they did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  If they did what was right, the nation flourished; if not, the nation suffered.  When the nation’s history is recorded in a structure that highlights the lives of the leaders, it can be easy to start thinking that it was all the kings’ responsibility.  Even in today’s passage, if we just read verses 11-14, it could seem that Manasseh was a wicked king that led a hapless people into sin, and that because of what he had done, God was going to punish the whole nation; how sad, unfortunate, and almost unfair to the people.

But in verse 15 (and even v. 9, which says, “But the people did not listen . . . ”), the author shows how God holds the people accountable.  The leader did lead the people astray, but the people themselves also ignored God’s word and did what was evil, even before Manasseh was born.

Overall, I think many of us have been blessed with wonderful spiritual leaders who are earnest and sincere in seeking to do what is right in God’s eyes.  Sometimes, though, we find ourselves in a position where we see something a leader does, and we have a nagging feeling that something is not quite right with this situation.  Though God asks us to submit and obey the authorities He has placed over our lives, we are also expected to exercise discernment and hold on to our principles (God’s word); He will hold us accountable for whether or not we follow a leader into sin, or humbly and respectfully decline.  In verses 12-14, God’s judgment falls on not just the king but all the people for the evil they have done.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I thank you for good leaders and I welcome their godly, spiritual influence.  At the same time, if I have sometimes chosen to follow them even though my conscience had been uneasy, help me to recognize this and repent.  Help our leaders to stay right with you.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Timothy 5

Lunch Break Study

Read Ezekiel 18:19-20

19 Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20 The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

Questions to Consider

1. Why would people say, “Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity” (v. 19)?
2. What is the emphasis of “The person who sins will die” (v. 20)?
3. What do these verses say about the justice of God? When God brings judgment, are there ever any “innocent victims”?

Notes

1. When someone sins, people want to hold someone accountable. If the father was not available, perhaps they would look for the son to take vengeance upon or try to exact justice.
2. That God will hold the person who sins accountable for that sin (and not any other person).
3. God’s justice is perfect; He does not bring judgment against the innocent. If He is provoked to anger, it is for a good reason.  We need to understand OT judgments and the judgment of God in general in this light.

Evening Reflection

How did I do today in terms of taking responsibility for my own actions?  Was there any tendency to blame others for circumstances I found myself in when they were actually the consequences of my own missteps?  Take responsibility by repenting and then receive His peace, knowing there is grace when we come to Him.